SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Chapter 7: Selecting Features

FIGURE 7.60

A rubber grommet in various flex states

Natural position

Twisting Bending

Notice bodies have been split

Stretching

Using the triad can be very tricky. Moving the triad in the bending option moves the axis of the

bend, and so it determines whether the bend will compress or stretch the material. The position of

the triad also determines which side of the bent body will move or stay stationary, or if both sides

will move. Placing the triad directly on a trim plane causes the material outside the bend on that

side of the trim plane to remain stationary.

I highly recommend taking a look at the models that are provided with this chapter to examine the

various functions of the Flex feature more carefully. The model uses configurations, which are cov-

ered in Chapter 10.