Creating a Fillet Problem 1

[Terminus0]

I need to create a fillet at the intersection between two solids and I'm having trouble because Solidworks thinks there is a gap between them. I've tried everything to get rid of this infinitesimal gap but its no good.

Does anyone have anykind of suggestions because every time I use the fillet command it tries to round the bottom of one of the solids instead of creating a fillet between them.
I

 

[Updraft]

Try using the Face Fillet option and picking the two faces. If these two solids are separate bodies in the same part file then make sure the "Merge Results" box is checked.

- - -Updraft

 

[Terminus0]

Where is the merge results box? I can't find it.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

A Fillet cannot be used between two bodies (non-merged features).
The Merge option is available when creating features.

So you will have to go back and edit the feature which was created last (of the two bodies being filleted) and enable the Merge option, before adding the fillet.

 

[Terminus0]

The last feature that created was a knitted solid, and I checked the merge entities checkbox. Is that what you are talking about? because I wasn't exactly sure what it did.

 

[rollupswx]

If you still don't have it working - can you attach the sldprt file here?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Merge Entities -->

http://help.solidworks.com/2012/English/solidworks/sldworks/hidd_dve_knit_surface.htm

Extrude Property manager --> Merge -->

http://help.solidworks.com/2012/English/solidworks/sldworks/extrude_propertymanager.htm

 

[Terminus0]

@rollupswx I can't post the file because it's confidential.

@CorBlimeyLimey I looked at both of the help links you posted, and neither was really helpful. The merge checkbox in the knit command appears to just merge similar geometry, not merge it with the base solid. The merge command for extruding doesn't help because I'm not extruding anything.

Since the problem seems to be that the face fillet command won't fillet between two different solids, which I think is silly. I tried combing the solids with Combine command but it failed due to unstated geometric problems, probably related to fact that their is an infinitesimal gap between the two solids.

So I'm sitting here unable to move forward.

Perhaps I could create the needed fillets while the knitted solid is still a bunch of surfaces, but that won't help with the gap between the two solids. Which will give me big headaches farther down the line.

 

[Updraft]

TerminusO,

It sounds like you are relatively new to SolidWorks. The problems you are having are unusual for a skilled user. If you are a new user I highly recommend that you invest in going through the excellent SolidWorks Tutorials (Help -> SolidWorks Tutorials).

If on the other hand you are an experienced user then you will need to find a way to share your file(s) with us. Perhaps you can recreate the same problem conditions on a new generic part and post that.

- - -Updraft

 

[Terminus0]

Yeah I haven't been using Solidworks for more than 8 months and I'm self taught, and I went through all the tutorials back when I started. I was formally trained in Pro-E so my Solidworks knowledge probably has some big gaps. I've only learned things as I've needed them to model things.

 

[Terminus0]

I'll try to recreate the FUBAR situation in my other file in an example file.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

It would help if you explain what you do have in the way of solids & surfaces, and how they were created.
Why is there an "infinitesimal" gap? Can you not adjust the model to eliminate the gap?
Could you use a Sweep instead of a Fillet?

It's difficult to suggest how to achieve what you want, without knowing what you have.

 

[Terminus0]

I created a surface by lofting between a bunch of different cross-sections and then used the surface extend command to extend that loft down to a surface that was created using the surface offset command (Set to zero offset), which I did because the extended surface loft slightly overhangs the face and I needed to knit that surface with other surfaces to create a surface so that I could use the extend surface command's up to surface function (because it only seems to accept a single surface). You'd think that having the extended surface coming down to the surface created by the zero offset surface would perfectly meet the solidbody but it doesn't, when I zoom in it seems there is the 'tiny gap' my newly created surface and the body.

Is there some sort of inherent geometric error in the functions I'm using? Am I doing this in an ass backward way? Am I just stupid?

 

[saf12]

try combine or merge to make one body then use fillet.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Terminus0,
Instead of Up to Surface, could you have used the Up to Body option?
Is the gap measure-able, or is it just a visual graphics limitation?

It sounds like you are trying to fillet between a surface & a body or other surface ... both conditions are not possible.
Can you thicken the surface and then use the Combine function? If so you should then be able to add the fillet.
If the gap actually exists, can you extend the surface into the solid body (from which the zero-offset was created), and then thicken & combine?

Too may variables and too little information.

Are you just stupid? I doubt it, but then again there is yet too little information supplied to form a conclusive opinion.

 

[Terminus0]

@saf12 I've tried using Combine it just fails for unstated geometric reasons.

@CorBlimeyLimey By the time I'm trying to fillet, both objects are solids. I've knitted together the surfaces into a solid.

I guess then my main problem is not doing the fillet

It is combining these two bodies.

 

[rollupswx]

I guess then my main problem is... ....is combining these two bodies. [\quote]

Can you make up a dummy part that exhibits the same behavior without giving away any proprietary information.
(I can tell you from my experience when I have users do this exercise they often come up with the solution in the process.)

 

[Terminus0]

I was trying to do that yesterday, but I has real trouble replicating the same issue as in the real file.

I'll keep working on it.

 

[Updraft]

TerminusO,

Can take your real file and cut away the proprietary features, leaving only the problem area, and save that as a Parasolid and post that? Even though it would not show us how you made the features in that area, it would at least show us the result and we might still be able to help you.

Giving us something is better than nothing.

- - -Updraft

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

By the time I'm trying to fillet, both objects are solids. I've knitted together the surfaces into a solid.

If the surfaces were successfully knitted, there would be no gap. A solid would not be created if the knitted surfaces were not watertight. i.e. No gaps.

Can you copy the part and then change the profiles, to get around the proprietary data, but leave enough to still show the problem? Even an image of the problem area might help.

Do the contents of the Solid Bodies & Surface Bodies folders match what you expect?