Part VI: Using Advanced Techniques
FIGURE 27.11The Fill Surface feature with constraint curves
MidSurface
The MidSurface feature is not used very often. It was probably originally intended to be used in
conjunction with analysis tools to create plate elements for thin walled structures. It works on par-
allel faces of a solid, creating a surface midway between the faces. If the faces have opposing draft
(such that a wall is wider at the bottom than at the top), then the MidSurface will not work. It
works on linear walls and cylindrical walls, but not on elliptical or spline-based shapes. The
PropertyManager for the MidSurface is shown in Figure 27.12.
Similar to the Planar Surface, you can also use the MidSurface to create a surface that can be used
like a plane. No plane type can create a symmetrical plane, but using a MidSurface, you can create
a symmetrical Planar Surface between parallel walls.Replace Face
The Replace Face feature does not create new surface geometry, but it does integrate existing sur-
face geometry into the solid. It replaces selected faces of a solid or surface body with a selected sur-
face body. Replace Face is one of the few tools that can add and remove material at the same time
with a single feature.