Cineversity

I have an extruded spline shape that, when converted to an editable object and optimized, reverses the normal of the front face, making it very hard to bevel and such.  I cannot reverse the normal for some reason. Is there a reason for this? Am I doing something wrong?

Hi gvzmedia,

When you “make it editable” [c] then you get typically all parts of the extrusion. Extrusion, Rounding.1, Cap.1, Rounding.2, Cap.2. Before you connect these objects, you should be able to reverse each in its Normal direction alone. Not that I would suggest this, but just to mention the option.

The Reverse Normal is a command that turns all Normals at once. It works also with an Polygon selection, if a certain area is needed

The Align Normals uses the first polygon as reference and sorts all others accordingly.

Please provide am example or the object in question, and I’m happy to take a look into it. A scene file can often clear a problem in a much easier way.

BTW, the Normals are typically the sequence direction of point creating the Polygons. If this sequence is reversed, the normal points in the other direction, which can be done manually in the Structure Manager, but of course, this is also normally not needed, just to give you an idea where to look and gain more information about.

All the best

Thanks for your response. The trouble I’m having is that only after I optimize my editable extrusion does the normal of the front face flip. So anything I do prior makes no difference.

Hi gvzmedia,

Thanks for the file.

The problem starts here when the two elements connect. I can reproduce it. Another test shows that the N-Gon can be “Normal-Flipped” once while separate, but not again.

If you need the N-Gon as it is, that would be a case for the support.
https://www.maxon.net/en-us/support/how-can-we-help/

In the clip below, I show a way to get it working, but the N-Gon is lost. Note: “Mesh>Commands> Un-Triangualte [N-Gons]” ill not bring it back.
One minute clip:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/EADQ1hMoYpMvD6ibrpvGXKXu0bL75eyfNhy1XdXYgbt?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy

If the N-Gon is of importance, perhaps all needed work on it can be done before it is connected, just a thought.

As mentioned above, the point sequence to form the polygon [here: N-Gon] will determine the Normal direction. While the cap is selected in Polygon Mode, go to the Structure Manager and there to Mode>N-Gon. You will see that the sequence of points is reversed each time to use the Reverse Normal command. But it doesn’t show after the first time again in the view port as flipped result, hence the support suggestion.

All the best

Hi Dr Sassi,
thanks for the reply. I had tried to leave the N-gons so that I could bevel the edges of the polygon. Perhaps that was not a wise choice, and I should investigate slicing up the N-gon in a better way.
Thanks for your help!
Grant

Thanks for the feedback, Grant.

Please have a look at the file below.

Scene file
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/qynkapJSqbYS25Ypc4jXzHDFIKuaXMv9YxTqnVsSCwE?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy

Two things to explore: The bevel is done already in the Extrude, perhaps you have a more sophisticated profile in mind and this is reason for it to do later on.

Second, the file attached works with N-Gon flipping, please test, I might miss something.

So, what has changed in this file? I selected the four points of the Spline (the one that create the outer frame) and reversed the sequence. Mesh>Spline> Reverse Sequence.
Now I can’t reproduce your problem anymore: Perhaps that is all you need.

Screen capture (one minute)
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/SqDOzWa290zEbm8IJC0n6DtMikawdHeRAUy4lcTv51d?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy

My best wishes

I had originally hoped to bevel the outer perimeter differently than the rounded rectangle openings. Hence my use of the bevel tool, not the bevel option of the extrude. But I see your file has fixed the problem of the normals, thanks!

You’re welcome, Grant.

I have added a little clip in the post above [post #5].

I’m not certain if that is always done with an easy fix like this, but to keep an eye on the direction of each spline, if a problem occurs is certainly worth it.

Yes, only the outer part as bevel, that makes sense.

All the best

P.S.: while exploring that further, I noticed that by deleting one “hole” the problem is not given. I mention it, to get a more predictable situation with such cases.