As the design techniques like generative modeling, reverse engineering and additive manufacturing use triangulated mesh-based geometries for reference, a problem exists: Most design engineers work in CAD systems that create boundary representation (B-rep) models, which are feature-based solid models using cylinders, planes, cones, and other elements to create the design. Faceted modeling instead relies on a mesh.
Creating a great generative design from reverse engineering becomes a challenge when it’s time to modify the design using a CAD system based on B-reps. Conversely, converting 3D scans to final designs isn’t hard, but you may spend days surfacing those designs unless you’re taking advantage of b-rep CAD modeling. Generative modeling capabilities in Solid Edge solve all that by combining B-rep solids and facet models. This allows data from each to co-exist. You can also perform feature-based modeling on a mesh model. The user interaction is so seamless, you might even think you’re working on a b-rep model when you’re not.
Solid Edge eliminates the need to choose which CAD method to use. You can create organically shaped, aesthetic models that are ready for production by basically performing feature-based modeling on mesh-based parts. You can also extract surfaces from mesh data onto planar or cylindrical surfaces. With synchronous technology in Solid Edge, you can work directly on the surfaces of 3D scanned mesh geometries natively, eliminating the need for time-consuming reverse modeling.