Face disappears after joining 1

[callicospfx]

I'm joining 2 objects in an assembly, a text logo, mated to the top outside surface of an instrument case lid.
When they join, the top surface of the case disappears, the surface on the other side (0.1" wall thickness) and the sides of the lid look fine.

The join parameters were:
Hide input components & Force surface to surface contact.

If I turn the hidden case lid on then of course I see the missing case lid face but that seems wrong, shouldn't the new "joined" part, display the top surface?

This all came about after sending the part to a quick prototype house. The tech. said the text was floating over the surface of the lid (even though it was matted), so I decided to join the two parts. With this new disappearing surface "feature" ;-), I'm unsure wether to send this file!

Thanks, DC

Doug Calli
Callico Special Effects

 

[JNR]

Part files or drawing files? THere are some unfortunate affects in drawing files when SW thinks items interfere - things (or bits of them) can disappear. Doesn't sound like this is your problem, but just in case........

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[callicospfx]

There are two parts (3-D models), that are in the assembly.
1. Text that has been extruded 0.05"
2. Case lid


Doug Calli
Callico Special Effects

 

[TheTick]

Make sure you have full and proper contact between the two pieces you are joining, and turn off the "force face to face contact". Perhaps use mates in the parent assembly to ensure the parts are touching.

In other CAD systems (UG in particular) I have encountered a condition where a face is rendered invisible even though it is still there and can still be selected.

I would be glad to look it over, if you like. Email me at the address in my profile (I think you already have it). Don't send files until I know how big they are.

All this machinery making modern music can still be open hearted.

 

[APPENG]

Generally speaking when you see a face "disappear" like that, it means that the result of the operation has yielded an invalid face. Follow TheTicks's advice and make sure the you have good contact prior to joining the geometry. Consider (if you can) creating that feature in the actual part file itself rather than using a join.. It's a cool feature but it's just another external reference to wory about...

just a thought



Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[TheTick]

Looked at Doug's files. Everything works fine in SW2003. File originated in SW98. For the public record, some additional advice from our correspondence:

One other approach--this is a bit tricky but can work.
1.) export each of the words/letters to its own parasolid file (one body per file)
2.) import the parasolids to your cover model using "Insert --> Surface --Imported". You will get a surface model of your "letter"
3.) Use "Insert --> Boss --> Thicken" to turn the surface into a solid and combine with the cover model. There is a checkbox in the thicken (where you specify thickness) that allows you to make a solid from an enclosed volume. You want to check that.

All this machinery making modern music can still be open hearted.

 

[JNR]

Purely out of interest, since I presume there is a good reason - why did you not build the logo in the case part file and extrude it there?

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[callicospfx]

I'm transitioning from ACAD to SW, the logo-text and lid were built in ACAD.

It all would have been much easier to do in SW from the onset but the project was completed in ACAD and I'm now in the revision process. I'm working with SW '99, '03 is now in the budget for this year but in the mean time I've got to struggle along, gleaning whatever info I can from helpful people, like yourself, SW help files and 3rd party books. It's been easier than I thought it would, which speaks well for the SW software engineers!



Doug Calli
Callico Special Effects

 

[JNR]

Ah, I see. In that case, how about you open the case PART file and build the logo into it now? Remember that you can drag the entire feature out of the old part and copy right into the case part. If you use it a lot you can make a library feature out of it.

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......

 

[callicospfx]

The Tick solved the underling problem,... SW '99 just doesn't cut it! He was able to join the two solids without a problem in SW '03 and I was able to use that file to stay on schedule!

In the mean time,...
I'm using the ACAD extruded text, to trace new sketches of the characters (it's a logo, so nothing is standard), then re-assembling them in an assem file. It's working, it's what should have been done originally but time is a mean ol' task-master! ;-)

Thanks to everyone, lots of good ideas and feedback.


Doug Calli
Callico Special Effects