Chamfer/Fillet

You can use the Chamfer/Fillet 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 (negative dimension value).
• Fillet: Drag the arrows away from the body (positive dimension value).

Chamfer		Fillet

Creating a chamfer

To create a chamfer:

1. Go to Tools > Chamfer/Fillet.
   For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
2. Click Chamfer/Fillet again to choose a chamfer type:
   • 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 Chamfer – A chamfer that is set back at different distances from the selected edge.
3. Select the edge or edges you want to chamfer.
4. Define the chamfer using these methods:
   • Drag the arrows toward the body to size the chamfer dynamically.
   • Select the arrows or dimension label to enter a value for the chamfer size using the numpad.
   • If using a keyboard, type a negative value when the dimension label is highlighted. 
     Note: Negative values will define a chamfer, positive values will define a fillet radius.
5. Select Done.
   Note: When using Chamfer/Fillet from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

Creating a fillet

A fillet produces a radius at a selected edge. 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). 

To create a fillet:

1. Go to Tools > Chamfer/Fillet.
   For other methods of accessing this tool Accessing tools.
2. Select the edge or edges you want to fillet.
3. Define the fillet using these methods:
   • Drag the arrows away from the body to size the fillet dynamically.
   • Select the arrows or dimension label to enter a value for the fillet size using the numpad.
   • If using a keyboard, type a value when the dimension label is highlighted.
     Note: Negative values will define a chamfer, positive values will define a fillet radius.
     
4. Select Done.
   Note: When using Chamfer/Fillet from the adaptive menu, select an empty area of the grid to complete the tool.

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.

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.

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.

Learn more by watching the video below: