SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [272]
Tip
It is a common practice to change surface colors to something that contrasts with the part color. I usually use a color like yellow, which suggests temporary status or construction. Some users take this a step further and set the template colors for surface types by choosing Tools⇒Options⇒Document Properties⇒Colors. These settings do not always work; in some cases, they turn surface features to a different color, and in other situations they do not.
5. Select Sketch2, and select Extruded Boss/Base from the Features toolbar. Do not mistake the Extruded Surface for an Extruded Solid. Set the end condition to Up To Body, activate the body selection box, and select the Offset Surface body from the Surface Bodies folder. The result is shown in Figure 20.26.
Figure 20.26
Extruding with the Up To Body setting
Tip
It is preferable to select the surface from the Surface Bodies folder, rather than the feature list or the graphics window. In this case, you want to extrude up to a body. If you make the selection from the feature list, then you are likely to select a feature (which is okay in this situation, but not in all situations). If you make the selection from the graphics window, then the selection is likely to be interpreted as a face. It is best to be as explicit as possible when making selections because SolidWorks may interpret your selection literally. In this case, it is probably a better idea to use Up To Body for the end condition than Up To Surface, because the goal is really to use the surface body as the end of the feature.
6. To invert the lettering so that it sits below the surface rather than above the surface, you can make a few simple changes. First, edit the Offset Surface feature and flip the direction of the offset so that the surface is now inside the solid rather than outside the solid. You will not be able to see it unless the solid is either transparent or in wireframe mode.
7. Next, delete the extrude that you created to extrude the text. There is no way to change an extrude into a cut in this context.
8. Re-create the extrude as an extruded cut. Use the From settings at the top of the PropertyManager window. The settings and results are shown in Figure 20.27.
Figure 20.27
An extruded cut
Another way to accomplish this would be to use the Move Face tool, select the faces of the letters, and move them .120 of an inch into the solid.
Using Fill Surface blend
Sometimes fillets do not meet your needs. Blends, such as those shown in the bike frame example, are smoother and can blend just about anything. However, the technique is not exactly straightforward. Follow these steps to gain familiarity with this technique:
1. Open the part from the DVD for Chapter 20 called Chapter 20 – Blend.SLDPRT. Box select all the features from the DeleteFace1 to the Shell, and suppress them.
2. On the Top plane, draw a square 2 inches on a side and centered on the Origin.
3. Use the Split Entities tool found on the Sketch toolbar or choose Tools⇒Sketch Tools⇒Split Entities from the menus. Divide each line of the rectangle into three pieces, with the two outer pieces of each line being .6 inches (use an Equal sketch relation). The sketch should be fully defined when you are done. This arrangement is shown in Figure 20.28. This is done because the edges of the tubes need to be broken into sections.
With the lines split, now use the Split Line tool at Insert⇒Curves ⇒Split line to split the faces of all tubes.
Figure 20.28
Using split entities to split lines
4. Use Delete Face to delete the ends of the four tubes. Set the option to Delete, not the default option of Delete and Patch. This converts the solid into a surface body.
5. Use the sketch with the split entities to trim out the center section of the tubes, keeping the outer section and leaving four surface bodies. This divides each tube end into four segments where they have been trimmed, as shown in Figure 20.29.
6. Initiate the Lofted Surface feature, and select the nearest edge