What is ʼDirect Modelingʼ in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Direct Modeling in BricsCAD is the common professional method for editing 3D solids by pushing, pulling, moving, and offsetting faces without relying on feature history. The fastest workflow typically uses DMEXTRUDE with Quad face editing tools. Limitation: it is less suitable when strict parametric feature history must be preserved.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Direct Modeling works best on clean 3D solids, but imported or damaged geometry can cause face selection failures or unexpected edits. A common hidden risk is modifying tangent or connected faces unintentionally when selection propagation is active.
How to Use Direct Modeling in BricsCAD
Command: DMEXTRUDE
Shortcut: No default shortcut in most workspaces; commonly launched from the Quad
Quick Steps:
- Select a 3d solid face, then hover to open the Quad or go to the Ribbon > Model > Direct Modeling panel.
- Click DMEXTRUDE, then drag the face inward or outward to push/pull the solid.
- Enter a precise distance, and use the Taper angle option if needed for controlled shape changes.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Quad display toggle
Expert Setting: If the Quad is disabled, direct modeling becomes slower because common face-edit tools like DMEXTRUDE, DMPUSHPULL, and MOVEFACE are less accessible at the cursor. Keeping Quad enabled is the fastest professional setup for solid editing.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The object is not a valid 3D solid, or imported faces are corrupted, so BricsCAD cannot modify the selected face correctly.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The solid is on a locked layer, or the referenced component is inside an external reference or block context that prevents direct editing.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): You selected the wrong subentity or used a direct modeling command on surfaces/meshes where solid face behavior does not apply as expected.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Use QUAD-based face selection on a verified 3D solid, then run DMEXTRUDE again after unlocking the layer or converting/importing geometry properly.
Manager’s Verdict: Use Direct Modeling for fast concept changes, imported part edits, and late-stage dimensional revisions. Avoid it when your workflow depends on feature-tree reconstruction or tightly controlled parametric history.
FAQ
Is Direct Modeling in BricsCAD only for imported models?
No, it is commonly used for both native and imported 3D solids.
Can Direct Modeling change holes, bosses, and faces directly?
Yes, you can edit individual faces and features directly on solid geometry.
Is Direct Modeling the same as parametric modeling in BricsCAD?
No, direct modeling edits geometry without depending on a recorded feature history.
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