ds-blue-logo
Preview  |  SOLIDWORKS USER FORUM
Use your SOLIDWORKS ID or 3DEXPERIENCE ID to log in.
MPMike Piller26/11/2014

Trim Surface

You can use a surface, plane, or sketch as a trim tool to trim intersecting surfaces. You can also use a surface in conjunction with additional surfaces, as mutual trim tools. Trim surface includes the following options:

To trim a surface:

  1. Create two or more surfaces that intersect at one or more points, or create a surface that intersects with a plane or has a sketch on its face. 
  2. Click Trim Surface on the Surfaces toolbar, or click Insert > Surface > Trim. 
  3. In the PropertyManager, under Trim Type, select a type: 
    • Standard. Trims surfaces using surfaces, sketch entities, curves, planes, and so on. 
    • Mutual. Trims multiples surfaces using the surfaces themselves.
  4. Under Selections, choose from these options: 
    • Trim tool (available with Standard selected under Trim Type). Select a surface, sketch entity, curve, or plane in the graphics area as the tool that trims other surfaces. 
    • Surfaces (available with Mutual selected under Trim Type). Select multiple surfaces in the graphics area for Trimming Surfaces to use to trim themselves. 
    • Select a trim action: 
      • Keep selections. Retains the surfaces listed under Pieces to Keep surface_pieces_to_keep.png. Intersecting surfaces not listed under Pieces to Keep are discarded. 
      • Remove selections. Discard the surfaces listed under Pieces to Remove surface_pieces_to_keep.png. Intersecting surfaces not listed under Pieces to Remove are retained.
       
    • Select surfaces in Pieces to Keep surface_pieces_to_keep.png or in Pieces to Remove surface_pieces_to_keep.png, based on the trim action.
  5. Under Surface Split Options, select an item: 
    • Natural. Forces the boundary edges to follow the shape of the surface. 
    • Linear. Forces the boundary edges to follow a linear direction from the trim point. 
    • Split all. Display all splits in the surface. 
  6. Click
Example Using Standard Trim Type
Sketch used for Trim tool Pieces to Keep surface_pieces_to_keep.png with Natural selected in Surface Split OptionsTrimmed surface
Example Using Mutual Trim Type
Two intersecting surfaces Surfaces selected for Pieces to Keep surface_pieces_to_keep.pngTrimmed surface

I've been trying to trim surfaces using the steps above.  They do not work!!!  I keep getting an error that asks for a surface to trim.  It is set om "mutual" so the surfaces are supposed to trim each other.  THEY DON"T!!  How do I get this to work???