Rhino 3D Tip: Efficient Solid Refinement with MoveFace and SolidPtOn

Direct editing can save hours when refining solid models. Two underused tools—MoveFace and solid point editing—let you push/pull geometry cleanly without rebuilding.

When to use each:

• Use MoveFace to push/pull planar, cylindrical, or simple freeform faces of solids while Rhino extends/trims adjacent faces to keep the body watertight.
• Use SolidPtOn for “solid point editing” on extrusion objects and certain simple solids to adjust length/width/height quickly, keeping objects lightweight and editable.

MoveFace essentials:

• Select sub-objects first: Ctrl+Shift-click a face (or use the Selection Filter > Sub-objects).
• Run MoveFace, then:
  • Type a numeric distance for precise offsets.
  • Pick a direction from two points or align with the face normal for predictable results.
• Push/pull multiple faces at once if they must stay coplanar (e.g., thicken a wall or shift a flange).
• After changes, verify with ShowEdges (Naked/Non-manifold) to confirm the solid remains closed.

Solid point editing (SolidPtOn) tips:

• Keep prismatic parts as Extrusions for best results; they edit faster and stay lightweight.
• Turn on solid points (SolidPtOn), select the end cap points, and use Gumball for numeric moves.
• If your object is a polysurface and solid points are unavailable, try converting eligible parts to Extrusions, or use MoveFace/sub-object Gumball instead.

Gumball synergy:

• Sub-object select a face, then Gumball-drag along an axis to push/pull interactively; type a value to lock precision.
• Relocate Gumball to align with custom directions (right-click Gumball > Relocate) for non-orthogonal edits.
• Use SmartTrack and Ortho for constrained moves; combine with distance input for accuracy.

Best practices to stay robust:

• Edit simple faces first (planar/cylindrical) before attempting freeform surfaces.
• Expect downstream blends/fillets to fail after a face move—rebuild them last with FilletEdge/BlendEdge.
• For organic faces requiring thickness change, OffsetSrf (Solid=Yes) can be more reliable than a large MoveFace.
• Maintain document tolerances appropriate to your scale; too-tight tolerances slow face operations, too-loose tolerances risk gaps.
• Create NamedSelections for frequently edited faces to iterate quickly.

Troubleshooting quick hits:

• If MoveFace refuses a selection, check for trimmed sliver faces or tiny edges; clean them up first.
• If a move opens the solid, use ShowEdges to locate gaps, then ExtendSrf/Trim/Join or adjust the move distance.
• Turn History off for heavy assemblies during direct edits to avoid unexpected recomputations.

Workflow suggestion:

• Block out with Extrusions → refine with MoveFace → add blends/fillets last.
• Keep a pre-filleted version in a layer state for fast iteration.

Level up your Rhino toolset, licenses, and plugins with NOVEDGE: Rhino at NOVEDGE and the broader Rhino ecosystem on NOVEDGE. Their team can help you choose add-ons that complement direct-edit workflows.

You can find all the Rhino products on the NOVEDGE web site at this page.