When dealing with 3D objects, we often need to verify whether there are interferences.
The next command allows us to detect interferences between objects and to create new objects from common elements.
The INTERFERE command (alias INF) allows us to detect interferences between two sets of solids or surfaces. If interferences are detected, the command allows the creation of solids, surfaces, or linear objects corresponding to the intersection, but the original objects are not affected. This command can be found in the Solid Editing panel on the Home tab in the ribbon, or on the menu bar by going to Modify | 3D Operations.
The command starts by prompting for the selection of the first set of objects, then a second set, and does a comparison between them. If we want to verify all objects, we just create one selection set. On using the command, it prompts for the first set. The Enter key is used to finish selecting:
Command: INTERFERE Select first set of objects or [Nested selection/Settings]: Selection
It prompts for the second selection set or the Enter key that verifies all interferences between the objects in the first set:
Select second set of objects or [Nested selection/checK first set] <checK>: Selection
Then, the interference verification starts and, on the first interference, the model is represented in wireframe, zoomed to the objects that interfere, the common element is represented in shaded red, and the Interference Checking dialog box is displayed. If there are no interferences, that information is displayed at the command line.
The Interference Checking dialog box has the following areas, buttons, and options:
- Interfering objects: It displays how many objects are present in each set and how many interfering pairs were detected.
- Highlight: The Next and Previous buttons show the next and previous interferences. With Zoom to pair checked, the corresponding interference is zoomed in.
- The Zoom, Pan, and Orbit icons: With the box visible, we can't navigate the scene. These buttons allow us to go to the model temporarily and zoom, pan, or orbit.
- Delete interference objects created on Close: With this option checked, the interference objects displayed are erased when leaving the command. If we want to maintain them, we uncheck it.
When selecting objects, there are two options available:
- Nested selection: This option allows us to include objects belonging to external references or blocks
- Settings: This option displays the Interference Settings dialog box, which allows us to configure the visual style and color applied to the interference objects, if the interference pair is highlighted and the visual style is applied to the remaining objects
Let's check for some interferences. If there are any, we will create and subtract the interference volume.
- Open the drawing
A3D_08_2.DWG. This drawing contains several steel beams. - Use the
INTERFEREcommand. The first selection set consists of two beams along the X direction and the second selection set consists of the remaining beams. The model changes to wireframe and the Interference Checking box is displayed, alerting us about ten interfering pairs.
- We uncheck Delete interference objects created on Close and click on Close. Ten new solids, each corresponding to an intersection, are created.
- With the
SUBTRACTcommand applied to each beam, we subtract the two corresponding intersection objects.
- We save the drawing with the name
A3D_08_02FINAL.DWG.