Split Line Usage

[MadMango]

I have to model a strip of safety tape. For two of my parts I was able to model a part 24"x2"x.01", then create a sketch to represent the 1" wide alternating colors of the tape (red and white). I perform a Insert>Curves>Split Lines and was then able to control-select the alternating faces and apply a color change to the Face Properties.

This was simple, but time consuming.

My last part, the tape actually gets bent around another part, so the tape model has a profile like a "C". I've tried to model the part flat, then add my Split Lines. When I go to bend it, it returns the "complex geometry" error and won't form.

If I try to model the part in the bent state, my sketch for my Split Lines returns the "endpoint wrongly shared by multiple entites" error, even though I have removed all relations and my sketch is entirely blue.

Any suggestions? Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: faq731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."

 

[Stoker]

This won't work in the flat state as you have discovered, but it does work in the bent state. I wasn't able to reproduce the error you described. I made the split lines one at a time and produced a checker pattern in the bent part without errors. I assume that you are not trying to do this with one skech for the split lines, but are doing them individually, like this ||||| and then -------.

 

[MadMango]

I need alternating colors of red & white, and I am doing it with one sketch, like below:

|--| |--| |--| |--| |--|
| | | | | | | | | |
| |--| |--| |--| |--| |
| |
|--------------------------|

I did it on an early model, and everything was alright. That was also a sheet metal part, but only bent @ 20 degs. This new part is a C bracket and now for some reason, I am getting the above errors. Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: faq731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."

 

[rockguy]

I think you're correct the split lines will have a hard time working. Here is an idea that comes mind. How about breaking the surface with a very thin cut extrude. Make a small box (maybe .01 x .01 just cutting below the surface) at the places your trying to break the faces and then extrude cut thru your part (tape). The cuts would be hard to pick up and the faces could be colored differently. If you had PhotoWorks you could apply a decal. I don't believe you can insert an image on to a curved surface in SolidWorks, only a flat one.

 

[Stoker]

If you are going to use the split line method you will not be able to do it in one sketch. You will need to do it with a multiple sketches, but it does work and will give the effect you are after.

There is a much better way to accomplish this though. Create a single segment and pattern this body (do a linear pattern along the length and then a circular pattern around the axis). You get each segment as a separate body and can then apply the colors to the alternating faces. As long as you are on SWX2003 there is no need to be using split lines to do this.

 

[MadMango]

Great suggestion Stoker! Sometimes you just bang your head so many times, you can't see the obvious. Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: faq731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."

 

[macPT]

MadMango

Sorry, but is it so important to model the tape?
When something like that need to be in a design (happens a lot with nameplates or tape to fix things during assembly or surface treatment) we just draw a dash-dot rectangle or circle (or whatever geometry), with the right dimensions and the right positioning, and add a note giving the needed details.

Of course we have a drawing (normaly ACAD - sorry again) with the real dimensions of the nameplate difining the text and symbols.


Regards

 

[MadMango]

macPT

Normally you are right, and I wouldn't even bother with modeling the stripes on the tape. However (there's always one of these), our Salesmen feels it is important to have the stripes visible in the eDrawing we are creating, since it's considered a safety feature.

Whatcha gonna do... Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: faq731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."

 

[macPT]

AAAHHH! Salesmen... the R&D nightmare.

Good Luck!