In this Article:

Edge Fillet

Insert > Fillet/Chamfer

Use this command to create fillets at selected edges. The optional inputs are many and can be used to create a wide variety of constant and variable fillets and corner blends. They include the amount of smoothing at corner blends, arc or conic cross-sectional fillets, variable fillet attributes, corner relief and edge constraints.

Required Inputs

• Edges (E)
  Select the edges to fillet.
  
  
• Radius (R)
  Specify the fillet radius.

  Options Tab

• Relief
  Use this option to control the amount of smoothing at a corner patch. When set to zero (its default value), the command decides where to trim the rails of the fillets meeting at a corner. Values greater than zero add additional relief to corners. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.

1. Specify the relief distance.
   
   

• Arc type
  Use this option to specify the fillet arc type to create. Select from the following.

Circular Arc
Create fillets using circular arcs.

Conic Arc
Create fillets using conic arcs.

• Conic ratio
  If Conic Arc is selected for the Arc Type above, enter the conic ratio within the range of 0 - 1. (default = 0.5)
  
  
• Hold fillet to edge
  Check this box if you want fillets held to nearby edges.
  
  
• Blend corners
  Check this box to create a single smooth trimmed face for each corner, via the FEM-based surface fitting method.  This helps to produce smoother corners in certain cases.  If unchecked, multiple tangent-continuous faces are used to patch corners. 
  
  
• Specify sample density, Density
  This option is only active if the Blend corners option (see above) is checked.  If you check this box - In the Density field, enter the average number of sampling points along the edges of the blended corners. VX then computes the actual number of sampling points according to the relative length of each edge with regards to the total length of all edges.  If you do not check this box - VX automatically uses a discretization method for sampling the points along the blended edges.
  
  
• Base faces
  By default, the base faces that are filleted are sewn to the filleted edge, maintaining solid closure.  You can select other options:

No Action
The base faces are left unchanged.

Divide
The base faces are divided along the tangent fillet edges but are NOT trimmed away.

Trim
The base faces are Divided and trimmed away.

Sew
The base faces are trimmed and sewn.

 

• Fillet face
  This option is used to modify the tangency of the new fillet faces.  By default, the new fillet faces are Tangent Matched with the base faces.  You can select other options:

Maximal
The maximum amount of tangency allowed is used.

Minimal
The minimum amount of tangency allowed is used.

Tangent Match
The tangency is match to the base faces.

 

  Advanced Tab

When the fillet is complete, the variable attributes will govern the shape of the fillet by constraining the radius to the value of the attribute at the given points. Options are available to Add, Modify, and Delete variable attributes. Each are discussed below.

• Add (Advanced Tab Option)
  Use this option to add a variable attribute at a point or points on an edge. The attribute controls the fillet radius at that point. Multiple attributes can be added along an edge to create a variable fillet along the edge.
  
  

To make the fillet "wash-out" at a point, add a variable attribute of 0 (zero) at the desired "wash-out" point. You can use the Flat option to create flat regions (i.e., of constant fillet radius) between attributes. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.

1. Select a point on an edge to locate a variable attribute.
   
   
2. Specify the fillet radius or chamfer setback for the attribute.
   
   The added attribute is represented by a dimension placed at the point on the edge.
   
   
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all of the desired attributes are added and then middle-click to continue.

Required Inputs (for Add Option)

• Point
  Select a point on the edge where you want the fillet attribute Added.  The desired radius will be met at this point.
  
  
• Radius
  Enter the attribute radius.

 

  Optional Inputs (for Add Option)

• Radius locally flat
  Use this option to mix constant and variable radius fillets along a single fillet chain. To do this, just place variable attributes with the flat option turned on at the boundaries of the region that should be a constant radius (i.e., flat). Then select Yes or No to proceed.  If you select Yes, the attribute symbol "Rn(flat)" is placed at the point on the curve.
  
  
  

  
  
  

• Modify (Advanced Tab Option)
  Use this option to modify a variable attribute created with the Add (Advanced Tab Option) above. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.

1. Select a variable attribute dimension to modify.
   
   
2. Specify the new fillet radius or chamfer setback for the attribute.
   
   
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all of the desired attributes are modified and then middle-click after step 2 to continue.
   

• Delete (Advanced Tab Option)
  Use this option to delete a variable attribute created with the Add option above. Also refer to the Tips & Techniques section below.
  
  
  
  
  

1. Select a variable attribute to delete and then middle-click to continue.
   

• Vertex (Advanced Tab Option)
  Use this option to fillet corners.

1. Select a vertex to fillet. 
   
   

Required Inputs (for Vertex - Advanced Tab Option)

• Radius
  Enter the desired radius at the vertex and then pick OK. The vertex fillet will be echoed on the part. 
  
  
• Edge
  A relief distance can be specified for each Edge.  The relief determines how far from the vertex the corner blend extends. A relief can be specified for each edge that converges at the chosen vertex.
  
  The corner blend can be edited before the fillet is complete by selecting the Vertex option again and then selecting Relief from the Required Inputs section. It can be edited afterwards with the Redefine Feature command.
  
  
• Relief
  After selecting an Edge, enter a value in the Relief field.
  
  Repeat these Edge/Relief steps until all desired converging edges have been assigned a relief value or middle-click to continue with the fillet command.
  

Optional Inputs (for Vertex - Advanced Tab Option)

• Face
  Optionally, you can specify a relief distance for each converging face as well.  Similar to the Edge/Relief steps above, the Face/Relief steps determine how far from the vertex, the corner blend extends onto the selected face. A relief can be specified for each face that converges at the chosen vertex.
  
  Select the Face and then enter a new value in the Relief field of the Required Inputs section of the form.
  
  The corner blend can be edited before the fillet is complete by selecting the Vertex option again and then selecting this Face option. It can be edited afterwards with the Redefine Feature command.
  
  Repeat these Face/Relief steps for each converging face or middle-click to continue with the fillet command.

Tips & Techniques

How to add, modify or delete a fillet radius attribute after the fillet is complete

Using the "Relief" option during an edge fillet

Make multiple constant fillets with a single command

Make you part more flexible with fillet attributes

Notes

1. Pressing the SHIFT key while selecting edges initiates a Chain Pick. Curves and edges that are connected end to end are selected.
   

1. Face Fillet Feature
2. Elliptical Fillet Feature
3. Loop Fillet Feature
4. Supported 3D Fillet Cases