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Concurrent Engineering Blog

What You Need to Know About Freestyle in PTC Creo

Posted by Emma Rudeck on 16-May-2014 16:22:00

freestyle ptc creoComplex surface modelling used to require specific skills and expertise. But this is no longer the case. New tools and capabilities, which are available in Creo Parametric, now mean that it is easier than ever before for you to create freeform models with high-quality, curvature-continuous surfaces. With Freestyle in Creo Parametric, you no longer need to struggle to achieve the final result that you want.

How to get started with Freestyle

To develop a new design concept with Freestlye, for example the side panel of a motorcycle, you can start from scratch. But you can also import a 2D image from Creo Sketch. After scaling the imported image to the desired size and dimensions, you are ready to start using Freestyle.

To start to create your curvature-continuous surfaces, you select from a range of primitive shapes, such as a sphere, which works as the foundation of your freeform design.

How does Freestyle in Creo Parametric work?

Freestyle is based on sub-divisional modelling technology, which makes use of a control mesh to move or sub-divide surfaces. This allows you to manipulate and add details, both easily and intuitively. For example, you can select a face and push it in to create an air intake on your motorcycle side panel.

As you model with Freestyle, by default the edges are all smooth. But you can easily tighten them up by adding a soft crease. Also, connecting multiple surfaces with Freestyle and building them out is easy. On top of this, Freestyle offers the option to mirror the surfaces. This means that changes made on one side are automatically reflected on the other.

After you have finished the foundation of your freeform design, you can then start to refine and fine-tune the model. This allows you to achieve a finer level of detail in your design. For example, by pulling on the vertices of the control mesh, you can manipulate the surface until it matches the underlying sketch. You can continue to make additional adjustments, to provide greater definition and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the shape.

You always have the option to hide the sketch, if you need to declutter your work. By adjusting the control mesh to a finer level of sub-division, you can explore additional design refinements. Once you have finished the surface model, you can then thicken the wall to create a solid model with curvature-continuous production surfaces. 

At this stage, you are now ready to look at your work in the context of the full assembly, ensuring that it fits with the rest of the design.