8 Replies Latest reply on Dec 9, 2009 12:08 PM by Phil Hufnal

"Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?

Phil Hufnal Dec 8, 2009 1:50 PM

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

Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?

Harold Brunt Dec 8, 2009 2:17 PM (in response to Phil Hufnal)

I think you are making too much work for yourself and perhaps under-estimating your machinist. It is standard practice to dimension the finished part and then specify that the dimensions include finish thickness in the print notes.
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Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?

Charles Culp Dec 8, 2009 2:25 PM (in response to Phil Hufnal)

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
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- Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?
  
  Brian Long Dec 8, 2009 4:11 PM (in response to Charles Culp)
  
  3649 wrote:
  
  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
  
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Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?

Gerald Davis Dec 8, 2009 2:28 PM (in response to Phil Hufnal)

Phil -
You might fine the "scale" function useful for reducing the size of the part.

I agree with Harold, by the way.
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- Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?
  
  Charles Culp Dec 8, 2009 3:08 PM (in response to Gerald Davis)
  
  The problem with scale is that it reduces ID's of holes. You want to actually increase the ID's of the holes while decreasing the OD of shafts. This applies to more than just cylinders, but I think it helps to visualize what I am getting at.
  
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  - Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?
    
    Lenny Bucholz Dec 8, 2009 3:48 PM (in response to Charles Culp)
    
    here is a trick i use. make a copy of the part and call it anodized, the shell it with a .002 thickness, then insert part(anodized) into a part(orginal) and do it twice, then subtract one of the anodized from the original and then you'll have 2 solids, the anodized shell and the one for the machinist.
    
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- Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?
  
  Harold Brunt Dec 8, 2009 4:19 PM (in response to Gerald Davis)
  
  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!
  
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  - Re: "Remove" Anodized Layer for pre-anodized drawing? Platings function?
    
    Phil Hufnal Dec 9, 2009 12:08 PM (in response to Harold Brunt)
    
    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
    
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