PowerSHAPE

9. Surface from Curves

9. Surface from Curves

Curves
A curve can be defined as a continuous profile of lines, arcs or curves that contains at least two points. They can be 2 or 3D as the following illustrations show, and they can be open or closed.

Once a surface is generated, the curves used are called laterals. A closed lateral has a curve from the last point to the first point. A surface must contain 2 or more laterals. Once the laterals are defined, the surface is filled in between the laterals. Each point number on each lateral is joined up together by the smoothest curve, which means that each lateral should have the same number of points on it.

The curve that joins each point on the laterals together to create the surface is known as a longitudinal.

Example
Create the following surface with 5 curves.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0

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Create a workplane at 0 0 0. Create a line from the workplane, 10mm in Y, 10mm in X, and 10mm in -Y to produce the 'n-shape'
This section will be the basic for the other sections so it will be copied up the Z-axis as individual lines.

Select the three lines and then the Copy icon. Enter 2 for the number of copies and the value of 0 0 5 in the position window, giving you three laterals.

Each set of lines will be filleted by a different radius.

Create a fillet radius of 1mm on the bottom lines, at each corner. Create a fillet radius of 2mm on the middle lateral, at each corner. Create a fillet radius of 3mm on the top lateral, at each corner.

Each shape needs to be turned into a composite curve before a surface can be made.

Select create a composite curve icon. Select the bottom lines and then the Save button. Select the middle lines and then the Save button. Select the top lines, and then the Save button and the Eject button to finish.

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PowerSHAPE

9. Surface from Curves

Select the lower composite curve and copy it up the Z-axis by 20mm. Select the second from bottom composite curve and copy it up the Z-axis by 10mm.

All of the shapes have been turned into composite curves, ready for surface generation. Each of the composite curves will be turned into a lateral on the surface.

Select all of the composite curves. Select the surface from separate curves icon.

This form allows you to try different options of joining the laterals together with a very useful Preview setting. The default option gives a smooth result, but if a different surface is required other options can be tried.

Accept the form and the surface is complete.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0

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Pump Project Example.continued

Using the pump example we can use the two curves to make a surface from laterals.

Open the model pump-project2. Blank all apart from the two long curves either side of the model.

With these curves selected apply Create surface from separate curves. Save the model.

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Issue PSHAPE 5.0