Order of Feature Recognition
The order in which you should recognize features must be the reverse
of one of the possible orders of feature creation. For example, if you
try to recognize a pad after selecting this face, the operation will fail.
To recognize the pad, first of all you must recognize the pocket so as
to remove the faces, and then, you will be able to recognize the pad.
Identifying Multiple Solutions
The app provides a fine control over the way a set of faces is
recognized as a given feature. For example, you can control the feature
to be recognized using options such as Up to face or by selecting
edges instead of faces for pad or pocket recognition. However, there are
still cases where there are different ways in which faces can be removed.
This is the case of this 3D shape:
There are several ways of recognizing the green face. You can recognize
it as a groove, as a hole or as a pocket. If you decide to recognize it
as a pocket, again you can choose between two solutions. The final simplified
solid you can obtain is either a pocket whose profile is a complete circle
or an arc.
Which is the best solution?
To answer this question, you need to consider different factors many
of which depend on the context. Giving a general answer is therefore not
possible. However, the app attempts to provide the solution that
represents the most intuitive way of creating the 3D shape. Thus, in our
example, the second solution is the solution provided by the app.
Chaining Faces for Boolean Operations
Since there is no chaining for Boolean recognition, you can make use
of the chaining functionality of other feature types. For example, if the
Boolean feature to be recognized is somewhat like a groove, then you can
choose Groove and pick a face with the Chain Faces option on.
This will lead to several faces getting selected. If now you switch the
feature type to Boolean, the faces will still be selected, and
can be used for Boolean recognition.
Selecting Faces
- It might be sometimes difficult to select the faces you need for
recognition. Some 3D shapes may require that you hide bodies prior to
selecting the faces.
- Only faces and edges belonging to the In Work Object can be selected.
- You can select only faces that are appropriate for the feature type
being recognized. For example, you cannot select planar faces for fillet
recognition.
Handling Deactivated Features Created by Part
Design Feature Recognition
Most often, deactivated features are not due to the app failures,
it is just that whenever the app cannot create the features it recognizes,
it deactivates those features. This behavior is valid for any feature type.
What you need to do, is edit the feature and add the right specifications
as much as possible.