split surfaces

Hello,

Is it possible to split surfaces at the intersection with a plane or
another surface in Solidworks?

I am building up a surface model of a thin-walled steel structure with
many bifurcations in Solidworks. I want to export the model via IGES
into a finite element program to build up a shell element model, but
before meshing all the surfaces must have common edges at intersecting
lines.

Thank you for any answers....
Nils.

 

Nils,

Yes. Insert>Curve>Split Line and check Intersection then select your surface
and plane.

HTH,
Muggs

 

Note that "Intersection" option is not available in 2003, don't know about
2004

AFAIK, the best workaround (for the case of two intersecting surfaces) in
2003 is quite laborious.

1) Create a 3D sketch of the intersection of the surfaces (see Help for
"Intersection Curve")
2) Project that sketch to a suitable flat plane (this will not always be
unambiguously reversable in the next step) Note: to select 3D sketch so as
to "Convert" it to the Front plane, you need to turn on View/sketches, and
pick the sketch line from the display. If you pick from the feature Manager,
it picks the sketch rather than the sketch line, and you will wrongly get
the impression that 3D sketches cannot be converted.
3) Pick the surface you want to split, choose "Insert/Curve/Split Line" and
then pick the 3D sketch line to project the flat sketch back onto the
surface it originated from.

Does anyone have a shorter method?