Defeature the Model

Use the Defeature tool to remove flanges, holes, and cutouts from geometry.

Location: Feasibility ribbon, Prepare group

Fill Hole

Use the Fill Hole tool to find and fill holes in the model.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, click the Defeature icon.
  2. Select the Hole icon.

    By default, all of the holes in the model are selected and highlighted red. The total number of holes found is displayed above the Defeature tool group.

  3. Fill holes.
  • Fill all selected holes by clicking Fill Holeon the guide bar.
  • Fill individual holes by left-clicking on a selected hole.
Tip: To review the holes that are detected, on the guide bar, click and . To fill a hole, select it and left-click. The view automatically zooms to the next hole.

Remove or Open Flanges

Use the flange tool to remove flanges from a part or open them.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, click the Defeature icon.
  2. Select the Flange icon.
  3. Left-click to select flanges.

    Flange surfaces are automatically detected and highlighted based on your cursor position.

    Selected flange surfaces are highlighted red. The total number of selected flanges is displayed above the Defeature tool group.

  4. Remove or open flanges.
    • Open a flange by pressing Shift and left-clicking on the selected flange.
      Note: Opening the flange is only supported if the flange is a straight line.
    • Remove a flange by left-clicking on a selected surface.
    • Remove all selected flanges by clicking Remove Flange on the guide bar.

Fill Cutout

Use the Fill Cutout tool to find and fill cutouts in the model.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, click the Defeature icon.
  2. Select the Cutout icon.
  3. Left-click to select the start and end points of the cutout.

    Identified cutouts are selected and highlighted red.

  4. Fill cutouts.
  • To fill the selected cutouts, on the guide bar, click Fill Cutout.
  • Fill individual cutouts by left-clicking on a selected cutout.
Note: Select a convex cutout to extend and trim.

Fillet

Use the Fillet tool to remove filleted edges on the selected part.

  1. On the Feasibility tab, click the Defeature icon.
  2. Select the Fillet icon.
  3. Click Find in the guide bar, which allows Inspire Form to find and highlight edge fillets on the part in red. Use the arrows to navigate between fillets. Press the reset button to clear your selections and begin again.
  4. Click the Delete Fillet button in the guide bar to remove the selected filleted edges. You can also manually select the fillets you'd like to delete by clicking on them individually, and then selecting Delete Fillet.
  5. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.

Stitch

Use the Stitch tool to combine multiples surfaces or parts.

Note: Stitch only combines surfaces, not solids or lines.
Note: Stitch will fill small gaps, up to 1mm, between the surfaces to be combined. If a gap is larger than 1mm, it will not combine the surfaces.
  1. On the Feasibility tab, click the Defeature icon.
  2. Select the Stitch icon.
  3. Left-click to select the surfaces of the part that you want to fill and combine into a single surface. Empty, non-integrated, surfaces/patches on the part will appear in grey.
  4. Click all of the gaps and then press in the microdialog.
  5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until all of the gaps are filled and the part is stitched together into a whole, complete surface.
  6. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Mouse Controls

To Do this
Select feature Click
Deselect feature Ctrl+click
Exit tool Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.