Editing PolyNURBS

Edit vertices, edges, and faces to modify the shape of a PolyNURBS object.

You can edit a PolyNURBS object by double-clicking the object in the modeling window or by right-clicking on a PolyNURBS construction feature in the History Browser and selecting Edit.

Note: Inspire versions 2021.1 and later do not support Boolean history on PolyNURBS created in a version prior to 2021.1. If you edit the PolyNURBS part, the Boolean will disappear.

If you want to edit a PolyNURBS created in a legacy .stmod file, you will need to open and edit it in that earlier version of Inspire. Alternatively, you can open it in Inspire 2021.1 or later, configure on the parts that were configured off as a result of the Boolean operation, and then reapply the Boolean, which will create a construction feature.

Edit Vertices

Move or project vertices to modify the shape of the PolyNURBS object.

  1. Double-click a PolyNURBS object to enter editing mode.
  2. To enter vertex editing mode, do one of the following:
    • Select Vertex Selection.

    • Select Filter on Selection, and then select a vertex.

    Tip:
    Filter on Selection allows selection of vertices, edges, or faces. To deselect and switch between selection types, click anywhere in the modeling window.
  3. Edit the vertices:
    To Do this
    Move a point freely Drag the point.
    Move a selected point along an edge Select a point, and then drag one of the three arrows.
    Make selected points collinear Click .
    Project a selected point to the x-, y-, or z-axis Click .

Edit Edges

Move, lengthen, or shorten edges to modify the shape of a PolyNURBS object.

  1. Double-click a PolyNURBS object to enter editing mode.
  2. To enter edge editing mode, do one of the following:
    • Select Edge Selection.

    • Select Filter on Selection, and then select an edge.

    Tip:
    Filter on Selection allows selection of vertices, edges, or faces. To deselect and switch between selection types, click anywhere in the modeling window.
  3. Edit the edges:
    To Do this Note
    Move an edge freely Drag the edge.  
    Move a selected edge within a plane When you select an edge, arrows appear at the center of the edge.
    Drag an arrow at the center to move the edge within the corresponding plane.    		  
    Lengthen or shorten a selected edge When you select an edge, arrows appear at both ends of the edge.
    Drag an arrow at one of the ends to lengthen or shorten the edge.    		 Hold down Ctrl while dragging to lengthen or shorten both ends of the edge symmetrically.

Edit Faces

Push, pull, scale, rotate, or project faces to modify the geometry of a PolyNURBS.

  1. Double-click a PolyNURBS object to enter editing mode.
  2. To enter face editing mode, do one of the following:
    • Select Face Selection.

    • Select Filter on Selection, and then select a face.

    Tip:
    Filter on Selection allows selection of vertices, edges, or faces. To deselect and switch between selection types, click anywhere in the modeling window.
  3. Edit the faces:
    To Do this Note
    Push/pull a face (a precise distance) Drag the face. To push/pull the face a precise distance, enter a distance in the microdialog.
    Push/pull a selected face When you select a face, an arrow appears at the center of the face.
    Drag the arrow at the center to push/pull the face.    		 Hold down Ctrl while dragging to create a new cage face.
    Scale a selected face When you select a face, planes appear at the corners of the face.


    Drag a plane at the corner to scale the face.
    • Hold down Ctrl while dragging to scale the face about its center.
    • Hold down Ctrl+Shift while dragging to scale the face about its center while maintaining the original aspect ratio.
    Rotate a selected face about its center When you select a face, a curved arrow appears when you hover over a corner or an edge.
    Figure 1. Hover over a corner
    Figure 2. Hover over an edge
    Drag the curved arrow to rotate the face about its center.    		  
    Move an edge along the plane of a selected face When you select a face, a straight arrow appears when you hover over an edge.
    Drag the straight arrow to move the edge along the plane of the face.    		 Hold down Ctrl while dragging to lengthen or shorten the original face symmetrically.
    Project a selected face onto the dotted plane Click .  
    Project a selected face to the x-, y-, or z-axis Click .  

Context Menu Options

Copy and paste bodies within a PolyNURBS part.

Copy and Paste Bodies

Every PolyNURBS part has its own construction feature, but PolyNURBS parts can contain multiple bodies that are connected or disconnected. If you right-click on a PolyNURBS part, there are three options to copy and paste bodies in the context menu:

Copy Bodies
Copy the selected bodies. The bodies must belong to the same PolyNURBS part.
Paste Bodies
Paste the copied PolyNURBS bodies within the current PolyNURBS part. The bodies will be part of the same construction feature as the original part.
Paste Bodies as New Part
Paste the copied PolyNURBS bodies into a new PolyNURBS part. The bodies will belong to the construction feature associated with the new rather than the original part.

Microdialog Options

Option Description Note
Open the Move tool to move the selected points, edges, or faces.  
Make the selected points collinear. Only available when you select multiple points.
Flatten to face. Clicking this icon will project the selected face onto the dotted plane. If two edges are selected, clicking this icon will set the edges parallel.
Project the selected point or face to the x-, y-, or z-axis. Only available for points and faces.
Patch across free edges. Only available when you have selected a connected set of PolyNURBS edges. Double-click an edge to quickly select a connected set of edges.

View Controls

The following additional view controls are available when editing PolyNURBS.

  • You can change the transparency of the underlying shape (STL or optimization result) using the slider which appears next to the view controls.
  • Click to toggle between showing PolyNURBS cages or blocks.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Mouse Controls

To Do this Notes
Select all adjacent faces within a 30 degree tolerance

Select an edge loop

 Double-click  
Temporarily disable snaps (PolyNURBS tool)

Change the section preview so that it is aligned to the underlying shape rather than parallel to the face (Wrap tool)

 Alt  
Change the transparency of the underlying shape (STL or optimization result) Alt+middle mouse scroll  
Add to or remove from the selection

Create a new face when dragging a face

Symmetric scaling of edges or faces when dragging certain graphic manipulators

 Ctrl  
Uniform scaling of faces when dragging face plane manipulators Ctrl+Shift  
Delete selected points, edges, or faces

Delete edge loop

 Delete When you select points or edges on a solid PolyNURBS, the points or edges are deleted and a solid is maintained. When you select a face on a solid PolyNURBS, the face is deleted and a surface is created.
Delete selected points, edges, or faces Delete+Shift When you select points or edges on a solid PolyNURBS, the points or edges are deleted and a solid is maintained. When you select a face on a solid PolyNURBS, the face is deleted and a surface is created.
Hide polyNURBS, while keeping control cage visible H  
Create an edge loop when selecting an edge

Create an inset when selecting a face

 Shift  
Exit tool Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.