Inverting Curves and Surfaces

You can invert and align the normals and directions of selected curves and surfaces. The Invert command is available in two variants:

  • Invert (Feature): A Feature element is inserted in the tree and the original elements are set to Hide mode.
  • Invert (Datum): The inverted elements remain datum elements.

This task shows you how to:


Before you begin: Open a Part with a single-cell or multi-cell curve or surface.

Invert Curves

  1. From the Modification section of the action bar, click Invert (Feature) .
    The Invert dialog box appears.
  2. Select Invert direction in the Mode list.
  3. Select the curves to be modified.
    The curve direction is displayed by vectors if Display vectors is selected.

    Note: In case of constructions on top, this option is not available for subsequent edition, as updates cannot be guaranteed to be free of errors.
  4. Click Apply.
    The direction of all selected curves is inverted. A Multi-Output feature result is displayed in the tree.

  5. Select Align directions in the Mode list.
  6. Select a curve as Reference.
  7. Click Apply to align the direction of all selected curves to the direction of the curve selected as Reference.

Invert Surfaces

  1. Select Change orientation in the Mode list.
  2. Select the surfaces to be modified.
    Normals and UV directions are displayed if Display vectors is selected.

  3. Select Invert shell normal.
    The normals of all selected surfaces are inverted. A Multi-Output feature result is displayed in the tree.

    Note: In case of constructions on top, this option is not available for subsequent edition, as updates cannot be guaranteed to be free of errors.
  4. Select Align normals to surface normal in the Mode list.
  5. Select the normal of a surface as Reference.
  6. Click Apply to align the normals of all selected surfaces in direction of the normal of the surface selected as Reference.
  7. Select Align UV in the Mode list.
    The Reference surface is still selected.
  8. Click Apply to align the U and V direction to the U and V direction of the Reference surface.