Subtract parts that do not touch

[BrandM]

I have a tool part that does not touc the target part. Is there a way to tell the tool how to cut the target in the subtact command, or do I have to move the tool first and then subtract? So far moving first is the only way I can find to do it.
Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

That's the way it works, but there is a 'trick' that you can do that just might allow you to get the workflow that you're looking for.

In addition to the Tool body that is NOT intersecting the Target body, which I assume you are going to try to move later by some parametric means (perhaps by editing an expression), create another small and innocuous body which DOES intersect the Target body and includ this as a SECOND 'Tool' body when you perform your Subtraction operation. Now it is true that you will get an 'Alert' that a Tool body did not intersect with the Target body, but if you ignore this and hit OK anyway, the Subtract operation will be performed anyway. Then later if you do move that non-intersecting Tool body so that it now DOES intersect it will be properly Subtracted.

Now if the faces created by this 'extra' Tool body being subtracted is a problem you can always use the Delete Face function to remove those faces from the final model. The only thing that you should be careful of is that this 'sacrificial' feature needs to be located where any subsequent edit, which causes the Subtract to update, will NOT try to remove these now-deleted faces.

Anyway, give it a try and see if this works for you.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
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