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(continued...) Active sessions are used as an editable and undoable workspace to contain file edits with files saved out to predefined archive directories as required.
As a hybrid modeller VX supports non-manifold, open geometry.
The integration of solid and surface functionality is transparent so that traditional solid functions such as bosses, cuts, holes, fillets can be applied to faces and surface models, without the need for the model to be a closed solid.
Conversely volumes enclosed by a series of faces are by definition solids but can be modified by advanced surface modelling functions such as trimming, tangent and curvature continuous blending and local or global shape modification.
To conduct mass property calculations or ensure reliable each part must ultimately be a single manifold solid.
Analyze Part Topology can be used to identify abnormal conditions such as gaps between face edges that are listed in a report and highlighted in the graphics window.
Whilst this combination of solid and surface capabilities achieves the dual benefits of speed in modelling prismatic parts using solid feature based tools and complex freeforms with the surface tools, it inevitably comes at the cost of overall complexity.
Surface modelling requires care in order to minimise the need for final debugging to create a manifold part and the seamless integration of tools increase the chance of inadvertently straying form an inherently solid part.
Within many of the regular commands such as sweeps and lofts there are modifying options to offer greater control.
Sweeps can be variational, allowing the profile to be driven by an equation driven dimension or external reference that forces the profile to regenerate as it passes along the sweep path.