Combine Faces?

[TOwens777]

I still need to resolve this issue.  Help please!

I combined two bodies (a solid body and a t-spline.)  The result is one solid body but it still retains the faces from the original bodies.

The problem is when I go to create toolpaths to cut the body pockets it is following the contour of the original faces.  See attached.

How can I combine these faces? 

[vex]

This may or may not work as it's a work flow that I normally use with Inventor:

Delete the two offending faces.

Patch the now large single area and stich boundaries.

Should have a single face.

My first attempt at a screencast:
http://autode.sk/1GdJuEE

[TOwens777]

That worked.  Unfortunately, it caused some other unwanted changes in my body so I'm going to have to live with it the way it was. I think I found a work around on the toolpath issue so I think I'm good.  I will definitely use this for my redesign.  Thanks!!!

[TOwens777]

Ok, I'm back to the drawing board on this.  That didn't work after all.   I am attempting to machine the slot for the single coil pickup but it the outline intersects with one of the left over faces from when I combined bodies. (See pic 1)   So, I can't select it as a contour which is the only way to machine this pocket that I'm aware of.  Per the instructions above I am attempting to delete the two faces and recreate.  When I delete the two faces the outlines still remains (see pic 2.)  Is there anyway to fix this?  If so, can I do so without destroying the pockets I have already created?

Thanks!!!

Tim

[vex]

Hmmm, it's a little hard to see what's going on in those screenshots.
Any way of sharing the f3d file?

If not, maybe a closer view would help. It looks like there's a discontinuity that is being handled by a 90deg corner for some reason...

[TOwens777]

I can't share the file but here's a close up pic.  I initally had a solid model with the pockets recessed.  I created a t-spline outline with the organic shapes and combined them.  The outline from the original solid model it the issue.  It interests with my pocket.

[vex · Accepted solution]

Yeah... That's my conclusion as well. I would suggest shrinking or moving the pocket away from that edge. That should clean up your issue. Alternatively you could build the model the other-way around. Do your organic shape first, then cut the groove. This should fix the issue, but might be more work than you're willing to do to fix it. I wish I could help you more, but it's sort of a guessing game on my part unless I can see what the geometry is doing (orbit, panning, zooming, adjusting, etc).

[TOwens777]

I agree.  It is totally a design issue.  I'm going to hack my way through this and redesign for my next cut.   Thanks!!!