Curve Wizard PropertyManager

The Curve Wizard creates boundary and section curves in point cloud and mesh files.

You can also import and edit .ibl, .igs, .txt, and .csv files containing point data that defines discrete curve sets. The curves are created in a 3D sketch and are fully editable in the SOLIDWORKS application. You can create surfaces from these curves, using features such as lofts and boundary surfaces.

Mesh/Cloud/File

Select a mesh, sub-mesh, or point cloud. If you select Discrete under Creation Method, click Browse and select an .ibl, .igs, .txt, or .csv file.

Creation Method

Discrete Creates a discrete curve set from a file you import. Select an .ibl, .igs, .txt, or .csv file.
CSVfile_Curves.gif
Section Curve Creates section curves from the intersection of a series of planes and a mesh or point cloud.
CurveWiz_Scurve.gif
Boundary Curve Creates a curve along the mesh boundary. A boundary forms along boundary edges. ScanTo3D can create boundary curves only along boundary edges. You can smooth the mesh boundary with the Smoothing PropertyManager in the Mesh Prep Wizard. Video: Smoothing a Mesh Boundary.
CurveWiz_Bcurve.gif

Section Plane Parameters (Section Curves Only)

PM_reverse_direction.gif Section Plane Select a pair of points, a plane, or an existing curve (so you can create section curves perpendicular to it). Click Reverse Direction , if necessary, to switch the direction in which the section curves are created.
Two points selected for Section Plane define a vector

CurveWiz_SecPlane_Sel2Points.gif
Selected Point on Start Plane select_vertex.png
Selecting a pair of points defines a vector. The software creates intermediate section planes perpendicular to the vector starting from the selected Point on Start Plane select_vertex.png.
select_vertex.png Point on Start Plane Select a mesh vertex, sketch point on the mesh, curve vertex, or model vertex.
PM_distance_nonum.gif Plane Distance Sets the distance between section planes.
pattern_linear_count.png Intermediate Section Planes  

Creation Parameters

You must first select a curve in Editing Curve, then adjust the Curve Fit or modify the curve's shape using Edit Tools.

Curve Fit

Curve Fit Adjusts curve fitting tolerance. Move the slider to the left to sample more vertices or points, making the curve fit more tightly to the mesh or cloud. Move it to the right to loosen the curve fit.

Video: Adjusting the Curve Fit Tolerance The example shows the curve loosening as you move the slider from left to right.

Editing Curve Lists the section or boundary curves. Select a curve from the list, then adjust the Curve Fit or modify the curve's shape using Edit Tools.

Edit Tools

Points and vertices you select are projected back to the curve's plane. Example using Add Point PM_AddPoint_CurveWiz.gif: Video: Projecting Points to the Curve's Plane.
PM_AddPoint_CurveWiz.gif Add Point (Section curves only.) Adds points that refine the curve position. Select mesh vertices to add curve-defining points.

Video: Adding Points to Refine a Curve

PM_DeletePoint_CurveWiz.gif Delete Point Deletes points used to create the curve. You can create a curve which more accurately represents the designer's intent by removing points or vertices related to noise in the scanned data.

Select a curve in Editing Curve, click Delete Point PM_DeletePoint_CurveWiz.gif, then select points to delete that were created on the mesh vertices to refine the curve. Deleting points changes the curve's shape.

Video: Deleting Points to Refine a Curve

PM_BreakCurve_CurveWiz.gif Break Curve Adds and displays break points on the curve where two curves connect. You can set the connectivity at break points to be Contact, Tangent, or Smooth (curvature continuous).

Video: Changing Break Points on a Curve Example shows break point changing from Contact, to Tangent, to Smooth.
PM_TrimCurve_CurveWiz.gif Trim Curve (Section curves only). Trims the selected curve.

Video: Trimming a Curve