Part RefineShape

File:Part CreateSimpleCopy.svg Create simple copy

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Part

Part RefineShape
Menu location
Part → Create a copy → Refine Shape
Workbenches
Part
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
-
See also
SimpleCopy, TransformedCopy, ElementCopy, OpenSCAD RefineShapeFeature

Description

Part RefineShape produces a non-parametric copy with a refined shape, that is, with certain edges and faces cleaned up.

After certain boolean operations, like Part Union, some lines from the previous shapes main remain visible. This tool produces a copy of that boolean result, and cleans up those seams.

To produce other non-parametric copies use SimpleCopy, TransformedCopy, and ElementCopy.

Original boolean result (left), and refined shape copy (right).

Use

1. Select the shape to be cleaned.
2. Use the menu Part → Refine shape.

• A copy of the object is created and totally cleaned, the original object is rendered hidden.
• The newly created copy is independent of the original.
  In FreeCAD 0.19 the RefineShape feature defaults to a parametric (linked) copy. This behavior can be changed with ParametricRefine parameter described in Fine-tuning. introduced in version 0.19

Limitations

• The refinement algorithm only works on shells. Therefore it iterates over the shells of the input shape and then for each shell it creates a new shell with joined faces wherever possible. This means if your input shape is only a face, wire, edge or vertex then the algorithm does nothing.
• Opposed to RefineShapeFeature in OpenSCAD workbench, this feature won't update when the preceding shapes are changed.

Scripting

The Python command for refining a shape is the following:

shape.removeSplitter()

Notes

• the function does not modify the existing shape, but returns a new shape
• the function is normally used as last step in the modelling history
• the function can help to get difficult fillets to work
• the function is intended to stop 3D printers from printing unwanted edges
• the function can be used after converting a mesh to shape to clean up the residual edges on planar faces.

File:Part CreateSimpleCopy.svg Create simple copy

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Part

Part

• Primitives: Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone, Torus, Tube, Create primitives, Shape builder

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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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• Other tools: Import, Export, Box selection, Shape from Mesh, Points from mesh, Convert to solid, Reverse shapes, Create simple copy, Create transformed copy, Create shape element copy, Refine shape, Check geometry, Defeaturing, Appearance, Color per face

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