HELP - Anyone know how to cut out a sharp star shaped point from a flat surface? Images Attached :) 1

[Shabho]

Hi guys,

I am trying to somehow join this sketch together in the hopes of cutting it out of the block, is anyone familiar as to how this can be achieved? I've tried everything, thought lofted cut would work, and almost did, but only cut half the side out and not the way I wanted, can't even remember how I did that! I believe it might have something to do with open / closed loop , not really sure what I'm doing wrong. I would like to cut the shape out so I can make a star shaped product out of the hollow which will be the mold. Thanks in advance!

ps: Images are here -

http://imgur.com/a/4W8l7

 

[hendersdc]

I would start with the part instead of the mold, you will likely need to do a lot of revolve cuts using offset reference geometry to get all those spherical surfaces on the sides. Once you have the part made, create a block representing the mold as a separate body and use the combine feature and the subtract option to cut your part out of the mold.

 

[Shabho]

Thanks so much Hendersdc,

That's exactly what I did, however, I am now using Solidworks 2016 and just moved the lofted part I was previously trying to subtract , and joined it to the edge of the solid block I am attempting to subtract it from, and selected the subtract option in the combine feature but I am getting the message "No bodies remain after the combine operation" , there are clearly 2 solid bodies being selected, the one to be subtracted from and the one to be subtracted...know what the issue could be ?

Thanks!

 

[hendersdc]

I can't really see what's going on in your screen shot but that error indicates that the body you are trying to subtract from the main body fully encompasses the main body and there would be nothing left after the operation. If that is the case then you need to modify the cutting body to only include the diamond shaped portion, not the rest of the block.

 

[SwinnyGG]

It appears that your desired final part is symmetrical through two planes- if surfacing tools aren't working, you could come through the back door by using a revolved cut to create 1/4 of the desired surface. That assumes that at least one of the sketch borders of the surface is a constant radius curve. If so, use revolved cut, mirror through XY, combine bodies, mirror through YZ.

If the desired end result does not have constant radius edges than it becomes more difficult to use this caveman method.

 

[SBaugh]

Why don't you make your sketches into surfaces and knit the surface as one and use the cut surface command?

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Gryphon Environmental

http://www.2gryphon.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[SBaugh]

Here us an example I through together from what I could gather from your images.

Hope this helps,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Gryphon Environmental

http://www.2gryphon.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[handleman]

Another approach:
Make a sphere.
Pattern the sphere (4 overlapping instances)
Merge bodies.
Cut away what you don't want.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)