Surfaces can be altered for use in Boolean operations or for exportation to a CAD package.
Convert surfaces into a shell object
- Make sure the surfaces are all facing outward.(See Change the orientation of surfaces for more information.)
- Pick the surfaces you want to combine into a shell. The surfaces must together define a closed space with no gaps.
- Choose Surface Edit > Stitch > Shell Stitch
. The prompt line provides feedback on the result of the operation. For example: “Created 2 shells with 0 boundaries (0 non-manifold).”
If some boundaries are left open, small red arrows point to them.
Note:Depending on how you set the options, a shell may not match the original surfaces exactly. In this case, unstitching will not produce surfaces that match the originals exactly either.
Convert a shell object into its separate surfaces
- Pick the shell object.
- Choose Surface Edit > Stitch > Shell Unstitch
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What if...?
- I can’t make a shell object because of gaps between the surfaces?
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- You can use the Align tool to make the surface edges match exactly.
See Align curves and surfaces with continuity
- You can change the tolerance governing how close surface edges must be. In the option box, turn off Use construction options and set the Tolerance value.
- I can’t stitch surfaces together again after scaling them?
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If you stitch an object, then scale it, then unstitch it, you may not be able to re-stitch the object. This is because the scaling operation can increase the gaps between surfaces beyond the current tolerances.