Surface Boundaries Diagnostic tool

The Surface Boundaries Diagnostic tool is used to check that all surfaces in the model have correct and valid boundaries, both external and internal. The most common cause of errors is that the start of one curve does not match with the end of the next curve in a trimming loop. If problems are detected, check the model in your original CAD system and/or the parameters used to export the model.

To access this tool, import a geometry file, e.g. IGES (*.igs), STEP (*.stp, *.step), or Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b, etc.) using > Import, and then select (Geometry tab > Modify panel > Surface > Surface Boundaries Diagnostic).

Dialog elements

Check outer boundaries

Select this option if you want the diagnostic to search for surfaces where the external boundary does not form a closed loop.

Check inner boundaries

Select this option if you want the diagnostic to search for surfaces with an internal boundary that does not form a closed loop.

Display or text

Specifies whether to show the diagnostics results as a graphical representation or a text report (not available for all diagnostics).

Display mesh/model

Specifies whether to display only the diagnostic results, or to display the model along with the diagnostic results.

Place results in diagnostics layer

Specifies whether to store the results of the mesh/surface diagnostic in a layer, separate from other layers. If you select this option, the diagnostic command automatically creates a diagnostic layer if none existed previously.

Restrict to visible entities

When this option is off, the diagnostic check is performed on all instances of the relevant entity when you display the diagnostic plot. Every time you make a change to the model, the displayed diagnostic plot is automatically updated. For large models, the automatic update of the diagnostic plot as you make each change to the model can lead to considerable delays, particularly when editing the mesh to resolve element overlaps or intersections.

When this option is on, the diagnostic check is performed only on visible entities. By hiding parts of the model and leaving only areas of interest visible, you can increase the plot update speed and work more efficiently.

Select Restrict to visible entities, which is normally used in combination with Place results in diagnostics layer, and click Show. With the problem elements on the Diagnostic results layer, expand the layer. Each time Apply is clicked on a mesh editing tool while cleaning up problem elements, the diagnostic will be recalculated on only the visible elements.