Tuesday November 20, 2018 at 12:01pm
Turn images into 3D geometry with brand new SOLIDWORKS 3D Textures Feature
New to SOLIDWORKS 2019 you are now able to take any black and
white image and use it to create geometry on your model. This tool provides many
options when looking to create patterns of complicated shapes; it is also
likely the fastest way of embossing a complicated logo onto your part. After
seeing the example model from the developers, we decided to test just how
capable this new feature was. We began by modelling a simple design and adding
our first black and white image to one of the faces.
This image was used to define a knurled pattern,
though it required resizing using the standard image controls first.
After setting the required size, the 3D texture command can
be triggered by selecting the body from the feature tree and then pressing the
button shown below.
Within the command you set the level of mesh refinement and define the distance for the texture to offset the geometry.
After finishing the command
SOLIDWORKS creates the new geometry as a mesh body, to view the results a little
clearer we switched to a simple shaded view.
Finally to see how well this feature translates into the real word we applied textures to the other faces and 3D printed the model. Check out the images below to see some more of what's possible with the new 3D texture command.