SolidWorks 2010 Bible

CHAPTER

Using Imported

Geometry and Direct

Editing Techniques

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding how imported

geometry works

Examining the traditional role

of direct edit tools

Benefitting from direct edit

tools

Importing and repairing Solid

Geometry tutorial

Using Flex and Freeform

features in a tutorial

T

he direct editing set of tools in SolidWorks enables you to change a
part without the knowledge of how it was originally created. Direct
editing works on both native and imported geometry by simply mov-
ing faces. There are two things to consider with direct editing: First is how
direct edit tools work in SolidWorks, which is the main focus of this chapter;
and second is how direct edit tools compare to the tools in history-free CAD
software, which is a side issue but addressed as well.

This chapter exists partially because of recent direct editing developments in
the CAD world and partially in honor of the new Direct Editing tab
SolidWorks added to the CommandManager in the 2010 release, which is
shown in Figure 30.1.

The new tab has the following tools on it, listed from left to right from
Figure 30.1:

l Move Face

l (^) Move/Copy Bodies
l Fillet
l (^) Chamfer
l Pattern
l (^) Delete Solid/Surface
l Delete Face
l (^) Split
l Combine