Simplify Part Representation

The Simplify part representation tool simplifies a curve or a surface.

The tool will attempt to fix the following:
  • simplification of rational and non-rational B-spline surfaces to analytic surfaces (plane, cylinder, sphere, cone, torus) where possible
  • simplification of rational and non-rational B-spline curve to analytic curves (line, circle, ellipse)
  • simplification of swept and spun surfaces to analytic surfaces (plane, cylinder, sphere, cone, torus) where possible
  • simplification of surface parameter curves controlled by given options

On the Transform tab in the Repair group, click the  Simplify Part Representation icon.

Figure 1. The Simplify Part Representation dialog.


Advanced settings

Simplify B-surfaces to analytic / swept / spun surfaces
Any B-surfaces are simplified where possible to planes, cylinders, cones, spheres or tori where possible.
Simplify swept / spun surfaces to analytic surfaces
Any swept or spun surfaces are simplified to planes, cylinders, cones, spheres or tori.
Simplify B-curves to analytic curves
Any B-curves are simplified to lines, circles or ellipses.
Simplify rational B-geometry to non-rational geometry
Any rational B-surfaces are simplified to non-rational B-surfaces. Non-rational B-surfaces have fewer degrees of freedom than rational B-surfaces.
Reduce high-degree and trim large B-geometry
Any high-degree B-surfaces are trimmed or simplified to cubic B-surfaces.
Simplify to constant U or V curves
The tool will attempt to simplify SP-curves1 to be constant in one parameter (U or V).
Merge multiple segments
The tool will attempt to merge multiple curve segments into a single segment.
Operating precision (tolerance)
The tolerance for replacement geometry.
Specify edge tolerance
To be more consistent with the surfaces in the model, it may be the case that the distance changes in the surface geometry are more important than the exact locations of the edges. If this option is selected, a more lenient tolerance for edge geometry can be specified for Edge repair tolerance.
Edge repair tolerance
This is an optional tolerance to permit greater latitude in repairing edges.
Convert surfaces to blend surfaces
The surfaces are cleaned by attempting to simplify to blends.
Constrain surface normals along smooth edges
The tool will attempt to ensure that smooth edges will remain smooth2 since the maximum deviation between the normals for these faces will be equal to the surface normal tolerance.
Surface normal tolerance (degrees)
The angular tolerance for constraining surface normals in degrees.
1 They are surface parameter curves and are defined only in terms of the U and V parameters of the surface they belong to.
2 Edges between faces where there is a smooth transition from face to face.