FeatureWorks

FeatureWorks® software is the first parametric feature recognition solution for CAD users. By applying intelligence to translated 3D CAD files, FeatureWorks brings static 3D data to life, making it ready for use with SolidWorks®, the standard in 3D mechanical design software.

Ease sharing of 3D models between organizations that use different CAD systems. Leverage the value of legacy data. Make a complete transition to a SolidWorks solution more quickly. FeatureWorks software reduces time spent rebuilding models, resulting in better product designs, faster development cycles, and lower costs.

Why spend hours rebuilding designs?

Standard translators allow you to share geometric data with other people and organizations that use different CAD systems, but making changes to that data and performing “what if” analyses are not so easy. To do so, you typically need to rebuild designs manually, introducing new intelligence or recreating intelligence that was lost during the translation process. Life would be simpler if you could add intelligence to static 3D models more quickly and easily. Now you can, with FeatureWorks software.

The first software of its kind for CAD users

Fully integrated with SolidWorks software, FeatureWorks is the first parametric feature recognition software for CAD users. By recognizing features from files produced by standard translators, FeatureWorks applies intelligence to static geometric data, bringing it back to life and making it ready
to use in SolidWorks.

Modify the size and location of features easily

Once recognition of features – including holes, cuts, chamfers, fillets, extrusions, sheet-metal features, ribs, and sketch patterns– is complete, you can easily fine-tune the design using SolidWorks software. Features recognized by FeatureWorks are fully editable, associative, and parametric, and you can create new features at any time. FeatureWorks enhances the value of legacy data and enables easier, more productive sharing of 3D models between different CAD systems.

Preserve design intent, maintain quality

FeatureWorks gives you the flexibility to make changes to static geometric data, and helps preserve or introduce new design intent. For example, a hole originally created as “blind” or “through all” will regain the essential specifications that it may have lost through the translation process, keeping the design intent intact for all downstream modifications and maintaining quality.

Save time through parametric feature recognition

FeatureWorks captures all imported data and recognizes features from files produced by standard translators such as STEP, IGES, SAT (ACIS®), VDA-FS, and Parasolid® files. Best suited for geometrically regular parts, FeatureWorks recognizes:
• Extrusion features such as bosses and cuts of the following sketch entities: lines,
circles, and circular arcs
• Revolved features that are conical or cylindrical
• Sweep features
• Any standard hole types, such as simple, tapered, and counterbored
• Sheet-metal features including edge flange, sketch and bend, hem, and base features
• Random sketch patterns of features on a plane
• Shell features such as uniform wall and shell inward only
• Ribs and draft features
• Combination of features and imported geometry
• Constant- and variable-radius fillets
• Applied features such as chamfers and fillets
• Multibody part construction

Choose automatic or interactive methods

FeatureWorks provides both automatic and interactive feature recognition capabilities. Automatic feature recognition requires no user intervention. The interactive method provides a dialog that lets you control or
specify the design intent easily by selecting and clicking on a face or the edges of a cut or boss. The model checker indicates any changes to underlying imported geometry before and after feature recognition. You can perform automatic recognition before or after interactive recognition. All feature recognition steps can be automated using the SolidWorks API (Application Programming Interface).

Easy setup, easy use, fully integrated with SolidWorks software

You can access all the controls for FeatureWorks from the SolidWorks menu bar. The FeatureManager®
design tree in SolidWorks software automatically keeps track of features recognized by FeatureWorks, so the entire design process stays consistent and intuitive. FeatureWorks provides the same Windows® look-and-feel that has made SolidWorks the easiest-tolearn-and-use 3D CAD software available.

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