SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [169]
FIGURE 12.4
Rollback of nested, absorbed features
To view consumed sketches in their original order, follow these steps:
1. Expand the sweep.
2. Roll back between the sweep and the profile sketch.
3. Answer the prompt that appears.
4. Roll down so that you can see the unabsorbed sketches and curves.
5. Expand the composite curve.
6. Roll back to just after the composite curve.
7. Roll back so that you can see the contents of the composite curve.
8. Expand the projected curve.
9. Roll back to just after the projected curve.
10. Roll back so that you can see the contents of the projected curve.
Using other Rollback techniques
The Rollback feature is located on the RMB menu. Simply right-click a feature and select either Rollback or Roll to Previous. If you are already rolled back and you right-click below the Rollback bar, you can access additional options to Roll Forward and Roll to End.
Editing any feature other than the last feature also serves to roll back the model while you are in Edit mode. As soon as you rebuild the feature or sketch, SolidWorks rebuilds the entire design tree.
The Tools⇒Options⇒View setting for Arrow Key Navigation enables you to use the up- and down-arrow keys to manipulate the Rollback bar. Under normal circumstances, the arrow keys control the view orientation, but after you have moved the Rollback bar once using the cursor, the up- and down-arrow keys control the Rollback bar, thereby, inactivating the arrow keys. The left- and right-arrow keys have no effect on the Rollback bar.
Caution
The one situation where this technique does not work as expected is when you are working on a part in the context of the assembly, with the design tree rolled back. The down arrow simply causes the Rollback bar to roll immediately to the end of the design tree.
Reordering Features
The ability to reorder features is one that offers SolidWorks users control over the modeling process and its outcome. Without this capability, editing would not be one of the strengths of the software. As you already know, feature order can make a difference in the final shape of a part. For example, this order:
Extrude
Cut
Fillet
Shell
gives you a very different part from this order:
Extrude
Shell
Cut
Fillet
The results of these different orders are shown in Figure 12.5. (The part is split and partially transparent for demonstration purposes only.) You can view this part on the DVD; it is filename Chapter 12 Reorder.sldprt.
FIGURE 12.5
Parts that use a different feature order
On the part in the example shown in Figure 12.5, it is fairly simple to reorder the Shell feature by dragging it up the design tree. As a result, the well created by the Cut feature is not shelled around (to create a tube) if the cut comes after the shell. Also, notice the effect of applying the fillets after the shell rather than before it. The corners inside the box are sharp, while the outside corners have been filleted. When you apply the fillet before the shell, fillets that have a radius larger than the shell thickness are transferred to the inside of the shell.
When you are reordering the features, a symbol may appear on the reorder cursor that says that you cannot reorder the selected feature to the location you want. In this case, you may want to select the Parent/Child option from the RMB menu to investigate. Sketch relationships, feature end conditions, and faces or edges selected for features such shell, patterns, and mirror can cause relationships that prevent reordering.
If two adjacent features are to swap places, it generally does not matter whether you move one feature up the design tree or you move the other