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      <title>Form features</title>
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      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Form features</div>
      <hr noshade="true"><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap329"></a><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap330"></a><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap331"></a><p class="para_topic"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/commandref/ideas_rule.gif" border="0"></p>
      <p class="para_topic">In I-deas, most features begin with a sketch.</p>
      <p class="para_topic"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/commandref/nx_rule.gif" border="0"></p>
      <p class="para_topic">As in I-deas, features may begin with a sketch, but there are also many different types of form features which simulate manufacturing operations, such as machining pockets and slots. Form features create new geometry that is defined entirely by parameters, without a need for sketching.</p>
      <p class="para_topic">This prismatic part is a good example of a part that can be modeled entirely with form features. The feature highlighted below is created using one <b class="uiTerm">Slot</b> command. Since the slot and pocket features include the inside radii, fewer features are needed.
      </p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/parts/modelnavigator_slot.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_topic">The typical procedure for creating most form features is:</p>
      <ol type="1" start="1">
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Select the form feature command from the <b class="uiTerm">Insert</b> &rarr; <b class="uiTerm">Design Feature</b> menu.
            </p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Pick the placement face.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Pick a vector to define the horizontal axis.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Enter the parameters defining the form feature.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Define constraints to position the feature.</p>
         </li>
      </ol>
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            <td valign="top" align="left"><img align="left" src="../graphics/tip.gif" alt="Tip" title="Tip"></td>
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               <div class="para_tip">
                  <p class="para_tip_body">For a complete list of the form features available, look at the menu <b class="uiTerm">Insert</b> &rarr; <b class="uiTerm">Design Feature</b>. This menu contains both form features and primitive features. Using the I-deas role, these buttons are found in the <b class="uiTerm">Feature Operation</b> toolbar.
                  </p>
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      </table><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap332"></a><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap333"></a><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap334"></a><a name="ndxgenid_roadmap335"></a><ul class="unmarkedList">
         <li>
            <p class="para_item"><b class="uiTerm">Feature Operation</b> toolbar:
            </p>
            <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/feature_operations_toolbar.gif" border="0"></p>
            <ul class="unmarkedList">
               <li>
                  <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/icon-hole.gif" border="0"> <b class="uiTerm">Hole</b></p>
               </li>
               <li>
                  <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/icon-boss.gif" border="0"> <b class="uiTerm">Boss</b></p>
               </li>
               <li>
                  <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/icon-pocket.gif" border="0"> <b class="uiTerm">Pocket</b></p>
               </li>
               <li>
                  <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/icon-pad.gif" border="0"> <b class="uiTerm">Pad</b></p>
               </li>
               <li>
                  <p class="para_item"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/icons/icon-slot.gif" border="0"> <b class="uiTerm">Slot</b></p>
               </li>
            </ul>
         </li>
      </ul>
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            <td valign="top" align="left"><img align="left" src="../graphics/note.gif" alt="Note" title="Note"></td>
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               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body">A <b class="uiTerm">Pad</b> feature is different than a primitive <b class="uiTerm">Block</b> feature because the <b class="uiTerm">Pad</b> uses associative <a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('roadmap/05qt_parts_25.html');return(false);">positioning relationships</a>.
                  </p>
               </div>
            </td>
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         <tr>
            <td valign="top" align="left"><img align="left" src="../graphics/tip.gif" alt="Tip" title="Tip"></td>
            <td valign="bottom" align="left" width="100%">
               <div class="para_tip">
                  <p class="para_tip_body">When adding a <b class="uiTerm">Pad</b> or <b class="uiTerm">Boss</b> feature, position to a datum plane instead of a face to give more control over the direction.
                  </p>
               </div>
            </td>
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      <p class="para_topic">See also:</p>
      <ul class="unmarkedList">
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Help: <img align="bottom" src="graphics/widgets/book_closed.gif" border="0"> Design &rarr; Modeling &rarr; Creating Objects from the Insert Menu &rarr; Design Feature
            </p>
         </li>
      </ul>
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