Surface / Curve > Assemble Surface (Trim Menu)

Using this command, a surface can be created by semi-automatically assembling multiple already existing objects. The source objects are consumed in the process.

If, on the other hand, you want to create a new surface step by step along drawing objects, Construction Aid objects, and/or Snap Guide objects without consuming those objects, use Draw > Polygon > Contour Tracking Surface instead.

Any linear standard object or Snapping Guide object can be identified. This can be a line, a circle arc, an ellipse arc, or a curve.

If you need to temporarily close gaps or add outline elements for executing this command, please use the Dynamic Snapping Guide.

The position at which the object is identified (the "ID point"), affects the rest of the command. It determines which end of the object is the "Beginning" and thus defines the orientation in which the surface is continued.

After the identification of each object, the application automatically searches for a closed outline of maximum length and will highlight the current result. Once it reaches a gap or a point were multiple ways are possible, it stops. Now the user can identify the object to continue with.

Use the buttons in the Parameter Window to select for each individual reference point which types of outlines shall be recognized:

Outlines of Construction Aid objects will be recognized.

Outlines of Dynamic Snapping Guide objects will be recognized.

Outlines of normal drawing objects will be recognized.

After identifying all objects (at least one), finish the identification by clicking the right mouse button. If the Workflow Manager is active and appears, choose Finish Command in it. Now, the assembled surface will be created.

In this command's parameters, you can choose whether the result shall be automatically simplified, and set the corresponding tolerances (see "Simplify Curve / Surface" dialog). The option "Trim Objects" determines whether objects aside of open sections are trimmed or simply connected by a line. You can also choose whether to maintain all local and outline attributes from the participating objects or not. Point attributes will never be maintained. Read more about Attributes.

An assembled surface can consist of up to 1000 elements. If this limit is reached during entry, no further identification will be accepted. The surface created is assigned to the current layer. It also contains a reference to the current pen.

A quick reminder: All point entries can be undone step by step using Previous Point (ESC) or by pressing the ESC key. This enables incorrect entries to easily be corrected without having to identify all objects again.