Dezignstuff SolidWorks Blog

I’m going to do shorter focussed posts on specific new features when readers ask about them. I got an email question about the new Boundary solid feature. What is this? Who is it meant for? When should you use it?

Boundary boss started as a surface feature. Making it into a solid feature is an attempt to bring Boundary functionality to the masses. At least that’s my take on it. I will probably rarely use the Boundary solid. Most any time I would need Boundary type functionality, I’ll be in the middle of a surface model.

Boundary really tries to be a replacement for Loft, but it isn’t flexible enough. Boundary has a lot of great functions, but I’m not sure all the functionality of the boundary surface has been or even could be brought forward to the boundary solid. The main advantage of boundary surface is that it can create c2 condition (curvature continuity) on all 4 sides instead of just the primary profile ends like the loft. I’m not sure this translates to solids at all.

The boundary interface is noisy. You can turn off the curvature combs, but they are on by default.

If you are interested in learning more about shape modeling, and in particular seeing examples of the Boundary surface in use being compared to the other primary shape creation tools (loft, sweep, fill), you might want to pick up a copy of my Surfacing and Complex Shape Modeling book.

Personally, I think anyone who can distinguish the difference between Loft and Boundary is going to want to use the boundary surface more than the boundary solid. I’m not saying the new functionality is a bad thing, or an utter waste of time, I’m just saying that I don’t think it will see the same usage as the boundary surface.

Any other questions about other new 09 functionality?