Update reference manual for SolveSpace.

[git-p4: depot-paths = "//depot/solvespace/": change = 1865]
solver
Jonathan Westhues 2008-08-11 03:57:46 -08:00
parent 96f5663d6e
commit 32372aee7a
1 changed files with 40 additions and 1 deletions

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@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ for new users; to learn about this program, see the video tutorials.
may be disabled by setting its intensity to zero. When the part may be disabled by setting its intensity to zero. When the part
is rotated or translated, the lights do not move. is rotated or translated, the lights do not move.
<h3>Chord Tolerance</h3> <h3>Chord Tolerance, and Max Segments</h3>
SolveSpace does not represent curved edges or surfaces exactly. SolveSpace does not represent curved edges or surfaces exactly.
Any curves are broken down into piecewise linear segments, Any curves are broken down into piecewise linear segments,
@ -1230,6 +1230,11 @@ for new users; to learn about this program, see the video tutorials.
drawing, for fast response, and then temporarily specify a small drawing, for fast response, and then temporarily specify a small
chord tolerance (~0.5 pixels) before exporting an STL or DXF file. chord tolerance (~0.5 pixels) before exporting an STL or DXF file.
The fineness of the mesh is also limited by the specified maximum
number of piecewise linear segments. A single curve will never
be broken down into more than that number of line segments,
no matter how fine the chord tolerance.
<h3>Perspective Factor</h3> <h3>Perspective Factor</h3>
To display a 3d part on-screen, it must be projected into 2d. One To display a 3d part on-screen, it must be projected into 2d. One
@ -1301,6 +1306,18 @@ for new users; to learn about this program, see the video tutorials.
a left-handed coordinate system (so that a right-handed screw a left-handed coordinate system (so that a right-handed screw
thread will become left-handed). thread will become left-handed).
<h3>Draw Back Face</h3>
SolveSpace always works with solid shells. This means that in
normal operation, only the outside of a surface should be visible.
This setting should therefore have no effect.
If a self-intersecting shell is drawn, then inside surfaces may
be exposed. Even if the shell is watertight, a few stray pixels
from an inside surface may "show through", depending on how the
graphics card renders triangles. This setting determines whether
those surfaces are discarded, or drawn highlighted in red.
<h2>Licensing</h2> <h2>Licensing</h2>
As downloaded, SolveSpace does not include a license key. This means As downloaded, SolveSpace does not include a license key. This means
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No license server or dongle is required, and licenses do not expire. No license server or dongle is required, and licenses do not expire.
<h2>Bugs</h2>
Boolean operations are performed on triangle meshes, and not on
exact curved surfaces. This often results in poor mesh quality. An
equally good mesh might have been achieved with fewer triangles,
if the curves were piecewise-linear approximated differently. Or
the mesh may contain long skinny triangles.
This means that the exported STL files do not contain a high
quality mesh. This is generally not a problem, but could be in
some applications.
Another consequence is that the program runs slower as the number
of triangles increases. To obtain a coarser mesh, increase the chord
tolerance in the configuration screen.
To improve speed and mesh quality, draw the part using fewer Boolean
operations. For example, a plate with a hole might be modeled
by extruding the plate, and then cutting the hole with a second
extrusion. Instead, make a single sketch with both the outline of
the plate and the hole, and extrude only once.
This is the introductory tutorial. We review the basic user interface, This is the introductory tutorial. We review the basic user interface,
and draw a simple 2d part. This covers rectangles, symmetry constraints, and draw a simple 2d part. This covers rectangles, symmetry constraints,