Here we are at the start of another fine week. On Friday, I announced a schedule change and today being Monday means that we will be discussing various tools, tips and tricks. One new tool in SolidWorks 2008 that I have been wanting to cover some time now is the FilletXpert. Since I am using FilletXpert in my model on this coming Friday, I figured this is the best time to introduce you to it. The are a few things you can do with FilletXpert but we will concentrate on creating multiple fillets and managing corners.

Accessing the FilletXpert

Access the FilletXpert is extremely easy. In fact, you have probably seen it everyday and never thought about clicking it. First, click on the the Fillet tool in the Feature toolbar or in the Shortcut toolbar as shown below.

In the Fillet PropertyManager click on the FilletXpert button.

In the FilletXpert PropertyManager You will see three tabs; Add, Change, Corner. As you might have guessed, Add is for adding fillets, Change is for updating existing fillets and Corner is to manage the corner type.

Adding Fillets

One of the coolest things about the FilletXpert is the ability to creating multiple fillets easily. For me, the less mouse clicks the better; especially on complex models. While in the Add tab of the FilletXpert PropertyManager select one edge to be filleted.

On clicking an edge you will notice a new pop-up toolbar. This new toolbar aids you in selecting multiple edges or fillets. When you hover over a button, the applicable edges or fillets will be highlighted and the tool tip will give you indication as to what is being selected.

I love this, with one click all the outside edges have been selected.

Go to the Corner!

Previous to SolidWorks 2008, it took a little bit of planning to get the appropriate corner treatment. If you weren’t careful you’d create corners that would cause machinist to egg your car. With the FilletXpert it is easy to adjust the corner of three constant width, mixed convexity fillets. In the FilletXpert PropertyManager click the Corner tab.

Click the corner you wish to adjust.

In the Corner tab of the FilletXpert PropertyManager click the Show Alternatives button.

After clicking the Show Alternatives you will presented with available corner options available for the selected corner. Hovering over the image in the Select Alternatives window will display a larger view of the corner after being updated.

Click the desired corner in the Select Alternatives window and the corner will update.

Copying Corners

Using FilletXpert

Now that we have updated the corner type of one of the corners we want to apply that change to the other corners. While still in the FilletXpert command, click the corner type that you wish to copy.

In the FilletXpert PropertyManager click the Copy Targets box.

Then select the target corners.

Once the target corners have been selected , click the Copy to button.

Now all the corners have been updated.. Too Easy!

Outside of FilletXpert

You can quickly and easily copy a corner type to another compatible corner without using the FilletXpert. While not in any command select the corner to be copied. Hold down the CTRL key and grab the control point of the corner.

While still holding the CTRL key, drag and drop onto the target corner and the target corner will be updated. Incidentally, this procedure works great at copying fillets to other edges.

Well there you go a quick and simple tool for creating multiple fillets and updating corners. I hope you try using this great tool the next time you are presented with the need to select multiple fillets in your model.

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