Chamfer Edges and Surfaces

3-D Standard > Process > Chamfer

Topics:

Element selection

After calling the function, select the elements to be chamfered in your drawing, i.e. the edges and/or surfaces to be chamfered.

With a right-click you can activate a context menu with further selection options of the elements to be chamfered:

 

Adjacent edges of a surface

All edges that are adjacent to a certain surface are selected as elements to be chamfered, i.e. all edges perpendicular to this surface. Select the desired surface.

Lines in rectangle

All edges that lie within a rectangle will be selected. Hold down the left mouse button and draw the rectangle.

All edges that are completely inside the rectangle will be selected as elements to be chamfered. Note that only edges will be selected here.

Sheet corners

This option allows you to select all corners, all inner corners or all outer corners of a sheet metal part in one step. All vertical edges, inner or outer edges in sheet thickness direction are selected as elements to be chamfered. Note that corners are only taken into account if no flanges are attached to the corresponding edge.

The elements can be chosen from different elements of sheet metal parts.

(1) Outer corners, (2) Inner corners, (3) Corners

Inner sheet corners

Outer sheet corners

Adjacent edges of a point

This option allows you to select all edges adjacent to a point in one step.

 

For edges, the edge direction is visualised after selection. This depends on the cursor setting during selection. Please note that the edge direction is taken into account for variable chamfering and chamfering of segments.

List of elements to be chamfered

All elements selected for chamfering are entered into the list of chamfer elements in the dialogue window.

Each element in the list has several rows, the number of which depends on the selected chamfering parameters. The entries have a tree-like structure and are assigned to the respective element in the list as sub-entries.

Edge

Surface

Chamfering parameters

 

The rows subordinate to the element type contain the chamfering parameters selected for the respective element.

 

Continue with tangential edge

If you want all tangential edges to be automatically chamfered when chamfering one edge, activate the Continue with tangential edge checkbox.

(1) Selected edge with tangential edge, (2) chamfer without tangential continuation, (3) chamfer with tangential continuation

 

A tangential continuation is also possible for edges in flanges and bend zones of sheet metal parts.

 

Symmetry mode

Length

This input type executes chamfering symmetrically, i.e. the distance between the chamfer cross-section and the chamfer edges is the same on both sides.

Left: Original part with selected edge; Right: Chamfered edge, input type: Length

Enter the value for the length.

 

Length + Angle

Here you chamfer the edges by specifying the chamfer length and the chamfer angle. Enter the desired values. You can use the Switch sides checkbox to define to which side of the selected edge the chamfer length will be applied.

Left: Selected edge, Centre: Chamfered edge, input type: Length and Angle, Switch angle no, Right: Switch angle yes.

 

2 lengths

Here, you chamfer the edges/surfaces by specifying two chamfer lengths. This means that asymmetrical chamfers are also possible, i.e. the distance between the chamfer cross-section and the chamfer edges is different on both sides.

Use the Switch sides checkbox to define to which side of the selected edge the specified chamfer lengths will be applied.


(1) Selected edge, (2) Input type: 2 lengths, both 20 (symmetrical), (3) 2 lengths, 20 - 40 (asymmetrical)

 

Rolling ball

Here, the Rolling ball algorithm is used to create the chamfer. To do this, enter the radius of the "rolling ball". This process will lead to the boundary curves of the chamfer being created by touching the "rolling ball".

The Rolling ball option is used if you want to create tapered chamfers.

(1) Original and selected edge, (2) Chamfer with length, (3) Chamfer with Rolling Ball

 

Chamfer mode

For edges, two different chamfer modes are available - constant or variable. For surfaces, variable chamfering is not possible.

 

Constant

When selecting constant chamfering, the chamfer length is the same at all points of the edge to be chamfered.

If you only want to chamfer a segment of the edge, rather than the entire edge, you can define this segment by activating the Start point and/or End point checkboxes. These points can be defined with a point option or by specifying a percentage value related to the edge length. Please note that the start point (in relation to the direction) must be located in front of the end point!

 

  • Determine start/end point with a point option
    To determine the start or end point with a point option, click on the symbol and determine the point in your drawing. This point does not have to be on the selected edge but it will automatically be projected onto the selected edge. Point is then set as the point type.

  • Determine start/end point as a percentage (default setting)

    To do this, select Percental as the point type. The point on the edge is then specified as a percentage. The value determines the position of the point relative to the length of the edge. Note that the edge direction is taken into account here.
    You can enter the percentage value directly in the input field. Alternatively, after clicking on the symbol, you can move the cursor over the edge and then accept the percentage value displayed at the cursor per mouse click.

Variable

Variable chamfering is always executed with the Rolling ball symmetry mode. Here you can select different radii for the rolling ball at the start and end points of the selected edges and at any other intermediate points. The variable chamfering can be created with a Tangential connection. If the checkbox is active, the chamfer will be created with a gradual transition between the points. The transition is tangential. Deactivate the checkbox to create chamfers with linear transitions between the points.

Enter the radius of the rolling ball at the start and end point of the edge. To insert radii at intermediate points, click on the symbol and enter the value for the intermediate radius.

(1) Selected edge, (2) Different start and end radius with tangential connection, (3) Different start and end radius with linear transition, (4) Different start, end and intermediate radius with tangential connection

As with constant chamfering, chamfering of segments is also possible here. The initial radius is the radius at the start point.

 

Change parameters for selected elements

Certain parameters can be changed in one step for several chamfered elements. These are:

To do this, select the desired chamfer elements in the list. As usual in Windows, the CTRL and SHIFT keys are allowed.

If you have selected elements with different chamfer or symmetry modes, the text <Different values> will be displayed as a note under the parameters in the input fields. All selected elements are chamfered with the values specified under Change parameters for selected elements when clicking the OK button.

Deleting entries from the element list

You delete entries from the element list by right-clicking on the corresponding line and then selecting the Delete function. The usual Windows multiple selection is also possible.

Entries for intermediate radii during variable chamfering can be removed by clicking on the symbol.

 

If you select an edge or surface in the drawing that is already included in the list of chamfered elements, the entry is removed from the list!

 

The 'Chamfer' Dialogue Window (3-D) • Fillet + Chamfer (3-D) • Model and Process Parts (3-D)