Inserting a Surfacic Functional Set

You can create a surfacic functional set and insert it under a geometrical set.

To begin creating your 3D shape, you need to add functional features to the active body. Functional features are inserted in a Surfacic Functional Set (called Main Functional Set) or in a Functional Set. The resulting shape of the functional specifications is associated to the Surfacic Functional Set.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a 3D shape representation.
See Also
Inserting a Functional Set

Select the Main Inputs

You can first select the main inputs.

  1. From the Structure section of the action bar, click Surfacic Functional Set .
    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box is displayed.
  2. Optional: Select the Input Surface.

    The input surface will be modified by the functional features aggregated under the Surfacic Functional Set.

    If you do not select a surface, these functional features will not generate any geometry and the Surfacic Functional Set result will be empty.

  3. Select the Die Direction.
    This direction is the main die direction of the Surfacic Functional Set and is used as the default value in some functionalities and the default direction to generate the function relimiter (as defined below).
    Tip: You can click the blue arrow ( PushSide) in the dialog box or the black arrow in the work area to reverse the orientation of the surface that defines the Push/Pull side. The push side is always orientated towards the bottom and both arrows should be orientated similarly.

  4. Click OK to create the surfacic Functional Set.

The created node contains a surfacic functional set. It is set as the current object, meaning that it determines the location of the features you are going to create.

Important: A geometrical set can contain one or more surfacic functional sets, however an ordered gemetrical set cannot contain any surfacic functional set.

Generate the Function Relimiter

You can specify a volume geometry that will be used to relimit all the functions. It represents the maximum global encumbrance of the geometry generated by the Surfacic Functional Set.

Functions inside this volume are kept but those outside are ignored. Functions that cut this volume are relimited by keeping the part that is inside the volume: this operation is very useful to ensure the robustness of boolean operations (especially the trimming operation).

  1. In the Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box, click the Function Relimiter tab.
  2. Select the type from the drop-down list:
    The interactive image below the list automatically updates when you change the type.
    • Auto: the automatic mode is the default mode. The created volume is an extrusion of the input styling surface along the Die Direction up to the limit planes. Limit planes are automatically defined according to the encumbrance of the input surface and Die Direction.
    • None : no function relimiter is created.
    • External Geometry: select or create an external geometry in the External Volume field to create the volume.
    • Extrude: the created volume is based on an extrusion of a surface or a profile.

      To define the extruded volume, you need to define:

      • the input surface or profile in the Profile field.
      • the extrusion direction in the Direction field.
      • top and bottom limit types in the Top Limit Type and Bottom Limit Type:
        • Auto (default mode): the automatic length is computed according to the input surface and the profile encumbrance
        • Up to surface: select a surface as the limit type.



        • Distance: specify the extrusion length.



    • Offset: the created volume is a thick surface.

      To define the offset volume, you need to define:

      • the surface in the Input Surface field
      • top and bottom lengths in the Top Length and Bottom Length fields


Define Parameters Values

You can then define the parameters values.

  1. In the Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box, click the Parameters Values tab.
    Note: Values are defined by default.
  2. Define the constantThickness value.
  3. Click Invert Matter Side to reverse the thickness side.
  4. Select the Generate Geometric Thickness option to generate the thickness.
    By default, this option is cleared.

    If the thickness is not generated, the resulting Surfacic Functional Set is a functional surface that can be modified later by Generative Shape Design surfacic tools (to create fillets for instance). If the thickness is generated, the resulting Surfacic Functional Set is a volume.

    Note: The thickness is generated by default on the push side. However, you can change the thickness side without changing the push or pull side.
  5. Define the Minimum Bend Radius value.
  6. Define the Minimum Draft Angle value.

Define the Functional Structure

You can define the functional structure depending whether an XML file has been set or not.

If an XML file has been set in the Data Setup app, you can select the functional structure you want to use.

If no XML file has been set, the default functional structure is used. The functional structure used for current Surfacic Functional Set is displayed in an array.

In the Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box, click the Functional Structure tab.

Create and Edit Volumes using Natural Shape

You can use Natural Shape to create volumes on the fly while creating a surfacic functional set.

  1. In the Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box, click the Function Relimiter tab.
  2. Select External Geometry as the Type.
  3. Right-click anywhere in the work area and select Create Natural Shape Feature.

    You can also right-click External Volume in the interactive image within the dialog box to select Create Natural Shape Feature.

    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box disappears. You are now in the Natural Shape app.
  4. Create the required volume on the fly.
  5. Click to navigate back to the Functional Shape Design work area.
    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box reappears.
  6. Click OK.
    A Natural Shape.x node is created in the tree, under the Body.x node.
  7. Double-click the Properties.x node under the Main Functional Set.x.
    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box reappears.
  8. Right-click External Volume in the interactive image within the dialog box and select Edit Natural Shape.x.
    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box disappears. You now re-enter the Natural Shape app.
  9. Edit the feature as required.
  10. Click to navigate back to the Functional Shape Design work area.
    The Surfacic Functional Set Definition dialog box reappears.
  11. Click OK.
    The feature is edited.

Notes:
  • Deleting the Main Functional Set.x from the tree does not effect Body.x or Natural Shape.x.
  • After validation of the surface content of the design, it is required to hide the body created using Natural Shape.