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First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

(OP)
Designing a sheet metal part and using edge flanges.

When you go back to edit the flanges, you cannot de-select the first edge you selected.

So, you put 10 edge flanges onto a part.
You decide to remove 1 of the flanges.
If it wasn't the first edge you selected, then you can easily de-select it.
If it was the first edge you selected, you are out of luck.

So, in order to remove that flange, I have to delete the entire feature. Then re-create the flange feature with the edges I need. Depending on where it is in the model, this can cause a lot of features to delete/crash.

Any ideas on how to get around this? (Other than always only selecting one edge per feature)

Thanks

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

Create the part correctly the first time?

Beyond that, you could cut the flange out. It's a sucky (<- technical term) alternative, but it's the nature of the feature. When you try to remove that first flange, you're trying to delete the definition for all the other involved flanges. SolidWorks chokes and can't figure out what to do.   

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

Submit an ER if this is an important issue for you.

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

(OP)
I will go ahead and submit the ER for this one.

On fillets, you can select/deselect whatever edges you want, however you want.

So SW is able to figure it out on other features; I would imagine they could apply that same logic to edge flanges.

Thanks.

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

I don't think avoiding this problem is always a matter of 'create the part correctly the first time'.  Designs change as we work on them, sometimes to the point the final and original versions are hardly recognizeable to each other.

I don't run into this issue much, but I think it's a good ER.  As mentioned above, many other features don't need to apply special significance to their first selection.

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

+1 as far as being put off by this feature .  

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 2.1
HP Pavillion Elite HPE

 

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

I've run into this before, and it is quite the PITA.  However, there is a workaround.  Drag the feature manager bar (is there an actual name for that?) above the edge flange that you want to edit.  Now, create a sketch on whatever face contains the edge you want to remove, and make a cut to remove the first edge in the flange.  Roll the bar forward, and the flange will have an error.  Simply edit the flange, and it will remove the edge, and select a new first edge.  Now just delete the cut and sketch, and you have the same part you had, minus one edge flange.

It's a bit rough, but it works.

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

Good point gopack.  I've used a similar workaround for fixing a number of issues, though I'm not sure I've ever used it for this particular one.

Oh, and I believe the bar you're referring to is what I know as the rollback bar.  I believe that's the actual name - at the very least it's the one I was taught.

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

For the record, my 'Create the part correctly the first time' comment was tongue in cheek. I all too aware of the fluidity of design.
It seems to me, too, that this question was brought up at a SWUG meeting to a SW employee. I'm desperately trying to remember who/what/where so I can get the answer, or at least the reason why.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

RE: First Edge in Multiple Edge Flanges in not editable

I think if the first edge disappears you are able to redefine.  Roll back the model to before the edge flange, obliterate the first edge with some kind of feature, and then roll forward.

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