# Reference surface tool

**URL:** <https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/reference-surface-tool/924>\
**Category:** RobotStudio\
**Created:** [November 13, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/reference-surface-tool/924 "2006-11-13T13:44:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Erik\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Erik\_L](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/Erik_L)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/reference-surface-tool/924/1 "2006-11-13T13:44:24Z")

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Hi,

When creating “paths on curves” generated from surfaces with double curvature I need a “reference surface” to control the target orientations.

The problem is that the path travels over many different surfaces and it is only possible to select a sigle one in RS. I am now looking for a tool to merge/join surfaces or to create a “spline surface” on top of the original “patches” before importing to RS. Anybody got an idea of a cheap great easy tool? ..or could It be an other way around this?

/erik

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**Author:** ![Anders\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Anders\_S](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/Anders_S)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/reference-surface-tool/924/2 "2006-11-17T14:48:50Z")

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Hi Erik,

If you not select a reference surface, RS will automatically use the surface there the target is created as reference surface.

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**Author:** ![Erik\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Erik\_L](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/Erik_L)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/reference-surface-tool/924/3 "2006-11-20T02:18:51Z")

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Hi Anders,

Ooh - So thats why I have so good results without a ref surf! I figured something fishy was going on. Thanks for the info!👏 I can now trust the results.

/erik