Split shared vertices

User Guide > Modeling > Polygonal Modeling > Combining, separating, and splitting > Split polygon components >

You can split a shared vertex into multiple vertices (one for each polygonal face that shares it) using the Detach Component feature. You can then perform independent operations on the split edges.

Splitting a vertex that is shared lets you separate the edges of the faces so you can create an opening in a polygon mesh or divide the polygon mesh altogether.

To split a vertex

Select the shared vertex or vertices you want to split.
The Detach Component feature ignores selected vertices that are not shared.
Select Edit Mesh > Detach Component.
The selected vertices get split into multiple separate vertices that are not shared.