Hi,
I'm trying to draft this really simple plastic cover but I can't do it.
I tried all of the three drafting options: Neutral plane, Parting line and Step draft but I really can't get anything useful.
In some cases SW2013 can't draft the part while in other cases it does not do what I want.
Can anybody help me?
Thanks,
Enrico Migliore
Enrico,
I don't know which version you use
I tried draft in 2015 and it's working
You have 3 different options
Hope this helps
Dear George,
thank you for your answer.
I use Solidworks 2013 Premium edition with a license-
No maintainance because my supplier is not smart and takes forever to answer questions like this.
> Being this is a simple part, try creating from start
Actually, I removed many features from the part in order to focus the main problem.
I can't create from scratch all the parts I receive from customers.
> Delete the fillet, "delete and patch" option, then draft and add the fillet back
This is valid option, but it does not solve the general problem.
It might be a problem if the part contains a variable radius fillet or complex surface fillet.
> Try adding draft directly on the part
Can you be more specific on this thing?
Thank you,
Enrico Migliore
Please see the attached picture showing 2 deg draft (using parting line method)
I have attached the part with 2 different configurations (one with parting line draft and other delete and add draft method)
Dear John,
thank you for your answer.
I'm using SW2012 and SW2013 but I can't open your files, sorry.
Parting line does work but doesn't preserve tangency between the internal fillet and the internal planar face.
Please read my answer to Nathan's post where I also attached a picture of the problem.
Thank you for your time,
Enrico Migliore
Enrico,
Here is how I was able to do it:
parting line draft
set angle
pick bottom surf for pull direction
parting lines - pick top tangent of fillet
set face propagation to "along tangent"
I also tried the outer surface and it worked fine. I have attached the sldprt for you to interrogate.
Keep in mind that the yellow arrows are pointing to the surfs to be drafted. If they point to the fillet, the draft cannot work. Use "other face" to flip the yellow arrows.
Hope this helps.
-Nate
Dear Nathan,
thank you for your answer.
I did what you suggested me: PARTING LINE DRAFTING
I noticed though that the internal fillet and the planar face are no longer tangent.
I attached a picture and the Solidworks 2012 file.
Solidworks should modify the length of the arc in order to preserve tangency.
The problem is still open.
Thank you for your time,
Enrico Migliore
wow - I obviously did not look closely enough. SWX is so smart sometimes, that I assumed it would do what you wanted. I guess not. I know that you are now faced with a lot of work ot either recreate the parts or jump though some other hoops. Now you probably have to arm yourself with various tools and methods and choose the right one for the right project. Here are a couple ideas that I would try...
delete and patch face usually works well for eliminating imported fillets. you could delete the fillet faces, draft and re-fillet. (I attached an example of that for you - you will need to play with the order of deletions)
depending on the need for accuracy / detail, you could draft as you did with the neutral curve NOT tangent to the side and then fillet the resulting edge... (really hokey - and probably only acceptable in some cases and only for SLA's or other rough prototypes)
Some times I have needed to create a swept cut / boss to get the draft I needed. This is usually quite messy and requires many features to do it right.
keep up the fight!
-Nate
Here is the part made with draft from the begining. I did not add the side cut or little bottom extension though.
Dear John,
thank you for your answer.
I'm using SW2012 and SW2013 but I can't open your files, sorry.
I receive files from customers in STEP format so I don't see the features and I can't redesign from scratch the part.
Please, see also my answer to Nathan's post.
Enrico Migliore
The file I posted above is SW2013 version
Are you using a student version SolidWorks?
Fillet to draft is true tangent
Dear John,
I have SW2013 Premium with regular licence.
At home I'm using SW2012 and did not update it to 2013 because my notebook is not that fast.
I'll open your file today at work and let you know.
Thank you for now,
Enrico Migliore
Dear John,
thank you for your time.
I opened your file and I confirm that your drafted part is correct.
Thank you,
Enrico Migliore
Dear John,
just one note.
I sent the STEP file to a friend who uses Unigraphics and he was able to draft the part without deleting any surfaces.
That CAD is able to draft fillets.
Enrico Migliore
The file I posted above is SW2013 version
Are you using a student version SolidWorks?
Fillet to draft is true tangent