Select edges to fill multiple surfaces simultaneously

matthew_stacy

Is there a way to select edges and Fill multiple, non-contiguous surfaces simultaneously?

In the simplest case, assume that I want to create a Composite surface comprised of two individual surfaces that do not overlap one another, similar to that shown below:

My current workflow is tedious and crude:

1. click <Fill> (new)
   
2. right-click
   
3. <Create selection>
4. click
5. click <Loop/chain connected> (default is 'Tangent connected')
6. select an edge
   
7. click <Add selection>
8. <Enter>
   

Eight mouse/keyboard inputs seems excessive relative to the simplicity of the task.  Is there a better way?  The tedium becomes so much the greater when tens of surfaces are involved.

• Is it possible to create 'Fill 1' and 'Fill 2' simultaneously (remember that they don't overlap)?
  
• Is it possible to select the perimeter of an enclosed sketch profile with a single mouse click? (<Perimeter> would be a handy selection criterion for <Create selection>)
  
• Is there a keyboard shortcut for <Fill>?
• Persistent tool selection for <Fill>?  (tool stays open for the next Fill)
  

konstantin_shiriazdanov

The problem with sketches here is that their edges are not topologically connected so, you can't create domains of adjacent edges using exclusively queries. If it was a surface body with multiple ports that would be pretty easy to create a custom feature for this

NeilCooke

If they are sketch regions you can use Offset Surface with a value of zero. And you can do it all in one feature. 

S1mon

@NeilCooke
I've seen this work around before. It's honestly one of the more non-intuitive things in Onshape to avoid adding another feature tool. In Solidworks this would just be a flat surface, which also has the advantage of taking non-closed edges and trying to make a surface (e.g. two co-planar non-intersecting lines will create a surface with four edges). The Onshape "solution" doesn't work with edges of geometry, only "faces, surfaces, and sketch regions".

And, unlike some other Solidworks <--> Onshape hints, the tool search comes up blank for "flat".

matthew_stacy

NeilCooke said:

If they are sketch regions you can use Offset Surface with a value of zero. And you can do it all in one feature. 

@NeilCooke, that's exactly what I was looking for!  The Offset-Surface functionality that you describe more than meets my need.  You saved me 8 clicks per surface.  Thanks for the help.

Personally, I would much rather see Onshape reserve precious development resources on mission critical functionality (bend-specific sheet metal bends, locating formed features on sheet metal patterns, etc).