Patches > Construct Patches (typically performed on an object that is the result of Contours > Detect Curvature) converts orange contour lines and red boundary lines to panel demarcation lines, subdivides those panels with additional orange demarcation lines if necessary to facilitate the insertion of four-sided patches, and inserts four-sided patches into each panel.
If run on an object with yellow (extendable) and orange (unextendable) contour lines (the result of Contours > Detect Contours), this function extends the yellow lines to form contour patches and fills the remaining surface with panels, and fills those panels with four-sided patches.
If run on an object with no contour lines at all (no Contours > Detect Contours and no Contours > Detect Curvature), Construct Patches creates orange panel demarcation lines like Detect Curvature but with less precision, and fills those panels with four-sided patches.
Parameter group - controls the total number of patches that will exist in all panels. Pick one:
Auto Estimate checkbox - causes automatic calculation of the Target Patch Count (and deactivates the Target Patch Count field).
Specify Patch Count integer field - specifies the approximate total number of patches on the Shape object. If the value is too low, the eventual NURBS surface will not adhere strictly to the object’s original shape.
Check Path Intersections checkbox (The state of this checkbox is shared with checkboxes of the same name in Contours > Detect Contours, Patches > Construct Patches, Contours > Subdivide/Extend, Patches > Shuffle > Panels, and the Check Geometry checkbox of Grids > Construct Grids) - specifies whether to advise the user, upon completion of this and related functions, whether certain imperfections should be fixed by using Patches > Repair Patches.
OK button - stores the panel and patch structure to the Shape object in the Model Manager and closes the dialog.
Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving a panel and patch structure to the object in the Model Manager.
Apply button - click this to preview the panels and patches. If results are not acceptable (curvature is not sufficiently represented), adjust the Target Patch Count and click Apply again.