The Join op connects a sequence of faces or surfaces into a single primitive that inherits their attributes. Faces of different types can be joined together, and so can surfaces. Mixed face-surface types are not allowed. The surfaces do not have to have the same number of rows or columns in the side being joined. Spline types of different orders and parameterization are all valid inputs. The Join op converts simpler primitives such as polygons into Beziers and NURBS if necessary.

Joining is different from filleting (see Fillet SOP) or stitching (see Stitch SOP) because it takes n primitives and converts them into one after possibly changing the connected ends of the primitives. Filleting creates a new primitive between each input pair and never affects the original shapes. Stitching changes the original shapes but does not change the number of resulting primitives.

This Operation allows you to select a sequence of faces or surfaces and connect them, forming a single primitive that inherits their attributes. When you select a primitive click on it close to the end that you want connected. A small white ring is displayed at that end. You can change your mind any time by clicking on another end of that primitive. After you have selected two primitives in this way (both must be faces or surfaces) they will be blended into one according to the parameters currently set. If only one primitive is selected, clicking on either end will cause the primitive to join to itself. This is one way to wrap a primitive in the modeler using all the flexibility of a join operation. The join is not finalized until you type Enter or click on the right mouse button. Until then you can change both the connection ends as already explained, and the blending parameters.

Once you commit the join, it is automatically selected and a new ring is placed at one end. This allows joining several curves or surfaces in sequence by simply selecting the 'next' curve or surface end to join, completing it (right mouse) and continuing. You can also click on the next pair of faces or curves if you have entered the Join Operation in a “sticky” way ( ⇧ Shift click on its icon); otherwise it returns to the Select Operation.

The pairs joined together in the operation need not be of the same type or degree, nor do they need to have the same number of CVs. For example, it is possible to join a polygon with a quadratic Bezier curve and with a cubic NURBS curve. The Model Editor converts the simpler types to the more complex - polygon or mesh to Bezier and Bezier and NURBS. In the above example, the new curve will be a cubic NURBS because cubic is the highest of the three degrees and NURBS is the more complex type.

The number of CVs and the type of connection are determined by the “Blend” option, by the tolerance and multiplicity parameters. A blended curve or surface will alter its ends by converting them into a single, common point, row or column respectively. The amount of change can be reduced by lowering the tolerance. When the tolerance is zero the inputs do not change at all: the faces are connected by a straight line and the surfaces by a flattish, linear patch. When not blended, the original shapes are not affected at all, regardless of the tolerance. Instead, the ends are connected by an arc-like fillet. Nonetheless, the result is a single primitive. The multiplicity affects the number of knots inserted at the blend point and thus allows for smooth or pointed connections. When “blend” is not on, multiplicity influences the shape and the tightness of the fillet.