Extrude and triangulate

You can use this function to quickly create closed or open trisolations of any segment by extrusion. To do so, you select a segment, then define some parameters for how a copy of that segment will be offset to a new position. Surpac then triangulates between the 2 segments and, optionally, inside each end segment.

To run this function: Choose Solids > Triangulate > Extrude and triangulate a segment, or Solids > Triangulate > Extrude and triangulate a string, or Solids > Triangulate > Extrude and triangulate a string range, or...

In the Function Chooser, type EXTRUDE AND TRIANGULATE SEGMENT, and press ENTER.
In the Function Chooser, type EXTRUDE AND TRIANGULATE STRING, and press ENTER.
In the Function Chooser, type EXTRUDE AND TRIANGULATE STRING RANGE, and press ENTER.

The function successfully works on closed or open segments provided they contain more than two points. Segments containing fewer than three points are ignored.

Fields on the Extrude and Triangulate a Segment form

Field	Description
Object ID	The ID of the object in which the trisolations are created.
Triangulate start segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The start segment is not triangulated.
Triangulate end segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The end segment is not triangulated.
Direction to copy segment	There are two alternatives to determine how the selected segment will be copied for the triangulation process. forward - The segment copy parameters are used to create a single copy of the selected segment which is then used to construct triangles between the selected segment and the copied segment. forward and backward - The segment copy parameters are used to create two copies of the selected segment. One of these copies is in the same position as when just copying forward of the selected segment. The second copy is positioned in the reverse direction to that of the forward copy. This results in three segments which have triangles created between them in a logical manner. When triangulating inside the end faces of the resultant trisolation it is the two copies that are triangulated.
Copy segment by	The new segment that is created can be offset from the selected segment using six different techniques. xyz offsets - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined using offsets for each of the X, Y and Z directions. Segment copy parameters X offset The displacement in the X direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Y offset The displacement in the Y direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Z offset The displacement in the Z direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. bearing, distance, slope - Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified slope angle and dip. Segment copy parameters Bearing Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified dip and horizontal distance. Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by horizontal offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a horizontal offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment is concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by vertical offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a vertical offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment is concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Vertical distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. perpendicular to segment plane - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting perpendicular to the plane containing the selected segment. A distance and angle relative to the plane containing the segment complete the definition of how the points are moved. Segment copy parameters Distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. For this option, this angle is relative to the plane containing the segment. shrink to a vanishing point - The location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting the selected segment towards a 'vanishing point'. The new segment is located at the interpolation plane at the distance specified towards the vanishing point. Diagrammatic example 1 original segment 2 copy of segment 3 interpolation plane 4 vanishing point Segment copy parameters Distance to vanishing point The distance at which all of the points of the original segment are shrunk to a single point. Distance to interpolation plane The distance between the original segment and the plane where the new segment is created. The closer the distance is to the vanishing point, the smaller the resulting segment.

