Model Geometry Overview

The SolidWorks software automatically checks the model geometry as you create each feature, to prevent invalid geometry. It also provides additional tools for checking the model:

• Verification on rebuild option

• Check Entity tool

You can use these tools for the following purposes:

• To examine imported geometry (when you import the body as a whole, from another system, such as an IGES or STEP file)

• To make sure that the model exports properly to other formats

• To determine the cause when the model looks wrong

Force Regeneration with Verification on Rebuild

By default, each time you add or modify a feature, the feature is checked against any adjacent faces and edges. For most situations, this default level of error checking is adequate, and results in fast rebuilding of the model.

However, under certain circumstances, it is recommended that you perform more rigorous checks on the model:

• When the model looks wrong (and you have determined that it is not the result of a display problem)

• When you have problem exporting the model in different formats

To increase the level of error checking, turn on the Verification on rebuild option. When this option is turned on, the software checks every new or changed feature against all existing faces and edges, not just adjacent faces and edges. Features that cause invalid geometry fail when this option is turned on.

See Checking Model Geometry for more details on the Verification on rebuild option.

Check Entity

The Check Entity dialog box enables you to check model geometry and identify undesirable geometry.

You can specify the entity type that you want to verify:

• Selected items. Checks faces or edges that you select in the graphics area. Use as a fast check of the selected items to report any errors on faces or edges. You can use this option first, to determine if the model geometry is valid. If you design very complex models, it is a good idea to use this option regularly, after creating several features.

• All. Checks the entire model. Specify Solids, Surfaces, or both. Use as a fast check of the whole model, to report any errors on faces or edges and to determine if the model geometry is valid.

• Features. Checks all the features in the model. This is slower, especially for complex models, because it examines the model feature by feature, to locate the source of the problem. If any errors are found when you use Selected items, you can use Features to identify which features contain errors.

You can select the types of problems that you want to check for:

• Invalid face(s).

• Invalid edge(s).

• Short edge(s).

You can also select to determine the values of:

• Minimum radius of curvature.

• Maximum edge gap.

• Maximum vertex gap.

The software displays a list of items such as errors, open surfaces, and requested values. You can select an item from the list to highlight it in the graphics area and to display additional information about it in the message area.

See Check Entity for more details on checking model geometry.