Surfaces

Help needed here!
Is it possible to convert an existing solid part to one made up of only
surfaces without starting from scratch.
I have 2004 but am still using 2003SP3 till I pluck up courage
Thanks ... Roger

 

Roger,

There are a couple of ways in SW2003 and SW2004.

1 - Offset Surface "0",.. window select the solid body or select surface
needed individually.
2 - Delete a face on your solid body, will turn it into a surface
body,.. patch the hole or pre-copy/offset the face you deleted and knit
it back.
3 - And, you can do something similar for a new part using insert part
or incontext part?

You make a reminding point though, why can't the user just mark the
solid body as a surface at anytime?

...

 

Roger,

A very simple method is to insert the model you want to convert into an
assembly with the model as the only component. Now save the assembly as
a part (Save as .sldprt) and select the "exterior faces" check box and
give it a name different from the original part model. The resulting
part will be made up of surfaces. This works with both 2003 and 2004.

Dave H

 

....

Out of curiosity, when would you want to do that? It sounds like a
reasonable request, but I don't think I've had the need to do it.

matt

 

Thanks Guys
I'll work thru' your suggestions and see what can be done .. great news
group youm have here.
Roger

 

Matt,

I'm sure if I had the option I would use it and it would be for working
with surface bodies only (trim or trim mutual).
I generally don't work with solid bodies. For my workflow, a solid body
is something which is needed because the SW clients want that or because
I can only utilize certain solid features with a solid body (ribs).
Solids are not something I try to maintain through out a design and if I
can quickly switch between the two to better access the features, all
the better.

The difference between solids and surfaces are limited by the result of
the current situation.
Eventually, I would think and hope, that the two will cohabitate as
equals.

...