MOLDED PART - HOW TO DERIVE FROM MOLD CAVITY

[FreddyB]

Hi,

I'm trying to create a solid block model of an assembly of parts to anonymise the assembly before giving to a third party for integration. I have managed to create a cavity in a 'mold block' using the mold tools cavity finction. How do I now derive a part from the cavity? It's not a real mold design so I'm not interested in parting lines or draft or anything. I just want to create a part the same as the cavity, hopefully as a single part with no tree.

Any help appreciated.

 

[hendersdc]

You can create a part from your cavity by first creating a separate body that fills the cavity in the same part, being sure to not check the "Merge Result" option in the extrude feature. This separate body can be something basic like an extruded rectangle as long as it extends enough to more than fill the cavity. Next you can use the Insert->Features->Combine tool where you can select the cavity and the extruded rectangle and subtract the cavity body from the extruded body to create your "molded" part.

There will be a model tree of a few features at this point. To remove the model tree you can go to Insert->Features->Save Bodies which will allow you to select a solid body in the part and save it off as a linked part. When you open the new part you will have no design tree, only a single feature that is linked to the original part.

An alternative to have no model tree is to save off an IGES or STEP file after the first steps and then import back into SW.