Create Surfaces from Objects (Concept)

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Create Surfaces from Objects

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Concept

Procedure

Quick Reference

The DELOBJ system variable controls whether the objects you select are automatically deleted when the 3D object is created.

Convert Objects to Surfaces

To convert any of the following objects into surfaces, use the CONVTOSURFACE command:

2D solids
Meshes
Regions
Bodies
Open, zero-width polylines with thickness
Lines with thickness
Arcs with thickness
Planar 3D faces

You can also create surfaces from 3D solids that have curved faces by exploding them. To convert objects such as cylinders, use the EXPLODE command.

When you convert mesh objects to surfaces, the shape of the new solid object approximates, but does not exactly duplicate, the original mesh object. You can control the differentiation somewhat by specifying whether the result is smooth or faceted (SMOOTHMESHCONVERT). You can also specify whether the resulting faces are merged (optimized).

Create a Planar Surface

Create a flat, planar surface, use the PLANESURF command. You can use either of the following options:

Select one or more objects that form one or more enclosed areas
Specify the opposite corners of a rectangle

When you specify the corners of the surface, the surface is created parallel to the workplane.