Figure 9­37.

3. Set 2.5 as the value in the Radius spinner in the Fillet Parameters rollout and
choose the OK button from the Fillet PropertyManager.

The model after adding fillet to its edges is shown in Figure 9­38.

Figure 9­37 Edges to be selected

Figure 9­38 Fillet added to the model

Adding Shell to the Model
After creating the fillet feature, you need to shell the model using the Shell
tool.

1. Orient the model in the isometric view and invoke the Shell1
PropertyManager.

2. Select the top planar face of the model, as shown in Figure 9­39.

3. Set the value in the Thickness spinner to 1, and choose the OK button from
the Shell1 PropertyManager.

The model after adding the shell feature is shown in Figure 9­40.

Figure 9­39 Face to be selected

 Figure 9­40 Shell feature added to the model

Dynamically Editing the Features After adding the shell feature to the
base of the model, you need to edit the features dynamically using the
Instant3D tool.

1. Choose the Instant3D tool from the Features CommandManager, if it is not

already chosen.

2. Select the front planar face of the base feature from the drawing area; the
selected face is highlighted in blue and an orange colored arrow is displayed.

3. Move the cursor to the orange colored arrow and press and hold the left mouse
button; the move cursor is displayed, as shown in Figure 9­41. Drag the cursor
to resize the feature.
 The preview of the resized feature and its dimensions are displayed in the
drawing area.

Figure 9­41 Editing handles for editing the base feature

As you drag the cursor, the preview and the dimensions are updated
automatically.

4. Release the left mouse button after dragging the cursor to some distance.
Figure 9­42 shows the preview of the feature while dragging it and Figure 9­
43 shows the edited feature.
 Figure 9­42 Preview of the feature while dragging

Figure 9­43 Resultant edited feature

After editing the model dynamically by dragging, the depth of its base feature
changes. To bring the base feature back to its original size of 35 mm, you need
to edit the feature again.

5. Select the base feature from the FeatureManager Design Tree or from the
drawing area; all the dimensions of the feature are displayed in the drawing
area.
6. Double­click on the dimension that is displayed in blue and reflects the depth
of the base feature; the selected dimension is displayed in the text edit box.

7. Set the value in the Dimension spinner to 35 and then press the ENTER key.

8. Choose the Rebuild button from the Menu Bar or press CTRL+B to rebuild
the model.
Creating the Cut Feature
Next, you need to create a cut feature on the front face and copy this cut
feature on the right planar face.

1. Invoke the Extruded Cut tool and create the cut feature on the front face, as
shown in Figure 9­44.

2. Select the cut feature in the FeatureManager Design Tree, press and hold
the CTRL key, drag the selected feature, and place it on the right planar face;
the Copy Confirmation dialog box is displayed.

3. Choose the Delete button from the dialog box; the cut feature is created on the
right planar face.

4. Select the newly created cut feature from the FeatureManager Design Tree;
a pop­up toolbar is displayed. Choose Edit Sketch from the pop­up toolbar.

5. Apply suitable constraints and dimensions to make it a fully­defined sketch.

6. Choose the Rebuild button from the Menu Bar or press CTRL+B to rebuild
the model. The model after copying the feature is shown in Figure 9­45.

Figure 9­44 The cut feature created on the front face

 Figure 9­45 The model after copying the feature

7. Create slots, add fillet, and pattern the features. The model after creating these
features is shown in Figure 9­46.

Figure 9­46 Model after creating the features

Tip To create a fillet, invoke the Fillet tool and choose the Add tab in the
FilletXpert PropertyManager. Now, choose an edge of the slot; a pop­up
toolbar will be displayed. Choose Connected to start face, 3 Edges from the
pop­up toolbar to select all the vertical edges of the slot.
Creating the Standoff
Now, you need to create the standoff for the model. It is created by extruding a
sketch drawn on the sketch plane at an offset distance from the Top Plane.
You also need to specify a draft angle while creating this feature.

1. Create a reference plane at an offset distance of 10.5 mm from the Top Plane.
To flip the direction of the reference plane, you need to select the Flip check
box from the Plane PropertyManager, if required.

2. Select the newly created plane as the sketching plane, draw the sketch of the
standoff, and apply the required relations and dimensions. The sketch consists
of a circle of 1 mm diameter. For other dimensions, refer to Figure 9­34.

