The CAD Tree The CAD TreeIn this Topic Show
The CAD Tree in BobCAD-CAM is a solid history tree that allows you to edit, reorder, and suppress CAD features so you can update the CAD model at any time during the creation process or after. The CAD Tree contains features for each solid or surface body that you create, including all Solid and Surface functions, as well as any Utility functions that you use to modify solids. In addition to the feature, a solid item is added to the Solids folder, which provides selection tools for all solid bodies in the graphics area.
Wireframe geometry is not added to the CAD Tree, with one exception: the Shape Library. A feature is added to the CAD Tree for each shape that you create using the Shape Library.
To access the CAD Tree in BobCAD-CAM:
CAD
Tree tab.The CAD Tree always contains the following two items.
BobCAD File Name
Solids
After creating or modifying a solid or surface, a CAD feature is added to the tree. If a function creates a solid or surface entity, a corresponding Solid item is added to the Solids folder.
BobCAD File Name
Solids
Solid
1
CAD
Feature
Geometry
Right-click the name of any CAD Tree item to access a shortcut menu with the options described in the following sections.
BobCAD File Name
Rebuild - recreates all CAD features in the CAD Tree using the current order and status. This option is used to update the CAD model after modifying the CAD Tree, for example, after reordering features or modifying the wireframe used to create a solid.
This item displays the file name as a reference to the CAD model.
NOTE: The Solids folder in the CAD Tree only displays an item for each visible solid entity that isn't suppressed. If you hide or suppress a solid entity, it is temporarily removed from the Solids folder.
Solids
Solid
1
Solids
Select All - selects all visible solid entities in the graphics area.
Deselect All - clears all solid selections in the graphics area.
Refresh - updates the Solids folder to correct any changes that are made.
Solid 1
Select - selects this solid entity in the graphics area.
Deselect - clears the selection of this entity in the graphics area.
Destroy - completely deletes the item from the file. This option is only available for imported entities that are not used in the file. For example, if you import an entity and don't use it, you can remove the entity by clicking Destroy.
The following shortcut menu options are available for all CAD features that are added to the CAD Tree.
CAD Feature
Geometry
CAD Feature
Edit Parameters - opens the function in the Data Entry Manager for you to edit the parameters without the need to select geometry. (This shortcut menu item is not available for all CAD functions.)
Edit - opens the function in the Data Entry Manager so you can edit the parameters including the geometry selection.
Rebuild - rebuilds the feature after modifications are made, such as moving or rotating the assigned geometry.
Suppress/Unsuppress - toggles the state of the CAD feature on the model. This turns the feature on and off so you can modify the CAD model as needed. This allows for design changes and provides a way to modify a model when creating machining features.
Rollback - suppresses this feature and all features below it in the CAD Tree. After using Rollback, the shortcut menu (of all suppressed features) changes to include only Unrollback.
Unrollback - unsuppresses the selected rollback feature and all features above it in the CAD Tree. This can be thought of as roll forward as it unsuppresses all item previous to and including it.
Rename - enables the feature in the CAD Tree to be renamed by typing text.
Delete - removes the CAD feature from the CAD Tree and deletes the output geometry.
If the feature requires geometry selection, then the feature contains one or more Geometry items as follows.
Geometry
Re/Select - enables selection mode for you modify the currently assigned geometry.
Reverse Direction - is used to swap the chain direction of the selected geometry chain. This option is only available for geometry items that use chain selection, for example, those for surface features.
Remove - clears the assigned geometry from the CAD feature. If you do not assign new geometry, the feature will fail when rebuilt.
When using the CAD Tree, it is important to think about the actions you perform as an input and an output. You assign the input geometry that is used to create the output geometry. The output geometry may then be used as the input to another feature. The input and output of each action determines how you can modify the CAD Tree.
When you edit a CAD feature, the model display in the graphics area returns to the same state as when you created the feature.
To edit a CAD feature:
1 Right-click the name of feature in the CAD Tree, and click Edit.
2 Modify the Data Entry parameters, select the geometry if required, and click OK to update the feature.
The feature automatically rebuilds.
The are many situations when CAD features are automatically rebuilt, but there are some situation where you need to manually rebuild a feature. For example, after translating wireframe input geometry, you must rebuild the feature to recreate it in the new location.
To Rebuild a CAD feature:
You may sometimes need to rebuild the entire model after making modifications.
Right-click the file name at the top of the CAD Tree, and click Rebuild.
The Suppress option allows you to temporarily remove a feature from the CAD model to view the results without that feature. The following are a few important notes.
To Suppress or Unsuppress a CAD feature:
The model automatically rebuilds.
