Boundaries Menu

A boundary is a line (typically red in color) that traverses a polygon object by following the contiguous edges of multiple triangles (never bisecting the inte­rior of any triangle). To create a boundary where no edge lies is to subdivide existing triangles so that the non-bisection rule is enforced.

A natural boundary is a special boundary that exists at the edge of a non-vol­umetric object such as a sheet metal part. A natural boundary cannot be removed.

On a Polygon object, boundaries are used:

• to subdivide existing triangles so that a physical characteristic can be accentuated,

• to assist with selection of triangles (such as by Edit > Select > Bound­aries) and to facilitate certain functions that are boundary-aware (such as Polygons > Sandpaper).

• to define lines that will become constrained lines when the Polygon is subsequently converted to a Shape object.

• Functions on the Boundaries Menu are applicable to polygon objects only.

• Create - is a set of tools for the creation of boundaries.

• Straighten - identifies two points on an existing boundary lines and moves triangle vertices between those points to create a straight bound­ary.

• Edit - smoothes jagged edges on a natural boundary by reconstructing the polygon mesh.

• Relax - smoothes jagged edges on a natural boundary by reconstructing the polygon mesh by relaxation.

• Create/Fit Hole - cuts a perfect hole and places a natural boundary on the new edge, or converts a jagged hole to a perfect hole and places a natural boundary on the new edge.

• Extend Boundary - projects a selected natural boundary in the direction suggested by surrounding surface.

• Extrude Boundary - projects a selected natural boundary in a pos­itive or negative direction and inserts triangles to fill the space between the old and new positions.

• Project Boundary to Plane - projects a selected boundary to a user-defined plane by stretching existing triangles.

• Create Curve Object - creates a Curves object from one or more boundaries on a polygon object.

• Subdivide Boundary - marks specific vertices of a polygon object so they are not affected by editing operations such as Edit > Remove Boundary and others, and so that they cannot serve as boundary endpoints in Boundaries > Edit and Boundaries > Relax. [in Geomagic Qualify at Edit > Boundaries > Subdivide Boundary]

• Remove Boundary - removes one or more non-natural boundaries from the object. [in Geomagic Qualify at Edit > Boundaries > Remove Boundary]

• Remove All Boundaries - removes all boundaries (except natural boundaries) from the object (including subdivided boundaries) -- the same as pressing the Clear All button at Boundaries > Remove Boundary. [in Geomagic Qualify at Edit > Boundaries > Remove All Bound­aries]

• Clear Subdivision Points - removes the subdivision points (as cre­ated at Boundaries > Subdivide Boundary) from a region of selected triangles. [in Geomagic Qualify at Edit > Boundaries > Clear Subdivision Points]