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Select edges to fill multiple surfaces simultaneously

matthew_stacymatthew_stacy Member Posts: 475 PRO
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)


Comments

  • konstantin_shiriazdanovkonstantin_shiriazdanov Member Posts: 1,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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
  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,310
    If they are sketch regions you can use Offset Surface with a value of zero. And you can do it all in one feature. 
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
  • S1monS1mon Member Posts: 2,321 PRO
    edited January 2022
    @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_stacymatthew_stacy Member Posts: 475 PRO
    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).
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