Edge fillets and rounds are separated into three behavioral types - Constant, Variable, and Setback.
The fillet command makes it easy to apply fillets and rounds of varying radii and conditions as one feature. The property panel provides fillet types, selection modes, and selection sets to achieve a robust filleting operation. For each fillet type you can have multiple selection sets of differing sizes.
For more information about property panel common controls see About Property Panels
The Fillet property panel has a tool palette that is docked to the side. You can drag it away and detach the two if so desired. To reconnect them, click-and-drag one near the other and when the blue edge appears release the mouse button. When the cursor is near the property panel the side where the tool palette will snap is highlighted.
The tool palette controls enable adding multiple fillet sizes and types in one command session:
When a value conflicts with other aspects of the feature warning badges appear in the property panel and HUD. Hover the cursor over the badge to view the tooltip information. For example, in the following image two variable fillet edges conflict with one another. Edge 1 position value (1) conflicts with edge 2 position value (0) because the two points are coincident. The values overlap.
Click 3D Model tab Modify panel
Fillet
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In the property panel, the Constant Radius Edge Set is immediately active. You can begin selecting edges, modify parameters, or change selection set types before you select edges.
Switch the Select priority to refine how you select:
Specify the fillet radius using the in-canvas manipulator, in-canvas value editor, or the property panel field. To apply tolerances to the fillet radius, click the arrow in the value field and select Tolerance... then, in the dialog set the desired tolerance type and value.
Select a continuity preference:
Applies Tangent (G1) fillets which are tangent to adjacent faces.
Applies Smooth (G2) fillets which are curvature continuous to adjacent faces. Applying this option causes changes in curvature to occur gradually, resulting in smoother, more aesthetically pleasing transitions between faces.
Applies Inverted fillets which are curvature continuous to adjacent faces. Use the Inverted Fillet option to switch between a convex fillet and concave fillet.
Advanced Properties - select or clear the options as needed.
Click OK to finish and close the property panel. Click Apply to continue applying fillets and rounds.
Where three edges or more constant radius edges intersect at the same vertex, you can create a corner setback.
Click 3D Model tab Modify panel
Fillet
Select the intersecting edges.
In the Constant Radius Edge Set, specify the fillet size.
In the tool palette, click Add corner setback. The property panel expands to display the additional input fields.
In the canvas, select the vertex where the edges intersect.
In Corner Setback Behavior, specify the setback distance. The value can be per edge. You can use Tab to move to the next field and Shift+Tab to move to the previous field.
Or, select the Minimal option to allow the command to define the minimum allowable setback for a given vertex selection set. Minimal often provides the smoothest transition and increases the success rate of solving difficult setback fillets.
Optionally, specify the Advanced Properties.
Click OK to finish and close the property panel. Click Apply to continue applying fillets and rounds.
Select one or more edges and specify a different radius for the start point and endpoint of each edge. You can add intermediate points, each of which can have a different radius and position along the edge. Finally, select the edge continuity type.
Click 3D Model tab Modify panel
Fillet
In the property panel tool palette, click the Variable Radius Fillet. The property panel expands to display the additional input fields.
In the canvas, select one or more edges to fillet. When multiple edges are selected they populate a table in the property panel. The Radius column can be resized and the Position fields can be sorted, the edges remain separated.
To add intermediate points to the edge, pause the cursor along the selected edge at the approximate point location. Click to add the point. In the property panel, the points are ordered based on position value. The point table position updates based on the position values. You can use Tab to move to the next field and Shift+Tab to move to the previous field.
Alternatively, in the property panel, click Add point. The point is placed at midpoint along the edge and the radius is selected for editing. To delete points from the property panel table do one of the following:
You can enter the radius and position of intermediate points as they are added, or add as many as you want and then edit the point table in the property panel.
Specify the continuity type. To have edges of differing continuity types, click the to create a different selection set for each type.
Specify the Advanced Properties to use.
Smooth Radius Transition. Creates fillets with a gradual blending transition between the points. The transition is tangent (no rate of change between points).
Clear the check box to create fillets with linear transitions between the points.
Click OK to finish and close the property panel. Click Apply to continue applying fillets and rounds.
Apply fillets and rounds to all edges if a solid or multi-body solid. Or, apply only fillets or only rounds as each has a radius parameter. Only one solid selection set can be defined at a time. Use Apply to do multiple solids having different fillet values. Not available in the assembly environment.
Click 3D Model tab Modify panel
Fillet
In the tool palette, click the Solid selection mode. If there is only one solid, it is automatically selected. For a multi-body part, select the target solid.
In the Solid selector row, specify how all available edges of the solid body are to be treated:
If not automatically selected, select the target solid. The fillets and rounds preview in-canvas, the features preview.
In the property panel, pause the cursor over either selection set to see the participating edges highlighted. Adjust the radius setting as needed. You can clear either selection set if you want to only do rounds or fillets.
Click OK to finish and close the property panel. Click Apply to continue applying fillets and rounds.
Take advantage of the edge set capability to create multiple fillets in one step.
Use one of the following methods to display the feature property panel:
In the property panel or with in-canvas manipulators change defining values. To change from edge to face or full round fillets requires deleting and recreating the fillet.
Click OK to finish and close the property panel. Click Apply to continue applying fillets and rounds.
For reference in the following, Real Value Edit Controls (RVEC) are referred to by their acronym.
Variable Fillet Set
Variable Set Behavior
At times a message may display stating that the selected edges cannot be blended. The most common occurrence is when there are too many edges selected, or when one set of edges doesn't work with the specified value.
When such an error occurs, try either of these two ways to resolve the issue:
On rare occasion, there may be conditions where the specified size will not work well and the solutions is to iterate on size reduction until successful.