Castings

Hello

I'd like to know if anyone has an easy way with Solidworks to add extra thickness
exterior to a part of more or less complex shape.

I have drawn a part in Solidworks that will serve as a model for a lost wax casting production.
The piece I have represented is of finite dimensions.



When a part is manufactured in a foundry, you necessarily know that there is a shrinkage of the metal.
So I would like to enlarge my model by about 2-3% before 3D printing it.
On the other hand, I want to make it bigger by adding extra thickness all around the model.
I tried with the ladder tool but it doesn't meet my needs, in addition to enlarging the model it gets longer and I don't want to.
So I thought of shifting the faces with the surface tools but I don't find it practical and depending on the offset thickness, there are unwanted deformations.
Otherwise I tried to make an outer shell by calculating the thickness to add because there is no percentage in the parameters. On the other hand, I have to rework the model behind it.
If anyone has a better idea, I'm all for it.
Thanks in advance

Cédric

Hello
Inserting > face > Shift?

6 Likes

Hello

In foundry or plastics casting, I had been taught to make a 2nd volume with a scale of 1.02 1.03 to make the molds for example. (by volume subtraction)

2 Likes

Hello
Thank you for your answers.
What works best is to offset the face.
Too bad there is not a function on a volume directly.