Face Operations

Face Operations
Lesson 5

PURPOSE

To introduce the Hollow face operation.

OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

D

Hollow a solid body.

5
EDS All Rights Reserved Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

5-1

Face Operations

Face Operations
Face Operations are available to provide additional definition to the faces of a model. The Face Operations are Taper, Hollow, and Offset Face .

In this lesson, the Hollow operation will be discussed.

5
5-2
Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX

Face Operations

Hollow
The Hollow operation creates a cavity inside, or a shell around an existing solid, based upon a specified thickness. The entire solid body is hollowed during this operation. In the figure below, the top face has been selected as the face to be pierced.
Face to be pierced Thickness

Before

After

Wall Thickness Value

Positive or negative values may be used as follows:
D

Positive values will hollow the existing solid so that the wall thickness is measured inward from the original faces of the solid. Negative values for the wall thickness will result in a hollow that forms a shell of the specified value around the original solid.

5
EDS All Rights Reserved Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

5-3

Face Operations

Choosing Insert"Feature Operation"Hollow from the main menu will display the following dialog box for hollow creation.
Region

Face

Body

Pierced face Type Filter

Offset face Default Thickness Alternate Thickness

A hollow may be created in three different ways:

D D

The "Face" button may be chosen to select pierced faces individually. The "Region" button may be selected to quickly select a region of faces to be pierced. Since a region of the body is pierced rather than individual faces, any changes in the region are automatically reflected in the hollow. The "Body" button may be selected to create a void region in a body without piercing any faces.

5
5-4

A unique thickness may be assigned for each face with the Offset Face option. When Offset Face is selected the Alternate Thickness text box becomes active. Using variable thickness hollows reduces the number of features in the part, as the offset features are not required, and results in more compact models that are easier to comprehend.

Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX

Face Operations

Activity 1 - Performing a Hollow Operation

In this activity the Hollow operation will be used to take material away from the model of a plastic molded part. Step 1 Open the Part File.
-

Open the part file pau_hair_dryer_1, and start the Modeling application.

The figure below illustrates the solid that will be hollowed.

Right

Step 2 Inspect the Part.

-

Set the Display Mode to Shaded and Rotate the part to verify that the solid requires hollowing.

Step 3 Hollow the solid and pierce the proper faces.

-

Set the display mode back to Wireframe the view (third mouse button).

and Restore

EDS All Rights Reserved

Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

5-5

Face Operations

Choose the Hollow icon toolbar.

from the Feature Operation

Enter a Default Thickness of 2. Select the right, and back side faces to pierce. After both of the desired faces are selected to be pierced, choose OK twice. The finished part is shown below.

Back side face

Right face

Step 4 Inspect the Part.

-

Set the Display Mode to Shaded and Rotate the part (third mouse button).

5
5-6

Step 5 Choose File"Close"All Parts.

Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX

Face Operations

Activity 2 - Hollow and Selection Practice

In this activity the Hollow operation will be used to create a sheet metal part. Step 1 Open the Part File.
-

Open the part file pau_hollow_1, and start the Modeling application.

The figure below illustrates the solid that will be hollowed.

Front

Step 2 Create a hollow feature. Choose the Hollow icon. Enter a Default Thickness of .12. Select the 5 following faces to pierce: front, back, left, right, and bottom.

EDS All Rights Reserved

Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

5-7

Face Operations -

After all the desired faces are selected to be pierced, choose OK twice. The finished part is shown below.

Choose EditUndo ListHollow. Repeat the operation with a thickness of -.12 and examine the result.

Step 3 Choose File"Close"All Parts.

5
5-8
Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX

Face Operations

Activity 3 - Creating a Hollow Feature with an Offset

This simple activity will demonstrate the application of a hollow feature with an offset face. Step 1 Open the Part File.
-

Open the part file pau_hollow_2, and start the Modeling application.

Step 2 Hollow the solid.

Choose the Hollow icon. Enter a Default Thickness of 4. Select the faces to pierce as shown below.
Select the 3 faces that are NOT shaded.

Choose the Offset Face icon. Key in an Alternate Thickness of 8.

5
5-9

EDS All Rights Reserved

Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

Face Operations -

Select the face to offset as shown below.

Select this face to offset. -

Choose OK.

Step 3 Close the part, do not save.

5
5-10
Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX

Face Operations

SUMMARY

The Hollow operation creates a cavity inside, or a shell around an existing solid, based upon a specified thickness. In addition, selected faces may be assigned various offset thickness. In this lesson you:
D D D D D

Specified a Default Thickness. Specified a Alternate Thickness. Specified Faces to be Pierced. Specified Faces to be Offset. Created a Hollow Feature.

5
EDS All Rights Reserved Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual

5-11

Face Operations

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank)

5
5-12
Practical Applications of Unigraphics Student Manual EDS All Rights Reserved

Unigraphics NX