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General Definitions

TopSolid'Cam uses many mathematical functions to generate 3D machining operations. The user

can define the parameters for some of these operations. Therefore, their definitions have

been stated below.

Curves, Surfaces, Faces and Iso-Parameters (mathematical reminder)

Curves and surfaces are mathematically defined as b-splines or Nurbs. A curve is

always calculated through interpolation, from a set of points (definition points or the

curve’s control points). A surface is calculated through the interpolation of a series of

synchronized curves.

Curves

All points on a ‘left’ curve are calculated by a mathematical algorithm, defining them by

varying a parameter included between 0 and 1. This parameter is similar to a

percentage, since the 0.25 parameter point is very close to a quarter up the curve. As

for the 0.66 parameter point, it can be found very close to two thirds up the curve. The

latter conditions depend on the parametric division being homogeneous. This,

however, is not always the case. On the other hand, the curve’s origin still has a value

of 0 and its end, a value of 1.

Surfaces

All surface types are finally the result of fitting together a network of curves in one

direction, and another network of curves, in a direction perpendicular to the first one

(here, the perpendicular notion is taken in a broad sense).

As for surfaces, the parameter notion is the same as that of the curves’. However,

since there are two curve networks, orthogonal to one another, a U parameter is

associated with the first network, and a V parameter with the second one.

Following the previous explanation, a surface can naturally only have 4 sides at the

most. This creates the need to define a notion allowing the creation of shapes with

more sides.

Faces

A face corresponds to the restriction imposed on a surface. In fact, a surface must be

trimmed, so that its edges correspond to the shape of the object being created..

Iso parametric curves

An iso parametric curve is a curve linking all the points on a surface with the same

U or V parameter. During an iso parametric sweep on a surface, the tool follows

these curves..

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