Dome an odd-shaped face?

[brrian]

I have a part:

http://home.comcast.net/~mearsb/stuff/oddshape.SLDPRT

...that has a weird shape. I'd like to dome the top (red) face so that the overall height is two inches. I want the outside edge to be planar--not rise and fall as you travel around the edge. I'd like the dome to be as 'clean' as possible--what it might look like if I took a block of wood w/ that profile and sanded a dome into it.

Does that make sense? That's not the best explanation for sure, but do you get the idea? I've occasionally been asked to do this at work--the first time in SolidWorks--and I'd like to see a good way to do this.

I'd be happy with a modification of my file that I can poke around in, or a website or document that explains the steps to accomplish this.

Help? Thanks,

Brian

 

[Theophilus]

I'll download the file and check it out, but I would think you could delete the flat face on top (first general step) and fill it with a surface fill or a surface loft (second general step) to get what you want. Knit the new top surface to the rest of the surfaces (surface body), checking the "try to form solid" option (last general step), and you should have what you want.

I've often used this method for deleting twisted or otherwise messed up surfaces and patching them with a simple form. You can use guide curves or points to influence the shape of the surface you fill. Check help for more details on filling a surface.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[Theophilus]

OK, I just tried it on your file and it worked fine. I added a constraint curve over the dome region you want and got a shape somewhat like a very puffy violin (somewhat complex ever to get the dome feature to work).


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.