FeatureWorks can't recognize more than one feature at a time.

I am using FeatureWorks to build features in imported parts in SW2005
but I'm having trouble recognizing more than one feature at a time. I'm
using Interactive Recognition mode for various reasons. I can pick
multiple fillets that are the same radius and it recognizes them,
however when I try to recognize 2 chamfers that are the same size, it
fails. I must select them 1 at a time. The same goes for holes, even
though they are the same size, I must select them 1 at a time.

What's the trick? Am I missing something?

 

I use 'Feature Works' too. What kind of parts are you trying to import?
Maybe I can help.

Richard

 

It's a simple IGES plate with a chamfered slot, four counterbored holes
and the four corners filleted. I'm really just checking out
FeatureWorks but it's not doing what I expected it to do.

If I do the auto recognition I get everything seperate in the feature
tree. I'd like the fillets to be in one feature, the chamfers in one
feature and the holes to be one feature or a pattern. I thought using
the interactive recognition mode would solve that problem for me but I
can't seem to recognize more than one chamfer or hole at a time.

I realize that I can go back after the recognition process and delete
the extra features and edit the definition of the fillets and chamfers
to include those edges. Likewise I can create the hole pattern. On this
simple part, the modifications are relatively simple, but on a larger
more complicated part it won't be this simple.

It just seems to me like FeatureWorks should be able to recognize more
than one feature at a time as it it does with fillets. What am I
missing?

Thanks for your help.

 

Not exactly sure what's going on for you. Can you send me the file?

Richard

 

Yes you are...


The ability to work directly with imported geometry, should
you wish. Even when FeatureWorks does work... it often can
be a very slow tedious process

Why settle for a one trick pony approach when what one
really needs is a Swiss Army knife approach ?

VX allows you to work directly on imported non-native
geometry. Why not try VX and see how you like this approach
vs. being forced to do feature recognition.

www.vx.com


jon (Official presenter of the "Toss It!" seminar at SaladWorks
World 2006 presented by Black Dragon Heavy Industries.)

 

He doesn't use it and has no clues what the subject is.

 

Does this VX really work like that? How can I try it out?

Richard

 

http://www.vx.com/freeeval.cfm
Being a SolidWorks user for the past 7 years, I can honestly say that
VX is a hidden gem.

 

http://www.medtronic.com/neuro/gastro/ambreflux/BRAVO.wmv

This is from a few years back i.e. not proprietary. The new stuff I am
working on cannot be released to the public yet.

Please see the above video, ALL the parts in the video shown were done
in SolidWorks. This of course was a team effort.

 

I forgot to explicitly mention that we are switching to VX.

 

I agree, all software has worms. The best software for a particular
application would have less of them in the primary modules of usage.

I guess after a few months of using VX, I'll be able to tell you if I
have the desire to go back to SolidWorks.

As for the Medtronic receiver, I was not involved with that aspect of
the design. My main job was engineering of the transponder pill and
production fixtures.

Main reasons for switching to VX:
1. Surfacing
2. Robust Core and Cavity design

 

VX works *directly* on imported geometry. You can add
constraints to that geometry, if you so desire, and create
"smart" models from "dumb"imported non-native geometry.

You can download and try VX here:

www.vx.com

If you have any questions on VX, I've been posted here or in
alt.machines.cnc for at least the last 8 years. There are
now 3 regulars in alt.machines.cnc that use VX.

You can also use the CADChat Forum for VX that I asked for and
received:

www.cadchat.com


jon

 

"And, I'm not trying to slame VX, I just don't see how VX is going to
solve your problems,.. unless you are going to also use CAM?"

Pretty easy for me to see why.

1. VX's integration of surface and solid tools blows
SolidWorks out of the water. VX *is* what seamless, unified,
hybrid modeling should be... a concept quite foreign to
long time Pro/E users and SolidWorks users but not to
Unigrahpics users.

