Maxwell Online Help System 154 Copyright 1996-2002 Ansoft Corporation

Ansoft HFSS Surfaces Menu

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Surfaces Menu
Use the commands on the Surfaces menu to:
Change a polyline object into a sheet object.
Cover or uncover the faces of objects to form sheet objects or polylines.
Move the faces of objects.
Create cross-sectional surfaces of 3D objects.
Connect multiple polyline objects into a 3D sheet object.
Stitch two or more sheet objects together to act as a single object.
When you choose Surfaces from the menu bar, the following menu appears:
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
Maxwell Online Help System 155 Copyright 1996-2002 Ansoft Corporation
Ansoft HFSS Surfaces Menu
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Surfaces Commands
The commands on the Surfaces menu do the following:
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Use the Surfaces/Cover Lines command to cover closed polyline objects with faces to
create sheet objects. Essentially, a sheet object is a true 2D object that has a surface, but
no volume. When you sweep a polyline object, the ends of the object are open, thus your
object is not truly a solid. When you use this command prior to a sweep, you convert your
polyline to a sheet. Sweeping this sheet will allow you to create a solid.
> To convert a polyline to a sheet object:
1. Choose Surfaces/Cover Lines. A list of closed polylines appears under the
heading Closed Plines in the side window. This list includes rectangles and other
lines which were not covered when created.
2. Select the polylines you want to cover.
3. Choose OK to cover the polylines or Cancel to cancel the action.
The polylines are now sheet objects, which may be swept to form a solid or can be used
in stitching operations.
Cover Lines Changes a closed polyline object into a sheet object.
Uncover Faces Changes the face of a 2D object to a polyline, or changes the
faces of a 3D solid to a 3D sheet object.
Detach Faces Creates a new sheet object from the face of a 3D object, removing
that face from the object.
Move Faces Changes the position of an objects face.
Section Creates a planar cross-section of 3D objects, but leaves the origi-
nal objects intact.
Connect Connects two or more polyline objects by creating surfaces
between them.
Stitch Joins sheet objects with touching edges together as a single
object.
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
Maxwell Online Help System 156 Copyright 1996-2002 Ansoft Corporation
Ansoft HFSS Surfaces Menu
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Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Use this command to uncover the object faces of sheet objects, which leaves a closed
polyline object. You may also uncover the faces of solid objects leaving them as sheet
objects.
> To uncover the faces of an object:
1. Choose Surfaces/Uncover Faces.
2. Select the faces of the objects in the view window that you wish to uncover.
3. Choose Enter to accept the faces or Cancel to cancel the action.
The object faces are now uncovered, leaving open faces on the objects.
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Creates a new sheet object from the face of a 3D object, removing that face from the
object. The result is two sheet objects. You can undo the results of this command with
Surfaces/Stitch.
> To create detach the face of an object:
1. Choose Surfaces/Detach Faces.
2. In the view window, select the faces you want to detach. You can deselect the
faces by clicking them again.
3. Choose Enter to accept the faces or Cancel to cancel the action.
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
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Surfaces/Move Faces
Use the Surfaces/Move Faces commands to move the faces of a 3D object in a normal
direction. Moving object faces enables you to resize, reshape, or relocate an object.
Surfaces/Move Faces/Along Normal
Choose this command to move a 3D objects face in a direction normal to its surface. The
face is moved a specified distance normal to its original plane. The faces that adjoin the
original face are extended or shortened along their own planes to meet the new face.
Note that the adjoining faces will not be sheared or bent.
This command is useful for extruding faces, resizing holes, and removing rounded cor-
ners.
> To move an object face in a direction normal to its surface:
1. Choose Surfaces/Move Faces/Along Normal.
2. Select the object faces you want to move.
3. Choose Enter to accept the selection of faces. The Distance field appears in the
side window.
4. Enter the distance you want to move the object faces from their origin.
5. Choose Enter or press Return to accept the distance or Cancel to cancel the
distance.
The faces will be moved the distance you specified.
