Ruled Surface

Introduction

This topic will explain the Ruled Surface function, will explain where to find the function, and explain the options found in it. This topic will also explain creation with quick steps and an example, and provide links to related topics.

The Ruled Surface Function

The Ruled Surface function creates surfaces using the selection of two wireframe chains with a linear blending between the entities of each chain. The two chains need to share the same general chain direction to create the proper results. The two chains can be connected to form the boundary of the surface, or the software automatically creates the boundary of two non-connected chains. Generally, the chains should be the same number of entities.

 

 

To open the Ruled Surface function:

 

  • In the Advanced Surfaces group, of the Create 3D tab, click Ruled Surface.

 

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

  • Preview - Select the check box to enable the CAD preview, which displays what the result will be before you create it. Once all geometry is selected, the preview is shown.
    Preview - Clear the check box to turn off the CAD preview.

 

Selected Geometry

 

(Move Up) - Move the highlighted item up the list.

(Move Down) - Moves the highlighted item down the list.

(Reverse Direction) - Reverses the direction of the highlighted item.

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.

(Delete All)- removes all entities from the list.
This list box will show the entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • OK - finalizes the function.

  • Cancel - exits the function.

Quick Steps - Ruled Surface

  1. Open the function.

    The Selected Geometry list automatically has focus.

  2. Chain select the first chain.

    The chain is added to the Selected Geometry list.

  3. Chain select the next chain.

    The chain is added to the Selected Geometry list.

    The Preview appears.

  4. Click OK to confirm creation.

    The feature is added to the CAD Tree.

  5. Repeat as necessary.

  6. Click Cancel to exit the function.

Example

A BobCAD file installed with the software can be opened to follow along with this example.

Part 1) Open the Example File

  1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, click Open.

  2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to C:\BobCAD-CAM Data\BobCAD-CAM V**\Examples.

     

  3. With Ruled Surface Example.bbcd displaying in the File Name box, click Open.



    In the example file, the geometry for the ruled surface is two 3D spirals (helices) that consist of many line segments. Ruled Surface uses two wireframe chains to create a surface with a linear connection between the chains. For the first part of this example we see the result of the spline curves made of line segments.

Part 2) Open Ruled Surface

  1. In the Advanced Surfaces group, of the Create 3D tab, click Ruled Surface.

    The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager and the Picking Manager appears.

Part 3) Select Geometry

  1. Using the Auto-Chaining option with Constant Z off, click the small line segment at the upper end of the helix.



    The start and end arrows display to show the first chain is selected.

  2. Select the second helix using the same method. Be sure to click near the upper end of the helix to define the same chain direction as the first chain.



    When you complete the second chain selection, the surface preview is automatically created.



    Notice the preview of the resulting surface is many small surfaces, one for each set of line segments in the two helices.

    In order to create the surface as a single smooth surface, we use an Approximated Spline to create a single entity from each helix.

Part 4) Create Splines from Curves

  1. In the Layers Manager, right-click Spline and click Active Layer.

    This is done so the splines are created on a separate layer from the original helix geometry.

  2. In the Entity group of the Create 2D ribbon, click the down arrow underSpline, and select Approximated.

  3. In the Points From Mode group, of the Data Entry Manager, select the Multi-Picking option.

  4. Use the same Picking Manager options and click the small line segment at the upper end of the helix.



    The preview of the spline appears.

  5. Click OK to create the spline.

  6. Click the small line segment at the upper end of the other helix.



    The preview of the spline appears.

  7. Click OK to create the spline.

  8. To close the Data Entry Manager, click Cancel.

  9. In the Layers Manager, right-click Wireframe and click Hide to hide the original helices.

Part 5) Edit the Ruled Surface Feature

  1. In the Advanced Surfaces group, of the Create 3D tab, click Ruled Surface.

  2. Hover over the first spline, and click to select the first chain.



  3. Hover over the second spline, and click to select it as the second chain.



    The second chain is added to the Selected Geometry list, and the preview is immediately visible.

  4. Press OK to finalize the Ruled Surface.



Notice the significant improvement in the Ruled Surface as a result of creating the spline curves. The surface is now a single entity. This method can often be used to improve the result of a Ruled Surface when using complex wireframe input geometry, especially when the chains don't contain the same number of entities.

 

 

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

The CAD Overview