Part RefineShape

File:Part CreateSimpleCopy.svg Create simple copy

Check geometry

Part

Part RefineShape
Menu location
Part → Refine Shape
Workbenches
Part
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
-
See also
OpenSCAD Refine Shape Feature

Description

Cleans unnecessary lines. After a Boolean operation some lines defining the previous form remain visible, this tool creates a totally cleaned copy of the original.

Use

1. Select the shape to be cleaned.
2. Use the menu Part → Refine shape.

• A copy of the object is created and totally cleaned, the original object is rendered hidden.
• The newly created copy is independent of the original.
  In FreeCAD 0.19 the RefineShape feature defaults to a parametric (linked) copy. This behavior can be changed with ParametricRefine parameter described in Fine-tuning. introduced in version 0.19

Limitations

• The refinement algorithm only works on shells. Therefore it iterates over the shells of the input shape and then for each shell it creates a new shell with joined faces wherever possible. This means if your input shape is only a face, wire, edge or vertex then the algorithm does nothing.
• Opposed to RefineShapeFeature in OpenSCAD workbench, this feature won't update when the preceding shapes are changed.

Scripting

The Python command for refining a shape is the following:

shape.removeSplitter()

Notes

• the function does not modify the existing shape, but returns a new shape
• the function is normally used as last step in the modelling history
• the function can help to get difficult fillets to work
• the function is intended to stop 3D printers from printing unwanted edges
• the function can be used after converting a mesh to shape to clean up the residual edges on planar faces.

File:Part CreateSimpleCopy.svg Create simple copy

Check geometry

Part

Part

• Primitives: Box, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone, Torus, Tube, Create primitives, Shape builder

---

• Creation and modification: Extrude, Revolve, Mirror, Fillet, Chamfer, Make face from wires, Ruled Surface, Loft, Sweep, Section, Cross sections, 3D Offset, 2D Offset, Thickness, Projection on surface, Attachment

---

• Boolean: Make compound, Explode Compound, Compound Filter, Boolean, Cut, Fuse, Common, Connect, Embed, Cutout, Boolean fragments, Slice apart, Slice, XOR

---

• Measure: Measure Linear, Measure Angular, Measure Refresh, Clear All, Toggle All, Toggle 3D, Toggle Delta

---

• Other tools: Import, Export, Box selection, Shape from Mesh, Points from mesh, Convert to solid, Reverse shapes, Create simple copy, Create transformed copy, Create shape element copy, Refine shape, Check geometry, Defeaturing, Appearance, Color per face

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

---

• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web

---

• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

---

• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub