SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [121]
Figure 7.50
Entering setback values
Caution
When you select multiple vertices, the preview arrows that indicate which edge you are currently setting the setback value for may be incorrect. The arrows can only be shown on one vertex; therefore, you may want to rely on the leaders from the callouts to determine which setback distance you are currently setting.
6. Repeat the process for all selected setback vertices. If you are using a preview, then you may notice that the preview goes away when starting a second set of setback values. Don't worry. This is probably not because the feature is going to fail. Once you finish typing the values, the preview will return. When you have spent as much time setting up a feature as you will spend on this, seeing the preview disappear can be frustrating; however, persevere, and it will return.
Using Chamfers
Chamfers in SolidWorks are not as flashy as fillets, but they do have some useful functionality. Some similarities exist between chamfers and fillets, such as the propagation to tangent edges, selecting faces to select the loop of edges around the face, and the ability to see full, partial, or no preview of the finished feature. Many of the best practice ideas you can apply to fillets also apply to chamfers. Figure 7.51 shows the PropertyManager for chamfers.
FIGURE 7.51
Working with chamfer features
You can specify a chamfer using either an angle and a distance or two distance values. For most common situations, these methods are adequate. The situation becomes less definite if you are creating a chamfer between faces that are not at right angles to one another or may not even be planar. These situations require some experimentation to find the correct geometry.
When you create chamfers at angles other than 45 degrees, you can use the Flip Direction option to control the feature. It is important to note the difference between having direct control (angle the chamfer from this face) and indirect control (angle the chamfer from the other face). Indirect control is essentially trial and error. If you don't like what you are given automatically, you can try the other option.
The Flip Direction option flips the direction of all of the chamfers being created by a particular feature. This is obviously only important when you have chamfers that are made at an angle that is not 45 degrees, or unequal distances in the case of a distance-distance chamfer. So in some situations, where the default directions of more than a single edge are going in opposite directions, your only recourse is to create multiple chamfer features and control them independently.
One of the most interesting functions of the Chamfer tool is the vertex chamfer, shown in Figure 7.52. You can chamfer a corner with equal distances or distances along each edge. This feature can only be used at corners where three edges come together — standard block corners.
FIGURE 7.52
Applying a corner chamfer
On the DVD
Check the DVD for video content for this chapter including video tutorials for Extrude options and Fillet options.
Tutorial: Bracket Casting
When you follow this tutorial, you are encouraged to follow the directions the first time to make sure that you understand the concepts involved, and then to go through it again, this time deviating from the instructions to see if you can expand your understanding by experimentation. To try bracket casting, follow these steps:
1. Open a new part using an inch-based template.
2. On the Right plane, draw a circle centered at the origin with a diameter of 1.50 inches, and a second circle placed 4.000 inches vertically from the first, with a diameter of 2.250 inches.