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PyAnsys Geometry 101: Curve and Surface Plotting

This example provides an overview of how to visualize PyAnsys Geometry’s Curve and Surface objects. After constructing some of the Curve and Surface objects, it shows how to plot them.

Perform required imports

Perform the required imports.

from ansys.geometry.core.math import Point3D
from ansys.geometry.core.plotting import GeometryPlotter

Create curve shapes

PyAnsys Geometry provides several curve types. Let’s create instances of each.

Create a Circle curve

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.curves.circle import Circle

circle = Circle(origin=Point3D([0, 0, 0]), radius=1)

Create a Line curve

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.curves.line import Line
from ansys.geometry.core.math import UnitVector3D

line = Line(origin=Point3D([5, 0, 0]), direction=UnitVector3D([1, 1, 0]))

Create an Ellipse curve

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.curves.ellipse import Ellipse

ellipse = Ellipse(origin=Point3D([10, 0, 0]), major_radius=1.5, minor_radius=0.8)

Create a NURBSCurve

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.curves.nurbs import NURBSCurve
import numpy as np

# Create a simple NURBS curve with 4 control points
points = [
    Point3D([0, 5, 0]),
    Point3D([1, 6, 0]),
    Point3D([2, 5, 0]),
    Point3D([3, 6, 0])
]
nurbs = NURBSCurve.fit_curve_from_points(points=points, degree=3)

Plot individual curves with colors

Now let’s plot each curve individually with different colors.

Plot the circle in blue

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(circle, color="blue", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the line in red

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(line, color="red", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the ellipse in green

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(ellipse, color="green", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the NURBS curve in magenta

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(nurbs, color="magenta")
plotter.show()

Plot multiple curves together

You can also plot multiple curves together in a single scene with different colors.

plotter = GeometryPlotter()

# Add all curves with different colors
plotter.plot(circle, color="blue", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(line, color="red", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(ellipse, color="green", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(nurbs, color="magenta", opacity=1)

# Show all curves together
plotter.show()

You can also plot multiple curves with the same settings using a list.

plotter = GeometryPlotter()

# Add all curves with the same color
plotter.plot([circle, line, ellipse], color="magenta", opacity=1)

# Show all curves together
plotter.show()

Create surface shapes

PyAnsys Geometry provides several surface types. Let’s create instances of each.

Create a Sphere shape

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.surfaces.sphere import Sphere

sphere = Sphere(origin=Point3D([0, 10, 0]), radius=1)

Create a Cylinder shape

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.surfaces.cylinder import Cylinder

cylinder = Cylinder(origin=Point3D([5, 10, 0]), radius=0.8)

Create a Cone shape

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.surfaces.cone import Cone
import numpy as np

cone = Cone(origin=Point3D([10, 10, 0]), radius=1, half_angle=np.pi / 6)

Create a Torus shape

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.surfaces.torus import Torus

torus = Torus(origin=Point3D([0, 15, 0]), major_radius=1.5, minor_radius=0.5)

Create a PlaneSurface shape

from ansys.geometry.core.shapes.surfaces.plane import PlaneSurface

plane = PlaneSurface(origin=Point3D([5, 15, 0]))

Plot individual surfaces with colors

Now let’s plot each surface individually with different colors.

Plot the sphere in blue

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(sphere, color="blue", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the cylinder in red

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(cylinder, color="red", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the cone in green

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(cone, color="green", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the torus in yellow

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(torus, color="yellow", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot the plane in cyan

plotter = GeometryPlotter()
plotter.plot(plane, color="cyan", opacity=1)
plotter.show()

Plot multiple surfaces together

You can also plot multiple surfaces together in a single scene with different colors.

plotter = GeometryPlotter()

# Add all surfaces with different colors
plotter.plot(sphere, color="blue", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(cylinder, color="red", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(cone, color="green", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(torus, color="yellow", opacity=1)
plotter.plot(plane, color="cyan", opacity=1)

# Show all surfaces together
plotter.show()

You can also plot multiple surfaces with the same settings using a list

plotter = GeometryPlotter()

# Add all surfaces with different colors
plotter.plot([sphere, cylinder, cone], color="orange", opacity=1)

# Show all surfaces together
plotter.show()

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