3. Extrude the sketch using the Up To Next option with an outward draft angle
of 10­degree. Hide the newly created plane; the standoffs of the model are
created.

4. Rotate the model and add a fillet of radius 0.25 mm to the base of the standoff.

The rotated and zoomed view of the complete standoff is displayed in Figure
9­47.

5. Pattern the filleted standoff feature using the Linear Pattern tool. The
isometric view of the final model is shown in Figure 9­48.
Figure 9­47 Rotated and zoomed view of the model to show the standoff
Figure 9­48 Final model
Saving the Model
1. Save the model with the name c09_tut01 at the following location:
\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\c09
2. Choose File > Close from the SOLIDWORKS menus to close the document.

Tutorial 2
In this tutorial, you will create the model shown in Figure 9­49. The views and
dimensions of the model are shown in the same figure. (Expected time: 45 min)

Figure 9­49 Views and dimensions of the model for Tutorial 2

The following steps are required to complete this tutorial:
a. Create the base feature of the model by revolving the sketch along its central
axis, refer to Figures 9­50 and 9­51.
b. Draw the sketch of the second feature on the top face of the base feature and
extrude it to a given dimension, refer to Figures 9­52 and 9­53.
c. Create the revolve cut feature, refer to Figures 9­54.
d. Create the hole using the Simple Hole tool, and then pattern it using the
Circular Pattern tool, refer to Figure 9­55.
e. Create a drilled hole feature using the Hole Wizard tool, refer to Figure 9­55.
f. Mirror the hole feature about the Right Plane, refer to Figure 9­55.
g. Apply the fillet, refer to Figure 9­55.
h. Perform the live sectioning of the model, refer to Figure 9­56.
i. Save the model.
Creating the Base Feature
First, you need to create the base feature of the model by revolving the sketch
created on the Front Plane.

1. Start a new SOLIDWORKS Part document using the New SOLIDWORKS

Document dialog box.

2. Invoke the Revolved Boss/Base tool and draw the sketch of the base feature
on the Front Plane. Add the required relations and dimensions to the sketch,
as shown in Figure 9­50.

3. Exit the sketching environment.

You do not need to set any parameters in the Revolve PropertyManager

because the default value in the Angle spinner is 360 degrees as required.

4. Choose the OK button from the Revolve PropertyManager. The base feature
created after revolving the sketch is shown in Figure 9­51.

Figure 9­50 Sketch for the base feature

Figure 9­51 The dimetric view of the base feature
Creating the Second Feature
The second feature of this model is an extruded feature. It can be created by
extruding the sketch created on the top planar face of the base feature.

1. Invoke the Extruded Boss/Base tool and select the top planar face of the base
feature as the sketching plane.

2. Draw the sketch of the second feature and apply the required relations and
dimensions to it, as shown in Figure 9­52. Make sure the sketch is symmetric
about the centerline.

3. Extrude the sketch upto a distance of 75 mm. The isometric view of the model
after creating the second feature is shown in Figure 9­53.
 Figure 9­52 Sketch for the second feature

Figure 9­53 Model after adding the second feature

Creating the Third Feature The third feature of the model can be
created by revolving a sketch using the cut option. The sketch for
this feature will be created on the Front Plane.

1. Invoke the Revolved Cut tool and select the Front Plane as the sketching
plane.

2. Draw the sketch of the revolved cut feature, and then apply the required
 relations and dimensions to it, as shown in Figure 9­54.

3. Exit the sketching environment and create a revolved cut feature with a
default angle value of 360 degrees.

Figure 9­54 Sketch for the revolved cut feature

Creating the Remaining Features
1. Create the remaining features of the model using the Fillet, Simple Hole,
Mirror and Hole Wizard tools.

The isometric view of the model after creating all the remaining features is
displayed in Figure 9­55.

Figure 9­55 Isometric view of the final model

Sectioning the Model
1. Choose the top planar surface of the base feature and right­click; a shortcut
menu is displayed.

2. Choose the Live Section Plane option from the shortcut menu; a sectioning
plane is displayed with one ring and two wings at the center.

