Freeforms

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The freeform feature deforms faces of surface or solid bodies. You can deform only one face at a time and the face must have four sides only. Designers have direct, interactive control of deformations by creating control curves and control points, then pushing and pulling the control points to deform the face. Use the triad to constrain the push or pull direction.

Freeform gives you more direct control compared to deform features. Freeform meets the needs of consumer product designers who create curvilinear designs.

 
Freeform features do not affect model topology because they do not create additional faces.

To create a freeform feature, you first add control curves to a face, then add control points to the control curves, then move the control points to deform the face.

To add control curves:

  1. Open Features\Freeform.sldprt.

    2. Using freeform, you are going to create a grip handle matching the reference sketch curve, which is based on the sketch picture.

  2. Click Shaded with Edges (View toolbar) and select IsoBottom from the View Orientation list.

  3. Click Freeform (Features toolbar) or Insert, Features, Freeform.
  4. In the PropertyManager, under Face Settings:
    1. Select the face in the graphics area for Face to deform .
    2. Click Direction 1 Symmetry to use symmetrical mode, which creates the freeform symmetrically across the plane that appears.
  5. Click the four Continuity callouts to set the boundary continuity to Tangent.
  6. Under Control Curves:
    1. Click Through points to use points placed on the control curve to deform the face.
    2. Click Add Curves, then move the pointer over the face until you reach the symmetry plane.
       
      The Add Curves and Add Points buttons are modal. In add curve mode, you can add control curves only. Then click Add Points to enter point mode to add control points along control curves.

      After adding control points, you accept them, automatically exit both modes, and drag the control points to deform the face.

      3. A preview of the control curve appears on the face. When you reach the symmetry plane, it highlights in red.

       
      If the control curve preview is not running length-wise, click Flip Direction (Tab).


  7. Click to snap the control curve to the plane, then right-click to accept the curve. Move the pointer over the curve to highlight it and verify its placement.

To add control points to the control curve:

  1. Click Right (Standard Views toolbar).
  2. In the PropertyManager, under Display, drag the Face transparency slider so you can see the reference sketch and sketch picture.
  3. Under Control Points, click:
    • Snap to geometry (Control points will snap to geometry when moved)
    • Curve (The X axis of the triad orients itself tangent to the control curve)
    • Triad follows selection (Constrains the triad to the selected control point)
  4. Click Add Points, then click the control curve to place seven control points total approximately as shown.

  5. Right-click to accept the control points.

    6. Try to match the position of the control points to points on the reference sketch.

     
    Use the grid lines to help match the points.

To move control points to create the freeform feature:

  1. Drag the individual points to match the reference sketch curve and create the freeform feature. Use the triad arrows to re-position points along the curve.

    2. The pointer changes to as you drag the points. The triad sphere highlights and snaps to reference points. Your model should resemble the image below.

  2. Click .

  3. SeeHide the sketches and origin, then rotate the model to view the freeform feature on the bottom.

    4.  
    To refine the grip, you could add another freeform feature with control curves over the three humps. You would then place control points on these control curves to define your design intent.

See Freeform in the help.

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