Creating a Subdivision Ring

You can create a component based on the shape of a ring, then customize that shape into a unique design.

  1. From the Subdivision section of the action bar, click Ring .
    A ring is displayed in the work area.
  2. Select a plane or planar face for the subdivision.

    Note: Repeatedly press Tab to cycle through the orientation of the subdivision on the various planes.

  3. Click in the work area to place the ring in the approximate location you want.
  4. Click in the text boxes and enter the number of subdivision in the mesh.


  5. Drag the arrows to define the inside and outside diameters.
  6. In the FreeForm dialog box, drag the Scale slider to scale the size of the subdivision body and click .
  7. Optional: Drag the Robot arrows to position the ring.
  8. Optional: Drag the mesh points and faces to customize the shape of the ring.

    To assist with selecting the mesh entities, the following options are available:

    • For faces, press i or o to select a face loop around the subdivision. Click near an edge of the face to select the direction of the loop.
    • For edges, press i to select edge rings around the subdivision, or press o to select edge loop around the subdivision.

    OptionDescription
    Knit to solid. Knits the current model to a solid.
    Note: For a surface primitive, Knit to solid is turned off by default.


    		Transparency. Sets the transparency of the subdivision.

    When Transparency is selected, a slider appears allowing you to set the transparency from 0 to 100 percent.

    Note: When the Transparency is not selected, the subdivision is 100 percent opaque.


    		Show surface only. Displays the mesh surface.


    		Show cage and surface. Displays the mesh cage and surface.


    		Show cage only. Displays the mesh cage.
    Show bounding box. Displays the outermost dimensions of the current active subdivision body.
    Select only visible elements. Filters out the mesh items in back, not visible in the display.


    		Select external geometry. Allows selection of geometry external to the subdivision environment.
    New selection. Enables a new selection.
    Note: This is applicable only for box selection.
    Add to selection. Adds any subsequent selection to any existing selection.
    Note:
    • Add to selection is applicable only for box selection.
    • Shift + box selection is the shortcut for this ability.
    Subtract from selection. Removes any subsequent selection from any existing selection.
    Note:
    • Subtract from selection is applicable only for box selection.
    • Alt + box selection is the shortcut for this ability.
    Any Entities. Selects any mesh entities.
    Vertices. Selects vertices.
    Edges. Selects edges.
    Faces. Selects faces.
    Note: Press o to select the faces around the subdivision. Click near an edge of the face, to select the direction of the loop.
    Edge Rings. Selects the ring edges of a loop.
    Note: Press i to select the ring around the subdivision.
    Edge Loops. Selects the edge of a loop.
    Face Loops. Selects the faces of a loop.
    Note: Press o to toggle the direction of the loop.


    		Exit the environment. Exits the environment.
  9. Click .