3. Right­click and choose the Fit To Part option.

4. Move the cursor to the vertical wing, press and hold the left mouse button, and
drag the cursor to section the model along the vertical plane. Figure 9­56
shows the live section of the model when the sectioning plane is at an angle of
270 degree.
 Figure 9­56 Model with the sectioning plane

5. Similarly, you can rotate the sectioning plane using the other wing.

6. To remove the sectioning plane, move the cursor near the edges of the section
plane in the drawing area and then right­click. Next, select the Delete option
from the shortcut menu displayed.
Saving the Model
Now, you need to save the model.

1. Save the model with the name c09_tut02 at the following location:
\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\c09

2. Choose File > Close from the SOLIDWORKS menus to close the document.

Tutorial 3
In this tutorial, you will create the model shown in Figure 9­57. While creating
it, you will also perform some editing operations on it. The views and
dimensions of the model are displayed in Figure 9­58. (Expected time: 45min)

Figure 9­57 Model for Tutorial 3

 Figure 9­58 Views and dimensions of the model for Tutorial 3

The following steps are required to complete this tutorial:

a. Create the base feature of the model by revolving the sketch drawn on the
Front Plane, refer to Figures 9­59 and 9­60.
b. Shell the model using the Shell tool, refer to Figure 9­61.
c. Draw the sketch on the Top Plane and extrude it to a given distance, refer to
Figure 9­62.
d. Pattern the extrude feature using the Circular Pattern tool, refer to Figure 9­
63.
e. Edit the circular pattern, refer to Figure 9­64.
f. Create the features on the top planar face, refer to Figures 9­65 and 9­66.
g. Create the slot on the top planar face and pattern it, refer to Figures 9­67 and
9­68.
h. Unsuppress the suppressed features and create the remaining features of the
model, refer to Figure 9­69.
i. Save the model.
Creating the Base Feature
First, you need to create the base feature of the model by revolving the sketch
created on the Front Plane.

1. Start a new SOLIDWORKS Part document using the New SOLIDWORKS

Document dialog box.

2. Invoke the Revolved Boss/Base tool and draw the sketch of the base feature
on the Front Plane. Add the required relations and dimensions to it, as shown
in Figure 9­59.

3. Exit the sketching environment and create the base feature of the model, as
shown in Figure 9­60.

Figure 9­59 Sketch of the base feature

Figure 9­60 Base feature of the model
Shelling the Base Feature
After creating the base feature, you need to shell the model using the Shell
tool. You also need to remove the bottom face of the base feature leaving
behind a thin­walled model.

1. Invoke the Shell1 PropertyManager and set the value in the Thickness
spinner to 2.5.

2. Rotate the model and select its bottom face to remove it.

3. Choose the OK button from the Shell1 PropertyManager. The model after
adding the shell feature is displayed in Figure 9­61.

Figure 9­61 Shell feature added to the model

Creating the Third Feature
After adding the shell feature to the model, you need to create the third feature
which is an extruded feature. The sketch for this feature will be drawn on the
Top Plane.

1. Invoke the Extruded Boss/Base tool and select the Top Plane as the
sketching plane.

2. Orient the sketching plane normal to the viewing direction by selecting the
Normal To option from the Orientation dialog box.

3. Draw the sketch of the third feature and then add the required relations and
dimensions to it, as shown in Figure 9­62.

4. Exit the sketching environment and extrude the sketch upto a depth of 5 mm.
Figure 9­62 Sketch of the third feature
Patterning the Third Feature
You need to pattern the third feature after creating it. This feature will be
patterned using the Circular Pattern tool.

1. Invoke the Circular Pattern PropertyManager.

2. Select the third feature from the drawing area, if it is not selected in the
Features to Pattern selection box.

3. Left­click once in the Pattern Axis selection box and select the circular edge
of the base feature; the preview of the pattern feature is displayed.

4. Set the value in the Number of Instances spinner to 6 and select the Equal
spacing check box, if it is not selected.

5. Choose OK from the Circular Pattern PropertyManager.

The model after creating the pattern feature is displayed in Figure 9­63.
Figure 9­63 Pattern feature added to the model
Editing the Pattern Feature
The number of instances in the pattern created is not the same as required for
this model, refer to Figure 9­57. Therefore, you need to skip the instances that
are not required.

1. Select CirPattern1 from the FeatureManager Design Tree or any one of the
pattern instances other than the parent instance from the drawing area. Right­
click and choose the Edit Feature option from the shortcut menu; the
CirPattern1 PropertyManager is displayed.

You will notice that the number of instances in the pattern feature is 6, but the
required number of instances is 3. Therefore, you need to edit the number of
instances.

