1. Surface Modeling for Solid Modelers
Jordan Tadic, Application Engineer
3DVision Technologies
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2. Jordan‟s Background
• BS in Mechanical Engineering (00-04)
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
• Automation Engineer (04-08)
Atlantic Tool & Die
Strongsville, OH
• Application Engineer (08-Present)
3DVision Technologies
Independence, OH
• SolidWorks Certifications:
CSWE, CSWP, Surfacing, Sheet Metal, Weldments,
Instructor, Support Technician, WPDM, 3DVIA Composer

3. Why Surfaces?
vs.

4. Why Surfaces?
Solid models need to follow these rules:
1. Every edge must be a boundary between exactly two faces.
2. Must always be a „water-tight‟ volume.

5. Why Surfaces?
Surfaces provide design flexibility:
• Create geometry one surface at a time rather than one chunk at a time.
• Solid modeling tools are simply „automated surfacing tools‟.
shell = delete face + thicken

6. Basic Surface Modeling Workflow
1. Build Surfaces
2. Extend/Trim Surfaces
3. Knit/Form Solid

7. Solids to Surfaces & Surfaces to Solids
Solids to Surfaces:
solid
1. Copy (Offset) Surface
2. Delete Face
copy surface
3. Knit Surface
delete face
Surfaces to Solids:
1. Knit Surface & Try to Form Solid
knit surfaces
2. Thicken & Create Solid from
Enclosed Volume
thicken

8. Bag of Surfacing Tricks
• Fixing/Modifying imported geometry
 Simplify imported geometry – (Delete & Patch)
 Repair/Modify imported geometry – (Extrude surface, Replace face)
 Repair sheet metal import – (Copy surface, Face fillet, Thicken)
• Overcoming Solid Modeling Challenges
 Extrude offset from multiple surfaces – (Knit surface)
 Extending countersinks – (Copy surface, Extend surface, Cut with surface)
 Extrude/Cut normal to curved surface – (Split line, Copy surface, Thicken cut)
 Complex variable radius fillets – (Split line, Face fillet with hold line)
 Complex ruffled surfaces – (Revolved surface, Split line, Delete face, Surface loft)

9. Simplifying Imported Geometry – Delete & Patch
Using the „Delete Face‟ command with the „Delete and Patch‟ option selected will delete
the selected faces and extend the surrounding faces to patch the gap.

10. Modifying/Repairing Imported Geometry – Replace Face

11. Checking Imported Sheet Metal Part File
• Golden sheet metal rules:
1. Must be uniform thickness throughout the entire part
2. All bent surfaces must either be cylindrical or conical
• Check to see if bends are cylindrical/conical:
 Cut a section normal to the bend axis, click on the arc, and check for radius measurement
• Check to see if flat faces are actually flat:
 Click on “flat” face, and check for “Sketch” icon
• Check thickness using measure tool
• RMB > „Select Tangency‟

12. Repairing Imported Sheet Metal Parts
import delete & patch copy surface delete body
delete face extend / untrim face fillet thicken
insert bends & flatten

13. Extrude Offset from Multiple Surfaces – Knit Surface
extrude offset from surface
translate OFF
knit surface
*or (in 2011), you can create the same result by using a split extrude offset from surface
line and an extrusion off the 3D faces. translate ON

14. Extending Countersinks – Extend Surface
hole wizard copy surface
extend surface cut with surface

15. Extrude/Cut Normal to Curved Surface - Thicken
split line copy surface thicken cut
copy surface thicken

16. Complex Variable Radius Fillets – Hold Line Face Fillet
split line hold line face fillet copy surfaces
extrude & draft
thicken thicken thicken mirror & shell
finishing touches

17. Complex Ruffled Surfaces – Lofted Surface

18. Complex Ruffled Surfaces – Lofted Surface
solid revolve delete face revolve surface project curve
lofted surface knit surface thicken

19. Questions?
Jordan Tadic
440-425-0114, 235
jtadic@3dvision.com