How do I create a surface out of this geometry?

[Kimpan]

I'm new to surfacing and trying to figure out how the bluesurf command works.

I'm trying to make a beveled surface that follow the lines in this geometry:

I can't figure out how to use bluesurf when I have a closed "circle".

 

[smermet]

Hi Kimpan,
Post your .prt file.
Best regrards.

MERMET Sebastien
Mecanical & Product Designer
SolidEdge ST2 & Unigraphics NX4 & 6
Dell precision 490 & Dell precision M6300

 

[Kimpan]

I have an academic version of SE so you might not be able to open it. Should I upload the iges?

 

[beachcomber]

Yes upload the iges


bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[Kimpan]

I can't output into IGES, it says "this file contains no bodies"

Basically I want to know how to make a round concave surface that follows a series of guidelines.

 

[KENAT]

Have you done the built in tutorial?

It's pretty limited but got me started.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[jjengel]

Kimpan,

Check out this site

http://www.oocities.com/segurucool/

There are a number of surfacing tutorials including the use of guide curves. Helped me a lot when I first started using SE.

Jason

 

[beachcomber]

Try the Options button on the Save As dialog - there may be settings that are not set to output wire-frame geometry.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[beachcomber]

You are going to struggle to get a really smooth surface but there are a couple of ways.
First way would be to split the base priile at each of the 4 points you have shown.
Then split the 2 other curves where they intersect at the top.
You can then create surface using the 'Surface by Boudary' command.
Another way would be to split the base curve at 2 points - ie. at each end of the curve that you haven't shown a true view on. The one you have shown as a true view will be the path curve.
Then use the Blue Surf command using 3 cross-sections and one path curve.
You would define the cross sections in the order first base curve, cross curve, other base curve.
I will try and post an example tomorrow.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[Kimpan]

Since I couldn't export wireframes in the IGES format I just made a protrusion out of each sketch. Beachcomber, thanks for your efforts! If you want, could you take a look at the iges file I attach here and see if it is possible to make a surface out of that kind of geometry? An enclosed base with multiple crossing guidelines (3 in this case).

 

[Kimpan]

Also, thanks for that link jjengel, looks like solid tutorials!

 

[jjengel]

Good morning everyone.

Kind of a slow morning so I had some time to play around with this. Attached is the surface I managed to come up with (in .igs and .par). I used the derived curve command to place the curves and then created three blue surfs which used the appropriate transverse curve as a guide. Then stitched the whole thing together.

There are options in the blue surf command to control the beginning and end of the surfaces (normal to or parallel to) so with a little effort you may be able to tweak the appearance.

Does this help?

Jason

 

[jjengel]

Okay, only one file at a time...

Here's the .igs

 

[Kimpan]

Thanks for that jjengel.
I thought there would be a simple way to create surfaces like this but I guess you have to devide the whole thing into separate surfaces. This should be quite cumbersome when dealing with many guidelines.

I am looking to model the inside surface (in contact with the head) of a bicycle helmet where I start with the iges file of a helmet. I think it will be quite time consuming if I have a lot of guidelines.

Do you guys have any recommendations for how I could do this in a simpler way maybe?

 

[jjengel]

Maybe I'm missing something, but given the geometry you're starting with I don't see any easier way to accomplish this task. But my SE surfacing skills haven't gotten a lot of use (ever).

You could always pattern a curve along another curve and then just create a blue surf using each occurance. It would be quicker, but I don't see a good way of doing it given the current curve set. Seems like it would better suited to a symmetric part.

 

[beachcomber]

Attached part file containing BlueSurf.
I have used simple curves here.
The Cross-section curves are the base profile and a Point at the top intersection.
The path curves are the 4 curves joining the base to the top point.

Hope this helps.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[Kimpan]

Thx beachcomber, that works great when having 2 intersecting curves. Do you know if it's possible to add more intersecting curves to be able to define the shape of the surface more?
I tried your method out but as soon as I try to apply more than those two guide curves I get an error like:

"The selected geometry does not touch all the cross sections and therefore is not valid. Each guide curve must touch all of the selected guide curves."

 

[beachcomber]

In my example you would create additional cross-sections that are on a parallel plane to the base profile.
The guide curves would then also have to intersect with this cross-section.
Additional guide curves can be created but again they must intersect the cross curves.
I suppose any path curve lying on an angled plane or even not planar would be OK.
What you are trying to achieve is a set of 'slices' for the cross-sections and they don't really have to be exactly parallel slices.
What you have shown is not acceptable because your 2 additional curves do not intersect the top point.
If you have a set of curves forming a mesh (similar to what your 2 additional curves are doing) you could always create more cross-sections by joining the mesh intesection points.
I'll try and add some into the example.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?