Unigraphics NX8 - Combine Bodies

[NX8-HELP] COMBINE BODIES 1
Combine bodies
View a topic
Unite
Unsew
Subtract
Patch
Intersect
Join Face
Emboss
Sheet
Quilt
Sew
1. Unite
Use the Unite Boolean command to combine the volume of two or more solid tool bodies into a single
target body. The target body and tool body must overlap or share faces so that the result is a valid solid
body. This command creates a Unite feature.
You can:
 Use a Group of bodies as the tool.

 Optionally save and retain unmodified copies of the target and tool bodies.
Target solid body (1) united with a group of tool bodies (2) into a single solid body
Where do I find it?
Application Modeling
Toolbar
Feature→Combine Drop-down→Unite
Menu Insert→Combine→Unite
Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite
1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Unite or choose
Insert→Combine→Unite.
Note
In the Unite dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group, and
after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.
2. Select a target solid body.
3. Selected target body (cyan)

4. Select one or more tool solid bodies.
5. Selected tool solid bodies (red)

6. (Optional) You can do one or more of the following:
o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target and
tool solid bodies will be modified.

oModified solid body

oTo save an unmodified copy of the target body, select Keep Target.
oTo save unmodified copies of the tool bodies, select Keep Tool.
7. Click OK or Apply.
The target body is modified by combining it with the volumes of the four tool bodies.
1.2. Unite options

Target
Lets you select a target solid body to unite with one or more tool solid bodies.
Select Body The target body is united with, and becomes part of, the tool bodies.
Tool
Lets you select one or more tool solid bodies to modify the selected target body.
The tool bodies are united with, and become part of, the target body.
Selected tool bodies appear in dynamic preview mode when Preview is selected.
Select Body
Note Any selected tool body that does not intersect the target body will be consumed by
the Boolean operation.
Settings
Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.
Keep Target
If you select more than one tool body, Unite copies the target of the first Boolean
feature, but unites the target bodies for the rest.
Keep Tool Saves a copy of the selected tool bodies in an unmodified state.
Available only when editing a Unite feature.
Convert to
Lets you convert a Unite Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to
Sew Feature
make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful
if you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.
Lets you change the tolerance used to create a Boolean sheet body feature. A tighter
Tolerance (smaller value) tolerance creates a more precise model. A looser (larger value) tolerance
permits objects to be joined more easily, but the model may not be as precise.

2. Subtract
Use the Subtract command to remove the volume of one or more tool bodies from a target body.
When you use the Subtract command:
 You can select a Group of bodies as the tool.
Group of bodies as tool
Resulting Subtract feature
 If you select a sheet body as a tool body, the result is a fully parameterized Subtract feature with
all regions kept.
 If the tool body completely splits the target body into multiple solid bodies the resulting solid
bodies are parameterized features.
A tool solid (2) is subtracted from a target solid (1), which becomes a parameterized Subtract feature (3)
Note An empty space may remain where the subtracted target body existed.
Where do I find it?
Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Subtract

Menu Insert→Combine→Subtract

2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract
1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Subtract , or choose
Insert→Combine→Subtract.
Note
In the Subtract dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group,
and after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.
2. Select a target body.

4. Select one or more tool bodies.
5. Selected tool bodies (red)

6. (Optional) You can do the following:
o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target body
will be modified when the volume of the tool bodies is subtracted from it.

o
Preview of modified target body
o
To save an unmodified copy of the original target body, select Keep Target.
o
To save an unmodified copy of the original tool bodies, select Keep Tool.
7. Choose OK or Apply.
The target body is modified by subtracting the volumes of the four tool bodies.
2.2. Subtract options

Target
Lets you select a target solid body.
The target body is modified by subtracting from it the volumes of the tool bodies.
Note During edit, you can change the target body of a subtraction, but you must first
Select Body reorder any children of either the target body or the tool body before the Subtract
feature. You can reorder child features with Edit→Feature→Reorder, or by right-
clicking Reorder Before or Reorder After in the Part Navigator.
Tool
Lets you select one or more tool solid bodies to modify the selected target body.
The tool bodies are subtracted from the target body.
Select Body
Settings
Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.
Keep Target
If you select more than one tool body, Subtract copies the target of the first Boolean
feature, but consumes the target bodies for the rest.
Keep Tool Saves a copy of the tool bodies in an unmodified state.
Available only when editing a Boolean feature.
Convert to
Lets you convert a Subtract Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to
Sew Feature
make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful if
you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.
3. Intersect
Use Intersect to create a body containing the shared volume or area between a target body and one or
more tool bodies.
When you use the Intersect command:
 You can use a Group of bodies as the tool.

 You can intersect solids with solids, sheets with sheets, and a sheet with a solid. If you select a
sheet body as a tool body, the result is a fully parameterized Intersect feature with all regions kept.
 If the tool body completely splits the target body into multiple solid bodies the resulting solid
bodies are parameterized features.
The normal result is a solid body containing the intersecting volume of the target body and all tool body
solid bodies.
A target solid (1) and a group of tool bodies (2) intersect resulting into three parameterized bodies (3)
Where do I find it?
Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Intersect

Menu Insert→Combine→Intersect
3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect
1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Intersect , or choose
Insert→Combine→Intersect.
Note
In the Intersect dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group,
and after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.
2. Select a target body.


4. Select a tool body.
5. Selected tool body (red)

o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target and
tool body will be modified when an intersect body containing the volume they share is
created.
o Preview of modified target body

o To save an unmodified copy of the original target body, select Keep Target.
o To save an unmodified copy of the original tool body, select Keep Tool.
7. Click OK or Apply.
An intersect body is created containing the volume shared by the target and tool bodies.

3.2. Intersect options

Target
Lets you select a target solid or sheet body.
The target body is modified by combining its volume with that of the tool body where
Select Body they intersect.
Tool
Lets you select a solid body or sheet body to serve as the tool.
If the target is a solid body, the tool can only be another solid.
If the target is a sheet body, the tool can be a solid or a sheet body.
The volume of the tool body is combined with that of the target body where they
intersect.
Select Body
Settings
Keep Target Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.
Keep Tool Saves a copy of the tool body in an unmodified state.
Available only when editing a Boolean feature.
Convert to
Lets you convert an Intersect Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to
Sew Feature
make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful
if you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.
4. Emboss Sheet
Use the Emboss Sheet command to modify a sheet body by adding faces of a solid body, as if the solid
body was pressed into the sheet body.
Sheet metal models are embossed to:
 Increase a metal panels stiffness and rigidity.

 Increase the surface area for heat transfer or acoustic applications.
 Improve traction.
 Enhance the ability of a metal surface to disperse fluids efficiently.
 Reduce friction and static.

Note You must position the tool bodies on the target sheet body such that they intersect the sheet body in
the areas where the shapes of the tool bodies are to be transferred onto the sheet body.
Emboss Sheet feature
You can produce raised or sunken designs or relief on a sheet metal body to improve the performance
characteristics of appliance panels, door panels, automotive trim, metal office furniture and so on.
Where do I find it?

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Emboss Sheet

Menu Insert→Combine→Emboss Sheet
4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature

1. Choose Insert→Combine→Emboss Sheet. In the Emboss Sheet dialog box, the Select Body
option in the Target group is active.
2. Select the sheet metal body to emboss.
3. Select one or more solid tool bodies to be used to modify the target sheet body.
Note The selected tool bodies must cut entirely through the target sheet body.

4.
5. Specify the direction in which the tool body must emboss the sheet body.
Same as Sheet Normal Opposite of Sheet Normal
6. Check the Settings options and select or clear the Keep Target or Keep Tool check boxes as
required.
7. Click OK or Apply to emboss the sheet.
8. Emboss Sheet feature
4.2. Emboss Sheet options

Target
Lets you select the target sheet body whose shape you want to emboss.
Select Body
Tool
Lets you select one or more tool bodies that intersect the target sheet body.
Select Body Note The tool bodies must entirely cut through the target sheet body.
Tool Shape Side

Adds to the sheet's shape the portions of the tool bodies that lie on the same side of the
Same as Sheet
sheet body as the displayed sheet normal vector . The portions of the tool bodies on the
Normal
other side of the sheet body are discarded.
Adds to the sheet's shape the portions of the tool bodies that lie on the opposite side of
Opposite of
the sheet body as the displayed sheet normal vector. The portions of the tool bodies on
Sheet Normal
the same side of the sheet body as the normal are discarded.
Settings
Keep Target Lets you keep or discard the target bodies.
Keep Tool Lets you keep or discard the tool bodies.
5. Sew
Use the Sew command to join two or more sheet bodies into a new single sheet body. If the collection of
sheet bodies encloses a volume, a solid body is created. The selected sheet bodies must not have any gaps
larger than the specified tolerance, or the resulting body will be a sheet body.
You can also sew two solid bodies together if they share one or more common (coincident) faces.
Where do I find it?

Application Modeling, Shape Studio
Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Sew
Menu Insert→Combine→Sew
5.1. Sew sheets together

1. Click Insert→Combine→Sew.
2. In the Sew dialog box, select Sheet from the Type list.
3. If it is not already active, click Select Sheet Body in the Target group and select a sheet
body for the target.
4. Target sheet body selected
5. If it is not already active, click Select Sheet Body in the Tool group and select one or more
sheet bodies to sew to the target. The sheet body faces should be coincident with the target.
6. Tool sheet bodies selected

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .
The preview shows the sew feature.
Preview of the sew feature
Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the sew feature.

o In the Settings group, select Output Multiple Sheets to create more than one sewn sheet.
o In the Settings group, type a new value for the Tolerance if the current setting is too small
to create the sew feature.
8. Click OK or Apply to create the sew feature.
5.2. Sew solids together
1. Click Insert→Combine→Sew .
2. In the Sew dialog box, select Solid from the Type list.
3. If it is not already active, click Select Face in the Target group and select a solid face for the
target.
4. Bottom surface of the top solid selected for the target
5. If it is not already active, click Select Face in the Tool group and select one or more solid
faces to sew to the target. The solid faces should be coincident with the target.
6. Top surface of the bottom solid selected for the tool

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .
The preview shows the sew feature.

Preview of new sew solid body
Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the sew feature.
o In the Tool group, click Search Common Faces to see where the sewing will occur.
o If a selected body is part of an instance array, and you want all the instances to be sewn,
select Sew All Instances in the Settings group.
o In the Settings group, type a new value for the Tolerance if the current setting is too small
to create the sew feature.
8. Click OK or Apply to create the sew feature.
5.3. Sew options

Type
Sheet Set the Type to Sheet to sew sheet bodies together.
Solid Set the Type to Solid to sew two solid bodies together.
Target
Appears when the Type is Sheet, to let you select the target sheet body.
Select Sheet
Body
Appears when the Type is Solid, to let you select the target solid face.
Select Face
Tool
Appears when the Type is Sheet, to let you select one or more tool sheets to sew to the
Select Sheet target sheet body. The sheets should be coincident to the selected target sheet body.
Body
Appears when the Type is Solid, to let you select one or more tool faces from the second
solid body. The faces must be coincident with one or more target faces.
Select Face

Available only when the Type is Solid.
Search
Common
Highlights the edges of faces that are common to (between) the target and tool bodies
Faces
when the Type is Solid.
Settings
Output Only available when the Type is Sheet.
Multiple
Sheets Lets you create more than one sewn sheet.
Sew All Sews the entire instance array if the selected body is part of an instance array. Otherwise,
Instances only the selected instance is sewn.
Sets the maximum distance that edges to be sewn together can be separated for the sew
operation to succeed.
Tolerance
2 sheet edges to be sewn together.
The tolerance must be greater than the maximum distance between the two edges.
Edges to be sewn together (whether they are gapped or overlap) will be sewn if the
distance between them is less than the specified tolerance. If the distance between them is
greater than this tolerance, they will not be sewn together.
Note The tolerance should not be larger than necessary. Whenever possible, the sew
tolerance should be less than the shortest edge. Otherwise, later operations, such as
Booleans, might have unexpected results.

To sew these three sheets together, use a tolerance that is slightly larger than this gap.
Do not use a tolerance this large.

Preview
Show Result computes the feature and displays the result. When you click OK or Apply
Show Result to create the feature, the software reuses the computation, making the creation process
faster.
Undo Result exits the result display and returns you to the dialog box.
Undo Result
5.4. Sew tips and techniques

Mismatched sheets
If the sew operation fails because the sheets to be sewn together are badly mismatched, you can try the
following:
1. Convert the sheet's underlying surface to a B-spline surface using Insert→Associative

Copy→Extract.
2. Match the edges of the converted sheets using Edit→Surface→Change Edge.
3. Sew the sheets together again.
If the sew operation still fails, compare the distance between the sheets or bodies with the sew tolerance.
(Check the distance with Analysis→Distance.) Try loosening the sew tolerance if it is less than the
distance between the sheets or bodies.
Cannot change the body type of a sew feature
You cannot edit a sew sheet body feature to that of a sew solid body. Nor can you edit a sew solid body to
that of a sew sheet body.

6. Unsew
Use the Unsew command to separate an existing sheet body or solid body into multiple bodies. The
selected faces are unsewn along the edges of the selected face, resulting in multiple bodies.
Unsew is useful in a workflow where you want to perform additional modeling tasks on a specific region
of an existing model. You can unsew a model without referencing its history.
The following graphic shows an unsewn face of a sheet body.
Where do I find it?

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Unsew
Menu Insert→Combine→Unsew
6.1. Unsew a face from a body
1. Choose Insert→Combine→Unsew to open the Unsew dialog box. Select Face is active.
2. Select the faces you want to unsew.
3. Selected face to unsew

4. (Optional) Under Settings, select the Keep Original check box to retain the original objects.
5. Select the required option from the Output list.
6. Click OK or Apply to create the unsew feature.
The following graphic shows the unsew feature created with the original body retained and One
Body for Each Face selected as the Output option.
6.2. Unsew options

Face
Selects the faces to unsew.

Select Face
Settings
Creates the unsew feature on a copy of the selected body.
Keep
Original
Note This option is not available when editing an unsew feature.
Lets you specify the number of bodies you want to create for the selected faces, while
creating an unsew feature.
 One Body for Connected Faces — Creates an unsew feature consisting of a single
Output
body for the connected faces selected to be unsewn.
 One Body for Each Face — Creates an unsew feature for each of the connected
faces selected to be unsewn.
7. Patch
Use the Patch command to modify a solid body or a sheet body by replacing faces with the faces of
another sheet.
In this example, the large blue sheet body is the target and the small green sheet body is the tool.

Where do I find it?

Application Modeling, Shape Studio
Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Patch
7.1. Modify a solid or sheet body with faces of

another sheet
1. Click Insert→Combine→Patch .
2. In the Patch dialog box, click Target (if it is not already active), and select a target for the
patch. The target can be a sheet or a solid.
3. Body selected for the target to patch (highlighted in cyan)
4. In the Tool group, click Tool (if it is not already active), and select the tool sheet to patch to
the target. Note the direction of the vector.

5. Sheet on the body selected for the patch tool (highlighted in red)
6. In the Preview group, click Show Result .
7. Preview of the new solid body

8. The preview shows the new solid you get by removing the region of the face on the target solid
body that lies between the sheet and the solid and is bounded by the sheet edges.
9. Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the patch.
10. (Optional) To reverse the direction of the patch, click Reverse Direction in the Target Region
to Remove group.
11. Direction of the target region to remove arrow reversed
12. In the Preview group, click Show Result again.
13. Preview after reversing the direction

14. The preview in this case shows a different solid body that is formed from the sheet and the solid
body face that is bounded by the sheet edges
15. (Optional) If the tool sheet has multiple faces and you want to use one of them instead of the
default for the remove direction, click Select Face in the Tool Direction Face group and
select the face with the desired direction.

16. (Optional) If you are patching a closed sheet to a target body to make a hole, click Make Hole in
Solid Target in the Settings group.
17. Choose OK or Apply to create the patch feature.
7.2. Patch options

Target
Lets you select a sheet body or a solid body as the target to be patched.
When editing a patch body, you can use this option to redefine the target body. Shift-click
Select Body to deselect the original target body and then selecting a new one.
Tool
Lets you select a sheet body to patch to the target.
Tool sheet edges must be on or close to the face of the target body. Resulting new edges
that are created by the patch must form a closed loop.
Select Sheet
Body When editing a patch body, you can use this option to redefine the tool sheet. Shift-click
to deselect the original tool sheet, and then select the new tool sheet.
Target Region to Remove
When you select a tool sheet body, a conehead vector displays the direction in which the
target body faces will be removed.
To reverse this direction, click Reverse Direction.
Reverse
Direction
Default direction vector
If you accept the default direction, the region of the block face that lies within the
sheet edges is removed and the block and the sheet form a solid body.
If you reverse the direction of the region to be removed, the solid body is formed from
the sheet, plus the block face between the sheet edges.
Tool Direction Face
Lets you redefine the vector direction of the tool sheet when it is composed of multiple
faces. The normal direction of the face you select becomes the new remove direction for

Select Face the target.
Note that the remove direction vector must intersect the target. If it does not, use this
option to specify a new remove direction that does intersect the target. Otherwise, the
patch will fail.
When editing a patch body, you can use this option to reselect the tool face (for example,
when you need to use a single face of a tool sheet that has multiple faces). Choose shift-
click to deselect the original tool face, and then select the new tool face.
Settings
Lets you patch a closed sheet to the target body to create a hole.
Make Hole
in Solid
Note If the edges of the tool sheet have gaps that are larger than the modeling tolerance,
Target
the patch operation may not work as expected.
The tolerance value used to create the feature. The default is taken from the tolerance
Tolerance
setting in Modeling preferences.
Preview
Show Result computes the feature and displays the result. When you click OK or Apply
Show Result to create the feature, the software reuses the computation, making the creation process
faster.
Undo Result exits the result display and returns you to the dialog box.
Undo Result
Restores settings to their customer defaults or their initial software defaults during
creation and to their pre-edited values during editing.
Reset
8. Join Face
Use the Join Face command to join faces on a body.
You can choose from the following two methods:
On Same Surface
Remove redundant faces, edges, and vertices from selected bodies.
If you subdivide a face and subsequently discover that you no longer need the subdivision, you
can use this option to remove the unwanted edges and faces.
Convert to B-Surface

Join multiple faces into a single B-surface type face. The selected faces must be adjacent to each
other, belong to the same body, have matching U-V box ranges, and the edges at which they join
must be isoparametric.
When you select more than two faces to join, the faces are matched in pairs and must be selected
in order so that the matching pairs share edges.
Select mulitple faces in order to maintain matching pairs

Where do I find it?
Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Join Face
Menu Insert→Combine→Join Face
9. Quilt
Use the Quilt command to combine several surfaces into one surface. The system creates a single B-
surface that approximates a four-sided region lying on several existing faces.
The system projects points from a driver surface along a vector or along the driver surface normal vectors
onto the target surfaces (the ones being approximated). These projected points are then used to construct
the approximating B-surface. You can think of the projection as a process of emitting a ray from each
original point to the target surfaces.

Where do I find it?
The Quilt command is available from Insert→Combine→Quilt when using the following roles:
 Advanced with full menus

 Essential with full menus
 CAM Advanced
 CAM Express
 I-deas
When not working in one of these roles you can add the Quilt command to a menu or toolbar using the
Tools→Customize dialog box.
Dialog Options
Quilt Surface Dialog Options

Driver Type Lets you specify the type of driver surface.
Projection Lets you indicate whether you want the direction of the projection of the driver surface
Type onto the target surfaces to be a single vector, or vectors which are normal to the driver
surface.
Projection Used to limit the distance that points are projected onto the target surface when the
Limit projection vector may pass through the target surface more than once. This option is active
only when the Along Driver Normals projection type is used.
Tolerances Lets you define inside and edge distance and angle tolerances for the Quilt feature.
Show Check When this option is toggled ON, the points that are calculated during the approximation of
Points the quilted surface are displayed.
Check for When this option is ON, the system checks for and tries to handle overlapping surfaces.
Overlaps
Modeling multiple faces as a single face (rather than several) makes certain operations easier. For
example, manufacturing may want to simplify a model to allow for a simpler drive surface to do surface
contouring.

Quilt always outputs bi-cubic surfaces (i.e., surfaces of degree 3x3).
To define a driver surface, you can either use an existing B-surface or other type of surface. To create a
driver B-surface from another type of surface, you must use single curves to define the limits of a driver
surface.
Note If you need to use a string of curves; you can use Insert→ Mesh Surface → Through Curve Mesh
to define the driver surface.
Driver Type
The driver types are:
Mesh of The system internally builds a B-surface driver from the curve mesh before quilting the
Curves selected target surfaces.
B-Surface Lets you select an existing B-surface as a driver.
Self-Refit Lets you approximate a single untrimmed B-surface. You may want to use this option if you
want to approximate a high degree surface with a low degree surface.
Note If you are using Quilt repeatedly, you may want to construct a B-surface to use as a driver. Selecting
an existing driver surface is much more convenient than selecting the same set of drive curves over
and over again.
Mesh of Curves Driver
Internally, the driver is always a B-surface. However, you are not restricted to B-surfaces only. If you use
Mesh of Curves, the system internally builds a B-surface driver before quilting the selected target
surfaces. When you use curves to define the driver surfaces, they must satisfy all of the conditions
required for building a curve mesh B-surface.
You can select a family of primary curves, followed by a family of cross curves. The number of primary
curves and cross curves must be two or more (but less than 50). The outermost primary and cross curves
act as boundaries of the quilted surface. Therefore, each of the primary curves must intersect each of the
cross curves once and only once. They must also be within the bounds of the target surfaces.
Note It is essential to always use a driver surface or drive curves that lie within the projected target
surface boundaries. Failure to do so results in the following error message:
Failed to project point onto face

Projection Type
This option lets you indicate whether you want the direction of the projection of the driver surface onto
the target surfaces to be a single vector, or vectors which are normal to the driver surface. You can choose
from the following projection types:
Along Fixed Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor.
Along Driver Normals Lets you use projection vectors normal to the driver surface.
Along Fixed Vector
This option lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor.
Note The sense of the vector is not important, unless you have Check for Overlaps ON and your targets
overlap (i.e., using the +ZC Axis gives the same result as using the -ZC Axis). For example, using -
ZC Axis approximates the highest target faces, while using +ZC Axis approximates the lowest
target faces.
If your target faces do not overlap significantly, or if they are at roughly the same height in the regions
where they do overlap, you get the same result by using either the -ZC Axis or the +ZC Axis. However,
you can achieve roughly the same result and improve performance by setting Check for Overlaps to OFF.
Along Driver Normals
This option lets you use projection vectors normal to the driver surface. When you use Along Driver
Normals, you can enter a Projection Limit value (this option is unavailable if you are using Along Fixed
Vector). The default projection size is 10 times the modeling distance tolerance. This variable is used to
limit the distance that points are projected onto the target surface when the projection vector may pass
through the target surface more than once (e.g., when the target is cylindrical).
Tolerances
The default for distance tolerance (both inside and edge) is the distance tolerance modeling preference.
The default for angle tolerance (both inside and edge) is 90.0.

The following tolerances are available:
Inside Distance The distance tolerance for the interior of the surface.
Inside Angle The angle tolerance for the interior of the surface.
Edge Distance The distance tolerance along the 4 edges of the surface.
Edge Angle The angle tolerance along the 4 edges of the surface.
If any of the tolerances entered are less than zero, the following message appears in the status line:
Tolerance must be greater than zero
If the angle tolerance entered is greater than 90, the following message appears in the status line:
The maximum angle tolerance is 90
Expressions can be entered for any of the Tolerance fields. If an invalid expression is entered, one of the
following messages is displayed in the status line.
Invalid expression for Inside Distance Invalid expression for Edge Distance Invalid
expression for Inside Angle Invalid expression for Edge Angle Invalid expression for
Projection Limit
Tips on Tolerances
The system starts out with a very simple approximating surface (which is unlikely to be within tolerance)
and then gradually makes it more complex until the original shape is replicated to within the specified
tolerances. If you use tighter tolerances, the system produces a more complex result, consumes storage
space and slows down all subsequent operations. Therefore, the tolerances you use should not be any
tighter than needed.
The idea is to use tight tolerances around the edges of the approximating surface, but a loose tolerances in
the interior, thereby allowing a less complex surface.
If you use tight angular tolerances on very "wavy" surfaces, more patches are generated. If you set both
angular tolerances to 90 degrees (the default), angular deviation is not checked; which speeds up
processing.
Note The gap between surfaces (if any), should always be within an order of magnitude of the tolerance.
Other Options
To help you visualize the quilted surface and find potential overlapping problems, you can select the
Show Check Points and/or Check for Overlaps options.
Show Check Points
When this option is toggled ON, the points that are calculated during the approximation of the quilted
surface are displayed. Using Show Check Points slows the process down slightly, but it is probably
worthwhile. Displaying points lets you visualize and identify potential problem areas on the surfaces.
Then you can troubleshoot and fix problem areas much faster.
Check for Overlaps

If this option is ON, the system checks for and tries to handle overlapping surfaces. The system tries to
intersect each ray with all nearby surfaces, and finds the uppermost projection point. If the Check for
Overlaps option is OFF, the system assumes each ray can only hit one target surface, so it stops and
proceeds to the next ray as soon as it finds a hit. This is fine if the target faces do not actually overlap, or
if they are close together in the regions where they do overlap.
Procedure
To create a quilt surface:
1. Choose a Driver Type.

2. Choose a Projection Type.
3. Choose appropriate Tolerances.
4. Choose to Show Check Points and or Check for Overlaps.
5. Choose OK.
6. Select primary and cross curves or a driver surface.
7. Specify a projection vector (if applicable).
8. Select target face(s) by class selection.
Note You can abort the process at any stage by pressing Ctrl+Shift+L, or if you decide you are not happy
with the output surface, you can delete it by choosing Undo.
At the end of the approximation process, the system displays pole size information (xx U poles, xx V
poles) in the Status line.
Analyzing the Approximation
After creating the approximation surface, you may wish to analyze it to make sure it meets your needs.
You may want to check that your tolerance has been achieved. The system constantly measures error as it
proceeds, so it is unlikely that surfaces will be produced that are significantly out of tolerance. However,
you can perform more rigorous tolerance checks by using Analysis→ Deviation or by cutting cross
sections.
You may want to check the validity of the approximation surface before trying to quilt a surface. You can
use Analysis→ Examine Geometry to insure that the driver surface is free from self-intersections. (You
can also validate the resultant surface.)
The system does not make any attempt to preserve the character of the input surfaces, it just tries to stay
within tolerance. Small features sometimes get smoothed away, and extraneous wrinkles may be
introduced, especially in areas with very tight curvature. You can use Analysis→ Shape→ Face, shade
the surfaces, or display a dense pattern of grid curves to check that the approximation has faithfully
replicated the shape of the original surfaces.
9.1. Editing a Quilt Surface Body

The options that appear on the Edit Quilt Surface dialog depend on the driver type that was used to create
the Quilt body.
Mesh of Used a curve mesh from which the system internally built a B-surface driver before
Curves quilting the selected target surfaces.

B-Surface Used an existing B-surface as the driver.
Self-Refit Approximated a single untrimmed B-surface.
Mesh of Curves
If the driver type is Mesh of Curves, the following dialog is displayed.
Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (Mesh of Curves)

Primary Lets you reselect the primary curves.
Curves
Cross Curves Lets you reselect the cross curves.
Target Faces Lets you reselect the target face(s).
Projection Lets you change the projection option used to project the driver surface onto the target
Type surfaces. You can use either Along Fixed Vector or Along Driver Normals.
Projection Lets you change the projection limit when the Projection Type is Along Driver Normals.
Limit
Define Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor dialog.
Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use
Inside Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.
Check for If this is toggled ON, the system will perform a check for overlapping target surfaces.
Overlaps
B-Surface
If the driver type is B-Surface, the following dialog is displayed.
Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (B-Surface)

Driver B- Lets you reselect the B-surface used as the driver.
Surface
Target Faces Lets you reselect the target face(s).
Projection Lets you change the projection option used to project the driver surface onto the target
Type surfaces. You can use either Along Fixed Vector or Along Driver Normals.
Projection Lets you change the projection limit when the Projection Type is Along Driver Normals.
Limit
Define Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor dialog.
Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use
Inside Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.
Check for If this is toggled ON, the system will perform a check for overlapping target surfaces.
Overlaps
Self-Refit
If the driver type is Self-Refit, the dialog that is displayed has only one selection step, which is used to
replace the driver surface. The Projection Type section and Check for Overlaps option are excluded.
Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (Self-Refit)

Driver Self- Lets you reselect the driver.
Refit
Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use Inside
Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.

Quilt Editing Error Messages
Missing Section
String Missing Guide
String Missing Spine
String Missing Scale
String Missing Orientation
String Missing Primary
String Missing Cross String
The following error is displayed if the number of section strings is less than the specified V degree.
More Section String(s) Required For V Degree
The following error is displayed if there are no alignment points for the new string(s).
Same Number Of Alignment Points Required Between String (End) Point As String Cannot
Be Alignment
The following error is displayed if illegal endpoint type strings have been detected for Curve Mesh or
Ruled features.
Only First/Last Primary String Can Have (End) Point Only First Section String Can
Have (End) Point (End) Point String Allowed For Parameter Or By Point Alignment Only
If the following errors display, check the alignment method with the added or removed strings.
No Spine Required For Selecting Feature No Scale Required For Selecting Feature No
Orient Required For Selecting Feature More Than One Spine String Exists More Than One
Scale String Exists More Than One Orient String Exists
If the following errors display, check the orientation and scaling string with the number of guides.
Orientation Curves Required Only If One Guide Scaling Curves Required Only If One
Guide
If the following errors display, check the spine string usage for the Curve Mesh feature.
Spine Required To Be Perpendicular With First/Last Primary Strings Planar First/Last

Primary Strings Required For Spine
Mục lục
Combine bodies ............................................................................................................................................................ 1
1. Unite ................................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite .................................................................................................. 2
1.2. Unite options ............................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Subtract ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract ................................................................................................ 5
2.2. Subtract options ....................................................................................................................................... 6
3. Intersect ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect ............................................................................................. 7

3.2. Intersect options ....................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Emboss Sheet ................................................................................................................................................... 9
4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature ............................................................................................................ 10
4.2. Emboss Sheet options ............................................................................................................................ 11
5. Sew ................................................................................................................................................................. 12
5.1. Sew sheets together ............................................................................................................................... 12
5.2. Sew solids together ................................................................................................................................ 14
5.3. Sew options ............................................................................................................................................ 15
5.4. Sew tips and techniques ......................................................................................................................... 17
6. Unsew ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
6.1. Unsew a face from a body...................................................................................................................... 18
6.2. Unsew options ........................................................................................................................................ 19
7. Patch .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
7.1. Modify a solid or sheet body with faces of another sheet ..................................................................... 20
7.2. Patch options.......................................................................................................................................... 22
8. Join Face ......................................................................................................................................................... 23
9. Quilt ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
9.1. Editing a Quilt Surface Body ................................................................................................................... 29

Unigraphics NX8 - Combine Bodies

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Unigraphics NX8 - Combine Bodies

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[NX8-HELP] COMBINE BODIES 1

 Use a Group of bodies as the tool.

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite

2. Select a target solid body.

3. Selected target body (cyan)

5. Selected tool solid bodies (red)

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

oModified solid body

1.2. Unite options

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

When you use the Subtract command:

 You can select a Group of bodies as the tool.

Group of bodies as tool

Resulting Subtract feature

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Subtract

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract

2. Select a target body.

3. Selected target body (cyan)

5. Selected tool bodies (red)

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

2.2. Subtract options

The tool bodies are subtracted from the target body.

 You can use a Group of bodies as the tool.

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Intersect

3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect

2. Select a target body.

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

3. Selected target body (cyan)

5. Selected tool body (red)

o Preview of modified target body

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

3.2. Intersect options

Sheet metal models are embossed to:

 Increase a metal panels stiffness and rigidity.

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

Emboss Sheet feature

Where do I find it?

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Emboss Sheet

4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

Same as Sheet Normal Opposite of Sheet Normal

8. Emboss Sheet feature

4.2. Emboss Sheet options

Tool Shape Side

Where do I find it?

Toolbar Feature→Combine Drop-down→Sew

5.1. Sew sheets together

4. Target sheet body selected

6. Tool sheet bodies selected

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .

The preview shows the sew feature.

Preview of the sew feature

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

5.2. Sew solids together

4. Bottom surface of the top solid selected for the target

6. Top surface of the bottom solid selected for the tool

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .

The preview shows the sew feature.

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

Preview of new sew solid body

5.3. Sew options