Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality
Draft Analysis
The SolidWorks Draft Analysis tool is a must when you are working with plastic parts. The part
shown in Figure 32.13 has many of the situations that you are going to encounter in analyzing
plastic parts. The Draft Analysis tool has four major modes of display:
l (^) Basic
l Gradual Transition
l (^) Face Classification
l Find Steep Faces
Draft Analysis is found in the View ➪ Display menu (instead of in the Tools menu), and is either
selected or unselected, like the Section View tool. This is a benefit because it updates face colors
dynamically as you model. It also has some drawbacks. The display method for the tool leaves the
colors looking very flat, without highlights on curved faces, which makes parts — especially
curved parts — very difficult to visualize.
Basic
The Basic draft analysis (with no options selected) simply colors faces red, green, or yellow. Colors
may display transitioning if the draft shifts between two classifications. This transition type is
shown in Figure 32.13 in the image to the right. For a clearer view of this method, look at the
Chapter 32 Draft Analysis.sldprt part on the CD-ROM.
FIGURE 32.13
Basic draft analysis results
You can perform all types of draft analysis in SolidWorks by selecting a reference flat face or plane,
and setting a minimum allowable angle. In Figure 32.13, all walls have at least a one-degree draft,
except for the rounded edge shown in the image to the right and the dome. Both of these shapes
transition from an angle less than one degree to an angle greater than one degree.