Multisided Patch

Introduction

The Multisided Patch function is used to create a 3-dimensional surface from a closed chain that consists of 3 or more edge curves. To perform the function, you chain select each geometry curve one at a time in a consecutive order. After the chain direction of all edge curves is defined, you confirm the selection to create the surface.

Navigation

To open Multisided Patch, do one of the following:

In the Surfaces menu, click Multisided Patch.

On the Surfaces toolbar, click the icon.

Right-click anywhere in the Workspace, point to CAD, Surfaces, and click Multisided Patch.

The parameters display in the Data Entry tab of the Data-CAM Tree Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

Preview - Select the check box to enable the CAD preview, which displays the result that will be created when you click OK. The Preview is generated automatically once enough chains are added to the Selected Geometry list to create a surface.

Preview - Clear the check box to turn off the CAD preview. The geometry is created when you confirm the selections.

Selected Geometry

The Selected Geometry list, shows all entities chosen for the creation of a Multisided Patch.

(Move Up) - moves the selected entity up one level.
(Move Down) - moves the selected entity down one level.
(Delete) - removes the selected entity from the Selected Geometry list.
(Reverse Direction)- reverses the direction of the highlighted item in the Selected Geometry List.
(Delete All)- removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.

OK - creates the CAD preview after geometry selection or creates the surface as shown in the CAD preview.
Cancel - closes the Data Entry Manager.

Quick Steps - Multisided Patch

When creating a Multisided Patch, you complete one chain selection for each side of the surface. Each chain can be one or more entities. The selection order determines the results, and the chains should all share the same general direction, such as clockwise.

1 Open the function.

2 Click near the end of the first chain entity to set the start of the chain.

Hold Shift and click near the end of the last entity to set the end of the chain.

3 Chain select, as explained in step 2, the second chain using the same direction as the first chain.

4 Repeat this process until all sides of the surface are selected and using the same direction.

5 To create the surface, in the Data Entry Manager, click OK.

The feature is added to the CAD Tree.

You can repeat this process for any other surfaces.