Hole Wizard - Pre-Selection vs. Post-Selection

[8Complex]

I've got a co-worker that is new to SolidWorks and he constantly uses the post-selection method of inserting hole wizard holes and for some reason they bother me. Usually for me that means there is something wrong/dangerous about the technique, but I can't put my finger on it.

http://www.sheetmetalguy.com/tips_hole_wizard.htm

< -- This is the only thing I've been able to come up with regarding issues, but is there anything else?

 

[TheTick]

It bothers you because it is different. It is good to fear that which is different. Watch him carefully and don't turn your back. He is different, as well.

 

[Eltron]

Yeah, I'd agree that the biggest issue is that you'll be in 3D sketch mode rather than 2D, and I try to avoid 3D sketches when they are not needed. It just seems like dimensioning and relations behave a little better with 2D sketches. But I think what you are missing here is that the co-worker is new to SW so you can corrupt his mind with all manner of untruths in order to get them to behave...tell him he'll go blind if he doesn't stop doing that .

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

 

[TheTick]

Just make sure he understands that he won't get a 2D sketch.

I pre-select a surface to compel 2D-sketch when adding holes to a planar surface. Even then, I usually just dump one hole onto the surface and finish up with the hole-wizardry. I like to add/constrain holes after the hole wizard feature is created because then I can add any necessary construction geometry and constraints that I can't add while in the initial hole wizard dialog.

 

[8Complex]

LOL on both replies.

Yes, different is good and bad at the same time. I'm just trying to be open-minded about it as I've been told too many times untruths that I would've benefitted from using, and I'd rather educate.

I think I'll convey the idea of issues regarding the dimensioning problems and see what happens. I'll try to get used to it in the meantime, and see which of the theories come out ahead.

 

[fcsuper]

Using the 3D Sketch will produce interesting errors from time to time, from what I've found with Hold Wizard. By interesting, I of course mean annoying.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[4zengineering]

"Design intent" is the buzz phrase that I definitely feel applies here.

The overwhelming majority of holes that I model with hole wizard are intended to be perpendicular/normal to the face on which they are created, thus I pre-select.

Very rarely do I need to model a hole on a compound angle, but that is the case in which I use the post-selection method.

As stated by others above, that is the method which I've learned through trial and error will cause me the least amount of grief/errors when editing.

I'd recommend suggesting that your coworker consider the possibility of future edits benefiting from the 3D sketch and again, avoiding their use when possible.

 

[fcsuper]

Of course, it would nice to have the choice to use 3D or 2D without having to use different methods with the same function. It's pretty silly.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[Eltron]

It's just one of several silly things with the Hole Wiz.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

 

[coworker]

Are you guys telling me that I can click on the face BEFORE clicking on the Wizard thingy? Oh, that's new! I'll try it.

Thanks,
The Co-Worker

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

coworker,

No, that's not new. It's always (at least since SW2000) been that way.

Pre-Selection and Post-Selection
Note the following regarding pre-selection and post-selection of a face when using the Hole Wizard hole:

When you pre-select a planar face, and click Hole Wizard on the Features toolbar, the resulting sketch is a 2D sketch.

If you first click Hole Wizard , and select either a planar or a non-planar face, the resulting sketch is a 3D sketch.

Unlike a 2D sketch, you cannot constrain a 3D sketch to a line. However, you can constrain a 3D sketch to a face.

 

[dmctiernan]

I always pre-select where possible, because 3DSketches can lead to stupid headaches if you're not paying attention. Attached is an example of a few 12mm S/St plates that got manufactured and for some reason they wouldn't match up with their corresponding clearance hole plates. The clearance hole plates were done using a 2DSketch.

On plan view all the dimensions will look fine but the attached picture shows how the 3DSketch can go wrong. The holes were misaligned by 1mm along the 100mm dimension and 2.5mm along the 200mm dimension.

My advise is, always pre-select where possible

DMcT.

 

[draftsman2008]

On plan view all the dimensions will look fine but the attached picture shows how the 3DSketch can go wrong. The holes were misaligned by 1mm along the 100mm dimension and 2.5mm along the 200mm dimension.

You just have to be careful with what you are selecting when dimensioning.
I have attached a pic that shows what I mean. The model on the left was done with post-pick and the one on the right was done with pre-pick.

Brian-CSWA
Dell Optiplex 745
Intel Core 2 6300 @ 1.86 GHz 2 gig Ram
Solidworks 2007 SP 5 & 2008 SP 3.1
AutoCAD Mechanical 2005