unable to thicken

[BarryZA]

For the first time I am really having problems with Inventors surface tools. Coincedentally I am working with imported geometry!

I am unable to thicken the end surface to match the others. The problem is that I need to save as .stl for the next person and my understanding is that Inv will only save in these formats if it is a solid.

I thought maybe a self-intersecting surface is resulting? I am in 2013. I know 2014 can do a self-intersecting sweep, so maybe it can do this as well.

[MikahB]

I just played with it in 2014 for a little bit - I cannot make those pieces thicken either.  I suspect it's the sharp corners causing the problem, but I can't find a good way around them.

I have to say - the Thicken function in Inventor lets me down almost every single time I need to use it.

[Martin.Tomko]

Hi Barry,

if you wanna just save is as stl, you can try following work around:

0. Open attached part  "thicken.ipt"

1. Move EOP below "Part_55666398.ipt" in the browser
2. Right mouse button (RMB) click to EOP>Click to "Delete all feature below EOP"
3. RMB click to "Srf41:: Derived">Click to "Copy Object"
4. Select "Composite" option in dialog and press "Ok"
5. RMB click to "Composite1" in browser> Click to "Repair Bodies"
6. Invoke "Stitch" 

7. Choose "Face" Option and select all 4 surfaces in the graphic window>"Ok"

8. Click to "Finish Repair"
9. Invoke "Stitch" command and select "Srf41:: Derived" and "Quilt1" in the browser>"Apply">"Done"
10.Export>CAD Format>STL>"Save"

I hope it helps.

Regards,

Martin

[MikahB]

FYI Barry - Alias Design 2014 has no trouble thickening the surfaces to create a solid STL.  Unfortunately, it will only let you do a max wall thickness of 10mm.  But, I was able to scale the part to half, thicken it by 10mm, and export an STL, then import said STL and scale it 2X.

Ugh.

Anyway - I would be happy to send you the resulting STL file - it's 118MB! 🙂

[BarryZA]

Thank-you for your time and effort Micah, so 2014 is no better! I understand that Inv freeform surface options are limited. I have a feeling I'll be better off with shell instead of thicken.

I'll try the work around.

But if not I'll be bothering you for that monster, I need to find a solution.

[BarryZA]

Hi Martin

I only tried your solution today, and it's one I have not come across before.

Can you (or someone else) explain how this works, it seems to turn the solid into a surface.