By the way, this tutorial was written with the simplified RapidWorks interface in mind. That said, all the instructions here also apply to Rapidform XOR, but the commands may be in a different place than we describe here. Anyway, without further ado, here is our guide to trimming complex meshes…

Parting Lines 101:

How to Get Those Pesky Meshes to Trim

1. Run the Healing Wizard to get rid of all defects in the mesh. Optionally, run it a second time to
iron out any remaining defects.

2. Perform a Global Remesh, keeping the default settings. Check the box “Make clean and
manifold solid mesh” if the mesh encloses a volume (i.e. is not just a surface shell).

3. Accept the edits to the mesh at this point.

4. Create/edit a parting line as a 3D Mesh Sketch. Make sure the curve is a closed loop (indicated
by a red dot where the start and end points join together).

5. Rebuild the parting line with a very tight tolerance. Optionally, split the curve into several
smaller pieces and then rebuild all of them with a tighter tolerance. See the two pictures below:

6. Copy the mesh and paste it at the bottom of the Feature Tree. Edit this new copied mesh.

7. Try to trim the mesh using the “By Curve” method, and choose “Rearrange Poly-Vertices” at the
bottom of the command tool.

8. If this doesn’t work, or you get a message like the one below, you need to tighten the tolerance
on the parting line curve even more. Exit out of mesh-editing mode, then edit the 3D Mesh
Sketch of the parting line.

9. Select the whole parting line (i.e. all the segments that make up the closed loop). It’s time to try
some edits that will help the trim run smoothly:

– a. If you did not split the curve before, do so now by choosing the Split command with the
“Pick Points” option and clicking on several points around the curve.

– b. Double-check that the curve is closed by identifying a red point somewhere on the
curve.

– c. In the “Rebuild” tab at the top of the screen, make the allowable deviation (of the curve
from the mesh) smaller by a factor of 10. You should notice that the number of control
points increases drastically to meet the stricter tolerance.

Accept the changes to this 3D Mesh Sketch.

10. Edit the copied mesh again. Trimming should now work for you. If not, repeat steps 9 and 10
until it does trim well.

Choose both the inner and outer portions as “remaining regions,” and accept the command.

11. Choose the “Flood Fill” selection tool at the bottom left of the screen (i.e. the paint bucket).
Hide all meshes besides the one you are editing, and then click on one side of the active mesh.

When you have selected one half of the trimmed mesh using the Fill tool, hit Crl+C or select
Edit.Copy. Now accept the changes to the mesh and hit Ctrl+V or select Edit.Paste outside of
any mode to paste a new mesh into the Feature Tree. This new mesh is made up of only those
polyfaces that were selected before, so it is one half of our desired result.

12. Edit the complete, trimmed mesh once again. Choose the Flood Fill selection filter, and use it to
select the other half of the trimmed/split mesh. Copy this portion just as you did in step 12
above, then exit out of the mesh editing mode. Outside of any particular editing mode, paste
the selected polyfaces as a 2nd (or 3rd) new mesh in the Feature Tree. You now have both pieces
split along the same curve and saved as individual meshes. Save the RapidWorks project, export
your split meshes and continue with your overall workflow! Here is a shot of the final result:

Happy mold making!

We all know that the Rewrap command is useful for interpolating mesh data as well as smoothing noisy data. This post continues our look at the command with a third example. The first two examples can be found by visiting this post and this post.

Example #3

Generating a mesh for cross-sections: Generating cross-sections can be useful if you plan on creating lofts. Using 3d-sketch tools, you can smooth out and edit your cross-sections to create smoother loft surfaces.  Cross-sections can also be used to generate sweep paths, guide curves, and boundary-fit curves. What if your mesh is missing data? Or there are mesh features that you would like to omit from your final model? If each cross section was a 2d section we could use our sketch tools to fit geometry over the missing data. Or if they are 3d sketches, we manually could fill in the gaps with matched splines, and delete sections we don’t want. Of course, a much more elegant method would be to use the rewrap command.

In this example we have a Rapidform helmet. Most us application engineers in the company put these on to protect ourselves from the sales reps when the end of the fiscal year nears…

The scan itself is missing data and there a few features that we want to ignore during our modeling. With region groups, we can easily separate the areas of interests.

After deleting the unwanted data, or copying and pasting the regions of interest, we can run the rewrap command to simultaneously fill holes and defeature.

Now we can generate continuous cross-sections for Lofts…

for Boundary-Fit Surfaces…



or to help with Solid Modeling.

Final Thoughts
This concludes this 3-part series of Commands and Applications for the Rewrap command. Want to request the same for other commands? Have other questions or comments? Let us know in comments below!

