Working with the Functional Import Wizard

You can remove and fill features like holes, pockets, or other openings using the Functional Import Wizard.
The wizard associates the functional behavior of protected, added, and removed features to these openings. This allows you to use the input part smoothly with the Functional Molded Part workbench.
Open the input part that is essentially a thin part, consisting of a distinct parting element. This parting element divides the part into an inner surface (core), an outer surface (cavity), and the parting element itself.
The input part with opening
 

Define Faces
  In the face selection step, you can define the faces required to compute the openings within the part.

  1. Click the Functional Import Wizard in the Basic Features toolbar (Functional sets sub-toolbar) .
    The Functional Import Wizard dialog box is displayed.

  2. In the Shell Faces area:

    1. Select the required shell parting faces.
      The selected faces are displayed in the Shell Parting Faces box.
      Shell faces are in contact with the parting element. They divide the part into inner and outer faces respectively.
      • The selected faces are highlighted in pink.
      • The Compute Parting Element option is now available for selection.
    2. Select the parting element, if known. You can also select the Compute Parting Element option, to select the parting element automatically.
      A parting element is the one that supports the shell faces.
      The parting element is selected. An arrow defining the area to be kept is displayed.

     

  3. In the Inner Faces area:

    1. Select the inner faces.
      The selected faces are shown in the Inner Faces box.
      The selection is done by tangent propagation.
      Note: Select all the faces limiting the inner region of the part except the holes, pockets, or other openings which need to be filled.
      The selected faces are highlighted in yellow.
    2. To select fillets with certain range of radius, select the Inner Radius option and define the range of Fillet Radius Range.
      This is needed when the selection extends along a filleted face of an opening. This helps to stop the tangent propagation from the face to the opening.

  4. In the Outer Faces area:

    1. Select the outer faces.
      The selected faces are shown in the Outer Faces box.
      The selection is done by tangent propagation.
      Note: Select all the faces limiting the outer region of the part except the holes, pockets, or other openings which need to be filled.
      The selected faces are highlighted in blue.
    2. To select fillets with certain range of radius, select the Outer Radius option and define the range of Fillet Radius Range.
      This is needed when the selection extends along a filleted face of an opening. This helps to stop the tangent propagation from the face to the opening.

  5. Click the Next button to navigate to the Openings removal step.
 

Compute and Fill the Openings
 

  • Select a type of fill strategy for the opening that is highlighted in the work area.
    The fill strategy decides how exact the fill should be. There are three types of fill strategies available:

    • Minimal Fill: the most exact fill. The hole is filled with maximum precision. This fill is attributed with a default minimum offset value of 0.1mm.
    • Optimized Rough Fill: the compromise between the minimal and rough fill. Its exactness varies according to the opening. The fill is optimal on the inner side and rough on the outer side.
    • Rough Fill: the least exact fill. The approximation of the opening is very large.
    Opening in the input part
    		 Minimally filled opening
    Optimally filled opening
    		 Roughly filled opening

  • Select the required Feature Type to fill the opening.
    The feature types available are:

  • Select Compute to compute the highlighted opening.

  • Navigate between the openings computed within the part using << and >>.

  • Optional: Select Compute All to apply the current setting of fill strategy and fill feature to all the openings computed in the part.

  • Check the Diagnostic Information: section for the status of the computation.

    If the Diagnostic Information section indicates that the computation failed, you can change the fill strategy and try again.

  • Click Next button to navigate to Featurization Step.

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    Generate Features
     

    Select any of the following options to generate the new features:

    • Thin Solid: to generate a new thin solid.
    • Functional Features: to select an existing solid functional set from the specification tree in the Select "Solid Functional Set" box.

  • Click Generate.
    Based on your selection, the feature is generated.

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