Other surface types

As an alternative to redesigning existing objects within the program, surface data may be transferred from another system into PowerShape. Various interface standards are supported, and surfaces read in this way may be kept in a new model and edited to correct errors and design flaws.

Supported surface types include:

• NURBS surfaces:

  Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surfaces are a powerful way of representing surfaces internally in a CAD program, but users may find it difficult to understand and control surfaces using the complex array of knots, weights, and so on. Power surfaces are much easier to control.

  NURBS surfaces can be read from other CAD systems. You can also choose to create NURBS surfaces in PowerShape when using the various surface creation options available in the Smart Surfacer.

  General edits and trimming commands are available for NURBS surfaces, however you can also convert them to Power surfaces to enable comprehensive editing.

• BCP surfaces:

  Rational Bézier Control Point (BCP) surfaces can be read from other CAD systems. If you import a BCP surface, you must convert it to a Power Surface to enable editing.

Note: You can convert between surface types.