Boundary curves of selected faces 1

[rvogel]

I would like to project in a sketch the boundary edges of a selected group of faces as curves. Mainly I want only the outside edges of the selected faces as a whole. In vector graphics this is often referred to as a Boolean, Merge, Unite, or Combine function. I am programming an NXOpen journal to automate the process and may need to find a way to do this programmatically, but I am hoping to find a way to do it in NX first.

I have no problem starting a sketch and then projecting the curves of the edges of a number of faces, but this also results in the creation of interior curves where the faces overlap or meet.

Any help or redirection would be greatly appreciated. I am working with NX8 and NX9.

 

[BubbaK]

1. For each face,
(a) Project its boundary curves to a plane, and then
(b) Extrude those curves in a direction normal to the plane.
2. Unite the Extruded bodies.
3. Extract the edges of the united body that lie on the plane.

 

[BubbaK]

You could automate this with SNAP or NX/Open if you wanted.

 

[jerry1423]

So how many faces are there ?
Are the faces touching each other ?

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

Try Insert -> Derived Curve -> Extract Curve -> Precise Outline, I think that would give you what you're after.


Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer


NX3 to NX10 with almost every MR (21versions)

 

[rvogel]

Okay, thank you for the replies.

BubbaK, I tried this route and was not able to extract the curves from the united body. The united body was not recognized as an entity that could be selected, though the individual bodies were. It is my intention to automate this with NXOpen when I work out the kinks.

jerry1423, there will be anywhere from 1 to 1000 faces or more. Typically there will only be a dozen or so. They will all be touching or, in some cases, overlapping.

PhoeNX, yes, precise outline does work. I will need to wavelink the selected surfaces and blank everything out excepting the wavelinked surfaces, but this is exactly what I want. I would prefer to skip the wavelinking step, but it does what I need.

Thank you.