Floating Licenses on a Network Server: XOR2/XOV2

1. Install the License Server Utility
   1. On the license server, please install the license server utility by downloading and installing the following: www.rapidform.us/license/ServerUtility.zip. You may also find this file on the installation DVD here: Setup\Program Files\INUS Technology\Rapidform XOR\License\Setup Rapidform License Server Utility.exe.
   2. Run the executable to install the License Server Utility.
2. Activate new License
   1. Go to Start Menu> All Programs>INUS Technology>Rapidform License Server Utility>License Server Utility
   2. Select “I want to activate a license” and click Next.
   3. Enter in your Activation Code and enter the Count of Clients/# of Seats and click Next.
   4. If connected to the internet you will be asked to enter your contact information. You will then see a progress bar and the page will refresh displaying both your “XOR/V” and “XOR/V-Maintenance” license products.
      1. If the online attempt is unsuccessful, or if not connected to the internet, the utility will ask you to enter your Maintenance code. Please enter the code and click Next. The utility will prompt you to perform an offline activation. The process requires that you save a file and transfer the file to a PC with an internet connection to complete the activation.
      2. If the offline activation process fails, please email the files saved by the utility to license@rapidform.com. (Note: You will need to change the extension of the “.exe” file to an “.rfi” file for our email servers to accept the file.)
3. Start Rapidform Service
   1. Go to Control Panel>Administrative tools>Services
   2. Start the service labeled “Rapidform License Service.”
      1. If you run into problems starting the service such as conflicting port numbers or the service stopping right after starting, you will need to change the port that the service uses.
      2. By default, the service uses port 27000. To change, go to C:\Program Files\INUS Technology\Rapidform License Server Utility.
      3. Open the file “rfLicense.lic” with notepad. The first line will say “SERVER this_host ID_STRING=TRUSTED 27000.”
      4. Change the port number to 27001, or the first available port. Please note that you can’t exceed 27005. Save the file.
      5. Install and start the service again. (Step 6 and 7)
      6. If changing the port number does not work, please check your firewall and anti-virus settings to make sure the required ports are open and programs unblocked.
4. Connect the client PC
   1. On a client PC with Rapidform XOR installed, go to Start Menu>All Programs>INUS Technology>Rapidform XOR[V]2 >License Utility
   2. Select the option “For Official Customer using Local Network License Sharing” and click Next.
   3. Type in the server’s Static IP Address or Host Name and click Confirm
      1. If successful a message will state that the server has been found. Click Finish.
      2. If unsuccessful, please check network connections and check that the service is running correctly.

Want a licensing walkthrough? Check out this post!

We all know that the Rewrap command is useful for interpolating mesh data as well as smoothing noisy data. This post continues our look at the command with a second example. The first example can be found by visiting this post.


Example #2

Autosurfacing a mesh for CAD operations: If you are creating an auto-surface of a model, it is usually said that a majority of the editing must be done to the mesh since you are creating a verbatim model. But with XOR, you have the added ability to create a hybrid model, that is, performing CAD operations on a verbatim model to create a model that has both the accuracy from the scan as well as the design intent of a designed model.

In this example, we have an autosurface of a bottom of a bottle. What if the scan of the bottom of the bottle isn’t flat? Well then our autosurface of the bottom of the bottle may not be flat either.

Using the rewrap command, we can extend the mesh in a natural way, create our autosurfaced solid model, then create a perfectly flat surface.

We can also change the height of the bottle by using a different cutting plane!

More Examples…

We’ll be posting the final example of how this command can be applied soon! If you missed the first example, check it out here!.

The Rewrap Command (part 1)

We all know that the Rewrap command is useful for interpolating mesh data as well as smoothing noisy data. If you don’t, press The F1 Key.

We’ll take a look at a few examples of how we can apply this useful command.  Example #1 is below, keep an eye out for more examples which will be posted soon!

Example #1

Defeature complex features: Want to remove a feature from your scan and fill the space in naturally? If its as simple as a bump or lettering on a smooth area, use the Defeature command. But if the feature or its location is a bit more complex, the Rewrap command can help. Just delete the area and run Rewrap. Be sure to have “Extend Boundaries” checked!

More Examples…

We’ll be posting more examples of how this command can be applied soon!

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The F1 Key

Rapidform contains a plethora of features and commands. Many of which that have options that provide additional functions and control. Have you ever wondered what happens if you uncheck a checkbox? What happens if you slide that slider all the way to the right? Or just wanted to learn more about a command in general?

Well stop the wondering and press the F1 key!

The F1 key by default brings up the content help guide. This will show you the help document for the particular command you happen to be using. For example, in Rapidform, go to Insert>Ref. Geometry>Point from the menu bar.

Once you’ve got the command open, press the F1 Key.

The content help window will appear providing you with additional insight on that particular command.

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Need help with licensing? Check out these interactive movies that will walk you through the steps of activating or deactivating your licenses!

