SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [120]
FIGURE 7.44
A double hold line uses a spline, not an arc.
FIGURE 7.45
Examples of the double hold line fillet
Using a constant width fillet
The Constant width option of the Face Fillet PropertyManager drives a fillet by its width rather than by its radius. This is most helpful on parts where the angle of the faces between which you are filleting is changing dramatically. Figure 7.46 illustrates two situations where this is particularly useful. The setting for constant width is found in the Options panel of the Face Fillet PropertyManager. The part shown in the images is on the DVD as Chapter 7 Constant Width.sldprt.
FIGURE 7.46
The constant width fillet
Applying a full round fillet
The full round fillet is very useful in many situations. In fact, it may actually work in situations where you would not expect it to. It does require quite a bit of effort to accomplish the selection, but it compensates by enabling you to avoid alternate fillet techniques.
To create a full round fillet, you have to select three sets of faces. Usually one face in each set is sufficient. The fillet is tangent to all three sets of faces, but the middle set is on the end and the face is completely eliminated. Figure 7.47 shows several applications of the full round fillet. Notice that it is not limited to faces of a square block, but also propagates around tangent entities and can create a variable radius fillet over irregular lofted geometry.
FIGURE 7.47
A full round fillet
Note
Be aware that special workflow assisting options exist for the full round fillet. After selecting a face, you can click the right mouse button to advance to the next selection box, or if you are already at the last selection box, you can click OK and finish the feature. You might instinctively reach for the Tab key, but remember to look at the cursor to find that backwards green L-shaped arrow or the check mark.
Building a setback fillet
The setback fillet is the most complex of the fillet options. You can use the Setback option in conjunction with constant radius, multiple radius, and variable radius fillet types. A setback fillet blends several fillets together at a single vertex, starting the blend at some “setback” distance along each filleted edge from the vertex. At least three, and often more, edges come together at the setback vertex. Figure 7.48 shows the PropertyManager interface and what a finished setback fillet looks like. The following steps demonstrate how to use the setback fillet.
FIGURE 7.48
The Setback Fillet interface and a finished fillet
Setting up a setback fillet can take some time, especially if you are just learning about this feature. You must specify values for fillet radiuses, select edges and vertices, and specify three setback distances for every vertex. If you are using multiple radius fillets or variable radius fillets, then this becomes an even larger task. The steps are as follows:
1. Determine the type of fillet to be used:
• Constant radius fillet
• Multiple radius fillet
• Variable radius fillet
2. Select the edges to be filleted. Selected edges must all touch one of the setback vertices that will be selected in a later step.
3. Assign radius values for the filleted items. Figure 7.49 shows a sample part that illustrates this step.
Figure 7.49
The setback fillet setup for Steps 1 through 3
4. Select the setback vertices. In the Setback Parameters panel of the PropertyManager, with the second box from the top highlighted, select the vertices. Although this box looks like it is only big enough for a single selection, it can accept multiple selections.
5. Enter setback values. As shown in Figure 7.50, the setback callout flags have leaders