Divide By Contour : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

Click the button in the toolbar.
Select Solid > Objects > Divide By Contour from the menu bar.

Divide objects by sweeping a contour.

This functions divides one or more open or closed objects (also faces) by using a closed 2D composite curve or sketch as the dividing entity.

Notes:

If you want to divide an object or face using a face, plane, or object as the dividing tool, use the function Divide > By Object.
To divide faces of open or closed objects, use the Faces > Split function.
To divide contours, use the Curves > Split function.

Required Step 1

Select one or more objects (open or closed) to be divided. Press <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) when all objects are selected.

Required Step 2

Select a closed 2D composite curve or sketch as the dividing entity.

Note: If you select a sketch that contains more than one closed curve sequence, all curve sequences will be extruded. In order for a sketch to be selected, however, it must contain only closed curve sequences.

The following parameters are displayed:

Single

Pick a single entity to be extruded (a closed 2D composite curve, sketch or face).

When the entity is selected, the system automatically jumps to the next step of the function.

Multi Faces

Pick multiple faces to be extruded. The faces must be from the same object.

When all the faces are selected, press <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) to jump to the next step of the function.

When the Multi Faces option is used, Optional Step 1 (adding a draft angle) is grayed out and cannot be used.

Required Step 3

Set the parameters and the direction. The following parameters are displayed:

The default direction is normal to the 2D contour or sketch plane. You can flip the direction by clicking the displayed arrow head or body, or you can click on the arrow origin to set another direction.

Delta/Reference

This is a dropdown list of the following available extrude options:

Delta/Reference	Divide either by Delta (divide on one or both sides, by a given value and direction) or by Reference (divide to a reference face or plane). See Delta/Reference for an additional explanation of this option.
Delta Mid Plane	Divide by the same amount equally in both directions. See Delta Mid Plane for an additional explanation of this option.
To Closest	Divide to the closest faces of an active object, according to a defined direction.
Through	Divide through a solid object material.

One Side

This is a toggle option: One Side / Both Sides:

One Side

Divide on one side of the contour.
Example:Example:

Both Sides

Divide on both sides of the contour.
Example:Example:

In the Delta/Reference option, additional parameters are displayed. These parameter settings for each divide side are displayed under their respective Primary Side and Secondary Side headings (for more information on these headings, see Additional Delta/Reference Notes and the labeling rules).

By Delta

This is a toggle option: By Delta / By Reference:

By Delta

Divide by a delta value. This option displays the Delta parameter; set this parameter to define the extrude distance.
Example:Example:

By Reference

Divide to a reference entity (datum plane, face or object). This option displays the Offset from Reference parameter; set this parameter to define an offset distance from the reference face/plane.
Example:Example:

Pick the reference face/plane.	The contour is extruded to the reference entity.


Offset from Ref. = 0
Offset from Ref. = <positive value>
Offset from Ref. = <negative value>

The planar or non-planar attributes of the reference face determines the options that are displayed.
If the reference entity is a planar face, the toggle option As Plane / As Object is displayed.
If the reference entity is a non-planar face, the toggle option Face Extend / Object is displayed

See the Planar / Non-Planar Reference Face Options.

Invert Active Object

Use the Invert Active Object option as required. This parameter is available only for open objects and deals with issues of object direction.

Optional Step 1

If you want to add a draft angle to the extrusion, see Defining a Draft Angle.

Click OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Divide by Contour feature will appear in the Feature Tree as follows:

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.