2. VX's ability to work directly on non-native imported
geometry.

What I question is how well VX handles larger assemblies with lots
of external references. VX's spends a lot of time in their
training manuals explaining how the VX database is object
oriented and very sophisticated.... how this actually
works, I don't know because at the moment I don't work with
very large assemblies. My guess would be it's better than
SolidWorks because VX is coded much better and this becomes
evident very quickly when using VX. VX's market is for
people who need a complete modeling solution... something
that SolidWorks clearly *IS NOT* !

Based on the above, I would guess that Pro/E, UG and Catia are
much better with large assemblies but it's just a guess.

Perhaps SolidEdge's new large assembly technology would also
be better.... all just a guess but if VX was great with
massive assemblies I think they would mention it and they
don't.

jon



Need arrangements for woodwinds ?

www.earlbanquer.com

 

Jon, will it also run under Mandrake Linux 10.1? That's what I'm currently
using for an OS.

 

Kinkos, Inc. FON-1067749632866191 (NET-63-164-145-0-1)

Let's think about this.
IF you actually had a computer to run
your touted demos on you'd not need to
post your ads from Kinko's, would you?

And to even get them you'd need a network connection,
such as a phone line too, right?

And IF you actually worked in one of those claimed
small machine shops or did any design SOMEONE would
have a computer SOMEPLACE, right? Which, unless you
were deeply on their s*** list you could probably
use after or before work, right?
Oops ...

Does this explain why you keep asking OTHERS how
things like VX work?
Or why you COULD NOT respond on your touted claims
of fixing IGES files (Mitch sent you one to fix, right? Which
you could not "fix" ......)

You've been just caught totally clueless again, right?

Doing demos at Kinkos? Pay by the minute ..... or is it
a fringe for working there (driving a truck, copier
demos, .... )?

 

Not 3dinkies any more? LOL .....

Something else you've never used and probably never even
seen. Unless you want to count Pro-E & SW ...... which would
make three ... at least.

 

Not that he could answer any of them, except to copy ads
& blurbs.

Imagine that ... "8 years" of being clueless ... it's been
rough.

 

DHL just delivered my copy of VX yesterday. Being a long time
Solidworks user, I'll let you all know if I regret switching to VX. It
sould take me a couple of months to do a few real projects to make a
firm conclusion.

Paul,
The only portion of the Medtronic device that used surfaces is the
receiver. Both the pill and deployment system used simple solids and
fillets.

We will not be doing machining of core and cavities in-house. A few
months back, I sat with a SolidWorks applications engineer for 2 hours
and he was not able to shell a cavity successfully for a simple
surfaced part for me. That's when I began to realize I may need to
seriously search for another CAD package.

 

Reseller application engineers are trained to be able to run scripted demos
without making mistakes, answer some popular tech support questions, and go
through the examples in the training books. There really isn't anything
preparing them to use or troubleshoot more advanced functionality. If you
look at where the official SolidWorks training materials leave off, there
is a whole lot of complex modeling territory which is simply not covered.
Unless you happened on some one who had real world complex
shapes/surfacing/mold development experience, I wouldn't expect much that
isn't included in a demo or training script.

Resellers are all about grinding out mass produced "solutions". They
usually don't get too involved with applications on the fringes. Not that
mold design is fringe work, but it certainly has a lower $/effort ratio
from their point of view.

My point is that I wouldn't necessarily base my judgment of what SolidWorks
can do on what a reseller application engineer can do.

This is part of the reason for starting a new organization to help people
with problems beyone where resellers are willing or able to go.

The website is still under development, but check it out and see if you
could use any of the services offered.

www.dezignstuff.com

Dezignstuff

 

Richard,

"Jon, will it also run under Mandrake Linux 10.1? That's what I'm
currently using for an OS."

I don't believe VX supports Unix environments anymore. Perhaps one
reason is that on the CAM side VX, like most everyone else, uses the
MachineWorks component.

http://www.machineworks.com/mw_part001.htm

jon