Combine one or more shapes.  First select the icon to set the command to add, remove or intersect shapes.  Then select the base shapes to modify.  Finally, select the operator shapes.  Optionally, you can keep the operator shapes or select any bounding faces that will limit the scope of the operation.  See Merge shapes before operation in the Part Settings Form for more information.

 

 

Add Shapes	Remove Shapes
Intersect Shapes

 

 

 

Use this command to trim away part of a solid or open shape where it intersects with faces, shapes, and/or datum planes. This command can trim an open shape and will result in an open shape. This command is similar to the Combine Shapes (see above) command  but allows you to select multiple faces, shapes, or datum planes (they can be self-intersecting) to trim to. The resulting solid or shape is automatically cleaned up.
 

 

Required Inputs

 

• Base - Select the base solid or shapes to trimmed.

• Trimming - Select the trimming shapes and/or datum planes.

 

 

 

Use this command to divide a solid or open shape where it intersects with faces, shapes, or datum planes. The result will be two distinct solids or shapes. This command can also divide an open shape or result in one or more open shapes. This command is similar to the Split Faces with Faces command but connectivity between the two shapes is not maintained.

 

Required Inputs

 

• Base - Select the base solid or shapes to divide.

• Cutting - Select the dividing shapes and/or datum planes.

 

 

 

Use this command to replace one or more faces of a solid or shape with another face or shape. Use commands from the Insert Menu to first create the replacing face or shape. Then use this command to swap the existing faces with the new ones.

 

Required Inputs

 

• Base faces - Select the faces to replace.

• Replace - Select the replacing faces or shape.

 

 

 

Use this command to separate faces from a shape. Select the faces to explode and then middle-click to explode them.  Also refer to the Optional Inputs below.  Use the Sew Shapes command to join faces back into a shape.
 

 

Optional Inputs

 

• Group connected faces - Use this option to maintain the connectivity of the explode faces (i.e., they become a separate shape).

• Rebuild edges along boundary- Check this box to redefine edges in their pre-sewn orientation.  If the edges are within the geometry tolerance (like exploding a VX generated box), the edges will be identical.  If the edges are out of tolerance, two distinct edges are displayed.

 

 

 

Use this command to create a new feature by sewing faces (or connecting edges) into a single closed solid. The edge boundaries of the faces must coincide to be sewn (i.e., no free edge gaps greater than the sew tolerance). Use the free edges option on the Part Settings Formto display all free edges in the active part. Use the Explode Faces command to separate one or more faces from shapes.

 

 

Required Inputs

 

• Faces - Select the faces to sew or middle-click the mouse to select all visible faces in the active part.
  
  If there are unmatched edges after the sew operation is complete, the "Maximum Gap" is reported in user units. And the user is further recommended to sew the part with a looser tolerance. If the shapes are sewn at what VX considers to be too loose than a default tolerance, the following message appears suggesting that you should heal the shapes.

 

• Tolerance - Specify the deviation tolerance for matching the original shape.

 

 

 

Use this command to remove self intersections and inverted regions (including inverted inner loop cases) on selected faces as well as can be done. Faces that intersect other faces in the shape will be split and the unnecessary faces will be removed. The shape will not be split.  A warning message is displayed when nothing is found to repair.  

 

A feature for this command is logged to the history in case self-intersections are found in future regenerations of the part.

 

Required Inputs

 

• Shapes - Select the shapes to check for and correct self intersections.

 

 

 

Use this command to simplify a part by removing selected faces. The command will attempt to extend and reconnect faces to close the resulting gaps in the part. If the part cannot be closed properly an error message will be returned. Select the faces to remove and then middle-click to remove them.

 

Alternately, you can also delete or blank the features that contain the faces. Refer to the notes below for some cautionary advice about removing or deleting features.

 

 

 

Flip side to keep

The arrows indicate the side to keep. Check this box to flip the arrows and keep the opposite side.

 

Cutter

Determines the disposition of the dividing shapes and/or datum planes.

 

• Keep - Keep the dividing shape as is.

• Delete - Delete the dividing shape.

• Divide - Divide the dividing shape also.

 

Keep replace face

Check this box to keep the replacing face.

 

Group connected faces

Check this box to maintain any connectivity (sharing of edges) among the faces picked. This is handy for "cracking" a shell along a set of edges. The grouped faces will form a separate shape.

 

Remove inverted regions

Check this box to clean up the shape and remove any inverted regions.

 

 

 

• Check the message area after using this command. If there are gaps between edges, the total number of unmatched edges and the maximum gap distance encountered will be reported. If open edges remain, sew again with a looser tolerance. You may have to repeat the command a few more times with incrementing tolerances.
   

• As a final step, sew at a tolerance which is a bit greater than the reported max gap size. The sew command builds topology by connecting faces, but it does not check for gaps among connected geometry. Use the Heal Part Topology command at the default part tolerance setting to recalculate vertices, edges, ... to remove any gaps.