Volume Features

Converting Slot Features to Volume Slot Features

Volume slot features are volume features that are created from standard slot features. You can convert standard slots into volume slots, and you can revert volume slots to standard slots.

By converting standard slot features to volume slots, you can use the custom volume feature options to improve cost estimates.

To convert a slot feature in a part to a volume feature for Costing:

  1. Click Costing tool_costing_tools.gif (Tools toolbar or the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager) or Tools > SOLIDWORKS Applications > Costing.
  2. In the Costing Task Pane, select the template, material, and stock body.
    The software estimates the part cost.
  3. In the CostingManager, expand Mill Operations.
    The application identifies existing slot features.
  4. Right-click a slot feature and click Convert to Volume Slot.
    The cost is updated.
    To revert a volume slot feature back to a slot, in the CostingManager, right-click the volume slot feature and click Revert to Standard Slot.

Saving Volume Features as Parts

Volume features represent the removed material in a part.

For some parts, to determine cost of the removed material, you must convert a set of volume features into a multibody part. Before you can treat a set of volume features as a multibody part, you must first save the volume features as parts.

To save a volume feature as a part:

  1. Estimate the cost of a machined part:
    1. Click Costing tool_costing_tools.gif (Tools toolbar or the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager) or Tools > SOLIDWORKS Applications > Costing.
    2. In the Costing Task Pane, select the template, material, and stock body.
  2. In the CostingManager, expand the folders to display the volume feature.
  3. Right-click the volume feature, and click Insert into New Part.
  4. In the dialog box, enter a file name and click Save.

Assigning Machining Operations to Volume Features

To assess the cost of a part that you create from a stock body, you can assign machining operations to volume features.

To assign machining operations to open parts that have volume features:

  1. Click Costing tool_costing_tools.gif (Tools toolbar or the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager) or Tools > SOLIDWORKS Applications > Costing.
  2. In the Costing Task Pane, select the template, material, and stock body.
    The software estimates the part cost.
  3. In the CostingManager, expand the machining operation folder containing the volume feature: Mill Operations, Hole Operations, or Turn Operations.
  4. To change the machining operations type, right-click the volume feature, and click a command to convert to another operation type:
    Option Description
    Convert to Drill Converts mill or turn operations to drill operations.
    Convert to Turn Converts mill or drill operations to turn operations.
    Convert to Mill Converts turn or drill operations to mill operations.
    For example, if the volume feature appears under Mill Operations, right-click the volume feature, and click Convert to Drill or Convert to Turn.
  5. To change the type of tooling operation, right-click the volume feature, and click Processing > Tooling and select a different type of tooling operation.
    For example, for a flat-end milled volume feature, right-click the volume feature, and click Processing > Tooling > Ball End Mill .