Lip and groove features are often part of a plastic product design. They are used to join two parts precisely at the parting line along the walls. The feature usually consists of two separate elements that precisely mate: the lip itself and the groove. The Lip feature allows the creation of alternatively both elements based on the path along the wall and the geometric parameters.
Path guidelines
The path consists of a set of smoothly connected boundary edges (tangent continuous). You can select more than one path in the same Lip/Groove feature, provided the Lip face is unique and tangent continuous. For example, you can choose the face of the thin wall where the Lip/Groove lies. You can also select the lip face as the guide face.
Guide face vs. pulling direction
You can refer to the Lip/Groove as the Guide Face (the face on the thin wall section). In this case, the Lip/groove cross section stays at a constant angle with the Guide face along the entire path.
Alternatively, you can refer the Lip/Groove to a Pulling direction. In this case, the Lip/Groove cross section stays parallel to the selected pulling direction along the entire path.
Path extents
It is also possible to limit the extension of the Lip/Groove to one or more portions of the path. Select two or more limiting elements (points and planes) and the sections to keep or discard.
