Can You Extrude Cut a Surface SolidWorks?

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Can You Extrude Cut a Surface SolidWorks?

In SolidWorks, extrude cut is a powerful feature that allows you to remove material from a solid body by extruding a specified shape. However, the question arises – can you extrude cut a surface in SolidWorks? Let’s explore this topic in detail.

The Difference Between Surface and Solid Bodies

Before we delve into whether you can extrude cut a surface in SolidWorks, it’s important to understand the difference between surface and solid bodies. A solid body is a three-dimensional object with volume, while a surface body consists of only faces without any thickness.

Solid bodies are commonly used when designing physical objects that have mass and occupy space. On the other hand, surface bodies are often used for complex shapes, organic designs, or when working with imported geometry.

Extrude Cut in SolidWorks

SolidWorks offers various tools to create and modify solid bodies. One of the most commonly used features is the extrude cut tool, which enables you to remove material from an existing solid body by extruding a sketch or profile through it.

To perform an extrude cut in SolidWorks:

  1. Create a sketch on the face or plane where you want to remove material.
  2. Select the desired sketch entities, such as lines, arcs, or splines.
  3. Click on the “Extruded Cut” feature in the Features tab or select “Insert > Cut > Extrude”.
  4. Specify the depth and direction of the cut by entering values or selecting references.
  5. Click “OK” to complete the extrude cut operation.

Extruding a Surface in SolidWorks

Now, let’s address the main question – can you extrude cut a surface in SolidWorks? The answer is no. The extrude cut feature is designed to work specifically with solid bodies and cannot be directly applied to surfaces.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve similar results with surface bodies in SolidWorks. While you cannot perform an extrude cut on a surface directly, there are alternative methods to remove material from a surface body.

1. Thicken Surface

The “Thicken” feature in SolidWorks allows you to add thickness to a surface body, essentially converting it into a solid body. Once the surface is thickened, you can then use the extrude cut tool as usual to remove material.

2. Split Surface

If you want to remove specific portions of a surface body without converting it into a solid, you can use the “Split” feature. This feature allows you to split the surface into multiple regions based on sketch entities or reference geometry.

Once the surface is split, you can then delete or hide the unwanted portions using the delete face or hide/show commands respectively.

3. Combine Surfaces

If your goal is to create complex shapes by combining multiple surfaces and removing material from them, you can utilize the “Combine” feature in SolidWorks.

The Combine feature allows you to merge multiple surfaces together and perform operations like subtracting one surface from another or keeping only the common regions between surfaces.

In Summary

In conclusion, while you cannot directly extrude cut a surface in SolidWorks, there are alternative methods available for achieving similar results with surface bodies. These methods include thickening surfaces, splitting surfaces, and combining surfaces using the appropriate features in SolidWorks.

Remember, understanding the distinction between surface and solid bodies is crucial when working with SolidWorks, as it determines the available tools and operations you can perform on your designs. By leveraging the various features and capabilities of SolidWorks, you can efficiently create complex and intricate designs.