Pushing / Pulling a Mesh

This task shows how to locally modify a polygonal mesh by pushing or pulling a point on the mesh.
Open the PushPull1.CATPart document.

  1. Click the Push/Pull icon .

    The Push Pull dialog box is displayed.

  2. Define the profile of the sculpted area:

    • Smooth
    • Sharp
    • Circular
    The sculpted area can be defined by:

    • a point

    1. Select a point on the mesh.

    2. Define the influence area around the point:

      • Check the Radius button to define a constant influence area (that is the circle around the center point) and display the magenta arrow in the geometry.

      • Use the spinners to define the push/pull magnitude.

      • Use the arrow to define the push/pull direction.

    1. Click Apply to preview the push/pull.

      The Radius button is grayed out.
    • one or more curves forming a closed loop
    • one or more curves and a part of the mesh boundary
    • the mesh boundary
    Make sure the Radius button is unchecked.

    1. Select the curve(s) or mesh boundary (hold the Ctrl key if you selected several curves).
      In our scenario, we selected three curves.

    2. Click a point inside the curve(s) or boudary.

    3. Click Apply.

  3. Define the offset:

    • Check the Show button to display the cyan arrow in the geometry.

    • Use either the spinners or the arrow to define the offset.
     
    Point selection   Three-curve selection
       
    You can click Refine to refine the sculpt by adding triangles, therefore increasing the mesh resolution.  

    Point selection with Smooth profile

    		 Point selection with Circular profile
       
    Three-curve selection with Sharp profile Three-curve selection with Circular profile
       
    One curve & mesh boundary selection with Smooth profile

    One curve & mesh boundary selection with Sharp profile
       

    Mesh boundary selection with Smooth profile

    Mesh boundary selection with Sharp profile

  4. Click OK to exit the command.

    You can define the offset direction using:

    • either the spinners or the cyan arrow to define a value for X, Y, and Z.
      Here is an example with X= 10, Y=3, and Z=25.

    • the compass: Adjust the compass to the desired direction by moving the compass on the selected mesh, then right-click the offset arrow and select Align to compass contextual menu.
      The offset direction is now aligned with the compass direction.