Error trying to shell Model

[joelrobinson]

I have a prop that I'm making and it's symmetrical so I've only modelled half and will mirror one side and glue them together. I'm at a point where I'm ready to use Shell to decide the thickness of my model before I mirror it, but I get a "Cannot offset selected faces" error. The object does have a lot of fillets and cuts and stuff on it, and other less complex objects in the file can shell just fine. I've tried deleting the face and using thicken, but I cant get that to work either. Can anyone help me figure out how to shell this and why it's going wrong?

[CGBenner]

@joelrobinson Welcome to the forum.  I am moving your post to the design forum where more people will see it.  If possible, it is also a good idea to share your file for others to look at.  Good luck!

[TrippyLighting]

Please share the model. Export it as a .f3d and attach it to a post.

If you use a paid subscription, you can also share the link to the design from the data panel. Download should be enabled.

[joelrobinson]

I've uploaded the file to my original post.

[TrippyLighting]

There is likely more than one reason this doesn't shell.

1. You started with imported geometry from a .svg, or .dxf. Often that is not a good start as the originating 2D software does not require the tight tolerances for tangency a CAD software might require. 

2. There is too much detail or complex geometry for this to work.

[joelrobinson]

I did start from a .dxf, but when I saw that it prevented me from filleting some edges, I went back and created a new sketch tracing the path of the dxf using fit point spline and then extruded that. Is there anything I can do to be able to shell this model?

[dansemur]

you could shell it manually, by extruding its interior, with a concentric sketch on the main face as a start..

 

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

I would start with developing some troubleshooting skills.

For example, start with the first extrusion and try to shell it. If that works, progress to the next one, or two features.

If that works, move tot he next one, or two features. If that does not work, identify the root cause, fix it, and progress through the entire timeline.

That will certainly help you to clean up your hackish modeling workflow 😉

[joelrobinson]

I went back and was able to eventually get it to shell a little by changing things and fixing the errors they caused down the line. But ultimately I decided to start fresh and shell the basic shape early on, then add the details afterward, and this worked much better.