Using Tangent Select Facets to Decimate a Facet Group

You can use the Tangent Select Facets tool to select facets that are tangent from a seed facet.

1. Using the same graphics mesh body, piggy_bank.STL, zoom to the right ear of the model.

   

2. Click Insert > Mesh > Decimate Mesh.
3. In the graphics area:
   1. Right-click and click Tangent Select Facets.
   2. Select one or more facets in an area where you want to reduce the facets in the ear. These facets are the seed facets.

   

4. In the Tangent Select Facets dialog box:
   1. Leave Angle Tolerance at its default value.

      A facet is included in a facet group only if the angle between its normal and the normal of a seed facet is less than or equal to the angle tolerance. You can adjust the Angle Tolerance by moving the slider or clicking the Up and Down arrows.

   2. Click Adjacency Limit and enter 10.

      Only facets within the specified number from a seed facet are included in the facet group. For example, in this case, the tool only selects facets within 10 facets of the seed facet. You can click the Up or Down arrow to adjust how far to propagate adjacent facets to the seed facet.

      

   3. Click to close the Tangent Select Facets dialog box.

   The Decimation PropertyManager displays a total facet count for Facet Group <1>.

5. Reduce this facet count by half in the PropertyManager:
   1. For Percentage Reduced By , enter 50.
   2. Set Maximum Distance Deviation to 25mm.

      This option sets the maximum deviation tolerance between the original and resulting mesh. Increasing this value allows for more notable decimation.

   3. Click Calculate.

      A progress dialog reports decimation status. When the process is complete, a preview of the decimated body generates.

   4. Click .