Page 273 - Mastering SolidWorks

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understanding Fillet tyPes 245

Figure 7.30
Zero-radius values in the
variable-radius fillet

The image on the right shows Instant3D being used to edit a variable-radius fillet. Select the
face of the fillet with Instant3D turned on, and blue dots appear wherever radius values are
assigned. You can move these dots to dynamically edit the corresponding value of the vari-
able radius.

Using Straight vs. Smooth Transitions
Variable-radius fillets have an option for either a straight transition or a smooth transition. This
works like the two-profile lofts that were mentioned earlier in this chapter. The names may be
somewhat misleading because both transitions are smooth. The straight transition goes in a
straight line, from one size to the next, and the smooth transition takes a swooping S-shaped
path between the sizes. The difference between these two transitions is demonstrated in
Figure 7.31.

Figure 7.31 smooth transition
straight versus smooth
transitions of a
variable-radius fillet

straight transition

Recognizing Other Uses for Variable-Radius Fillets
Variable-radius fillets use a different method to create the fillet geometry than the default
constant-radius fillet. Sometimes, using a variable-radius fillet can make a difference where
a constant-radius fillet does not work. This is sometimes true even when the variable-radius
fillet uses constant-radius values. It is just another tool in the toolbox.