SolidWorks® 2010 Bible

Chapter 7. Selecting Features

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Recognizing the right tool for the job

• Defining and creating curves in SolidWorks

• Filleting types

• Choosing an occasional specialty feature

• Bracket casting tutorial

• Creating a wire-formed part tutorial

The most frustrating part of a complex modeling job is to be able to envision a result, but not be able to create it because you do not have the tools to get it done. Worse yet is to actually have the tools but either not understand how to use them or not even realize that you have them. Getting the job done is so much more satisfying when you use the right tools and get the job done right — not just so that it looks right, but so that it really is right.

SolidWorks offers so many tools that it is sometimes difficult to select the best one, especially if it is for a function that you do not use frequently.

This chapter helps you identify which features to use in which situations, and in some cases, which features to avoid. It also helps you evaluate which feature is best to use for a particular job. With some features, it is clear when to use them, but for others, it is not. This chapter guides you through the decision-making process.

Identifying When to Use Which Tool

I am always trying to think of alternate ways of doing things. It is important to have a backup plan, or sometimes multiple backup plans, in case a feature doesn't perform exactly the way you want it to. As you progress into more complex features, you may find that the more complex ...