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Tutorial 2: Fairing
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Maxsurf Training
Now we will look at the various visual fairing aids available within
Maxsurf.
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7. We will now look at curvature. In the body plan view, turn off
the sections so that just one section at a time is highlighted (or
alternatively leave all the sections on, but highlight one section at a
time with the half view turned on), then click on the curvature button
in the toolbar or go to Display | Curvature. This will bring up a
porcupine plot for that section.
When you choose Show Curvature, "Porcupines" are displayed
perpendicular to the curve, and their lengths are inversely
proportional to the square root of the radius of curvature at that point
on the curve. Therefore the longer the porcupine line, the tighter the
curve.
Curvature may be displayed on all surface contours except
intersection lines.
To select a contour, click on it. It will be highlighted with a different
line thickness and colour. To select more than one contour, shift-click
on other contours.
Where the porcupines ‘swap’ from one side of the line to the other (as
in the picture below), there is a point of inflection in the line; if the
shape of the porcupine is unfair (distinct, sharp changes in length, not
smooth and gradual), it is highlighting sharp changes in curvature
over the surface. A fair plot will generally guarantee smooth
graduation of curvature over the surface.
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If the porcupines are off the screen, making it difficult to view them
all at once with a sensible scale, then you can scale their relative size
by going to View | Preferences | Curvature Porcupine Size. If they are
too small, and you wish to see the variation more clearly, increase
their relative size.
If there are ‘creases’ in your curvature plot, this is most likely because
the splines are too flexible, so increase the stiffness by one degree,
and see what affect this has. If you have compacted points in your
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