Parts are the building blocks of an Abaqus/CAE model. You use the Part module to create each part, and you use the Assembly module to assemble instances of the parts. The tutorial in Appendix C, “Using Additional Techniques to Create and Analyze a Model in Abaqus/CAE,” of Getting Started with Abaqus/CAE contains examples of how you create, modify, and manipulate parts. This chapter explains how you use the tools within the Part module to work with parts. The following topics are covered:

• “Understanding the role of the Part module,” Section 11.1

• “Entering and exiting the Part module,” Section 11.2

• “What is feature-based modeling?,” Section 11.3

• “How is a part defined in Abaqus/CAE?,” Section 11.4

• “Copying a part,” Section 11.5

• “What are orphan nodes and elements?,” Section 11.6

• “Modeling rigid bodies and display bodies,” Section 11.7

• “The reference point and point parts,” Section 11.8

• “What types of features can you create?,” Section 11.9

• “Using feature-based modeling effectively,” Section 11.10

• “Capturing your design and analysis intent,” Section 11.11

• “What is part and assembly locking?,” Section 11.12

• “What are extruding, revolving, and sweeping?,” Section 11.13

• “What is lofting?,” Section 11.14

• “Using the Sketcher in conjunction with the Part module,” Section 11.15

• “Understanding toolsets in the Part module,” Section 11.16

• “Using the Part module toolbox,” Section 11.17

• “Managing parts,” Section 11.18

• “Using the Create Part dialog box,” Section 11.19

• “Adding a feature to a part,” Section 11.20

• “Adding a solid feature,” Section 11.21

• “Adding a shell feature,” Section 11.22

• “Adding a wire feature,” Section 11.23

• “Adding a cut feature,” Section 11.24

• “Using the Edit Feature dialog box,” Section 11.25

• “Using the Edit Loft dialog box,” Section 11.26

• “Blending edges,” Section 11.27

• “Mirroring a part,” Section 11.28