3D Deformable Modeling is a unique interactive sculpting tool for shaping 3D models that is offered only by Spatial. Included as part of our suite of 3D modeling development technologies, 3D Deformable Modeling uses local and global editing features that allow for the easy creation and manipulation of free-form B-spline and NURBS curves and surfaces. This versatile mechanism gives you a profound level of artistic freedom when generating a precise surface.

Improves on the Standard

3D Deformable Modeling is a more powerful alternative to traditional surface modeling techniques such as control point manipulation and lofting. Control point manipulation can change a free-form shape interactively, but not while enforcing constraints. With lofting, you can build surfaces that satisfy several constraints, but it doesn't allow the sculpting of shapes. These time-consuming methods often result in surfaces with poor reflection lines and other undesirable qualities.

Using an energy-based optimization strategy, 3D Deformable Modeling minimizes the energy stored due to bending and stretching. In this way, the shape that a deformable curve adopts is the one shape out of all possible shapes that minimizes the internal energy of the curve. This algorithm automatically produces fair shapes similar to those seen in the billowing of a sail or the clean line of a bending beam.

Save Time and Resources

With 3D Deformable Modeling, you can easily sculpt shapes that automatically adhere to rich sets of constraints. It allows you to perform manipulations on curves and surfaces that would otherwise be extremely difficult or impossible to accomplish using control points, saving time and resources.

Create Innovative Surfaces and Curves

Due to its precise shape and surface definition capabilities, 3D Deformable Modeling is ideal for complex mechanical jobs that require the rapid development of innovative surface and curve features, such as industrial design, aircraft skin and foil design (aerospace), automotive styling, prototype development, simulation, product design, shipbuilding, and free-form surface design for CAD/CAM/CAE and AEC applications.

Features

3D Deformable Modeling includes an extensive set of features that enable you to:

• Restrict a deformation to a limited local region.
• Make small deformations in an existing shape, which modify the shape without sacrificing its original overall characteristics.
• Create an entirely new shape by making very large deformations.
• Increase the continuity of existing shapes, quilted surfaces, or network of curves.

• Creation of non-planar, n-sided boundaries.
• Retain positional and tangential continuity with adjacent surfaces.
• Individual specification of boundary continuity on each edge.
• Placement of auxiliary point and curve restraints (G0 only).
• Post-covering gap reporting (diagnostics).
• Specification of initial surface.
• Re-covering of faces.
  
  

Full, Multi-Surface Capabilities

• Users can simultaneously deform multiple, arbitrarily trimmed surfaces.
  
• Advanced Control of Surface Shape.
  
• Control position, tangency, and curvature at points and along curves. These points and curves can lie in the interior of surfaces or along surface boundaries.

Continuity Control Along Edges

Global and Local Deformations