Hi Everybody!
I frequently create models of picture frames by sweeping a profile sketch. However, when I do this, the faces are not selectable. (If you click on a face, that entire section of the sweep is selected.) Why is this happening? More imporantly, how can I make this NOT happen?
Thanks in advance,
-CC
What if you use the face filter?
Chris,
My guess is that the profile you are sweeping is made of splines instead of discrete sketch elements. Seperate lines, arcs etc. will produce seperate pickable faces, as opposed to one complete profile that a spline would produce.
Mike
The front surface of the frames are usually oddly-shaped splines, but the rest is simply lines and fillets. And it's not every frame, so I'm at a loss.
Thanks for all the input, though.
Chris,
Can you post a file that works for you, and a file that doesn't?
It's hard to even guess without a file to look at.
I'll see if I can clear this with my boss. Possibly a bit later today.
You might try doing this as 2 separate Sweeps of surfaces, instead of solids. Create the simple linear and arc elements in 1 Sweep and then create the more complex spline stuff in another Sweep. Then Trim/Knit them together and create a solid. That may solve the problem.
If I remove the spline that is the front, curvy surface, the faces become selectable. WTF? Is this the only way around this? Are splines, then, essentailly worthless?
Well that is a pretty all encompassing statement. It just means that you will have to work with Splines differently. I would not say that Splines are worthless though.
Splines can be good for somethings, I must say. But this has been a baffling and ongoing problem for some time. And quite frustrating. I'll try tracing them with lines and see what happens.
Here is the same file, but with a Spline and there is still no issue with the faces not being able to be selected.
Judging from the sample you posted... nothing.
Making my best guess otherwise... what are you doing with your sweep settings for "merge tangent faces" and "merge smooth faces"?
Hey Chris - two words: "split line". Will allow you to split your spline-driven face into discrete regions. From a plane in front of and parallel to your frame, project sketch lines down onto surface. In your sketch go to insert>curve>split line. I think that's how it goes, I'm at home and not using solidworks. Check out some tutorials. I think this will help.
Mike
No problems here with this simple part.