Help needed here! Is it possible to convert an existing solid part to one made up of only surfaces without starting from scratch. I have 2004 but am still using 2003SP3 till I pluck up courage Thanks ... Roger
"Roger" wrote in news:bvc14h$87s$1 @hercules.btinternet.com:
I don't know of a command to do this, but if you pick a face and on the surfacing toolbar select delete face, and then change the radio button from "delete and patch" to "delete", the result will be a model made up of surfaces. You can then create a patch surface to replace the one you deleted, knit it to the rest of the part, and you will have a surface model that would "hold water". If you picked this surface and selected the thicken command, you could turn in back into a solid.
1 - Offset Surface "0",.. window select the solid body or select surface needed individually.
2 - Delete a face on your solid body, will turn it into a surface body,.. patch the hole or pre-copy/offset the face you deleted and knit it back.
3 - And, you can do something similar for a new part using insert part or incontext part?
You make a reminding point though, why can't the user just mark the solid body as a surface at anytime?
A very simple method is to insert the model you want to convert into an assembly with the model as the only component. Now save the assembly as a part (Save as .sldprt) and select the "exterior faces" check box and give it a name different from the original part model. The resulting part will be made up of surfaces. This works with both 2003 and 2004.
I'm sure if I had the option I would use it and it would be for working with surface bodies only (trim or trim mutual). I generally don't work with solid bodies. For my workflow, a solid body is something which is needed because the SW clients want that or because I can only utilize certain solid features with a solid body (ribs). Solids are not something I try to maintain through out a design and if I can quickly switch between the two to better access the features, all the better.
The difference between solids and surfaces are limited by the result of the current situation. Eventually, I would think and hope, that the two will cohabitate as equals.
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