Converting a Mesh/Scan/Cloud of Points into a Polyhedral Feature

You can convert a Mesh/Scan/Cloud of Points into the target geometric representation, that is a polyhedral feature.

There are minimized model transformations and the modeling interactions are simplified since you remain in the same app (Civil Engineering 3D Design, Generative Shape Design, ...).

Before you begin: Verify that the mesh is clean because the polyhedral feature creation requires a mesh without defects.

If the conversion to polyhedral feature fails because the quality of the mesh is not sufficient, a message explains the defect and eventually proposes that you repair the mesh in Mesh Preparation.

  1. To convert the mesh into a polyhedral feature, select the mesh.

    The input is the current object:

  2. Click Enable for Engineering 3D Design in the context menu.

    The PartBody contains:

    • The mesh is colored as clay in the 3D area.
    • A new polyhedral feature Body from (name of themesh), with the polyhedral mask displayed on it, is created in the active set and displayed in gray.

    As a mesh can be composite, that is composed of several cells, the result is also composite. Here is the mapping between initial and resulting objects:

    Initial data type Conversion result
    Cloud of points -
    Grid of points Grid of points
    Set of grids Set of grids
    Mesh Mesh and sub mesh are converted as a mesh. If a mesh is split into several disconnected zones, each zone is converted.
    Scan

    is converted as a polyline. The conversion generates a very basic feature from the geometry: A scan is converted in a wire of one edge if open or in a wire of two edges if closed.

    Vectors -
    Set of scans is converted in as many polylines it contains scans.

    Additional information:

    • Multiselection is possible.
    • Only active/activated parts of the mesh are converted.
    • Neither color nor information on points or cells are converted.
    • The resulting polyhedral feature is aggregated by a Generative Shape Design feature datum.
    • The resulting polyhedral feature does not have specific tabs in its Properties page such as:
      • Display modes
      • Information
      • Cells
    Note: Some display modes such as bounding box highlight or LOD management (for light visualization) are managed by the standard General > Display preferences.

    If there is an update of the mesh data, you must convert this new mesh and use the Replace command.

    After conversion, you can use seamlessly continuous geometry or polyhedral feature in a modeling app such as Generative Shape Design.

    Tip: For each app you use, verify the list of commands supporting polyhedral features, if any.