2. Expand the Instances to Skip rollout and left­click in the selection box of this
rollout; a pink colored dot is displayed on the patterned feature.

3. Move the cursor to the pink colored dot; the number of the instance is
displayed on that pink color dot. Left­click on the second, fourth, and sixth
instances.

4. Choose the OK button from the CirPattern1 PropertyManager; the selected

instances are suppressed. The model after editing the features is shown in
Figure 9­64.

Figure 9­64 The edited pattern feature

Suppressing the Features
As discussed earlier, sometimes you may need to suppress some features to
reduce the complications in the model. The suppressed features are not
actually deleted, but their display is turned off. When you suppress a feature,
the child features associated with that feature are also suppressed.

1. Select the Boss­Extrude1 feature which is the third feature of the model, from
the FeatureManager Design Tree; a pop­up toolbar is displayed. Choose
Suppress from the pop­up toolbar; the extrude feature and its instances will
turn gray in the FeatureManager Design Tree indicating that these are
suppressed.
Note
1. The circular pattern feature is the child feature of the extrude feature.
Therefore, on choosing the Suppress button, it also gets suppressed and hence
both the features are not displayed in the drawing area.

2. Suppressing some of the patterned instances and the features is done only to
understand the uses of these options. You can create this model without
performing these steps also.
Creating the Protrusion
The next feature that you need to create is a protrusion on the top(inner) face
of the base feature. You need to create this feature using the Extruded
Boss/Base tool.

1. Invoke the Extruded Boss/Base tool and draw the sketch of the feature on the
top(inner) face of the base feature. Then, extrude it to a distance of 7.5 mm, as
shown in Figure 9­65.

2. Create the remaining features using the Simple Hole and Fillet tools, as
shown in Figure 9­66.

Figure 9­65 The extrude feature

Figure 9­66 Model after creating other features
Note
The protrusion should be created after creating the slot. But for the purpose of
tutorial, it has been created earlier.

Now, you will rollback this feature and create slot.

Rollback the Feature
1. Select the Rollback Bar and drag it some distance before the Boss­Extrude2
feature using the hand pointer; the feature upto the specified distance is rolled­
back.
Creating the Slots
Next, you need to create the slots. The sketch for this feature will be drawn on
the top planar face of the base feature.

1. Invoke the Extruded Cut tool and select the top planar face of the base
feature as the sketching plane.

2. Draw the sketch of the cut feature and add the required relations and
dimensions to the sketch, as shown in Figure 9­67.

3. Exit the sketching environment and specify the end condition as Through All
from the Cut­Extrude PropertyManager.

4. Choose the OK button from the PropertyManager.

5. Now, using the Linear Pattern tool, create a linear pattern of the cut feature.
You can select the dimension 18 in the drawing area as the directional
reference X. The model after creating the linear pattern is shown in Figure 9­
68.

Figure 9­67 Sketch of the slot

Figure 9­68 Model after patterning the slot
Roll Forward the Feature
1. Select the CirPattern1 feature from the FeatureManager Design Tree and
right­click; a shortcut menu is displayed.

2. Choose the Roll to End option from the shortcut menu to display all the
features that are rolled­back.
Unsuppressing the Features
After completing the model, you need to unsuppress the features that you
suppressed earlier.

1. Press and hold the CTRL key and select all the suppressed features from the
FeatureManager Design Tree.

2. Right­click and choose the Unsuppress option from the shortcut menu; the
suppressed features are restored in the model. The final model after
unsuppressing the features is shown in Figure 9­69.

Figure 9­69 The final model

Note
1. If you select and unsuppress only the parent suppressed feature, the child
features will not be unsuppressed. Therefore, you have to select both the parent
feature as well as the suppressed child features for unsuppressing all of them.

2. To unsuppress the child features along with the parent feature, select the
parent feature and then choose Edit > Unsuppress with Dependents > All
Configurations from the SOLIDWORKS menus; all the features will get
unsuppressed. On unsuppressing a child feature, its parent feature will be
unsuppressed automatically. You will learn more about the configurations in the
later chapters.
Saving the Model
1. Save the model with the name c09_tut03 at the following location:
\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\c09

2. Choose File > Close from the SOLIDWORKS menus to close the document.

SELF­EVALUATION TEST ANSWER THE

FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AND THEN
COMPARE THEM TO THOSE GIVEN AT THE
END OF THIS CHAPTER:
1. The __________ dialog box is displayed when you edit a dimension.

2. The process of changing the position of a feature in the FeatureManager

Design Tree is known as __________.

3. To edit a feature or a sketch dynamically, choose the __________ button.

4. The __________ PropertyManager is used to move or copy the bodies.

5. The __________ dialog box is displayed when there is an error in a feature.

6. On modifying the reference geometry, the feature created using the reference
geometry is also modified. (T/F)
7. The Edit Feature option is used to edit the selected feature. (T/F)
8. You cannot rename a feature in the FeatureManager Design Tree. (T/F)
9. You can rebuild a model by pressing CTRL+R keys. (T/F)
10. Rebuilding a feature is defined as a process in which you roll back the
feature to an earlier stage. (T/F) Review Questions Answer the following
questions:
1. The __________ PropertyManager is invoked to delete a body.

2. You can rotate a body using the __________ PropertyManager.

3. The __________ key is used to copy a feature or a sketch.

4. The __________ key is used to cut a feature or a sketch.

5. When the __________ tool is active, the preview of the feature is displayed in
temporary graphics while editing the sketches.

6. The __________ PropertyManager is used to edit the sketch plane of a

sketch.

7. To add the selected feature to a new folder, you need to choose Add to New
Folder from the shortcut menu. (T/F)
8. For reordering the features, select the feature in the FeatureManager Design
Tree and drag the feature to the required position. (T/F)
9. If you click once on a dimension to modify it, the Modify dialog box will be
displayed. (T/F)
10. If you want to modify the sketch by dragging the fully or partially defined
sketch, the Override Dims on Drag/Move option should be selected. (T/F)
EXERCISES
Exercise 1
Create the model whose sectioned view is shown in Figure 9­70. The other
views and dimensions of the model are also given in the same figure. The
complete model is shown in Figure 9­71. (Expected time: 45 min)
Figure 9­70 Views and dimensions of the model for Exercise 1
 Figure 9­71 Model for Exercise 1

Exercise 2
Create the model shown in Figure 9­72. Its dimensions are shown in Figure 9­
73. (Expected time: 30 min)
Figure 9­72 Model for Exercise 2
 Figure 9­73 Views and dimensions of the model for Exercise 2

Answers to Self­Evaluation Test 1. Modify, 2. Reordering, 3. Instant3D, 4.

Move/Copy Body, 5. What’s Wrong, 6. T, 7. T, 8. F, 9. F, 10. F
Chapter 10

Advanced Modeling Tools­III

LEARNING OBJECTIVES AFTER COMPLETING THIS
CHAPTER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO: • CREATE SWEEP
FEATURES.
• Create loft features.
• Create 3D sketches.
• Edit 3D sketches.
• Create various types of curves.
• Extrude 3D sketches.
• Create draft features using the manual and DraftXpert methods.
ADVANCED MODELING TOOLS
Some of the advanced modeling tools were discussed in the earlier chapters. In
this chapter, you will learn about some more advanced modeling tools such as
sweep, loft, draft, curves, 3D sketches, and so on.
Creating Sweep Features
CommandManager: Features > Swept Boss/Base
SOLIDWORKS menus: Insert > Boss/Base > Sweep
Toolbar: Features > Extruded Boss/Base > Swept Boss/Base One of the most
important advanced modeling tools is the Swept Boss/Base tool. This tool is
used to extrude a closed profile along an open or a closed path. Therefore,
you need a profile and a path to create a sweep feature. A profile is a section
for the sweep feature and a path is the course taken by the profile while
creating the sweep feature. The profile has to be a sketch, but the path can
be a sketch, curve, or an edge. You will learn more about the procedure to
create the curves later in this chapter. Figure 10­1 shows a profile and a
path for creating a sweep feature.

