- [Instructor] In Generative Shape Design,
we have a tool called Join.
Join allows us to pick all of the elements.
Again, these have to be similar type of elements
to join into making one, singular feature.
If I'm picking curves, it's got to be all curves.
I'm picking surfaces, it's got to be all surfaces.
If you're trying to make one final, big surface
that needs to be joined for manufacturing purposes,
you want to make sure you have Check Manifold
and Check Connectcity on.
This makes sure that the edges touch.
They don't overlap.
There aren't gaps.
That type of thing.
You also want to make sure that everything merges
within a specified merging distance or modeling tolerances,
and once you pick your elements, you hit Preview.
And you get this little arrow.
This arrow is indicating the final normal
of the joined elements,
and for this, if it's going in the right direction,
you'll leave it alone.
Hit OK.
If it's going in the incorrect direction,
you just simply select on the arrow,
and hit Preview once again.
And just like that, the surface is going to join
into one, big element, and the normal is pointing
in the correct direction.
This is important for downstream use.
If you have things built off of a join
or if you're going to take one surface
and replace it for the next surface,
you want to try and make sure that the normals align.
And this is a really good way of taking several elements
all at once, joining them, making 'em one,
and then forcing the normal to go in the direction
that you need.