When you import an SAT file or convert an object in 3ds Max to Body Object format and then select it, the first rollout on the Modify panel is Editable Body Object. These controls allow you to perform available operations at the various sub-object levels, including flipping faces, welding and exploding (un-welding) edges, and more.
The Body Object has no sub-object history and can be edited in much the same way an Editable Mesh can be edited. Imported SAT files produce Body Objects. When you convert a 3ds Max or other Body Object into an Body Object, you lose the construction history for that object.
[sub-object levels]- Buttons for accessing the Edge, Face, and Element sub-object levels of the Body Object. The Operand level is available only from the modifier stack.
- [# sub-objects selected]
- This read-only field after the sub-object buttons shows the number and type of selected sub-objects.
- Face Flip
- Opens the Face Flipping/Visibility rollout with options for selecting duplicate faces, flipping faces, and setting face visibility.
- Delete Sel
- Deletes selected faces or elements. You can also delete the selection by pressing the Delete key.
- Weld Selected
- Joins the selected faces or edges by combining coincident or nearly coincident edges into a single edge.
- Weld All
- Combines all coincident edges.
- Explode Sel
- Breaks up selected faces into separate elements that can be manipulated independently. Available only at the Face and Element sub-object levels, with at least one sub-object selected.
- Explode All
- Breaks up all faces into separate elements that can be manipulated independently.
- Un-Trim
- Removes the trimming of faces that are trimmed by curves.
- Clean Edges
- Removes edges that are interior to a face and do not trim the face.
- Welding
- Opens the Welding rollout with advanced options.
[information display]
The bottom part of the rollout displays information about the selected object. When joining faces or welding, use these values to determine the results of your operations.
- # Edges
- The number of edges in the object.
- # Vertices
- The number of vertices in the object.
- # Open Edges
- The number of open edges in the object.
An open edge is an unsewn edge with only one attached face. This is an important indicator for identifying closed solids. If the Open E display value is greater than 0, the volume is not closed. Also see the Volumes display, following.
Note: Sometimes objects are meant to be surface models and thus have open edges. - # Faces
- The number of faces in the object.
- # Elements
- The number of elements in the object.
- # Volumes
- The number of closed volumes in the object. If an object is a valid closed solid, it has at least one volume.