Creating a Hole Curve

You can create the curve definition of a hole on a surface.

Before you begin:
  • You must have access to the Generative Shape Optimizer or Automotive Body in White Templates product.

  • Create a 3D shape containing a surface and a point.

  1. Click Hole Curve in the BiW Templates toolbar.

    The Hole Curve Definition dialog box appears.

    Various shapes can be created:


    • round
    • slot (elongated hole)
    • rectangular
    • square

    The shape is defined on a plane and projected along a direction on the surface. In that case, the nearest projection is used to create the hole.

  2. Select the shape in the drop-down list.

  3. Click a point to be the Center Point in the geometry or in the specification tree.

  4. Select the Support surface.

  5. Define the Orientation to align the major axis along a direction.

  6. Define the Punch direction.

    Important:
    • If the point lies on the support surface, by default the punch direction is the normal direction at the center point.
    • If the point does not lie on the support surface, you must define a punch direction.

  7. Select the Axis Computation option to automatically create an axis and direction lines passing through the center of the hole curve.

    The axis is created passing through the center of the hole curve along the punching direction. One of the direction lines is created along the input orientation direction, while the other direction line is created mutually perpendicular to the axis and the first direction line.

    By default, this option is selected.

  8. Click Preview.



  9. Define the shape dimensions.

    To do so, either :

    • click the value to edit (here the diameter).



      The Diameter dialog box opens to let you modify the dimension.



    • click the Size tab.

      All dimensions related to the selected shape are displayed and can be modified.

    Warning: Some values must be greater than 0mm:
    • Diameter for the round hole curve
    • Length and width for the slot and rectangle hole curves
    • Length for the square hole curve

  10. Click OK to create the hole curve.

    The element (identified as Type Hole Curve.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

    Round hole curve

    Slot hole curve

    Rectangular hole curve

    Square hole curve

Warning: If several solutions are possible, the solution with the minimum distance from the center point is chosen. If all distances are equal, an error message is issued, asking you to modify the point position.
Important: This command can be used within the Functional Tolerancing & Annotation workbench in order to create associated dimensions and tolerances for a hole curve feature. For further information, refer to the Creating an Automatic Constructed Geometry in the 3D Functional Tolerancing & Annotation User's Guide.