Modification of Imported Geometry using Direct Editing

In the world of product design and manufacturing, engineers often encounter imported CAD files from suppliers, partners, or legacy projects. Unlike native SOLIDWORKS files, these imported models typically come as solid or surface geometry without the feature history that allows easy editing. This lack of history can make modification challenging, especially when design changes are required to fit your project specifications.

Fortunately, SOLIDWORKS offers robust Direct Editing tools that enable designers to modify imported geometry efficiently, without relying on feature history. In this blog, we will explore why editing imported models is essential, what tools SOLIDWORKS provides, and how you can use them to achieve precise and flexible modifications.

Why Editing Imported Models Is Necessary

Imported files are often received in formats such as STEP, IGES, or Parasolid, which contain only the final geometry and no parametric features like extrusions, cuts, or fillets. When changes are needed, such as resizing parts, removing unnecessary geometry, or repositioning features, these files cannot be edited in the traditional parametric way.

Direct editing fills this gap by allowing designers to interact directly with the geometry. This is particularly useful when you need to:

• Adjust dimensions or features for manufacturing constraints.
• Remove unwanted geometry from the design.
• Reposition or copy parts within an assembly.
• Repair or modify surface bodies to maintain design intent.

By using direct editing, engineers can save time, maintain design flexibility, and ensure that imported parts integrate smoothly with their existing assemblies.

Tools for Direct Editing in SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS provides a suite of tools under the Direct Editing CommandManager tab, each designed to work without requiring feature history. Here’s a closer look at how these tools can help:

1. Delete Face

The Delete Face tool allows you to remove one or more faces from a model. Depending on

your needs, you can:

• Keep the model as a surface body.
• Patch the remaining geometry to maintain a solid model.
• Extend adjacent faces to fill the removed area.

This tool is invaluable for removing unnecessary features or cleaning up imported geometry.

2. Move/Copy and Delete/Keep Bodies

Imported files often contain multiple solid or surface bodies. SOLIDWORKS allows you

to:

• Move or copy bodies: Reposition parts within an assembly without modifying the original geometry.
• Delete/Keep bodies: Remove unwanted bodies while retaining essential ones, keeping the model organized and manageable.

This tool is especially useful when working with assemblies containing multiple imported components.

3. Modify Geometry

Direct editing allows you to adjust individual faces:

• Offset Faces: Increase or decrease surface size.
• Translate Faces: Move faces to new positions.
• Rotate Faces: Change the angular orientation of faces.

By combining these operations with Delete Face or Move/Copy, you can achieve complex

geometry modifications quickly.

4. Split

The Split tool allows you to divide a solid or surface body into separate bodies using faces,

planes, or surfaces as cutting references. Key applications include:

• Breaking down a complex imported part into manageable sections.
• Creating separate bodies for assembly or tooling purposes.
• Extracting specific portions of geometry for further editing.

Split is especially useful when imported files are overly complex or need to be segmented

for downstream operations.

5. Combine

The Combine tool allows you to merge multiple solid bodies into a single body. Options

include:

• Add: Combine two or more bodies into one.
• Subtract: Remove one body from another.
• Common: Keep only the intersecting volume of multiple bodies.

This tool is useful for simplifying assemblies, repairing imported geometry, or creating complex shapes by merging simpler bodies.

Working with imported CAD files no longer be a frustrating experience. With SOLIDWORKS’ Direct Editing tools, engineers gain the power to modify geometry directly, regardless of feature history. From removing unnecessary faces and repositioning bodies to adjusting dimensions, these tools streamline the workflow, reduce redesign time, and enhance design flexibility. By mastering direct editing, you can ensure that imported parts integrate seamlessly into your assemblies, helping you maintain efficiency and accuracy in every stage of the design process.

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.

Telephone        : (65) 6226 3784
Email               : support@seacadtech.com
WhatsApp       : (65) 9372 1461