Fields on the Extrude and Triangulate a String form

Field	Description
Object ID	The ID of the object in which the trisolations are created. The object and trisolation numbers used for each new trisolation are dependent on the Increment field.
Increment	Whether the object or trisolation number is incremented. Object ID - The object number is incremented for each segment that is copied and triangulated. Trisolation ID - The trisolation number is incremented for each segment that is triangulated.
Triangulate start segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The start segment is not triangulated.
Triangulate end segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The end segment is not triangulated.
Direction to copy segment	There are two alternatives to determine how the selected segment is copied for the triangulation process. forward - The segment copy parameters are used to create a single copy of the selected segment which is then used to construct triangles between the selected segment and the copied segment. forward and backward - The segment copy parameters are used to create two copies of the selected segment. One of these copies is in the same position as when just copying forward of the selected segment. The second copy is positioned in the reverse direction to that of the forward copy. This results in three segments which have triangles created between them in a logical manner. When triangulating inside the end faces of the resultant trisolation it is the two copies that are triangulated.
Copy string by	The new segment that is created may be offset from the selected segment using six different techniques. xyz offsets - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined using offsets for each of the X, Y and Z directions. Segment copy parameters X offset The displacement in the X direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Y offset The displacement in the Y direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Z offset The displacement in the Z direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. bearing, distance, slope - Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified slope angle and dip. Segment copy parameters Bearing Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified dip and horizontal distance. Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by horizontal offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a horizontal offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment is concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by vertical offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a vertical offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment will be concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Vertical distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. perpendicular to segment plane - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting perpendicular to the plane containing the selected segment. A distance and angle relative to the plane containing the segment complete the definition of how the points are moved. Segment copy parameters Distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. For this option, this angle is relative to the plane containing the segment. shrink to a vanishing point - The location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting the selected segment towards a 'vanishing point'. The new segment is located at the interpolation plane at the distance specified towards the vanishing point. Diagrammatic example 1 original segment 2 copy of segment 3 interpolation plane 4 vanishing point Segment copy parameters Distance to vanishing point The distance at which all of the points of the segment are shrunk to a single point. Distance to interpolation plane The distance between the original segment and the plane where the new segment is created. The closer the distance is to the vanishing point, the smaller the resulting segment.

Fields on the Extrude and Triangulate a String Range form

Field	Description
String range to extrude	The strings to be extruded and triangulated.
Object ID	The ID of the object in which the trisolations are created. The object and trisolation numbers used for each new trisolation are dependent on the Increment field.
Increment	Whether the object or trisolation number is incremented. Object ID - The object number is incremented for each segment that is copied and triangulated. Trisolation ID - The trisolation number is incremented for each segment that is triangulated.
Triangulate start segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The start segment is not triangulated.
Triangulate end segment	Selected: The selected segment is triangulated to create a closed end face. Cleared: The end segment is not triangulated.
Direction to copy segment	There are two alternatives to determine how the selected segment is copied for the triangulation process. forward - The segment copy parameters are used to create a single copy of the selected segment which is then used to construct triangles between the selected segment and the copied segment. forward and backward - The segment copy parameters are used to create two copies of the selected segment. One of these copies is in the same position as when just copying forward of the selected segment. The second copy is positioned in the reverse direction to that of the forward copy. This results in three segments which have triangles created between them in a logical manner. When triangulating inside the end faces of the resultant trisolation it is the two copies that are triangulated.
Copy string range by	The new segment that is created can be offset from the selected segment using six different techniques. xyz offsets - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined using offsets for each of the X, Y and Z directions. Segment copy parameters X offset The displacement in the X direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Y offset The displacement in the Y direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. Z offset The displacement in the Z direction to determine the position of points in the new segment relative to the selected segment. bearing, distance, slope - Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified slope angle and dip. Segment copy parameters Bearing Each point is projected along this bearing at the specified dip and horizontal distance. Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by horizontal offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a horizontal offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment will be concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Horizontal distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. expand by vertical offset - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by a vertical offset and slope angle which together define how the selected segment is expanded. The new segment is concentric with the selected segment. Segment copy parameters Vertical distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. perpendicular to segment plane - The new location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting perpendicular to the plane containing the selected segment. A distance and angle relative to the plane containing the segment complete the definition of how the points are moved. Segment copy parameters Distance Each point is projected by this distance. Slope angle Each point is projected along this slope angle. For this option, this angle is relative to the plane containing the segment. shrink to a vanishing point - The location of each point in the new segment is determined by projecting the selected segment towards a 'vanishing point'. The new segment is located at the interpolation plane at the distance specified towards the vanishing point. Diagrammatic example 1 original segment 2 copy of segment 3 interpolation plane 4 vanishing point Segment copy parameters Distance to vanishing point The distance at which all of the points of the original segment are shrunk to a single point. Distance to interpolation plane The distance between the original segment and the plane where the new segment is created. The closer the distance is to the vanishing point, the smaller the resulting segment.

Result

The selected segment, string or string range is copied as defined by the copy parameters and then triangulated creating a new trisolation of the specified object for each segment.

Troubleshooting