Figure 10­1 Profile and path to create a sweep feature

To create a sweep feature, choose the Swept Boss/Base button from the
Features CommandManager; the Sweep PropertyManager will be displayed,
as shown in Figure 10­2. Now, you can create swept feature using sketch based
profile or circular profile. By default, the Sketch Profile radio button is selected.
As a result, you are prompted to select a sweep profile. Select the sketch drawn
as the profile from the drawing area; the sketch will be highlighted and the
Profile callout will be displayed. Also, you will be prompted to select a path for
the sweep feature. Select the sketch or an edge to be used as the path; selection
will be highlighted in magenta and the Path callout will be displayed. Also, the
preview of the sweep feature will be displayed in the drawing area. Choose the
OK button from the Sweep PropertyManager to end the feature creation.
Figure 10­3 shows the resulting sweep feature.
Figure 10­2 The Sweep PropertyManager
 Figure 10­3 Sweep feature

To create a Sweep feature using the circular profile along a sketch line, edge, or
curve directly on a model, you need to choose the Circular Profile button from
the Profile and Path in the Sweep PropertyManager. Next, select the sketch or
edge as a path along which circular profile is to be created from the drawing area
and enter the diameter value in the Diameter spinner.

Tip You can also use the Contour Select tool to select a contour as the section
for the sweep feature. To do so, invoke the Sweep PropertyManager. Next, right­
click in the drawing area and choose SelectionManager from the shortcut menu
displayed; the SelectionManager will be displayed. Choose the Select Region
button from the SelectionManager, select the contour from the drawing area
and then choose OK from the SelectionManager. You can also select multiple
contours. If you pin the SelectionManager, it will be displayed by default
whenever you invoke the Sweep PropertyManager. You can also use a shared
sketch as the section of the sweep feature.

It is not necessary that a sketch drawn for the profile of a sweep feature has to
intersect the path. However, a plane on which the profile is drawn should lie at
one of the endpoints of the path. Figure 10­4 shows the non­intersecting sketches
of a profile and a path. Figure 10­5 shows the resulting sweep feature. Figure 10­
6 shows the sketch of a profile and a closed path. Note that a plane on which the
profile is drawn should intersect the closed path. Figure 10­7 shows the resulting
sweep feature.
 Figure 10­4 Non­intersecting sketches of a profile and a path

Figure 10­5 Sweep feature created using a non­intersecting sketch

Figure 10­6 Sketch of a profile and a closed path

Figure 10­7 Sweep feature created using a closed profile and a closed path

The other options available in the Sweep PropertyManager to create the

advanced sweep features are discussed next.

Creating a Sweep Feature Using the Follow Path and Keep normal
constant Options In the Sweep PropertyManager, the Follow
Path option is selected by default in the Profile Orientation drop­
down list available in the Options rollout, as shown in Figure 10­8.
While creating a sweep feature using the Follow Path option, the
section will follow the path to create it. If you select the Keep normal
constant option from the Profile Orientation drop­down list, the
section will be swept along the path with a normal constraint and will
not change its orientation along the sweep path. Therefore, the start
and end face of the sweep feature will be parallel. Figure 10­9 shows
the sketches of the path and the profile for creating the sweep feature.
Figure 10­10 shows the sweep feature created using the Follow Path
option. Figure 10­11 shows the sweep feature created using the Keep
normal constant option.

Figure 10­8 The Options rollout

Figure 10­9 Sketches of the path and the profile for creating the sweep feature
Figure 10­10 Sweep feature created with the Follow Path option selected from
the Profile Orientation drop­down list

Figure 10­11 Sweep feature created with the Keep normal constant option
selected from the Profile Orientation drop­down list

Creating a Sweep Feature Using Follow Path and Specify Twist Value
Options In the Sweep PropertyManager, the Follow Path option is
selected by default in the Profile Orientation drop­down list
available in the Options rollout, refer to Figure 10­12. As a result,
other options like None, Specify twist angle, Specify direction
vector, and so on are available in the Profile Twist drop­down list.
When you select the Specify Twist Value option from the Profile
Twist drop­down list, then the Twist control drop­down list with the
Direction 1 spinner will become available in the Options rollout. By
default, the Degrees option is selected in the Twist control drop­
down list. By keeping this option selected, you need to specify the
twist angle in the Direction 1 spinner. You can reverse the direction
of the twist by using the Reverse Twist Direction button. You can
also specify the twist in terms of radians or revolutions by selecting
the Radians or Revolution option in the Twist control drop­down
list. Figure 10­13 shows sweep feature created before specifying twist
value and Figure 10­14 shows the sweep feature after specifying twist
parameters.

