Design Engine
Tools and Features
Extract Patch
8min
Some tools & features in Design Engine require the use of a surface or patch. Extract Patch allows you to create that patch within Design Engine in support of the following:
CAD Surface Alternative
Surfaces may also be imported as STL files from your CAD software.
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There are multiple paths to using the extract path feature.
1
Via Context Menu
- Right-click on the design space where you want to extract a patch to pull up the context menu.
- Select Extract Patch.
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2
Via an Operation Menu
Shown here in the Hex Mesh operation.
- Click on the drop-down of the patch selection field.
- Select Extract Patch.
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3
Via Part Menu
- Click on the menu for the design space where you want to extract a patch.
- Select Extract Patch.
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There are multiple options for selecting a patch within Design Engine.
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Example triangle shown highlighted on an STL file
STL Triangles
All methods operate by selecting triangles from the underlying mesh structure of the imported STL file.
Patch Selection Methods
- Surface
- Plane
- Brush
- Box
- Triangle
Surface
Plane
Brush
Box
Triangle
- Click on surface where a patch is needed.
- Adjust the tolerance angle to extend or reduce the patch area.
- The tolerance angle is the angle between normals of adjacent triangles.
- Extract Patch
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If the selected patch requires adjustment, the following tools are available.
Remove Triangles
- Hold Alt or Option to deselect triangles
- The deselection will behave per the selection method.(Shown here with the Box method)
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Fill Holes
- Click Show Hole
- Hold CTRL/⌘ while clicking to fill holes or...
- Click Fill Holes
- Hold Shift while clicking to remove islands.
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Invert
Shell
Grow/Shrink
Selects the reverse patch.
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The extracted patch will be available in your meshes side panel.
- Turn on/off visibility
- Edit patch and other options area available via menu
Updated 22 Nov 2024
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