Edge Fillet
Insert
Fillet/Chamfer
Use this command to create fillets at selected
edges. The
optional inputs are many and can be used to create a wide variety of constant
and variable fillets and corner blends. They
include the amount of smoothing at corner blends, arc or conic cross-sectional
fillets, variable attributes,corner relief and edge constraints.
The flexibility of this command allows constant radius fillets to be changed into variable fillets as a historical edit. The variable attributes can also be used as "exception values" to make most of the edges one radius with just a few exceptions.
See also: CAD Tips and Techniques - "Should I accept the partial results?"
Edges - Select the edges to fillet.
Radius - Specify the fillet radius.
Relief
Use this option to control the amount of smoothing at a corner patch. When set to zero (its default value), the command decides where to trim the rails of the fillets meeting at a corner. Values greater than zero add additional relief to corners. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.
Specify the relief distance.
Arc type
Use this option to specify the fillet arc type to create. Select from the following.
Circular Arc - Create fillets using circular arcs.
Conic
Arc - Create fillets using conic arcs.
Conic ratio
If Conic Arc is selected for the Arc Type above, enter the conic ratio within the range of 0 - 1. (default = 0.5)
Hold fillet to edge
Check this box if you want fillets held to nearby edges.
Use these options to create variable radius
fillets. The
variable fillet is achieved by adding variable attributes at any location
you choose along a selected edge.
When the fillet is complete, the variable attributes will govern the shape of the fillet by constraining the radius to the value of the attribute at the given points. Options are available to Add, Modify, and Delete variable attributes. Each are discussed below.
Add
Use this option to add a variable attribute at a point or points on an edge. The attribute controls the fillet radius at that point. Multiple attributes can be added along an edge to create a variable fillet along the edge.
To make the fillet "wash-out" at a point, add a variable attribute of 0 (zero) at the desired "wash-out" point. You can use the Flat option to create flat regions (i.e., of constant fillet radius) between attributes. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.
Select a point on an edge to locate a variable attribute.
Specify the fillet radius or chamfer setback for the attribute.
The added attribute is represented by a dimension placed at the point on the edge.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all of the desired attributes are added and then middle-click to continue.
Flat
Use this option to mix constant and variable radius fillets along a single fillet chain. To do this, just place variable attributes with the flat option turned on at the boundaries of the region that should be a flat constant radius. Select from the following.
Yes - Set a flag to make the fillet radius locally flat. The attribute symbol "Rn(flat)" is placed at the point on the curve.
No
- No flag is set.
Modify
Use this option to modify a variable attribute created with the Add option above. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.
Select a variable attribute dimension to modify.
Specify the new fillet radius or chamfer setback for the attribute.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all of the desired attributes are modified and then middle-click after step 2 to continue.
Delete
Use this option to delete a variable attribute created with the Add option above. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.
Select a variable attribute to delete and then middle-click to continue.
Vertex, Face
Use this option to fillet corners.
Select a vertex to fillet.
Enter the vertex radius. The vertex fillet will be echoed on the part.
Select an edge to specify the relief distance.
The relief determines how far from the vertex
along the edge the corner blend extends. A
relief can be specified for each edge that converges at the chosen vertex.
The corner blend can be edited before the fillet is complete by selecting the Vertex option again and then selecting this Face option again. It can be edited afterwards with the Redefine Feature command.
Enter the relief distance for the selected edge.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all converging edges have been assigned a relief value.
Pick the Face option to specify a relief distance for each converging face if desired or middle-click to continue with the fillet command.
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How to add, modify or delete a fillet radius attribute after the fillet is complete To modify a variable attribute after the fillet is complete, right-click on the feature and select Redefine from the Object Editor Menu. The history of the part will replay, stop at the feature and then allow you to redefine it. You can then use this Modify option to change attribute values. When you are done, pick Continue from the History Manager to replay the remaining history with the new attributes. |
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Using the "Relief" option during an edge fillet "Relief" is a default value. Once set, it remains until it is reset back to zero. Relief is a distance measured in the default part units. If a negative value is entered, it is reset to zero. Any value larger than the smallest fillet encountered will cause the fillet operation to fail. The Relief distance is fixed for all corners encountered in a single fillet operation. |
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Make multiple constant fillets with a single command You can create a constant fillet by adding just one variable attribute to an edge. This method also allows you to create many constant fillets each with a different radius using a single command. |
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Make you part more flexible with fillet attributes If you have many edges with the same fillet, you can make the part more flexible by multiple attributes of the same vale. Later, you can make one of the fillets different by simply changing its attribute. |
Pressing the <SHIFT> key while selecting edges initiates a Chain Pick. Curves and edges that are connected end to end are selected.
