Reducing meshed objects

[nickz]

Hello all,
I have decided to emphasize a useful bit out of http://www.dynoinsight.com/phpBB3/viewt ... f=3&t=2871 discussion.

When there are some problems with a large object one of the first things to do is to reduce the size.

The most reliable way to do it is to use IMeshEx.Extract() operation, which will either copy or replicate a problem area into a new mesh

Another way is to use the Current Object > Clipping Planes > Cut Object button operation. It can divide the object in half. Use the Location and Direction controls to position the plane. Changing sign of coordinates of the normal direction to the opposite will cut off the other half of the object.

Cut the object in half. See if the problem still exists. If it disappeared take the other half and divide it again. So any large mesh can be reduced to few simplexes in 4-5 steps.

More precisely simplexes can be deleted in KC window (not Modelling Studio) like described in Mesh Modification at the bottom of http://www.dynoinsight.com/Help/Compone ... ccess.aspx

There is also the http://www.dynoinsight.com/Help/Geom/Op ... ation.aspx cut operation which allows extraction a specific part of surface by hand. For this the mesh has to be nice along the cutting line.

For completeness: Reduction can also be performed using the Planar Boolean operations (http://www.dynoinsight.com/Help/Geom/Ob ... oolOp.aspx ). See how it works in the PlanarOps sample. They are slightly more demanding on the quality of the mesh.

The full Boolean operations sometimes can be useful too. But assuming that there are problems with mesh they may not work, as they are the most demanding.

See also: http://www.dynoinsight.com/phpBB3/viewt ... f=2&t=2875

Cheers
Nick

[nickz]

In 4.3.3751 update we have added two new methods to IMeshEx : Extract() and Merge(). The Extract() is ideal for reducing mesh
Nick