SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality

FIGURE 32.6

The Rib PropertyManager and a Rib feature

A solution to this is to control the thickness of the rib at the base, and then draft away from that.

This process is more in line with standard plastics processes anyway, which generally give dimen-

sions at maximum material condition, and then the draft always removes material. Thinking of

draft as always removing material helps plastic part modelers and mold designers to remain “steel

safe.” It is always easier to remove steel from a mold (which adds material to the plastic) than it is

to add steel to the mold.

Starting in the SolidWorks 2009 release, you can now specify the thickness and draft such that the

base of the rib maintains a specified thickness, and the draft is applied from the base of the rib.

The option to do this does not appear until you turn on the draft for the feature.

Ribs and multi-bodies

The Rib feature is sensitive to changes in the number of solid bodies in the part. For example, if

you build a part and put a Rib feature in it and it only has one body, then roll back before the rib

and do something that makes two bodies when you unroll the FeatureManager, the Rib feature will