When you do need a solid (closed or manifold), when you don't
What you need to know:
You need a closed solid:
- When you are otherwise prevented from completing your work (ex: you have to work with solid features in an area in which the solid is "broken", faces are missing (ex. fillet on a disconnected edge: just one surface attached).
- When an object is supposed to be closed and it is not (may be a problem, maybe not).
- When you need to use an STL file.
- When you need to create a cavity subtracting it from another solid.
You don't need a closed solid:
- When you are not interested in a closed volume, but in a shape, a skin.
- When you need to join together (not merge) surfaces as if they are a whole shape.
- When you need to work on surfaces as if they are a solid.
In general, when using a non-manifold solid does not prevent you to from accomplish your goals:
Related Topics