topic How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces? in 3D Part & Assembly Design

How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces?

JG_12906903 — Tue, 20 May 2025 15:24:01 GMT

Using CREO 9 here. I have been noticing in some instances the way I build my parts can leave me with sever small/thin "sliver" surfaces. Are there any settings or parameter selections I can use to avoid creating these little slivers?

Re: How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces?

tbraxton — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:08:06 GMT

It is unlikely that any parameters or settings would deal with this issue. Those are almost certainly artifacts of the underlying geometry used to define the surfaces. A general approach is to build curves with at least one order higher continuity of connection than what you need in the surface connection. If you want tangency (G1) in the surface connection, then use curvature continuous (G2) curves to define the surfaces. ISDX add on module has some curve and surfacing features that can help with this.

Based on your picture I think it is possible to eliminate the "slivers" (isoparm lines) from your model using Creo core curve and surfacing features. I would start by creating a G2 continuous sweep trajectory for the swept blend in your model. I think a G2 trajectory curve will fix the issue shown in your picture.

Re: How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces?

ProFeature — Wed, 21 May 2025 06:05:33 GMT

Hi @JG_12906903

Could you please share your model or another model that has this issue?

Thanks

Re: How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces?

ByDesign — Mon, 26 May 2025 15:39:34 GMT

These small surfaces are super common and result from the underlying geometry as @tbraxton says. In general they don't hurt anything, but if they get very small or if you get a lot of them in a local area, then it can pay to revisit earlier model features.

In the shape you show above, creating it with distinct curves and lines will give the large surface divisions. Here is another example. You can see the "Sliver" segments like above.

To get rid of them, try using continuous construction techniques like a "spline" or a "continuous curve" imposed over an original sketch, then it won't have the large surface divisions, which will eliminate the extra small sliver surfaces when you put a round on it. Here is the same model done with a composite curve. The "Round" feature does not create the slivers because the main geometry does not have the surface segments.

Obviously this is not exactly the same as your example, and the ability to do it depends on the geometry you are trying to achieve. However, when appropriate, the techniques do help.

The down side is the features take a little more work, especially if you ever need to change them.

You can find the composite curve function in the Copy / Paste using the "Approximate" setting -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMiX43fSNUY shows it. -- I can't think of a more stupid or unintuitive place to put this useful functionality, but PTC has so many HUGE, silly UI/UX failures in Creo. Perhaps especially as they bury great functionality like this in order to dumb down the software. Anyway, hopefully this helps.

Re: How can I prevent tiny sliver surfaces?

vnamboodheri — Tue, 27 May 2025 05:00:13 GMT

Hello @JG_12906903,

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