Define the Surface Properties of a Surface Model

About surface properties

  • The surface has a direction which in a "normal" part is always outwards.
  • The surface has an identifier (id) given by the program and, if necessary, the user can give the surface a name.
    • The name of the surface can be used, for example, in product automation systems when adding constraints.
  • The surfaces are so-called semi-transparent:
    • The outside of the surface is visible.
    • The inside is invisible, that is, you can see through the surface as if it did not exist.
  • In the settings, you can choose whether the surfaces are displayed as semi-transparent or whether both sides of the surface are always displayed.

Surface direction and side

  • When adding a surface, you also select the direction of the surface normal.
    • The surface normal is illustrated with a blue arrow and it points to the outside of the surface.
    • You can reverse the normal direction when you add a surface.
    • Later, you can change the direction of the surface with the Flip direction function Flip a Face's Direction.
    • The outside of the surface is visible and the inside is hidden.

As the default, the outsides of the surfaces are displayed in a part.

The sides of the surface is important when a volume is created from the surface or its line of surfaces.

Surface visibility

By default, surfaces are only visible from the outside. When modeling a part using surfaces, it is a good idea to make both sides of the surfaces visible. Set both sides visible.
  • File > User Preferences > Drawings, Models > View tab, Model group > Show both surface sides always.

In order not to slow down the processing of a large assembly model, it is a good idea to turn off the Show both surface sides always setting when surface modeling is finished.

  • On the left, the default, i.e. only the outside of the surfaces is visible, and on the right, when both sides of the surface are visible.

Name the surface

  • You can use the name of the surface in the Product Automation System.
  1. Select the face.
  2. Select the context-sensitive function Properties.
    • The program opens the dialog box Name?.
  3. Enter a name for the surface.
  4. OK.
Note: Move the cursor over the surface and stop it for a moment. In this case, the program displays a tip text whose content is
  • Name (if the surface is given a name).
  • Part name.
  • Shape. For example, Plane, Sphere, Cylinder, Spline.
  • Id (i.e. the "address" of the surface used by the program).