Constant radius rounded edge

A uniform rounded edge has the same radius along its entire length.

To create a constant radius round an edge:

• activate the Select Edges tool from the design toolbar

• use the Edge Select tool to select the required edge

• from the Features menu select Round Edges

• EITHER

  • click and drag the yellow handles to set the radius

• OR

  • use the Round Edge dialog box to enter the radius

• click the OK button to complete the rounded edge

The Rounded Edges dialog box for a constant radius

Variable radius rounded edge

Overview

The shape of the variable radius is set by what is called "inflection points". The points are marked by two yellow and one green marker at each definition point.

The yellow markers set the radius.

The green marker sets the position of the points along the edge as a percentage of the length of the edge.

You can set as many points as are needed. The position of each set of points is recorded in a list box.

To round an edge of variable radius:

• activate the Select Edges tool from the design toolbar

• use the Edge Select tool to select the required edge

• from the Features menu select Round Edges

• in the Round Edges dialog box:

  • select the Variable radius button
  • click in the length column of the list box to start the process

• establish a sets of points by

  • EITHER working in the list box

    • double click in the length box to make it active

    • type in a number to represent the percentage along the edge

    • double click in the radius box to make it active

    • type in the radius

    • press the Tab key to create the next line of the list box

    • repeat these steps for each point

  • OR working in the graphics view (work interactively on the model)

    • click in the list box to activate the process

    • click on the green handle to position the points

    • to set the radius,

    • move the cursor over a yellow handle and wait for it to turn light green in colour

    • click the yellow/light green handle and drag it to the radius

    • NOTE while the radius was being set, a new row appeared in the list box

    • click in the Length column of the list box to set the handles into position

    • click in the next row of the list box and repeat the above steps

  click the OK button to complete the rounding process

Rounding Multiple edges simultaneously

To assist in creating constant rounded edges, it is possible to select:

• two or more edges

• a face

and apply the radius to all edges at once.

See the pictures to the right as an illustration.

Unfortunately, the same trick does not work for variable radius edges

Changing a rounded edge

To make changes to a rounded edge:

• from the browser window select Features

• 

• right mouse click on the feature that you need to edit

• choose Redefine from the list

• make the changes in the same manner as described for creating the rounded edge