Imprint Elements

Calling the command:

This command is used for defining areas of specified shape on already existing faces. This might be necessary, in particular, for imprinting separator lines and surfaces into a 3D model as part of preparation for FEA analysis. Those elements could be used, for example, for defining forces applied to the model.

   

An element being split (the imprint target) can be one or several sfaces, or a whole operation. Those elements will serve as a basis for creating the new faces. Depending on the splitting method, the shape of the new area is defined based on either the shape of the dividing element (the imprint tool), as Face, Edge, 3D Profile, Operation, or based on the geometry of the imprint target elements.

To create the operation, do the following steps:

1. Select the splitting method.

2. Select the objects to split (the imprint targets).

3. Select the imprint tool objects (optional).

4. Specify the direction (optional).

5. Confirm operation creation.

Selecting splitting method

A splitting method defines how the boundaries of the new faces will be determined, and, therefore, what data you need to specify. Select the splitting method from the pulldown list of a combo box located at the top of the parameters window. Upon entering the command, the method "Projection by direction " is set by default.

       

Selecting imprint target objects

The imprint target are the objects that will be split as a result of the operation.

It is possible to use multi-solid operations and multi-contour profiles as the imprinted elements.

To launch the imprint target selection mode, use the automenu options:

Another way to select is by clicking the mouse on an empty line in the Imprint targets pane. After that, you can proceed with selecting the desired faces or operations in the 3D window. Selecting an operation as the imprint target means that all faces of the operation will be selected for imprinting. The system will correctly handle the situations when the number of the original operation's faces changes after regeneration.

               

To cancel selection use option:

Selecting imprint tool objects

Selection of imprint tools takes place only in the following imprinting methods: Projection by direction, Projection by normal and Intersection. In the other cases, you do not need to select the imprint tools.

It is possible to use multi-solid operations and multi-contour profiles as the imprinting elements.

In the first two cases, you can use the option:

The option allows selecting elements (3D Paths, Edges, Profiles, Faces and Loops) that define boundaries of new faces.

With the method Intersection, use either of the options:

(In this case, the system constructs an intersection with all faces of the operation), or the option:

(the system considers the selected faces only).

If an operation was selected as the imprint target, then you can select a plane as the tool. In this case, use the option:

To cancel selection use option:

Defining the direction

You must specify the direction if using one of the following split methods, Projection by direction, Projection as outline or Create isoclinical curves. In all those cases, the direction can be specified by selecting two 3D nodes. For this purpose, use one of the options:

Alternatively, use the option:

That allows selecting elements for explicitly specifying the direction.

Make sure that the profile mapping direction is towards the imprint target objects, otherwise the application will display a message about an error regenerating the model, upon confirming the operation.

If the mapping direction is away from the imprint targets, use the option Reverse direction to flip the direction. The option is located at the bottom of the parameters window.                

To cancel selection use option:

Topics in this section:

•Splitting Methods of Imprinting Elements

•Edit Elements Imprinting