Following the "Introduction to SOLIDWORKS", I cannot find the 'Parameters' heading under PropertyManager when having clicked the 'Circular Pattern' tool, as is stated in the tutorial's instructions. Some help?
Thanks
Following the "Introduction to SOLIDWORKS", I cannot find the 'Parameters' heading under PropertyManager when having clicked the 'Circular Pattern' tool, as is stated in the tutorial's instructions. Some help?
Thanks
Hi Adam,
Instead of "Parameters", that should read "Direction 1".
In the version of software you are using, we enhanced the circular pattern functionality to be able to pattern in two directions so the PropertyManager for the command was changed, but the documentation team missed updating that text in the tutorial to match the new group box title. That error has already been corrected in the tutorials for the next major version of the software.
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks Jim,
So I have followed the directions as best as possible, and now I get the Rebuild Errors message "Cannot fillet a tangent edge" when I click the tick box, i.e. step 6.
Any idea?
Another mention, I am a beginner and this is my first piece of work. Are following the tutorials the best way for learning or would you recommend something else?
Thanks,
Adam
Hi Adam,
Many users find the tutorials that you are following one very good way of learning the software. But, the downside with step by step tutorials like that if you make a mistake or diverge at all from the "script", then that can negatively effect steps further along in the tutorial. For instance, looking at your image above of the pattern is failing, I can guess as to what is going wrong. If you look at your yellow preview geometry on your model as compared to the preview in the tutorial, you will see that the outer edges of the base feature are highlighted on your model but they aren't in the tutorial. The tutorial tells you to select Fillet2 as part of the pattern and this is what you have done, but your Fillet2 is not the same as what the tutorial thinks Fillet2 should be. Going through the tutorial, you first add fillets to the ring boss and base on the Adding Fillets page and this should have created a feature called Fillet1. Later, you created more fillets on the Adding Fillets to the Tall Cylinder page and this should have been Fillet2. But, by what is happening to your pattern, I am guessing that when you created the first fillet (Fillet1), perhaps there was a problem with it and instead of editing the original feature and fixing it, you deleted it and recreated it so it is now Fillet2. Then when you created the next fillet, it is Fillet3. So, now when patterning, instead of selecting Fillet2, you need to select Fillet3 instead. The reason why patterning your Fillet2 fails is because it is trying to create fillets on top of fillets on top of fillets (trying to fillet the original edges that were filleted 5 more times since there are 5 new instances in the pattern) and it can't do it because the edges are already filleted (since those fillets go all the way around the part). Looking at the second screenshot you posted, I can see that my guess was right because if you look in your FeaureManager tree, there is no Fillet1. There is only Fillet2 where Fillet1 should be and Fillet3 where Fillet2 should be,.
So, it is not only important to follow the steps closely and try not to make mistakes, but then if something doesn't seem to be working, make sure you are trying to interpret the intent of what the steps are trying to do, For instance, it makes sense that the intent in this case is to pattern the new boss, the hole in it, and the fillets that are on that boss and the hole.
Once you have the basics down, another good way to learn the software is to take common objects you have around and try to model them. Start with simple objects and then gradually make more complex ones. The nice things about doing this as opposed to a tutorial, is your not trying to follow steps and potentially making mistakes that can negatively effect downstream steps. Instead, you have a known goal in mind and can tell along the way if you are doing things correctly and if not, you can fix it right away. You don't have to interpret the intent, you KNOW the intent because you are defining it.
I hope this helps,
Jim
I did this in the end.. i could only replicate certain features.. to my frustration haha
But for my first attempt, which took much longer than an hour (due to the tutorial being out of sync, somewhat), I think it's okay
Thanks,
Adam
Hi Adam,
Instead of "Parameters", that should read "Direction 1".
In the version of software you are using, we enhanced the circular pattern functionality to be able to pattern in two directions so the PropertyManager for the command was changed, but the documentation team missed updating that text in the tutorial to match the new group box title. That error has already been corrected in the tutorials for the next major version of the software.
Thanks,
Jim