Hello fellow SolidWorks users,
I have a part with complex geometry that will take a while to reduce/enlarge in order to produce a "pre-anodized" layer part. I would like to skim off 0.002 (anodize thickness) from all surfaces, without using an extrude cut. This will give the machinist an idea of what dimensions the pre-anodized part will have, because if I gave them the drawing now, it would have post-anodized dimensions.
Is there an anodized layer or platings function that will acount for platings thickness in modeling the solid part?
Thanks
Phil
I won't disagree with Harold. I typically just specify the anodizing requirement in the notes.
To answer your question, that is possible in Solidworks. There are multiple ways to do it, but there is one way that only takes one feature.
Insert>Face>Move Face.
Select the "offset" option, then select every single face on the part. Reverse the offset direction and set it to .002
I would have to agree. We are going through a similar situation, but with a CDC coating. We used this method and it works very well. One thing you will have to watch is in the way you place dims in the drawings. You will not be able to insert model items, you will have to insert them manually; at least that what we had to do.
Good Luck
Phil -
You might fine the "scale" function useful for reducing the size of the part.
I agree with Harold, by the way.
You might give more consideration to the "cover it in the notes" idea just in case you are anodizing today and ecoating tomorrow and then applying chemfilm the next day, etc. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between efficient and lazy but I just don't enjoy detailing that much.
Thanks for the agreement although I provided an opinion and you guys provided solutions!
Thanks everyone for your help.
Instead of removing 0.002" from all surfaces, what I'll do is only look at surfaces that have assembly interference issues. All the other surfaces can increase.
Thanks,
Phil