At SolidWorks World 2008 (SWW8) we saw confirmation of a rumor. \u00a0SolidWorks 2009 would have the capability to add slot holes to parts. \u00a0This is a long sought after function that some would say has been missing along. \u00a0As demonstrated, the slot hole was not a special feature. \u00a0It was a sketch tool! Some may not initially like this, preferring slot holes to be their own discrete type of feature. \u00a0Others may prefer creating slots with a special sketch tool.<\/p>\n
The SWW8 demonstration showed the presenter starting a sketch, picking the slot tool. \u00a0This allowed him to draw just a construction line with two LMB clicks. \u00a0The slot form automatically formed as though it was a capped offset from the initial construction line. \u00a0One more click set the sketch entities for the slot. \u00a0It appeared to be easy and painless. \u00a0I presume dimensioning of the slot within the sketch would be similar to current methods for similar sets of entities in the current version of SolidWorks.<\/p>\n
The advantage to the slot function as a sketch tool is that user can actually create either an extrude or cut-extrude with the same tool. \u00a0So, not only are slot holes supported, but so is their opposite and\u00c2\u00a0positive counterpart. \u00a0As long as SolidWorks allows the user to dimension the slot hole on the drawing with the Hold Callout function, I do not have any major issues with this. \u00a0A mild criticism is that this method is a kin to how holes were made in the earliest SolidWorks versions, long before Hole Wizard, and presumably\u00c2\u00a0even before those “legacy holes”. \u00a0Perhaps this is just the first volley in a long series of improvements as we work our way to a Slot Wizard? \u00a0Maybe not.<\/p>\n
However, some users might be expecting slot holes to be a feature of their own. \u00a0I cannot fully imagine how SolidWorks might accomplish this. \u00a0Maybe special one-off sketches are required, with sizes regulated with a Property Manager, similar to Hole Wizard holes. \u00a0Thinking of this, I can imagine that it would be nice to have some feature level control over slots so that they can be automatically sized when associated with a particular fastener within an assembly.<\/p>\n
As far as dimensioning for slot holes on drawings, I did participate in early questionnaires regarding how this should be done. \u00a0I dutifully pulled my advice from ASME Y14.5M-1994, with special attention to Fig 1-35(b). \u00a0I also stated that I preferred centermarks to be\u00c2\u00a0at the center of slot by default (again referencing Fig 1-35(b)). \u00a0This will allow the quickest and simplest scheme to specify a slot hole. \u00a0This brings to mind a question. \u00a0If Hole Callout does callout slot holes this way, what will it do for extruded shapes that use a slot sketch? \u00a0There is no standard for this in ASME as far as I can tell, other than just directly dimensioning the feature.<\/p>\n