Is anybody else annoyed by the fact that when using the Hole Wizard that it defaults to placing a point when changing to locating the positions.  Not that big of a deal but it just creates an extra step at the minimum to either delete the extra point or place it when doing multiple locations.  At the worst it places a hole on a part when I don't need it and I forget about it until later when I look at the part and wonder what that extra hole is doing there....

Hi SWMunky,

You have a great handle name!

One way to avoid this is to not to have a face preselected when using the hole wizard.

Personally, I am OK with the hole wizard, but the reality is that when I teach SWX in college and at the local VAR most students end up creating 2 holes instead of one.

I encourage you to submit an enhancement request to improve the hole wizard.

Perhaps others may want to throw a few ideas around on how to improve it?

cheers,

Thanks...that works, for some reason I have always been in the habit of preselecting a face...not sure if that is because previous versions required it or not or ???  For the most part the hole wizard is great but I am just tired and wanted to rant a little.... :)

Does not having a face pre-selected when using the hole wizard create a 3d hole. Some users here have had problems with 3d holes in SolidWorks 2007.

Bradley
SolidWorks Pro 2008 x64 SP1.1
PDM Works, Dell XPS Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 5 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

Yes it does and I have had issues with that in previous versions which would probably explain why I preselect faces.

[rant warning]

In my opinion, preselection of a face is almost always the proper way to begin.  Unless this has changed for 2008, if you don't preselect a face the hole location sketch is a 3D sketch rather than a 2D sketch on the face.  90% of the time or more, all the holes in a given hole wizard feature are going to be in one planar face.  Any construction geometry required to properly constrain the hole locations should be in the 2D hole location sketch of the hole wizard feature.  All too often I see users create a sketch with construction geometry to that defines hole locations prior to beginning the hole wizard.  They then define the HW options, and then place 3D sketch points coincident with the points they created in the previous sketch.  This causes an extra, unneccessary sketch feature floating out in the design tree by itself.  Alternately, creating construction geometry in a 3D sketch has its own difficulties, as all entities must be constrained in three dimensions rather than two.  Also, to add or remove a hole the user must edit both the hole location sketch and the hole wizard feature.  I have submitted an ER to allow pre-creation of a hole location sketch.  That would allow the user to create the hole location sketch with all its construction geometry, etc., then click the hole wizard button to define HW options.  Every sketch point in the pre-created sketch would then be used to create a hole.  I've tried to find a way in the API to make a hole wizard feature reference a different or pre-defined hole location sketch, but to no avail.

Sorry, long day for me too.

I always preselect a face.  Just get in the habit of selecting the face in approx. the location where you want the hole.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional

I, too, always preselect the face. I've just gotten in the habit of hitting the 'Esc' button as soon as I go into the position tab, unless I'm creating multiple holes.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

I like handleman's idea of being able to create the sketch first then defining the hole....oh well if it was a perfect world I would be drinking a beer right now.... :)

When using the pre-select method there is no need to cancel the point command with Esc or de-selecting the Point icon.

When changing to the Position tab, you usually need to place dimensions to constrain the point, so all you need do is select the Dimension icon. This will automatically de-select the Point icon and you can start dimensioning.

I agree with CorBlimeyLimey in normal situations such as when I do a clearance hole. But then when I do the tapped hole I nearly always 'drill' it through the clearance hole in the assembly level to make sure if I move one the other follows. In this situation after selecting the face and positioning the tapped hole concentric to the clearance I always have to deselect the point icon and delete the first pre selected point. If doing many holes its easy to end up with an unwanted hole. If using the hole table in drawing mode I still may not notice untill the fitters ask what the extra hole is for. doh

Why do you delete the first pre-selected point? After Escaping from the point tool, you can just drag it into place.

If you don't pre-select a face and you select Hole wizard. Your now using the hole wizard in a 3Dsketch. If you are working with flat faces ALWAYS pre-select your face.

When you select to positions tab and it goes right into a point... simply RMB and select "Select" in the RMB menu.

Quick and easy to exit that cmd. Does not seem like a nusiance to me, because I have been doing this since HW came out years ago.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com

Quote:

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

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(rant warning deux)

So why is a 3D sketch created when you do not pre-select a face? If you select a 2D face there should be a 2D sketch created "n'est pas?"

(ER request)

I second Handleman's ER to have the hole wizard be able to use a pre-defined sketch.

I would also add that if a 2D face is selected a 2D sketch should be created (even if the face was not pre-selected).

And get ready for this... if the face is rectangular a vertical and horizontal dimension should automatically appear to locate the hole... if the face is round it should automatically try to constrain it concentrically.

Your ideas are welcome, maybe after we through a few ideas around we can all submit ERs and improve the hole wizard (and then have a few beers).

No there is a 3DSketch for holes that are not on a flat face. That's why you must first pre-select the face if you want use the 2D hole wizard. and don't pre-select the face if you want to use the 3Dsketch HW.

I don't think this should change. Its much easier to associate 2D with flat face selection and not picking a face for 3D selection.

Pre-defined sketch would be fine if you so choose, but should not be required to make a 2D sketch for your holes.

The Dimension thing IMO is not needed... That's like the initial comment about the point icon being started when you select Positions. You want to place the holes before you dimension them. Having it go to the point icon is better the then Dimension icon. As for what type of Dimension would vary between the types of Dimensions you need. Some people use Ordinate over Horizontal and vertical. You have to consider everyone's way of designing and not just yours.

The only improvement (ER) I see is being able to use a sketch that was added prior to starting the HW, but should not be require to use the HW.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com

Quote:

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

josephv,
You’re absolutely right about this one. There is no reason that the 2d hole should not be put in when you click a surface.  At the end of this post I will add my ER to the hole wizard. A star for you.

Bradley
SolidWorks Pro 2008 x64 SP1.1
PDM Works, Dell XPS Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 5 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400