Smart Features in BricsCAD Mechanical Explained

Quick answer: Smart Features technology manages the local, intelligent update of geometry after Sheet Metal commands execute, controlled by the SmSmartFeatures user preference, confirming the same setting covered on this hub’s Sheet Metal Settings page. Keep these options on unless you notice inconsistent behaviour.

The Three Smart Features Options

• Allow rebuilding sheet metal features: transforms a corner relief into two bend reliefs after running SMSPLIT on a flange, and removes unnecessary reliefs.
• Allow automatic edges imprint after rebuild: automatically imprints edges onto thickness faces.
• Allow automatic creation of junctions after creating bends.

Transformation of a Corner Relief into Bend Reliefs

Splitting a top flange along a line into two separate parts transforms its corner relief into two bend reliefs. With Smart Features on, these bend reliefs create automatically and can be switched to smooth afterward, confirming exactly the same behaviour described on this hub’s Modifying Flanges page (“if Smart Features are on, corner reliefs adjacent to the split convert into bend reliefs”). Without Smart Features, the corner relief stays as-is and can’t be switched.

Removing Unnecessary Cuts

A corner relief cut sometimes exists purely to prevent material from stretching. Converting the adjacent top bend into a junction splits the part into two separate pieces, at which point that relief is no longer needed. With Smart Features on, it’s automatically removed, simplifying the geometry; without it, the now-unnecessary corner relief stays in place.

Automatic Imprinting of Edges

Imprinted edges on thickness faces separate them into areas that can be reworked automatically, letting localized junctions convert into bends. Without automatic imprinting, SMIMPRINT needs to be run manually instead. With both Allow rebuilding sheet metal features and Allow automatic edges imprint after rebuild turned on, separating a flange via junctions splits the junction faces correctly; with the imprint option off, junction features overlap each other instead.

Automatic Creation of Junctions

Sometimes several hard edges meet at a corner, and creating a bend on all but one of them requires that remaining edge to become a junction for the part to unfold correctly (creating bends on the top face of a sheet metal box, for example). With SmSmartFeatures on, that conversion happens automatically. This automatic junction creation is localized to the common vertex of the hard edges (or the corner relief, if bends were created there), and doesn’t optimize the layout of the resulting unfolded part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I ever turn Smart Features off? Generally no, keep these options on unless you notice inconsistent behaviour occurring.

What happens to a corner relief if I split a flange with Smart Features turned off? It stays in place unchanged and can’t be switched to a different relief type.

Does automatic junction creation optimize how the part lays out once unfolded? No, it only handles the localized conversion at the common vertex of hard edges, layout optimization isn’t part of what this option does.

What command do I need to run manually if automatic edge imprinting is turned off? SMIMPRINT.