Solid model to midplane surface model

[Anonymous]

I've searched and seen this question asked a couple of times but no real answer.

I need to turn my solid 3D model into surfaces which are created at the midplane of each structural element. For example take an SHS beam and turn it into surfaces that are created at the midpoint of the thickness of each side (4 surfaces total as opposed to 10).

FEA software I'm using is unable to handle the 3D solid model and requires the surfaces which it will then set thicknesses for.

I can turn the solid model into surfaces quite easily using "Copy Object" or "Derive Part" and selecting the various options but I can't figure out a way to create or collapse the surface model into a midplane for each component.

Any ideas?

[IgorMir · Accepted solution]

Derive components seems to be the way to go. But it might be a time consuming option non the less. It depends on a complexity of design,

Here are couple of files for you to look at. Part1 and Part2 are I-beam. Part3 and Part4 are SHS.

Cheers,

Igor.

[IgorMir]

Parts for SHS.

[Anonymous]

Hi IgorMir,

Thanks for the help, that looks like it may be suitable and get me around having to re-create the entire solid model as surfaces from scratch.

What method did you use to create the mid-surfaces? I can't tell from looking at the end product.

Edit: Nevermind, I see you used Thicken/Offset to create each mid-surface directly. Thanks, I've never used that feature before.

[hossaiy]

Hi,

I'm assuming Inventor's stress analysis environment doesn't suit your needs, hence why you are using a specific fea programme. However you could still use the environment to do the hard-work of creating the mid-surfaces for you and then just create a part containing them. Below is a video to show what i mean.

Hope it's useful,

Thanks

Yacoub Hossain

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am trying to create the midplane as well, but I can't seem to find where it is. I followed the directions on the Inventor help which says it is under 3D Model > Modify > Thicken/Offset. However, when I go there it doesn't exist. I think that it may be replaced by the "Direct" function.

I am currently running Inventor Professional 2015.

Can you help me find where it might be or how to use the "Direct" function to accomplish the same goal of creating a midplane on a surface body.

[TheCADWhisperer]

What is the purpose of your midplane (the reason I ask is that there are several different ways).

In Environments>Stress Analysis you can do this automatically or semi-automatically or manually.

Can you attach your *.ipt file here and give a bit of information about your design intent?

[hossaiy]

Hi Caleb,

are you looking for the midsurface command? If so, here is a short video to show you how to get to it from the part environment;

Hope it helps,

Thanks

Yacoub

[Anonymous]

Well I tried going to the stress analysis tab, but it is under an "Optimization" tab that says that "the service is no longer available as of March 15,2015. Do I just need an update for the software or a new version for access to stress analysis. If I can get to the stress analysis then there's no problem creating the midsurface.