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Feasibility Setup and Simulation
Perform Feasibility, Blank Fit, and Blank Nesting analyses.
Prepare
These geometry tools are used frequently when prearing models for forming analysis, and have been placed on the Feasibility ribbon for convenience.
Extract Faces
Use the tools on the Extract Faces icon to midsurface thin solid parts and create surfaces from a skin.
Create Surface from Skin
Use the Create Surface from Skin tool to extract a surface from a skin.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire Form? Learn the basics here.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire Form with our interactive tutorials.
Variables
Create and assign variables to parametrize a model. This allows you to quickly iterate and compare design concepts by tweaking the values of the variables.
Parametric Modeling
Create 2D sketches, surfaces, and solids.
Feasibility Setup and Simulation
Perform Feasibility, Blank Fit, and Blank Nesting analyses.
- Prepare
  These geometry tools are used frequently when prearing models for forming analysis, and have been placed on the Feasibility ribbon for convenience.
  - Extract Faces
    Use the tools on the Extract Faces icon to midsurface thin solid parts and create surfaces from a skin.
    - Midsurface
      Extract a midsurface or side faces from thin solids, and determine where surfaces are represented.
    - Create Surface from Skin
      Use the Create Surface from Skin tool to extract a surface from a skin.
  - Defeature the Model
    Use the Defeature tool to remove flanges, holes, and cutouts from geometry.
  - Define as Design Part
    Save the part geometry in its current state, appointing it as a designed part ready to be manufactured.
- Setup
  Apply materials, orient the stamping direction, and apply constraints.
- Run
- Blank Layout
- Redesign
Die Face Design
Open any part in Studio to design the die, and import the die face design into Inspire Form from Studio.
Tryout Setup and Simulation
Perform tryout analyses to validate die designs.
Design Explorer
Evaluate designs by using geometric variables and applying a design-of-experiments (DOE) or optimization method. We recommend fully constraining your sketch when sketch variables are used in the design exploration.
Rendering
Adjust the materials, environment, and properties of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Geometric Analysis
Analyze the object geometry for negative draft, trim angle, and shortest distance between parts.
Simulation Results
Review forming outcomes through the Analysis Explorer.
Reference
View the glossary or frequently asked questions.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Create Surface from Skin

Use the Create Surface from Skin tool to extract a surface from a skin.

The Skin tool extracts either the top or bottom surface of a thin solid for performing a feasibility analysis.

From the Feasibility Prepare ribbon, Extract Face tools, click the Skin tool.
Select the top or bottom surface of a thin solid.
The selected surface is highlighted.
To add to the selection, hover over a surface and press Ctrl + left-click.
To extract the skin, left-click the highlighted surface.

The original thin solid is hidden and deactivated. The skin is created and can be viewed in the Property Editor. A thickness is automatically calculated and assigned to the part.

Figure 1. Selected Surface

Figure 2. Skin

Tip: To delete the skin and restore the original thin solid, click the skin while the Skin tool is active and press Delete. To reactivate the original thin solid, select View > Model Configuration. You cannot restore a thin solid from a skin once you close the model.