Optimize CAD

Fix gaps between stitched edges and vertices to make the actual geometry of the surfaces consistent with the model topology.

  1. Navigate to the Geometry ribbon.
  2. While in idle mode, select surfaces.
  3. Right-click and select Edit > Optimize CAD.
  4. In the dialog, enter a geometric tolerance value.

    If a gap is found to be bigger than the specified tolerance, then the surface and edge geometries will be morphed parametrically and in 3D, if necessary, to make the gap smaller than the tolerance. In addition, non-essential degenerate edges are removed.

  5. Click OK.

The original geometric entity IDs are also preserved. The same functionality is used for the Optimize for CAD option in the Geometry Export Options dialog.

Example: CAD Optimization

This example demonstrates the difference in results when using the Optimize CAD tool to update geometry that has previously been repaired with topology-based geometry cleanup operations, for example, toggle/equivalence/replace edges and replace points.


Figure 1. Unrepaired Geometry
The geometry below was repaired using only topology-based geometry cleanup operations. After the geometry was meshed, you can see that some of the elements have become distorted. After untoggling the edges, there is still a large gap in the geometry.


Figure 2. Repaired Geometry not Updated with the Optimize CAD Tool


Figure 3. Meshed Geometry


Figure 4. Geometry with Edges Untoggled
The geometry below was repaired using topology-based geometry cleanup operations and then updated with the Optimize CAD tool. After the geometry was meshed, you can see that there are no distorted elements. After untoggling the edges, there is not a gap in the geometry.


Figure 5. Repaired Geometry Updated with the Optimize CAD Tool


Figure 6. Meshed Geometry


Figure 7. Geometry with Edges Untoggled