Follow these steps to learn how to create a knurled texture on CAD surfaces using a Conformal Lattice from CAD Face.
Set up the faces and bodies
- Start with any imported CAD Body
- Select the faces for knurling and create a CAD Face List Variable
- Convert the CAD bodies (main bodies and knurl body) to Implicit bodies by Implicit Body from CAD Body to be used in the last two steps
Create the Knurl Pattern
- Add a Conformal Lattice from CAD Face
- Double-click in the Face Parameterization input and select Reparameterize CAD Face
- In the Reparameterize block, set the CAD Face: CAD Face List Variable
- Origin Position: 0,0
- In the Conformal Lattice from CAD Face block, set the Unit Type: Square honeycomb Rotated
- UVW divisions: 15, 15, 5
- Offset distance: -0.1 mm
Tip
A negative offset distance will move inward, while a positive offset distance will move outward
- Add a Thicken Body (the thickness will define the width of the knurl grooves)
- Body: Conformal Lattice from CAD Face
- Thickness: 0.001 mm
- Boolean Union the Thicken Body to convert from a list to a single body
- Blend Radius: 0 mm
Why Boolean Union?
The parts are Boolean Unioned together in order to convert the list to a single body because it will be input into a list later on. Always remember that a list can't be input into a list.
Create the Knurl Texture
- Boolean Subtract the thickened lattice from the knurl section. This will cut into the surface and create the knurling texture
- Blend Type: Chamfered
- Blend Radius: 0.125 mm
- Primary Body: Implicit Knurl Body (from setting up the faces and bodies)
- Subtraction Body: Boolean Union (from creating the Knurl Pattern)
Bring it all Together
- Boolean Union the knurled part with the remaining bodies to complete the part
- Blend Type: Sharp
- Blend Radius: 0.0
Download the example file to follow along and try re-creating the steps on another section of the pen model. Watch the video below to see the knurling process in action.
Example
Download the example file here
nTop Version 2.4.5 - Methods and Interface may have changed if you are using a different version
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