How to Use Surface Modelling in BricsCAD Mechanical
Quick answer: BricsCAD Mechanical provides a powerful toolset for surface modeling and converting 3D solids to surfaces and back again, found on the Surface tab of the Mechanical workspace ribbon. Surface modeling and solid modeling share similar editing and 3D constraint tools, confirming the toolset covered on this hub’s solid modeling page, the key difference being that Extrude Surface, Revolve Surface, Loft Surface, and Sweep Surface can create surface entities from closed 2D profiles and also accept non-closed profiles.
Other Ways to Create a Surface
The Region tool creates a region entity from a closed 2D profile, and regions can be stitched together into a larger surface. You can also extract one or more adjacent faces from a 3D solid or surface, or explode a 3D solid into its set of surfaces and regions.
Surface Properties
Access or modify a selected surface’s properties in the Properties panel, across three main tabs.
General: properties applicable to almost any entity type.
3D Visualization: shows the surface’s current Material, changeable via a dropdown.
Geometry: surface-specific characteristics.
- Faces: how many faces the surface contains.
- Watertight: whether the surface is watertight.
- Lumps: how many lumps display.
- U Isolines / V Isolines: how many horizontal and vertical isolines display on the surface, directly editable in the Properties panel (setting both to 3 shows fewer contour lines than setting both to 6, for example). Isolines only show in the Wireframe, 2D Wireframe, and X-Ray visual styles.
- UCS Elevation: the elevation of the surface’s upper and lower extent relative to the User Coordinate System.
- Measurements: the surface’s area, perimeter, and similar measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a surface from a 2D profile that isn’t closed? Yes, Extrude Surface, Revolve Surface, Loft Surface, and Sweep Surface all accept non-closed profiles, unlike their solid modeling equivalents.
In which visual styles are surface isolines actually visible? Wireframe, 2D Wireframe, and X-Ray only.
Can I turn a 3D solid into a set of surfaces? Yes, either extract one or more adjacent faces, or explode the solid into its full set of surfaces and regions.
How do I combine multiple region entities into a larger surface? Stitch them together, provided they form a watertight boundary.