Creating a Negative of Complex Part

[landin.griffin]

I'm using Inventor 2021

I need to create a nest for a part. I feel I have gotten close but, I can't seem to get the results I'm looking for. 

Below is snapshot from "My Closest Attempt" attached file. I was able to remove the nested part from the middle of the block but, I need to remove the part and everything above it, what I circled in red, leaving only the bottom half. 

To get the above results I copied in the part I want to nest as a surface. Repaired that surface. Then used the split command to remove the part.

I've attached several files where I have copied the part into the nest block I want to create. I've attached different files where it is copied in using different formats, not sure which is best for what I want to do.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping it is a simple step that I am missing.

 

[landin.griffin]

One more file where I copied it in as a composite.

[SBix26]

The complex surface has issues that I don't have time or interest to fix.  Once it is properly repaired, I think you should be able to create the nest by patching the holes (boundary patch, then stitch to the surface body), then extrude the nest To Next from below.

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2022.2.1 | Windows 10 Home 21H2

[Gabriel_Watson · Accepted solution]

To remove "everything above it",  you can usually apply Delete Face with lump toggle ON:

However, it looks like your toolbody solid has holes, which leave connecting chambers between top and bottom of the basebody (extrusion) after a combine cut operation. I have tried covering all those holes with boundary patches but failed to isolate top and bottom.

The only alternative I saw is to Combine > Cut, then use Delete Face to remove all faces of the top half of the basebody:

Many faces to delete (blue, as example), and it is a lot of work because you also need to split faces where the connection between top and bottom exists (green):

[landin.griffin]

I have spent almost 3 hours know trying to patch and repair the part to isolate the top and bottom with no luck, see snapshot below. I suppose my only option I have currently is to try and delete every face as @Gabriel_Watson proposed.

Due to not being able to patch the part I can't get @SBix26 's method to work. 

Will updated when I get the result I need and how I got to it.

[Gabriel_Watson · Accepted solution]

Just a note: I was not repairing the part itself, but instead trying to patch the holes, because we do not want the top mold half to be connected with the bottom. I will have more time to do this later today but I guess we can also go into Repair environment for the solid toolbody part and patch up those holes making them part of the solid.
I think you got the idea, right? If our toolbody "CUTS" through the mold cleanly, we can remove the whole area above in one go and not worry about deleting every facet that's standing out flying.

[landin.griffin]

Yeah, I get the idea, pretty obvious, can't believe I missed it. I've decided to take a break from this aspect of the job for little while and come back and try again with clear head. Have gotten pretty frustrated haha. 

[CGBenner]

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@landin.griffin wrote:

 I've decided to take a break from this aspect of the job for little while and come back and try again with clear head. Have gotten pretty frustrated haha. 

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Hoo boy,... been there!!  😂

[landin.griffin]

I have had no luck with completely patching the part solid. I can't seem to patch circled hole.

I tried patching then sculpting, patching then thicken, and trying to loft a shape close to the same profile across the hole and haven't been able to get anything to work.

[Gabriel_Watson · Accepted solution]

Yup.... that's the bit I mentioned got me stuck from the beginning.... I've used up all my tricks on that one but I think there should be a way to break up some of those walls and remake them anew in the repair environment. Like, changing the geometry really, but later on you would fix it again as needed.

[landin.griffin]

I was able to make that work, finally got them separated. Now the long monotonous task of fixing the geometry and making reliefs. Thanks for all the help. I may be back with some follow ups on trying to get this geometry corrected.

Below is the hole that was so troublesome.

[Gabriel_Watson]

Looks great actually. Good job! I just started a new position and didn't get a chance to finish repairing this for you, but glad you managed. I think @johnsonshiue should take a look at this example as a good sample where boundary patches fail for no apparent reason (all other holes are easily patched except that one against a more curved surface). I wonder if he would come up with a quicker fix.

[landin.griffin]

Thanks! I have actually back tracked because what I did to patch it is such bad practice and it made it very difficult to clean up. I just thickened faces around the hole until I filled it in. Which made a super messy face that was pretty much unfixable. So I have spent a little time trying to delete faces back away from the hole and patch it. No luck yet but, I'm going to keep at it.

Yeah, another set of eyes on this would be great. I would definitely like to know why this hole is such a nightmare to patch.