You can use the Rollback option to suppress the selected feature and all features below it in the CAD Tree. The CAD model in the graphics area returns to the state it was in prior to the rolled back feature. The shortcut menu for all features that were suppressed using Rollback changes to contain only one command: Unrollback. This option can be thought of as roll forward as it unsuppresses the selected feature and all features above it in the CAD Tree.
The following is an example usage of Rollback:
1 Right-click the feature name and click Rollback.
This feature and all features below it become suppressed.
2 You can make changes to the feature previous to the rollback or add new features as needed.
3 If you want to unsuppress all rolled back features, right-click the last rolled back feature in the CAD Tree and click Unrollback.
To unsuppress only the first rolled back feature, right-click the feature name and click Unrollback.
TIP: If you create a new feature and move it above the rollback, you may sometimes need to Re/Select the geometry for the rollback feature (or the feature after) in order to properly rebuild the CAD Tree. (This is necessary when you are changing the input and output order of the CAD Tree.)
4 Rebuild features or the entire CAD Tree as needed.
You can click and drag to reorder the CAD features in the CAD Tree with the following important notes.
If a feature is not associated to another feature, meaning that its input does not come from or its output isn't used by another feature, you can move it to any location in the CAD Tree.
You cannot move a feature above another feature that was used to create it.
You can always reorder Extrude Boss, Extrude Cut, and Solid Boolean Add, Subtract, and Intersect.
You can remove the assigned geometry from an associated feature to allow it to be freely moved, but you must then assign new geometry to recreate the feature. (Right-click Geometry, click Remove, then right-click the feature name and click Rebuild so it displays as failed. You can then move it.)
To reorder a CAD feature:
The feature is placed below the feature you are pointing to when you release the mouse button.
You can click the CAD feature items in the CAD Tree to display the selected item in the graphics area using the current Highlight color. This is provided as a way to confirm the feature result as well as any geometry assignments at that point in the design process.
It is important to understand how deleting geometry is handled with the CAD Tree.
NOTE: If you delete a solid from the graphics area using the Delete key or the Edit menu Delete option, a Delete item is added to the CAD Tree. This removes the geometry from the graphics area, but it is retained in the Delete item. This allows you to modify or bring back the deleted item later if needed.
If you want to delete solid entities from the graphics area without completely removing them from the file, you can use the Delete key or Edit menu Delete option.
To Delete a solid feature and have it stored in the CAD Tree:
A Delete item is added to the CAD Tree, which saves the deleted geometry.
To completely remove solid geometry from the file, you should use the CAD feature shortcut menu Delete option. This action is retained in the Undo list, which is removed once you close the file.
To Delete a feature and not store it in the CAD Tree:
Wireframe entities are often used to create solid or surface features in BobCAD-CAM. It is important that you don't delete any wireframe geometry that is used to create a solid or surface, unless you are assigning new geometry. If you delete the wireframe input to a feature, that feature will fail when rebuilt, as the CAD Tree stores solid, but not wireframe entities.
It is also important to be aware of any modifications that you make the wireframe input entities. For example, if you rotate the wireframe input to a solid, when the CAD feature or CAD Tree is rebuilt, the solid updates to the new wireframe orientation.
When changing the assigned geometry to a CAD feature, there are two methods that can be used. You can either Edit the feature to recreate it, or you can Re/Select the geometry and rebuild the feature. The result is the same, only the process is different.
After editing the input to a CAD feature, you may need to reassign the geometry. For example, if you delete wireframe entities and then replace them with new entities, you need to reassign the geometry to the feature.
To update modified input:
1 Below the feature name, right-click Geometry, and click Re/Select.
2 Update the geometry selection as needed and confirm the selections.
3 Right-click the feature name, and click Rebuild.
There are some times that changing the input geometry requires you to edit the feature and reassign the geometry.
To edit a feature and its input:
1 Right-click the name of feature in the CAD Tree, and click Edit.
2 Confirm or update the Data Entry parameters, select the geometry, and click OK to update the feature.
The feature automatically rebuilds.
3 If this change affects other features, right-click the file name at the top of the CAD Tree, and click Rebuild.
When rebuilding the CAD Tree, if any feature cannot be properly rebuilt, for example, the input geometry was deleted, the feature displays the failed feature indicator as shown next.
CAD
Feature
Geometry
When you see this indicator on a CAD feature, repair and/or reassign the geometry, and rebuild the feature. The indicator is removed when the feature is successfully rebuilt.
As a final tip, you may want to rename the CAD features to something that is appropriate for the model or that is easier for you to remember later. The default naming means that all similar features share the same name, so renaming can be very helpful in keeping your CAD Tree organized, especially when reordering features.
To Rename a feature:
1 Right-click the feature name, and click Rename.
You can also slowly click the feature name twice.
2 Type the new name for the feature.
Press Enter or click anywhere else to save the new name.