2012

Table Of Contents
Two Methods for Creating NURBS Surfaces
There are two ways to create NURBS surfaces:
SURFACEMODELINGMODE system variable - Use any of the surface
creation commands while this system variable is set to 1.
CONVTONURBS command - Convert any existing surfaces with this
command.
It is important to plan ahead with NURBS modeling, since NURBS surfaces
cannot be converted back into procedural surfaces.
See also:
Create Solids and Surfaces from Lines and Curves (page 361)
Create Surfaces from Other Surfaces (page 398)
Edit NURBS Surfaces and Curves (page 493)
Rebuild NURBS Surfaces and Curves (page 494)
Draw Splines (page 209)
Modify Splines (page 281)
Using the Spline tool to create NURBS Surfaces
and Splines
The spline tool is optimized to work with NURBS modeling
NURBS surfaces can be created from a number of 2D objects, including edge
subobjects, polylines, and arcs. But the spline tool is the only object that has
options that are compatible with creating NURBS surface. Not only do splines
consists of Bezier arcs, but they also can be defined with both control vertices
and fit points. The fit points and control vertices offer different editing options
such as knot parameterization and degree options.
Moving Fit Points vs. Moving Control Vertices
NURBS curves have both fit points and control vertices. The fit points lie on
the line, and the control vertices lay outside the line. Use fit points to make
a change to one small part of a curve; use control vertices to make changes
that will affect the shape of the curve as a whole.
404 | Chapter 8 Work with 3D Models