Model
Project Shape
Conform a flat grille or pattern to a curved body.
Steps
- Select the shapes to conform, then open Project Shape from the selection toolbar or More.
- Tap the target surface, mesh or group directly in the canvas. The other selected shapes are the sources; the target stays unchanged.
- Follow Surface aligns the source to the target and follows its curvature. Options adjusts size, rotation and clearance in document units.
- Drag on the target to move the preview. Use the orbit control to inspect it, or Change Target to pick another body.
- Choose Keep Originals if needed, then Apply. Cancel discards the preview; Undo reverses the applied change.
- Curves become sampled polylines and surfaces become meshes. Groups keep their structure; instance results become independent.
- If the shape reaches a surface edge or cannot conform there, drag to another spot or reduce its size in Options. Directional X, Y or Z projection is available by turning off Follow Surface.
- This conforms existing geometry; it does not cut holes in the target. Use Combine for cuts. Apply commits the preview as one undoable change.
- In Design Partner, ask “Project the grille onto the speaker body.” Review the same 3D preview before applying.
- Use Inset to overlap the target before Subtract. The target remains unchanged until you combine the shapes.
- Change Face selects another side. Flip Face turns it over; Rotation spins it on the surface.
Try it in uMake.
uMake is free to download for iPad, iPhone and Mac.