Quick Start

As an example: One common mechanical feature is a hole. It is drilled.
Different drills bits come in different standard sizes and with different point
angles. Holes can be counter sunk, counter bored and tapped. Rather that
make a design create a cylinder and a cone to represent a hole. A hole feature
can group the geometry together present the user with the list of available
types and sizes making the definition of the geometry fast and easy. Holes are
often positioned in specific ways. Away from two edges or concentric to some
other geometry are common examples. Hole features can request specific
positioning input, again simplifying the process over having to do this
manually.
Feature based modeling command offer a comprehensive set of features that
can be used to build up a design. Examples of features are:
■ Extrude
■ Revolve
■ Hole
■ Fillet
■ Chamfer
■ Sweep
■ Loft
■ Rib
■ Pattern
■ Mirror
One important point about features is that they not only aid creation but also
aid editing. To change the hole diameter you can edit the feature and simple
type in a new number rather than having to offset the cylinder and re-trim
the cone.
Using a set of features you can describe and define most mechanical design
and maintain some intelligent editing of those designs.
History compared to History free modeling.
When you design with features you implicitly create some order to them. This
is because you make features serially one after another. Sometimes these
features have relationships. You have to have a plate to place and create a
hole. In this case, the hole has a relationship to the plate.
240 | Chapter 1 Autodesk Inventor Fusion TP2