Features

Contents

• Features Toolbar
  

  The Features toolbar provides tools for creating model features. The set of features icons is very extensive so not all of them are included on the default Features toolbar.

• Parent and Child Relations
  

  Features are normally built upon other existing features. For example, you create a base extrude feature and then create additional features such as a boss or cut extrude. The original base extrude is the parent feature; the boss or cut extrude is a child feature. The existence of a child feature depends on the parent.

• Using Cutting Tools
  

  You can use features to cut a solid model. The model can be a single part or a multibody part.

• SelectionManager Overview
  

  The SelectionManager combines and replaces contour and smart selection while offering enhanced selection capability

• Selecting a Feature Based on Number of Sides
  

  Best practice guidelines recommend you consider the number of sides when deciding the type of feature to create, one of a fill feature, boundary, loft, or sweep.

• FeatureXpert
  

  The FeatureXpert, powered by SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology (SWIFT™), manages fillet and draft features for you so you can concentrate on your design.

• End Condition Types
  

  The Type determines how far the feature extends.

• Feature Freeze
  

  You can freeze features to exclude them from rebuilds of the model.

• Missing Reference Ghosting
  

  When an entity used as a reference in a feature is missing, a ghost of the missing reference appears in the graphics area, and a warning message appears in the PropertyManager. Ghosting is supported for parts and assemblies.

• Boundary
  

  Boundary tools produces very high quality, accurate features useful for creating complex shapes for markets focused on consumer product design, medical, aerospace, and molds.

• Creating a Chamfer Feature
  

  The chamfer tool creates a beveled feature on selected edges, faces, or a vertex.

• Curves
  

• Cuts
  

  A cut is a feature that removes material from a part or an assembly.

• Deforms
  

  Use the deform feature to alter shapes of complex surface or solid models, either in a local area or globally, without concern for the sketches or feature constraints used to create the models.

• Dome
  

• Drafts
  

  Draft tapers faces using a specified angle to selected faces in the model.

• Extrudes
  

• Fastenings
  

• FeatureWorks
  

• Fillets
  

• Flexes
  

• Freeforms
  

  The freeform feature modifies faces of surface or solid bodies. You can modify only one face at a time and the face can have any number of sides. Designers have direct, interactive control of deformations by creating control curves and control points, then pushing and pulling the control points to modify the face. Use the triad to constrain the push or pull direction.

• Holes
  

• Indents
  

• Library Features
  

  A library feature is a frequently used feature, or combination of features, that you create once and then save in a library for future use. Most feature types are supported, some with certain limitations.

• Lofts
  

  Loft creates a feature by making transitions between profiles. A loft can be a base, boss, cut, or surface.

• Patterns and Mirroring
  

  Pattern repeats the selected features in an array based on a seed feature. You can create a linear pattern, a circular pattern, a curve driven pattern, a fill pattern, or use sketch points or table coordinates to create the pattern.

• Revolves
  

  Revolves add or remove material by revolving one or more profiles around a centerline. You can create revolved boss/bases, revolved cuts, or revolved surfaces. The revolve feature can be a solid, a thin feature, or a surface.

• Ribs
  

  Rib is a special type of extruded feature created from open or closed sketched contours. It adds material of a specified thickness in a specified direction between the contour and an existing part. You can create a rib using single or multiple sketches. You can also create rib features with draft, or select a reference contour to draft.

• Scales
  

  You can scale a part or surface model about its centroid, the model origin, or a coordinate system.

• Shells
  

  The shell tool hollows out a part, leaves open the faces you select, and creates thin-walled features on the remaining faces.

• Surfaces
  

  Surfaces are a type of geometry that can be used to create solid features. Surface tools are available on the Surfaces toolbar.

• Sweeps
  

  Sweep creates a base, boss, cut, or surface by moving a profile (section) along a path, according to these rules:

• Thicken
  

  Creates a solid feature by thickening one or more adjacent surfaces.

• Tools for Features
  

• Wrap
  

  This feature wraps a sketch onto a planar or non-planar face. You can create a planar face from cylindrical, conical, or extruded models. You can also select a planar profile to add multiple, closed spline sketches. The wrap feature supports contour selection and sketch reuse. You can project a wrap feature onto multiple faces.