Chamfer/Fillet

You can use the Chamfer/Fillet icon-tools-chamferfillet-auto.png tool to add an angled face or radius at the edges of your model. The type of geometry created from a chamfer or fillet is based on how you manipulate the arrows for the tool and the settings you select. The basic method is to select an edge and use the arrows as described below.

  • Chamfer: Drag the arrows in toward the body.
  • Fillet: Drag the arrows away from the body.
ChamferFillet-01.png   ChamferFillet-02
Chamfer   Fillet

Chamfer

The Chamfer tool creates beveled edges by cutting off the edge at an angle, rather than rounding it like a fillet. Chamfers are useful for removing sharp edges or for functional and aesthetic purposes in your designs.

Chamfer types

You can create the following chamfer types in Shapr3D:

  • Auto – Creates an angled face that is setback equal distances from the selected edge. For an edge at the intersection of perpendicular faces (90°), the chamfer produces a 45° bevel. The dimension that you define for a chamfer is the distance the chamfer is set back from the original edge. 
  • 2-distance –  A chamfer set back at different distances from the selected edge, giving you even more control over how the chamfer is applied. This is useful when the chamfer needs to taper in a specific way.

Create a chamfer

To create a chamfer:

  1. Go to Tools > Chamfer/Fillet.
    For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
  2. From the menu, select Chamfer/Fillet to choose a chamfer type.
  3. Select the edge(s) to chamfer.
  4. Drag the arrow(s) to chamfer the selected edge(s).
  5. To finish, select Done.
    Note: When using Chamfer/Fillet from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

Fillet

The Fillet tool creates smooth transitions between edges by rounding them off. The default fillet settings result in a face with a circular cross-section that is tangent (G1 continuity) to adjacent faces. When three or more filleted edges meet at a corner, the default Corner setting uses Rolling Ball. These settings can be adjusted to fine-tune a fillet (see Understanding fillet settings).

Fillet types

You can create the following fillet types in Shapr3D:

  • Radius – Rounds the edge by defining the curvature with a specific radius. This type of fillet is ideal when you want to ensure a consistent, circular transition along the edge.
  • Chordal – Chord width, or chord, is the straight-line distance between two points on a curve, such as a circle or arc. A chordal fillet specifies the distance between the endpoints of the fillet, rather than the radius. This gives you greater control over how the edge transitions, especially in cases where the exact distance between endpoints is critical.

Understanding fillet settings

Fillets can be modified to adjust their profile, corner type, and continuity conditions by clicking the gear icon or adjusting the slider that automatically pops up.

chamfer-fillet-settings.png chamfer-fillet-fillet-options.png

 

Radius dimension label

This dimension label defines the radius for a default circular fillet. If you make changes to the profile or continuity type, this value represents the setback distance from the original edge, rather than a true radius value.

Settings badge

Select the Settings badge to access the menu with the Corners and Continuity options.

Corners
    Rolling Ball This type of corner has a constant radius. This is the default corner type. ChamferFillet-FilletSettings-03.png
    Setback   This type of corner sets back the edges where the fillets begin blending into the corner. The blended face has a variable radius.  ChamferFillet-FilletSettings-04.png
Continuity
   G1 Use this continuity type to maintain tangency between the fillet and adjacent faces. This is the default continuity type. ChamferFillet-FilletSettings-05.png
    G2 Use this continuity type to create a filet that matches the curvature of adjacent faces. This produces a smoother transition between the fillet and adjacent faces than G1 continuity. Fillets with G2 continuity will have a non-circular cross-sectional profile. ChamferFillet-FilletSettings-06.png

Tip

Zebra stripes are shown in the images above to help visualize curvature conditions. For more information on this tool, see Views and Appearance.

Profile slider

The profile slider can change the cross-sectional profile of the fillet. Sliding toward the right will produce a sharper profile and sliding to the left will produce a flatter profile.

Note: Setting a different value than the default will result in losing the radial dimension of the fillet.

Magnitude dimension label

You can use this dimension label to define the magnitude of change for the profile slider. The value can be between -1 and 1. A value of -1 would be a completely flat face and positions the slider all the way to the left. A value of 1 would result in a sharp corner and positions the slider all the way to the right.

Create a fillet

To create a fillet:

  1. Go to Tools > Chamfer/Fillet.
    For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
  2. Select the edge(s) you want to fillet.
  3. Use the gizmo to fillet the selected edges.
    Note: A radius fillet is created by default. You can change the fillet type in your fillet settings in History.
  4. To finish, select Done.
    Note: When using Chamfer/Fillet from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

History settings

Chamfer

To manage history settings for the Chamfer action, find the step for your specific chamfer and then view or modify the following:

  • Edge – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different edge to chamfer and then select Done to finish.
  • Distance #1 – Enter your preferred first distance for a 2-distance chamfer. 
  • Distance #2 – Enter your preferred second distance for a 2-distance chamfer. 
  • Include Tangent Edges – Turn on to include tangent edges for the chamfer.

    history-chamfer.png

Fillet

To manage history settings for the Fillet action, find the step for your specific fillet and then view or modify the following:

  • Edge – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different edge to fillet and then select Done to finish.
  • Size Type  – Select the dropdown to choose between a Radius or Chord Width fillet.
  • Radius – For radius fillets, enter your preferred radius.
  • Width – For chordal fillets, enter your preferred width.
  • Continuity – Select the dropdown to choose between a G1 and G2 continuity.
  • Corner – Select the dropdown to choose between a Rolling Ball or Setback corner.
  • Overflow – Select the dropdown to choose between an Auto, Cliff, Smooth, and Notch overflow.
  • Curvature – Enter your preferred curvature value for the fillet.
  • Include Tangent Edges – Turn on to include tangent edges for the chamfer.
  • Y-Shaped Blend – Toggle the slider to turn on or turn off Y-shaped blend.

    history-fillet.png

 

Learn more by watching the video below:

Return to top
Was this article helpful?
10 out of 17 found this helpful

Topics

See more