Use this function to create a shell, transforming a solid body into a body that represents the walls of the original body with at least one face left open. The Shell feature supports two types of shelling, inward/outward, and multiple offset shelling. Both methods are explained below.

Using the Function:

It is possible to shell in both an inward and outward direction at the same time. Note that only positive values can be entered for the shell thickness in the dialog box. To use the Shell feature, follow the steps below. Note that the required steps might change depending upon what settings are chosen in the dialog box for the function.

1. Select Shell from the Solid>Add Feature Ribbon area.

2. The Shell dialog box appears, from which you can specify a shell direction and open face options.

3. You will be prompted to select the face(s) to be left open, if you had specified to do so. The Shell is then created per the specifications made in the Shell dialog box.

Dialog Options:

Shell Direction

The options under Shell Direction allow you to specify a direction for the shell.

• Inward - When selected, you will be allowed to enter a distance for an inward shell.

• Outward - When selected, you are able to enter a distance value for an outward shell.

• Inward and Outward - This option allows for a simultaneous inward and outward shell.

Open Face Options

These options allow you to specify what faces are to be kept open, and by what lip width and thickness.

• Select faces to be Opened - If this checkbox is enabled, you will be prompted in the Conversation bar for the faces to leave open. If this box is disabled, the shell will be a closed body with an internal void. To leave at least one face open when creating the shell, enable this checkbox (4).

• Create Lip around Opened Faces - When selected, a lip will be created around the open face with the width and thickness attributes that you specify.

• Select Faces for Specific Offsets - You will be prompted to select each face and enter a thickness in the Conversation bar. Inward and outward offsets may be specified for different faces by entering negative and positive values, respectively. See Multi-Offset Shelling below.

Multi-Offset Shelling

Individual faces may have different offset values applied to them, allowing for different wall thickness in the shelled part. This will be enabled when the Select faces for specific offsets checkbox is enabled. You will be prompted to select each face and enter a thickness in the Conversation bar. Inward and outward offsets may be specified for different faces by entering negative and positive values, respectively.

When applying different offset values for individual faces, those faces which are smoothly connected to one another (e.g. blended faces), should have the same offset value. This is because the offsetting algorithm will probably fail to re-intersect the offset faces. Faces that join with sharp intersections are good candidates for multi-offset shelling because they will reliably intersect.

When specifying specific offset values, you will be prompted to indicate a face, then enter an offset value on the prompt line. A positive value indicates an inward offset, and a negative value indicates an outward offset. Faces are offset the default amount (.2) if they are not specified explicitly in the dialog box.