SW2008v4 bug: can't mirror chamfers?

[ScottHeiden]

I added a chamfer to the bottom of a rib in a part (for example: d1=1" and d2=2") and tried to mirror the chamfered rib through the right plane. The rib is previewed correctly but when I save the mirror the values for d1 and d2 are exchanged with each other by Solidworks.

Has anybody else seen this happen? Is there another way to mirror a chamfer that will work in 2008?

Support emailed me this:

"Regarding the Error you encountered while attempting to mirror the chamfer feature:

SolidWorks confirmed the poor behavior as a regression in SolidWorks 2008 and have submitted it to their development department for correction. You will be notified when this issue has been corrected.

The only workaround they could provide was similar to your suggestion of leaving the chamfer until the end of the feature tree and creating the chamfer after the mirrored features have been created.

We appreciate you patience with this case and look forward to assisting you in a resolution to the difficulties you are experiencing."

Spelling errors were in the original email.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Have you tried a separate mirror for each chamfer?

 

[ScottHeiden]

Yes. I get an error message:

"Some chamfered items are no longer in the model. Edit the feature to reselect the items."

and the mirror will not let itself be saved.

 

[ctopher]

Are you able to attach the file for us to look at?

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[gwubs]

I have had difficulty mirroring a chamfer for as long as I can remember. This problem is not unique to SW2008 in my experience, I've seen it plenty of times, after getting a nice preview, the message appears telling you that the feature is no longer present in the model. It may work better to fully model the first "side" of the part, and then mirror that entire body.

 

[ScottHeiden]

ctopher:

I can't attach the file, but it's nothing complicated. extrude a flat plate on the front plane; extrude a rectangular rib from that plate to the left of the right plane; chamfer one end of the rib; try to mirror the rib and chamfer thru the right plane.

gwubs:

What you suggested is how I am building the part.

I think I'm going to have to move the chamfers down below the mirrors in the feature tree and chamfer all the ribs at the end.

 

[ctopher]

It mirrored for me. Unless you are want something different.
(attached)

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[ScottHeiden]

Thanks for trying that, ctopher. Are the values for d1 and d2 of the chamfer equal in your example? I was using different values for each (this is where the problem arose) and chamfered the bottom edge of the rib.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

ScottHeiden,

Works fine for me with multiple chamfers all around.

Can you create a model like ctophers and post it for review.

 

[ctopher]

Yes, values for d1 and d2 are the same.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[ScottHeiden]

Here's an example of my problem. The 'distance-distance' option for the chamfer is where the bug lies. I input 5mm for d1 and 10 mm for d2 on the left rib. Next I mirrored the rib and the chamfer thru the right plane. See where the 5mm and 10mm values were switched?

This is NOTHING compared to other problem I'm trying to get fixed by Solidworks. I've got 200+ assemblies that were corrupted by SW2008 that someone at SW has to manually repair one at a time. They are unbeleivably sloppy in doing the repairs - most of the assemblies have to go back because someone only repaired one out of twelve configurations.

I'm shocked at how incompetent they are.

 

[ctopher]

Have tried deleting the right rib then mirroring the left one including the chamfer's?
The one on the right looks like it has the top chamfer mirrored on the top plane.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[ScottHeiden]

ctopher said:

"Have tried deleting the right rib then mirroring the left one including the chamfer's?"

That's exactly what I did. The only chamfer I applied was to the bottom edge of the left rib; the mirrored rib on the right has a chamfer 10mm deep and 5mm high on the bottom edge rather than 5mm deep and 10mm high. The top of the right rib is square.

 

[ctopher]

Oh, I see.
What version and SP of SW?

It looks like it is mirroring and rotating. I have seen this in the past. I think it was a bug at one time.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Scott,
Select the Geometry pattern option when mirroring.

 

[ScottHeiden]

CBL said:

"Select the Geometry pattern option when mirroring."

Thanks - I tried it and it worked for the simple example I posted earlier. I tried it on my actual part and got a 'Rebuild Errors' message (see attached screen print).

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Without reviewing your actual model, it's impossible to give an accurate explanation of why you are getting that error message. Even with the model it may not be possible.

Have you tried performing several mirror functions ... one for each feature (or at least for the chamfer)? I know you shouldn't have to, but it might help.

 

[ScottHeiden]

CBL said:

"Have you tried performing several mirror functions ... one for each feature (or at least for the chamfer)?"

I just tried mirroing the web and rib alone (that worked OK) then mirroring the chamfer all by itself - I got the 'Rebuild Errors' message with the chamfer.