Use the Arrange/Offset command if you want to move every face of an object normal to
its surface.
removing rounded corners
extruding faces resizing holes
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces/
Along Normal
Surfaces/Move Faces/
Along Vector
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
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Surfaces/Move Faces/Along Vector
Choose this command to specify a direction and magnitude to move the faces of a 3D
object. Each selected face is moved a specified distance along a vector, normal to its orig-
inal plane. The faces that adjoin the original face are extended or shortened along their
own planes to meet the new face. Note that the adjoining faces will not be sheared or
bent.
This command is useful for relocating holes in an object, as shown below.
> To move an object face along a vector:
1. Choose Surfaces/Move Faces/Along Vector.
2. Select the object faces you want to move.
3. Choose Enter to accept the selection of faces.
4. Enter a vector location in the X, Y, and Z fields in the side window. If you wish, alter
the resulting vector length.
5. Choose Enter or press Return to accept the vector location or Cancel to cancel
the vector location.
The faces will be moved along the vector you specified.
Use the Arrange/Offset command if you want to move every face of an object normal to
its surface.
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces/
Along Normal
Surfaces/Move Faces/
Along Vector
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
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Surfaces/Section
Use this command to create cross-sections of 3D objects on the xy, yz, or xz plane. The
cross-sections are created as planar, closed polyline objects.
If you want the section plane to be elsewhere than the global coordinate system, set
your local coordinate system first using the Coordinates/Move Origin or
Coordinates/Rotate commands.
Sectioning only works on solid objects, although you may see sheet objects listed
when you select objects for sectioning. If you select these, they will simply be ignored.
> To create a cross-section of an object:
1. Make sure the axes you want to use for the cross-sectioning plane are positioned
correctly.
2. Choose Surfaces/Section. The cursor changes to a pointing icon.
3. Select the section plane you will use to divide the object.
4. Choose Enter to accept the section plane (or choose Cancel to cancel the action).
A list of solid objects in the model appears in the side window.
5. Select the solids you want to section, using the mouse cursor or the list in the side
window.
6. Choose OK to accept the objects or choose Cancel to cancel the action.
A closed polyline object is created for each part of each object that is sliced by the
selected axis. The sectioned objects are unchanged.
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
Maxwell Online Help System 160 Copyright 1996-2002 Ansoft Corporation
Ansoft HFSS Surfaces Menu
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Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
Surfaces/Connect
Use this command to connect two or more polyline objects in different planes by creating
surfaces between them. You may form complex 3D sheet objects with this command and
later convert these sheet objects into solids using Surfaces/Stitch.
> To connect two or more polylines together:
1. Choose Surfaces/Connect. A list of polylines appears in the side window under
Existing Wires.
2. Select the names of the objects in the order that you want to connect them.
Alternatively, select the objects themselves in the view windows in the order you
wish to connect them.
3. Choose OK to accept the connection or choose Cancel to cancel the action.
The polylines are now connected with a sheet object names Connect. The polyline
objects remain intact after the Connect object has been formed.
Maxwell Online Help System 161 Copyright 1996-2002 Ansoft Corporation
Ansoft HFSS Surfaces Menu
Topics:
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Contents
Index
Surfaces Menu
Surfaces Commands
Surfaces/Cover Lines
Surfaces/Uncover Faces
Surfaces/Detach Faces
Surfaces/Move Faces
Surfaces/Section
Surfaces/Connect
Surfaces/Stitch
Surfaces/Stitch
Use this command to adjoining sheet objects to become a single sheet object. There is no
limit to the number of sheet objects that can be stitched together as long as the surfaces
of the objects are in contact with one another.
> To stitch two or more objects:
1. Choose Surfaces/Stitch. A list of all visible sheet objects in the model appears.
2. Select the objects you wish to stitch together.
3. Choose OK to accept the stitch or choose Cancel to cancel the action.
The objects are now stitched together as one. You will not be able to treat any of the
objects individually after they are stitched. The stitched object retains the name of the first
object to be stitched.
If the stitched sheet objects form a completely closed object, the object becomes a solid.
If the objects you attempt to stitch together are not in contact with one another, those
objects will be excluded from the stitching and may result in an empty object.
Note:
In Ansoft HFSS version 6, the objects being stitched together are not pre-
served. Therefore, if you wish to keep a copy of the objects, do the following:
1. Make a copy of the objects, using Edit/Copy.
2. Perform the stitch operation.
3. Paste the objects back into the project, using Edit/Paste.