The Modify Surface dialog box provides powerful tools with which you can modify surfaces by manipulating the mesh curves which define the surfaces. To modify a surface, select any face of a part to display the default mesh of the untrimmed surface underlying that face. The edges of the untrimmed surface may be larger than the boundaries of the part. The mesh lines are shown in blue by default. If you want to modify a surface which does not have a mesh, you can create one using the Add Curve function in the Modify Surface dialog box. To open Modify Surface dialog box:
1. Activate the Surfacing module.
a. Click File > Modules. The Modules dialog box opens.
b. On the Modules pane, click Surfacing under Licensed.
2. Click Surfacing and then, in the Advanced Surfacing group, click Modify Surface. The Modify Surface dialog box opens.
The Modify Surface dialog box contains the following options:
• Face: Select the face to modify.
• Add Curve: Add a curve to a surface mesh.
• Del Curve: Remove a curve from a surface mesh.
• Chg Node: Select the node to modify using the surface modification method below.
• Back: Step back through the list of successive modifications. If you keep clicking Back, you will return to the original state of the surface.
• Method: Choose the surface modification method from the cascade menu:
◦ SfNor+Dist: the surface normal and a distance.
◦ Dir+Dist: specify a direction using the Direction 3D tool and a distance.
◦ Normal: specify the normal direction of the surface at the node.
◦ NorWeight: specify a normal direction together with a weight factor.
◦ RelCoord: specify a point using a relative coordinate system.
• Redo Blends: Select the blended edges to be maintained on completion of the surface modification. (This works in the same way as in the Modify 3D menu.)
• Multiview: Split the screen to show different orthogonal views of the object.
• Chk&Fix: Toggle the part checking functions on or off. (This works in the same way as in the Modify 3D menu.)
• Surface Analysis: Use the Surface Analysis tool to analyze the quality of the surfaces.
When modifying surfaces by changing the position of node points, a node is defined as the intersection point of any two curves making up the surface mesh.
When repositioning a node, you are required to specify a point in 3D space for the new position of that node using various methods. For example, you can drag the node using the mouse, or enter coordinates in the user input line. Creo Elements/Direct Modeling provides dynamic feedback information so that the direction you have chosen, and an outline of the new shape of the curve, are shown when moving the node.
If you have difficulties in locating the new position of a node, a Multiview mode is provided which shows three orthogonal views of the part, and a general view.
Once you have opened the Surface Modification menu, you can continue manipulating surface nodes as required; each modification is performed in sequence. If you make an error, you can use the Back function to step back through successive modifications. When you have made all your changes, the modified surface is re-aligned with the part from which it originated.
Modify Surface. The Modify Surface dialog box opens.