Arch MeshToShape

Split Mesh

Select non-solid meshes

Arch

Arch MeshToShape
Menu location
Arch → Utilities → Mesh to Shape
Workbenches
Arch
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
-
See also
Arch SplitMesh, Arch RemoveShape

Description

Arch MeshToShape converts a selected Mesh (Mesh Feature) object into a Shape (Part Feature) object.

This tool is optimized for objects with flat faces (no curves). The corresponding tool Part ShapeFromMesh from the Part Workbench might be more suited for objects that contain curved surfaces.

Usage

1. Select a mesh object.
2. Press the Mesh to Shape entry in Arch → Utilities → Mesh to Shape.

Scripting

See also: Arch API and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.

This tool can be used in macros and from the Python console by using the following function:

new_obj = meshToShape(obj, mark=True, fast=True, tol=0.001, flat=False, cut=True)

The above code snippet converts the given obj (a mesh), into a shape, joining coplanar facets.

• If mark is True, non-solid objects will be marked in red.
• If fast is True, it uses a faster algorithm by building a shell from the facets then removing splitter.
• tol is the tolerance used when converting mesh segments to wires.
• If flat is True, it will force the wires to be perfectly planar to be sure they can be converted into faces, but this might leave gaps in the final shell.
• If cut is True, holes in faces are made by subtraction.

Example:

import Arch, Mesh, BuildRegularGeoms

Box = FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.addObject("Mesh::Cube", "Cube")
Box.Length = 1000
Box.Width = 2000
Box.Height = 1000
FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.recompute()

new_obj = Arch.meshToShape(Box)

Split Mesh

Select non-solid meshes

Arch

Arch

• Elements: Wall, Structure, Curtain Wall, Window, Roof, Space, Stairs, Equipment, Frame, Fence, Truss, Profile, Pipe, Pipe Connector
• Reinforcements: Straight Rebar, U-Shape Rebar, L-Shape Rebar, Stirrup, Bent-Shape Rebar, Helical Rebar, Column Reinforcement, Beam Reinforcement, Slab Reinforcement, Footing Reinforcement, Custom Rebar
• Panels: Panel, Panel Cut, Panel Sheet, Nest
• Materials: Material, Multi-Material
• Organization: Building Part, Project, Site, Building, Level, External reference, Section Plane, Schedule
• Axes: Axis, Axes system, Grid

---

• Modification: Cut with plane, Add component, Remove component, Survey

---

• Utilities: Component, Clone component, Split Mesh, Mesh to Shape, Select non-manifold meshes, Remove Shape from Arch, Close Holes, Merge Walls, Check, Toggle IFC Brep flag, 3 Views from mesh, Create IFC spreadsheet, Toggle Subcomponents
• Additional: Preferences, Import Export Preferences (IFC, DAE, OBJ, JSON, 3DS, SHP), IfcOpenShell, IfcPlusPlus, Arch API

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

---

• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web

---

• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

---

• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub