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Rocks11-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 2, 2013
Question

Exclude feature from extrusion cut

  • December 2, 2013
  • 4 replies
  • 6776 views

I am making an extrusion to cut material, but I only want to cut the material from one feature, not from every feature above it in the model tree. This is in a part, not an assembly. Is it possible to choose which features I want to cut, or to exclude the unwanted features from the cut? I can't seem to find that option anywhere. Thank you!


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4 replies

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TomD.inPDX17-Peridot
17-Peridot
December 2, 2013

There is no way to explicitly exclude a feature from a cut. The only option you have is to move the cut higher into the model tree so the subsequent features are not affected. This is an age-old problem but it is the basis of parametric modeling. In Pro|E specifically, under most circumstances, as new features are created, they merge as a single solid, therefore actions also affect these as a united solid.

Of course, you can let the cut go through the feature(s) you wish to save and reconstruct them. Messy but sometimes this is acceptable. The idea is that you have better references to re-create such features at this point.

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Rocks11-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
December 2, 2013

Unfortunately I'm in a catch 22 there...I can't move this feature or the cut, or my entire model fails. I can't even begin to address the problems in this model. I appreciate your help.

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TomD.inPDX17-Peridot
17-Peridot
December 2, 2013

Depending on the urgency, there might be another way but sustainability will go out the window...

You could try using a merge/remove feature. Make a second part in the shape you want removed and merge it in an assembly model. Problem being that you will always be tied to that assembly model. However, it should allow you to make export files if that is all you need.

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dschenken1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 2, 2013

You can control the extent of the cut, and the profile of the cut and therefore what the cut affects.

If those controls are not enough, you can create surfaces as you want them to be after the desired cut and use solidify to add or remove some portion of the model surfaces. You can roll back the model tree if some of the surfaces you'd like to copy are portions of features that are not available at the place in the tree where you are working.

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Rocks11-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
December 2, 2013

Thanks! Unfortunately I'm working with swept blends and all kinds of crazy geometry so my options are very limited. This has been an impossible model, I wish I could understand how anyone makes fluid objects like car skins with Pro E. I had to make one part that has some curves in it and Pro E has been totally uncoooperative. After hours with customer service I have had to just piece together what I can, trying out 10 different options to find anything that doesn't make the whole model fail. I am still trying to get this material cut to work one way or another, just to get through this. I have used solidify to cut some parts of it, but on others it won't work.

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TomD.inPDX17-Peridot
17-Peridot
December 2, 2013

The Industrial Design guys use the Style extension (whatever it is called). Some very serious surfacing tools.

Most of the time, the engineers work with a "styled" surface to protect the ID intent and use these extensively as protected reference surfaces. And you are very right, once you have a piece of that to create a "panel", you are at the mercy of that master model. If it changes, you can really find yourself in a bind.

Don't forget about your accuracy settings. These too can make a model fail in a hurry.

Patriot_1776
Patriot_177622-Sapphire II
22-Sapphire II
December 4, 2013

One word: Surfacing.

With that, you can make pretty much any cut you want, things you couldn't do with a solid cut.

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    TomD.inPDX17-Peridot
    17-Peridot
    December 4, 2013

    Good call, Frank. David's comments too about copying (zero offset) existing solid faces to generate surfaces is also a good way to preserve previous data. It may seem messy but sometimes it is the only way.

    Patriot_1776
    Patriot_177622-Sapphire II
    22-Sapphire II
    December 4, 2013

    Yup. surfacing's great, when it works. Had something that was giving me some trouble as a VSS, and as separate surface, then I tried using 3 chains in one direction, and none in the other, and it worked. I got a little weird errant geometry in one corner, but managed to tweak the accuracy to make it less ragged. Still hate when that happens.... I'm SURE the boundary blend is a lot less accurate and robust than it used to be.

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    Rocks11-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    December 4, 2013

    Thanks everyone for your help. I was not able to cut my swept blend using any method. Finally I just recreated the entire swept blend in pieces, omitting the parts that I was trying to cut out. It may not make much sense without you being able to see the model, but in the end I just gave up on cutting it at all. No matter what method I tried, I got the same old error - feature failed to regenerate. Thanks again!

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    TomD.inPDX17-Peridot
    17-Peridot
    December 4, 2013

    It is not like we haven't all gone through this Sometimes you just have to cut your losses.

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