Fillet Surface
 
 
 
Command entry:Select a NURBS object. Modify panel Create Surfaces rollout Dependent Surfaces group box Fillet Surf
Command entry:Select a NURBS object. Modify panel NURBS toolbox (Create Fillet Surface)

A fillet surface is a rounded corner connecting the edges of two other surfaces.

Fillet surface created from two parent surfaces

Usually you use both edges of the fillet surface to trim the parent surfaces, creating a transition between the fillet and its parents.

Procedures

To create a fillet surface:

The NURBS object must contain at least two surfaces.

  1. In the NURBS toolbox, turn on (Create Fillet Surface).
  2. Click to choose the first parent surface, then click to choose the second parent surface. Potential parent surfaces are highlighted in blue as you move the mouse in a viewport.

    The fillet surface is created. If the fillet surface can't be created, a default error surface is displayed (by default, the error surface displays as orange).

Interface

Fillet Surface rollout (creation time)

Start Radius and End Radius

Set the radius used to define the fillet at the first surface you chose and the second surface you chose, respectively. The radiuses control the size of the fillet surface. Default=1.0.

Lock

Locks the Start and End radius values so they are identical. When on, the End Radius setting is unavailable. Default=on.

Radius Interpolation group

This group box controls the radius of the fillet. The Radius Interpolation setting has no effect unless one or both surfaces that define the fillet have curvature to them.

Linear

When chosen (the default), the radius is linear.

Cubic

When chosen, the radius is treated as a cubic function, allowing it to change based on the parent surface's geometry.

Seeds group

These spinners adjust the seed values for the fillet surface. If there is more than one way to construct the fillet, 3ds Max uses the seed values to choose the nearest edge for that surface.

Surface 1 X

Sets the local X coordinate of the seed on the first surface you chose.

Surface 1 Y

Sets the local Y coordinate of the seed on the first surface you chose.

Surface 2 X

Sets the local X coordinate of the seed on the second surface you chose.

Surface 2 Y

Sets the local Y coordinate of the seed on the second surface you chose.

Trim First Surface and Trim Second Surface groups

For each of the parent surfaces, these controls affect trimming.

Trim Surface

Trims the parent surface at the edge of the fillet.

Flip Trim

Reverses the direction of the trim.

Flip Normals

Turn on to reverse the direction of the fillet surface's normals.

Fillet Surface rollout (modification time)

Start Radius and End Radius

Set the radius used to define the fillet at the first surface you chose and the second surface you chose, respectively. The radiuses control the size of the fillet surface. Default=10.0.

Lock

Locks the Start and End radius values so they are identical. When on, the End Radius setting is unavailable. Default=on.

Radius Interpolation group

This group box controls the radius of the fillet. The Radius Interpolation setting has no effect unless one or both surfaces that define the fillet have curvature to them.

Linear

When chosen (the default), the radius is always linear.

Cubic

When chosen, the radius is treated as a cubic function, allowing it to change based on the parent surface's geometry.

Seeds group

These spinners adjust the seed values for the fillet surface. If there is more than one way to construct the fillet, 3ds Max uses the seed values to choose the nearest edge for that surface.

Surface 1 X

Sets the local X coordinate of the seed on the first surface you chose.

Surface 1 Y

Sets the local Y coordinate of the seed on the first surface you chose.

Surface 2 X

Sets the local X coordinate of the seed on the second surface you chose.

Surface 2 Y

Sets the local Y coordinate of the seed on the second surface you chose.

Trim First Surface and Trim Second Surface groups

For each of the parent surfaces, these controls affect trimming.

Trim Surface

Trims the parent surface at the edge of the fillet.

Flip Trim

Reverses the direction of the trim.

Replace First Surface and Replace Second Surface

Let you replace the parent surfaces. Click a button, then click the surface to replace the original first or second surface.