Tessellated solid

Module(s): 3D Modeling

You can use the Tessellated Solid tool to draw a tessellated solid between open or closed contours. The number of points or corners on the boundary lines may differ; the function can insert new points to smooth the sides of the solids.

Note: At least two connecting lines between each of the two contours are required.

Note: The start and end points of the connecting lines must be end points of 3D lines which are part of the respective contours (e.g. corners of outlines or of circles or curves which have been exploded into polylines).
When the program issues a message indicating that a line is neither contour line nor connecting line, you might might have snapped midpoints instead of end points.
Check the setting of the Point snap options in the Point snap area of the Point snap options. If necessary, clear the Midpoint, Element and Grid point check boxes and draw the connecting lines again.

To create a tessellated solid

• Draw the contours and connecting lines first.

1. Click Tessellated Solid (How).
   

   Activate Tessellated Solid in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Bonus Tools 3D Modeling

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   3D Modeling

2. Use one of the following options to identify the contours and connecting lines for the tessellated solid:
3. Selection based on contours and connecting lines
   • The position of the contours is unimportant as long as they lie on a plane and do not intersect.
   • The contours must be either all open or all closed (and planar).
   • Select the contours (using the bracket feature) and then the connecting lines.
   • To make the grid more regular, insert extra points.
4. Handle horizontal lines as contours and others as connecting lines
   • All the contours must lie parallel to the base plane and must be either all open or all closed (and planar).
   • The contours and connecting lines are activated simultaneously. The program differentiates between contours and connecting lines by checking whether an edge is horizontal or not.
   • To make the grid more regular, insert extra points.

Example