More about Thick Surfaces | ||||
|
| |||
Contextual Commands
Two contextual commands creating the object you need are available from the Object to offset box:
- Insert Operations > Create Join: Joins surfaces or curves. For more information, see Generative Shape Design User's Guide: Performing Operations on Shape Geometry: Joining Surfaces or Curves.
- Insert Operations > Create Extract: See Generative Shape Design User's Guide: Performing Operations on Shape Geometry: Extracting Geometry: Extracting Elements.
If you create any of these elements, the application then displays the corresponding icon next to the Object to offset box. Clicking this icon enables you to edit the element.
Extracting Geometry
Sometimes, you will need to use the Extract command to be able to add thickness to a face. Extract lets you generate separate elements from initial geometry, without deleting geometry. This command is available after clicking a dialog box prompting you to deactivate the Thick Surface feature and extract the geometry. Once the operation has been done, the Extracted Geometry (ThickSurface.1) node is displayed in the tree. This category includes the elements created by the application.
Extract is available if only one face was selected to perform the Thick Surface operation.
Note also that if you have Generative Shape Design installed, the geometry resulting from the Extract operation is associative.
Hybrid Design
When adding a surface-based feature or a surface feature modifying another surface-based feature or surface belonging to the same body, Part Design features based on that second feature then reference the new added feature. In other words, a replace operation is automatically performed. For an example, see More about Split Features
Self-Intersection
The application does not manage self-intersections between faces with opposite orientations. To avoid this type of self-intersections, the thickness value must be lower by half than the minimal distance between faces belonging to the same body, with opposite orientations. If this rule is not respected, the application cannot produce a valid body.
Before using Thick Surface, ensure that the input body has enough space to be thickened.
