Learning Forum

[happykiran]

I have two sheet metal parts which is assembled together and in that one part is in variable thickness (by secondary milling operation) can i proceed with mid surface extraction or without mid surface?

[Sandeep Medikonda]

Hi Kiran,

  You can still use the mid-surfaces to extract the mid-surface. Are you seeing any errors?

  I would recommend you to use the range option and if you notice any Gaps between the generated surfaces, use the Extend tool along with the Shared Topology option.

  Hope this helps.

Regards,
Sandeep
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[peteroznewman]

Hi Kiran,

If you are in SpaceClaim, you cannot generate a Midsurface unless the faces have a constant wall thickness. I constructed the wedge below. Note that the Midsurface tool will not select the non-parallel faces.

Another CAD system can create that Midsurface and its FEA model has variable thickness shell elements.
I recommend you keep the part as a solid and mesh with solid elements.

Regards,
Peter