SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [273]
Figure 20.29
Split ends after trimming
As a note, you may choose to use the Boundary Surface in the place of the loft. For this function, the two are similar enough.
7. Create Lofted Surfaces all the way around the part, linking all the tubes. Figure 20.30 shows the part with three of the lofts already completed and the last one in progress.
Figure 20.30
Adding Lofted Surfaces
8. Start a Planar Surface feature, and select the open ends of each tube where the faces were deleted in Step 4.
Note
Not all features allow you to operate from multiple bodies, but the Loft and Planar Surface features do. Features such as Fillet and Draft restrict you to creating features that are associated with one body at a time.
9. Start a Knit Surface feature, and Shift+select all the bodies in the Surface Bodies folder (select the first body in the list and Shift+select the last body). When you click OK to accept the feature, notice that the number of surface bodies changes to one. Selecting bodies in this way is much faster for large numbers of bodies than selecting them one at a time from the graphics window.
Note
Notice that the open edges of the surface body are shown in a different color. At this point, there are two open edges around the holes at the intersection of the tubes.
10. This is a situation that the Fill Surface is really meant for. In fact, this technique was created specifically to take advantage of the Fill Surface capabilities. Right-click any of the open edges and choose Select Open Loop. Initiate the Fill Surface. Change the Edge setting option to Tangent, and make sure that the Apply to all edges option is selected. Select the Merge result option, but leave the Try to form solid option unselected. The model at this point is shown in Figure 20.31, along with the PropertyManager settings that are used.
Figure 20.31
Creating a Fill Surface patch
Note
The Optimize surface option is ignored for this part because the opening is eight-sided rather than four-sided. Also note that you may have to change the resolution control slider to get the surface to remain convex instead of going concave in the center.
11. Click OK to accept the feature.
12. Start another Fill Surface, turning the part over to use the same selection on the back and the same settings as the first fill. However, on this one, also use the Try to form solid option. Click OK when the selections and settings are complete.
13. For the last feature, apply a Shell feature, selecting the flat ends of the tubes and shelling to .100 inches. The final state of the model is shown in Figure 20.32.
Figure 20.32
The finished model
Summary
Surface functions have a wide range of uses other than for complex shape parts, but thinking about your models in terms of surface features requires a slightly different approach. Becoming comfortable with the terminology, and the similarities and differences between solids and surfaces, is the first step toward embracing surfacing tools for everyday work.
You can think of surfaces as being reference geometry — stand-alone faces that you can use to complete various tasks.
Part V: Working with Specialized Functionality
In This Part
Chapter 21
Using SolidWorks Sheet Metal Tools
Chapter 22
Creating Sheet Metal Drawings
Chapter 23
Using Imported Geometry and Direct Editing Techniques
Chapter 24
Using Plastic Features
Chapter 21: Using SolidWorks Sheet Metal Tools
In This Chapter
Learning how to use the Base Flange controls
Using generic models to make sheet metal parts
Exploring other methods
Integrating techniques with models
Working with the