How do I use an imported part to remove material?

steven_wild286

Hi, I've only used Onshape a few times, and I think I've tackled something too hard.

I'm trying to design a holder for a sharpie marker. I work in a laboratory where we often have to uncap and use a sharpie one-handed. My idea is to have a holder with a sharpie-shaped hole, and a flange that fits tightly under a piece of lab equipment to hold it in place. The following image shows what I've designed so far.

   

To start off, I downloaded a .step file of a sharpie marker/cap from Printables. Then I imported it into Onshape, deleted all the Parts except the cap, and drew my sketch and extruded around the cap. The end of the cap Part is highlighted yellow in the image above.

However, it appears that the extrusion has filled in the inside of the cap. Is there any way that I can set the cap part to "remove"? Actually, I don't want to remove the shape of the entire cap, just the hollow bit inside the cap, where the sharpie marker clips in.

I'm sure I've done this completely the wrong way. I'm looking forward to any advice that can point me in the right direction.

Here is the link to my file:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/7bf844a44488401f828a4cb0/w/7c6b4b8f9ba8f7d8abee5dda/e/e55589494ee1031558ad46ab?renderMode=0&uiState=6477664ec58ea9044a404ef5

Thanks

MichaelPascoe

Boolean subtract will be perfect for this. I'll take a look and see what's going on in your model.

Looks like Extrude 1 needs to be set to "New" instead of "Add". This will let you create a new part instead of merging it with the Sharpie lid. 

Then, you will need to simplify the lid so that it can easily be subtracted from the main part. Try using Fill, Enclose, and Boolean to fill the void in the Sharpie lid. Then use a sketch, and extrude the outlined shape of the lid clip.

MichaelPascoe

Here you go, try something like this:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/72bdca11d26db0d278d9feb6/w/e0ab02a8da41a323de6fcb28/e/bf5b048e62cf1a3cc41893e7?renderMode=0&uiState=64778b644273044ff7662d9f

MichaelPascoe

Boolean subtract will be perfect for this. I'll take a look and see what's going on in your model.

Looks like Extrude 1 needs to be set to "New" instead of "Add". This will let you create a new part instead of merging it with the Sharpie lid. 

Then, you will need to simplify the lid so that it can easily be subtracted from the main part. Try using Fill, Enclose, and Boolean to fill the void in the Sharpie lid. Then use a sketch, and extrude the outlined shape of the lid clip.

MichaelPascoe

Here you go, try something like this:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/72bdca11d26db0d278d9feb6/w/e0ab02a8da41a323de6fcb28/e/bf5b048e62cf1a3cc41893e7?renderMode=0&uiState=64778b644273044ff7662d9f

steven_wild286

Wow, thanks for the amazing solution, Michael. Is there any way to slow down and stop your video so I can take in the finer details?

robert_scott_jr_

You could follow the link to his document and view the steps in the feature tree. - Scotty

MichaelPascoe

@steven_wild286, sure. Here is the full un-edited video instead of the gif:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RTPi6OGhjA

MichaelPascoe

Robert's approach is usually the best for learning from other peoples Onshape documents. Once you become more familiar with Onshape, it will be easier for you to look at a feature tree and see what is going on.

In case no one has shared this with you yet, the Onshape Learning Pathways at the Learning Center are where it's at! If you complete those, you will be fluent in Onshape.