Node Lock Licensing

Online Activation

Online Deactivation

Offline Activation

Offline Deactivation

Network Licensing / Floating Licenses

Online Activation

Online Deactivation

Offline Activation

Offline Deactivation

Connecting the Client PC and License Borrowing

Floating Licenses on a Network Server: XOR2/XOV2

1. Stop Rapidform Service
   1. Go to Control Panel>Administrative tools>Services and stop the service called “Rapidform License Service”.
2. Deactivate old License
   1. Please go to Start Menu> All Programs>INUS Technology>Rapidform License Server Utility>License Server Utility
   2. Select “I want to deactivate a license” and click Next.
   3. Please select the first license that has “XOR/V” or “XOR/V-Maintenance” in the product name and click Next. If connected to the internet you will see a progress bar and if successful the page will refresh and the product will no longer be listed.
      1. If the online attempt is unsuccessful, or if not connected to the internet, the utility will prompt you to perform an offline deactivation. The process requires that you save a file and transfer the file to a PC with an internet connection to complete the deactivation.
      2. If the offline deactivation process fails, please email the files saved by the utility to license@rapidform.com. (Note: You will need to change the extension of the “.exe” file to an “.rfi” file for our email servers to accept the file.)
   4. Repeat until all “XOR/V” or “XOR/V-maintenance” licenses have been removed.
   5. Click on Cancel/Finish to close the Utility.
3. Activate new License
   1. Go to Start Menu> All Programs>INUS Technology>Rapidform License Server Utility>License Server Utility
   2. Select “I want to activate a license” and click Next.
   3. Enter in your Activation Code and enter the Count of Clients/# of Seats and click Next.
   4. If connected to the internet you will be asked to enter your contact information. You will then see a progress bar and the page will refresh displaying both your “XOR/V” and “XOR/V-Maintenance” license products.
      1. If the online attempt is unsuccessful, or if not connected to the internet, the utility will ask you to enter your Maintenance code. Please enter the code and click Next. The utility will prompt you to perform an offline activation. The process requires that you save a file and transfer the file to a PC with an internet connection to complete the activation.
      2. If the offline activation process fails, please email the files saved by the utility to license@rapidform.com. (Note: You will need to change the extension of the “.exe” file to an “.rfi” file for our email servers to accept the file.)
4. Start Rapidform Service
   1. Go to Control Panel>Administrative tools>Services
   2. Start the service labeled “Rapidform License Service.”
      1. If you run into problems starting the service such as conflicting port numbers or the service stopping right after starting, you will need to change the port that the service uses.
      2. By default, the service uses port 27000. To change, go to C:\Program Files\INUS Technology\Rapidform License Server Utility.
      3. Open the file “rfLicense.lic” with notepad. The first line will say “SERVER this_host ID_STRING=TRUSTED 27000.”
      4. Change the port number to 27001, or the first available port. Please note that you can’t exceed 27005. Save the file.
      5. Install and start the service again. (Step 6 and 7)
      6. If changing the port number does not work, please check your firewall and anti-virus settings to make sure the required ports are open and programs unblocked.
5. Connect the client PC
   1. On a client PC with Rapidform XOR installed, go to Start Menu>All Programs>INUS Technology>Rapidform XOR[V]2 >License Utility
   2. Select the option “For Official Customer using Local Network License Sharing” and click Next.
   3. Type in the server’s Static IP Address or Host Name and click Confirm
      1. If successful a message will state that the server has been found. Click Finish.
      2. If unsuccessful, please check network connections and check that the service is running correctly.

Want a licensing walkthrough? Check out this post!

XOR/XOV/XOS 32-bit versions can use a maximum of 2GB (by default) or optionally 3GB. The 64-bit versions can theoretically use an “unlimited” amount of memory that is available by Windows.

So generally speaking, the memory limit of Rapidform depends on the memory limit of Windows.

Windows XP 32-bit is restricted to a total of 4 GB, which is, by default, equally divided between Kernel and application usage. Using the /3GB switch in the boot.ini file forces Windows to limit the kernel to the upper 1GB and provides up to 3GB for applications. Windows XP x64 can support much more memory. The theoretical memory limit that a 64-bit computer can address is about 16 exabytes (16 billion gigabytes), Windows XP x64 is currently limited to 128 GB of physical memory and 8 TB of virtual memory. In the future this limit will be increased as hardware capabilities improve.
————————————————————————–
2^32 = 4,294,967,296 bytes
4,294,967,296 / (1,024 x 1,024) = 4,096 MB = 4GB (gigabytes)

2^64 = 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 bytes
18,446,744,073,709,551,616 / (1,024 x 1,024) = 16EB (exabytes)
————————————————————————–

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx for more info on memory limitations for each Windows OS version.

You can find the version number of Rapidform Software by following these steps

1. Start the software
2. Goto Help->About
3. The version number will be displayed on the pop up splash screen as shown below the title Version Information

The Latest Version Number of Rapidform XOR is XOR2 SP1 Hotfix8

The Latest Version Number of Rapidform XOS is XOS2 SP1 Hotfix8

The Latest Version Number of Rapidform XOV is XOV2 SP1 HF2

To download the latest version click here

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