Figure 10­12 The Options rollout

Figure 10­13 Sweep feature created before specifying twist value
 Figure 10­14 Sweep feature after specifying twist value

Creating a Sweep Feature Using Follow Path and Specify Direction

Vector Options If you select the Direction Vector option, the starting
of the sweep feature will be tangent to the virtual normal that has been
created from the selected entity. On selecting this option, the
Direction Vector selection box will also be displayed. You need to
select a linear edge, axis, planar face, or plane to specify the direction
of sweep in this selection box.

Creating a Sweep Feature Using Follow Path and Tangent to Adjacent

Faces The Tangent to Adjacent Faces option is used to sweep the feature
tangent to the adjoining faces at the start of the existing geometry.

Creating a Sweep Feature Using Keep Normal Constant and Specify

Twist Value Options You can also apply twist to a swept feature
keeping its end face parallel to the profile and the entire transition
normal to the sweep path. To apply this type of twist, select the Keep
Normal Constant option from the Profile Orientation drop­down
list and the Specify Twist Value option from the Profile Twist drop­
down list and then set the twist parameters. Figure 10­15 shows the
twist applied using the Follow Path option and Figure 10­16 shows
the twist applied using the Keep Normal option.

Figure 10­15 Twist applied using the Follow Path option

 Figure 10­16 Twist applied using the Keep Normal option

Tip On selecting a model edge as the sweep path, the Tangent Propagation
check box is displayed in the Options rollout. If this check box is selected, the
edges tangent to the selected edge will be selected automatically as the path of
the sweep feature.
Merge tangent faces
The Merge tangent faces check box in the Options rollout is used to merge the
tangent faces of a profile throughout the sweep feature.
Show preview
The Show preview check box in the Options rollout is used to display the
preview of a sweep feature in the drawing area. This check box is selected by
default. If you clear it, the preview of the sweep feature will not be displayed in
the drawing area.
Merge result
The Merge result check box will be available only when you have at least one
feature in the current document and it is selected by default. If you clear this
check box, it will result in the creation of the sweep feature as a separate body.
Align with end faces
The Align with end faces check box will be available in the Options rollout
only when at least one feature has already been created in the current document.
On selecting this check box, the sweep feature is extended or trimmed to align
with the end faces. Figure 10­17 shows the profile and path for creating sweep
feature. Figure 10­18 shows the sweep feature created with the Align with end
faces check box cleared. Figure 10­19 shows the sweep feature created with the
Align with end faces check box selected.

Figure 10­17 Sketches for creating sweep feature

Figure 10­18 Sweep feature created with the Align with end faces check box
cleared
Figure 10­19 Sweep feature created with the Align with end faces check box
selected
Note
If the sweep feature does not merge, you need to reduce the size of the profile.
Sweep with Guide Curves
The sweep with guide curves is the most important feature in the advanced
modeling tools. In this sweep feature, the section of the sweep profile varies
according to the guide curves along the sweep path. To create this type of
feature, you need a profile, a path, and the guide curves. After drawing the
sketch of the profile, path, and guide curve, apply the coincident relation
between the guide curves and the profile. Make sure that the guide curves
intersect the profile. Now, invoke the Sweep PropertyManager. Select the
profile and the path; the preview of the sweep feature will be displayed in the
drawing area. Click on the arrow on the right of the Guide Curves rollout to
expand this rollout. The expanded Guide Curves rollout is shown in Figure 10­
20.

Figure 10­20 The Guide Curves rollout

Select the sketch of the guide curve; the selected guide curve will be highlighted
and a Guide Curve callout will be displayed. Also, the preview of the sweep
feature will be displayed in the drawing area. Choose the OK button from the
Sweep PropertyManager. Figure 10­21 shows the sketch with the guide curve
for creating the sweep feature. Figure 10­22 shows the resulting sweep feature.
 Figure 10­21 Sketch with the path and guide curve for creating the sweep
feature

Figure 10­22 Resulting sweep feature

In the previous case, the path of the sweep feature was a straight line and the
guide curve was an arc. In the next case, an arc will be selected as the path of the
sweep feature and a straight line will be selected as the guide curve. Figure 10­
23 shows the sketches for creating the sweep feature. Figure 10­24 shows the
resulting sweep feature.

Figure 10­23 Sketch with the path and the guide curve for creating the sweep
feature

Figure 10­24 Resulting sweep feature

Move Up and Move Down
The Move Up and Move Down buttons on the left of the Guide Curves
selection box are used to change the sequence of the selected guide curves.