Smooth Area panel
Mesh data from imported or scanned mesh bodies may need improvement before you create toolpaths in Mastercam. The Smooth Area function prepares your mesh model for machining or 3D printing by reducing the amount of noise between nodes across an entire mesh body or within a specific portion of it. Smooth Area modifies facet vertex positions to minimize irregularities between facets. It does not change the number of facets in a mesh.
Run Check Mesh before using any of the Modify functions on the Mesh tab to ensure your mesh is error-free. If it is not and you attempt to use one of those functions, Mastercam reports an error and you cannot continue until the mesh is fixed.
For more information, see Fixing Mesh Errors.
Smooth Area can apply up to 20 iterations of four different smoothing methods. Click the examples to see how ten iterations of each method changes the sample below.
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Preserve curvature: Smooths with minimal changes to the curvature. This method can take the longest to process.
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Minimize curvature: Smooths by flattening the neighboring facets.
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Minimize area: Smooths by reducing the overall area of the mesh. This method is the most drastic and can reduce the volume of the mesh significantly.
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Average: Smooths by applying the average vertex position of neighboring facets to each vertex. This method is the quickest to process.
Example
Even with a description of how each of these smoothing methods work, in a model with many thousands of facets, results are impossible to predict. You may discover that the best way to use this function is to choose a smoothing method and experiment with the number of iterations you want to apply. You may even find that the best way to achieve your design intent is to apply more than one smoothing method on a particular area.
Click the Preview button in the panel to view your changes in the model before committing them. Deselect the automatic preview option to speed up the calculation process.
After you apply this function, Mastercam checks the modified mesh to see if any errors have been introduced. If found, Mastercam temporarily marks the problematic facets in the graphics window and a dialog box displays. You can delete the errors at that time. (Mastercam removes the indicators whether you select Yes or No.)
