Imprint

Introduction

This topic will explain the Imprint function, will explain where to find the function, and explain the options found in it. This topic will also give a brief description of Dynamic Drawing, the Snap Increment function, explain creation with quick steps and an example, and provide links to related topics.

The Imprint Function

The Imprint function is designed to extrude a curve, and subtract an existing CAD model from that extrusion, while keeping the original model and the newly created imprint.

 

 

Dynamic Drawing

This function supports Dynamic Drawing which allows you to use a combination of sketching and data entry to create the entities. Prior to confirming the desired result in the function, an adjustable preview is visible. These previews can be modified using the sketch handles, data entry, or a combination of both. The benefit of Dynamic Drawing is that you can quickly place and adjust the size to get the approximate result, and then use data entry to update to the exact dimensions, and coordinate values as needed.

 

Preview with Sketch Handles

Final Entities

 

In the images above, we see the preview of entities which can be adjust with sketch handles, followed by those same entities after they are finalized.

Snap Increment

This function support the use of the snap increment when selecting the location of the entities. The snap increment allows you to get precise results when using mouse selection and helps to reduce data entry modifications.

 

To learn more, view Snap Increment.

To open Imprint:

 

  • In the Extrude group, of the Create 3D tab, click Imprint.

 

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

 

Imprint
 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The Imprint list shows all selected entities to use as the profile of the imprint.

 

Selected Solids
 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The Selected Solids list shows all selected entities to create an imprint of.

 

Distance

This group defines how far the imprint is extruded prior to being subtracted from the selected solids.

 

Default  Distance - extrudes the Profile Chains through the entirety of the Selected Solids, unless a specific distance is entered.

Pick a Point - allows you to pick a point / snap point to extrude the imprint to.

End Surface - allows you to pick a surface to extrude to. The selected surface also acts as a Split Surface on the extrusion, as seen in the animation below.

 

 

Important: Important : When using the End Surface option, the selected surface should be larger than the Profile Chains selected to be the imprints.

 


Along Normal - extrudes the Profile Chains along the normal of the Profile Chains.

Along Z-Axis - extrudes the Profile Chains along the Z direction of the current UCS.

 

  • OK - performs the function to create the geometry shown in the CAD preview.
  • Cancel - closes the Data Entry Manager.

Quick Steps - Imprint

To create an imprint, there are only a few key steps to follow:

 

  1. Select the Profile Chains.

    These are the entities that will be extruded to make the imprint.

    By default, the Profile Chains has focus and is ready to have Profile Chains added.

  2. Click in the Selected Solids list to put focus on it.

  3. Select the Selected Solids.

    These are the solids the imprint is to be made from.

    With a solid selected, the preview is displayed.

  4. Set the Distance.  

    This is how much to extrude from the Profile Chains.

  5. To confirm the Imprint, click (OK), or press Spacebar.

    The feature is added to the CAD Tree.

  6. Click Cancel to close the function.

Example

This example will have you:

 

  • Create Two Rectangles
  • Create a Cam Plate Layer
  • Create the Cam Plate
  • Extrude the Cam Plate
  • Create a Soft Jaws Layer
  • Create the Imprint
  • View the Result
    Intended result:

 

 

  

Part 1) Create Two Rectangles

For this example, we will be imprinting two rectangles that will become a set of soft jaws to hold our Cam Plate. Our first step will be to create those rectangles.

 

  1. In the Shapes group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Rectangle.

    The preview with default settings displays.



  2. Set the Length (X) to 4.000.

    The preview updates.



  3. Set the Width (Y) to 1.000.

    The preview updates.



  4. In the Origin group, set the Z value to -0.75.

    The Preview updates.

  5. Click OK to confirm the settings and placement of the first rectangle.

    The first rectangle is created.



  6. In the Origin group, set the Y value to 2.0000.

    The Preview updates.



  7. Click OK to confirm the settings and placement of the second rectangle.

    The second rectangle is created.



  8. Click Cancel to exit the Rectangle function.


Part 2) Create a Cam Plate Layer

In order to keep our geometry organized, we will create a new CAD layer, so that we may easily hide and show different aspects of our file.

 

  1. Right-click in the Layers Manager and select Add New Layer.

    A layer is created and the name is highlighted to allow for alteration.

  2. Type "Solid" as the name for the new layer and press Enter, or click off of the layer to set the name.


  3. Right-click the new Solid layer and select Active Layer to set that as the active layer.

    The Solid layer is now marked as active.

Part 3) Create the Cam Plate

Next, we will create the Cam Plate that will be extruded into the solid will create an imprint from.

 

  1. In the Shapes group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click the Shape Library icon.

    The Disk shape populates in the Data Entry Manager.

  2. Click the image of the disk shape to launch the shape library dialog.

    The Shape Library dialog appears.

  3. Select the icon.

    The parameters open in the Data Entry manager, and the Preview displays.



  4. In the Position and Orientation group, change the X value to -1.5000.

    The Preview updates.



  5. Click OK to confirm the settings and placement of the Cam Plate.

    The Cam Plate is created in the graphics area, and the Cam Plate feature is added to the CAD Tree.

Part 4) Extrude the Cam Plate

The next step is to create the extrusion of the Cam Plate.

 

  1. In the Extrude group, of the Create 3D ribbon, click Extrude Curve.

  2. Press Ctrl+2 to get into a Front view.

    The View updates.



  3. Window pick the Cam Plate.

      

    The Preview appears, showing the default settings.



  4. Change the Positive Direction value, from 1.000 to 0.7500.

    The preview updates.



  5. Click OK to confirm the settings and placement of the Cam Plate.

    The Solid is created and an Extrude Curve feature is added to the CAD Tree.

      

    Although our geometry is shown in an isometric view, we will remain, or return to, a side view in order to make selection easier.

Part 5) Create a Soft Jaws Layer

We will create a new CAD layer to keep our imprint separate from the rest of the geometry.

 

  1. Right-click in the Layers Manager and select Add New Layer.

    A layer is created and the name is highlighted to allow for alteration.

  2. Type "Soft Jaws" as the name for the new layer and press Enter, or click off of the layer to set the name.

  3. Right-click the new Soft Jaws layer, and select Active Layer to set that as the active layer.

    The Soft Jaws layer is now marked as active.

Part 6) Create the Imprint

Now that we have a solid model, we can create an imprint of it.

 

  1. In the Extrude group, of the Create 3D tab, click Imprint.

  2. By default, the Profile Chains group has focus and is ready to accept the geometry we select.

    Window pick the Soft Jaws geometry as seen in the image below.



    The geometry highlights, and the entities are added to the Profile Chains list.



  3. Click in the Selected Solids list to allow us to add our solid to the list.

  4. In the graphics area, hover over the solid to highlight it.

    The solid highlights.



  5. Click the solid to select it and add it to the Selected Solids list.

    The Preview appears.



  6. In the Distance group, change the option from Default, to the Distance option.

  7. Change the Distance value to 1.0000.

    The Preview updates.



  8. Click OK to confirm the settings.

    The Imprint is created and an Imprint feature is added to the CAD Tree.

 

Part 7) View the Result

To see what we have created, we will hide the rest of the geometry.

 

  1. Press Ctrl+7 to get into an ISO 2 view.

    The View updates.



  2. In the Layers Manager right-click the Solid layer.

  3. Select Hide.

    The extruded Cam Plate hides and we can see the result of our Imprint.

 

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

The CAD Overview