Create walls between complex solids

[Anonymous]

Absolute noob here, working designing some pieces for 3d printing. Toyed with the product for a bit and have a need to join two solids with walls, like a loft. This is a heater assembly with a fan on one side and a heater on the other. The fan and heater mounts are solids. I've tried creating surfaces in the shape I want and blending them and I get what appears to be a good result but when I thicken it, it thickens outward and doesn't like up as I wish. See attached file with the solids. Any help appreciated, I know I'm super new at this.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

Thank you for sharing the file, I think I can see the parts that you are trying to connect. If you can record a ScreenCast of the steps you are taking and the results when thickening the surface, it would help me to narrow down the cause of the issue.

Please click the Accept Solution button on any posts that resolve the problem or answer your question.

Likes are always welcome.

All the best,

[peterm · Accepted solution]

Not sure if this is the exact shape you want, but the principal is to loft the inner and outer shapes separately and then subtract the inner from the outer. Then union the resultant solid with the original parts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the pic of what you mentioned, it hadn't occurred to me to do it that way, as far as the shape. For other less complex stuff I've done as you suggested to get what I want. What I did finally figure out, however, is that when I was attempting to thicken the surface and it extruded out, if provided a negative thickness it extruded inward, giving me what I wanted. It hadn't occurred to me early on that possibly a negative number would work! Given all that, I think I like what you've pictured and will proceed toward that model. Appreciate the help!

[peterm]

No problem.

Here's another solution which leaves the mounting screw holes clear.