After I created the video for splitting parts, I was asked by a few of my readers to write an article about splitting parts since some companies block Youtube videos. Rather then rehash the same information over again I decided to take the opportunity to explore another approach to achieve the same outcome. As anybody will tell you, there are more ways then one to crack an egg. (I know…bad pun)

Using the same egg model, Egg Models (949), we are going to try a different approach.

Creating the Egg Shell

The first thing we are going to do this time is shell out the egg model. Click Shell in the Features toolbar.

Set the wall thickness to 0.060″ and since this is a complete body that we will split later, there is no need to select a face to remove.

Adding a Split Line

Now we are going to create the split line that we will use later to determine where the split will take place. The split line will not split the part instead it splits the selected surface on the model. Click Split Line in the Mold Tools toolbar. If the Mold Tools toolbar is not shown in your command manager, right-click a tab on the CommandManager and select Mold Tools from the menu.

If you have used the Split line command before, you know you can project a sketch onto a surface to split it. This time we are going to try something different. By selecting the Silhouette option for the Type of Split, we will create a split line at the largest part of a cylindrical surface. This will ensure that the part will be split at the most logical location for molding.

The Direction of Pull is the direction that the mold will be pulled off of the part when it is being made. After selecting the field you must then select a plane or face that will indicate the direction of pull perpendicular to the selected face.

In the Fly-out FeatureManager, select the Right Plane since it is the plane that is perpendicular to the direction of pull.

The plane that indicates the direction of pull will be indicated with Pink in the graphics area.

Next, the Faces to Split field must be selected in the PropertyManager.

In the graphics area, select the face on the model to be split. The face will be highlighted in blue.

Looking at the side view, the split line does not actually fall in line with the plane that was selected for the direction of pull. Instead, the split line was automatically created at the largest part of the face to ensure there is no undercut.

Create a Radiate Surface

Using the split line we created, we will create a surface that radiates from the model that we can then use to split the model. In the Mold Tools toolbar, select Radiate Surface.

In the Radiate Surface PropertyManager, select the Radiate Direction Reference field. The surface will not be created on the selected surface or plane but instead will run parallel to it.

Once again, select the Right plane in the Fly-out PropertyManager. If your planes are visible, you can also select the plane in the graphics area.

In the PropertyManager, select the Edges to Radiate field. This will be the edge that will be used to create the radiated surface.

In the graphics area, select the split line we created earlier.

The only option that we are concerned about here is the distance that the surface will radiate from the surface of the part. The actual distance does not matter for this case, so accept the default value shown. In case your wondering, if you select the Propagate to tangent faces option, the connected edges on tangent faces will also be selected to create the surface. Since we only have one edge, we do not need to select this option.

The surface now extends from the face of the model to the specified dimension.

Splitting the Egg

With our surface created, we can now split the model into two separate solidbodies. Select Insert -> Features -> Split.

In the Split PropertyManager select the Trimming Surfaces field. This is the surface, or sketch, that is used to split the model.

In the graphics area, select the surface we created using the Radiate Surface command.

Next, select Cut Part.

In the Resulting Bodies field, select the bodies that will be split. If you keep a check box clear the body will not be split and it will remain with the original part. Since we only have two bodies, this is not important to us but if we had multiple bodies that would be created with the split we can select which bodies will be separate.

In the graphics area, the Resulting Bodies will be identified with a callout and the bodies will be shown in pink. The Trimming Surface will be shown in blue. Click the green check mark and the model will be split.

In the FeatureManager, the split feature will be shown and you can edit it later if needed.

In the Solid Bodies folder in the FeatureManager, the newly created bodies are shown.

We’re Not Done Yet…

That’s it for today, later in the week we will finish our little easter egg. We still need to create the lips and save our model so make sure you come back.

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