Part ProjectionOnSurface

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Thickness

CompCompoundTools

Part

Part ProjectionOnSurface
Menu location
Part → Create projection on surface...
Workbenches
Part
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
0.19
See also
None

Description

Part ProjectionOnSurface is used to project a Shape on top of a surface from another Shape; this can be used to project a logo or text message (see Draft ShapeString) onto curved surfaces to create interesting effects.

This tool can project the entire face, or only a wire or edge of a Shape. The result can be a new face or wire on the surface, or even a projection solid, which can be used in a boolean cut.

Projection on a curved surface

Usage

1. Make sure you have at least two objects in your document; the "source" object that you wish to project, and the "target" object where the projection will be made.
2. Click on Projection on surface to launch a task panel with various options.
3. Click on Select projection surface, and then click on the "target" surface where the projection will be created.
4. Then click on the specific button to choose the type of subelement that you want to add to your projection object.
   • Add face: select a source face.
   • Add wire: select a source edge. The tool will extract the entire wire to which the edge belongs. For example, by choosing a single edge of a polygon, it will project the entire polygon.
   • Add edge: select a source edge. The tool will only project the selected edge.
   • Once a button is depressed, pick a subelement in the 3D view. If you wish to deselect it, hold Ctrl and pick the same element again.
   • When you are satisfied with your selection, press the same Add ... button again.
5. Then click on the specific radiobutton to choose the type of projection shape to create.
   • Show all: it will show all types of closed wires and edges on the target surface. If a "face" subelement was selected in the previous step, a preview of a solid object extruded from the projection will be shown.
   • Show faces: it will show a preview of a filled face on the target surface. This will only work if you selected a "face" subelement in the previous step; if you selected a closed "wire", only the edges will be created as projection; if you selected "edges", only those edges will be created as projection.
   • Show edges: it will show a preview of the edges on the target surface. This will work whether you added a "face", "wire", or "edge" subelement in the previous step; even if you added a "face", only the edges will be created as projection.
6. Press the OK to complete the operation and produce the new projection object.

Notes:

1. Extrude height is the value the solid is extrude along the reversed projection direction.
2. Solid depth is the value the projection object is moved along the projection direction.
3. The projection direction
   • When entering the function, the current camera direction is used for the projection direction
   • To change the direction, use the camera direction to get your projection direction and press "Get current camera direction"
   • Or press X:,Y:,Z: to toggle the direction x=1,x=-1,y=1,y=-1,z=1,z=-1

Options

1. Extrude height
   • The height value a valid projection solid is extruded along the reversed projection direction
2. Solid depth
   • The depth value a valid projection object is moved along the projection direction
3. Camera / projection direction
   • "Get current camera direction" sets the current camera view for the projection direction
   • X: toggle the projection direction between x=1 and x=-1
   • Y: toggle the projection direction between y=1 and y=-1
   • Z: toggle the projection direction between z=1 and z=-1

Limitations

The projection algorithm sometimes is not able to create a valid projection face. If this happens a solid also can't be created.

If this happens:

1. Check if your starting face is valid.
2. Check if the projection direction is valid. (Can the face be projected to surface? Or does it not hit the surface?)
3. Try to use the "Show edges" option. Are the edges projected well? Try to create a face with the edges by hand.

Links

• "Project faces onto bended surface" Forum thread

Examples

Thickness

CompCompoundTools

Part

Part

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• Creation and modification: Extrude, Revolve, Mirror, Fillet, Chamfer, Make face from wires, Ruled Surface, Loft, Sweep, Section, Cross sections, 3D Offset, 2D Offset, Thickness, Projection on surface, Attachment

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