Chief Architect Help Database - Article Number:  389

How to Use the Fillet and Chamfer Edit Tools

The information in this article applies to:
  • Chief Architect X5
  • Chief Architect X4
  • Chief Architect X3
  • Chief Architect X2
  • Chief Architect X1
QUESTION

When I click on a CAD polyline, I see the Fillet Two Lines and Chamfer Two Lines buttons on the edit toolbar.  What do these edit tools do, and how can I use them?

ANSWER

The Fillet Two Lines and Chamfer Two Lines edit buttons allow you to easily add fillets, or curves, and chamfers, or angled edges, to the corners of CAD objects. including text objects.  These two tools are particularly helpful because they allow you to produce fillets and chamfers at sizes that you specify.

Some CAD-based objects, such as custom countertops and slabs, can also be edited using the Fillet Two Lines and Chamfer Two Lines edit tools.

 

To use the Fillet Two Lines edit tool:

  1. Click the Select Objects  button, then click on a CAD polyline to select it.


  2. Double-click the Fillet Two Lines  edit button.


  3. In the Fillet/Chamfer dialog, specify the desired Fillet Radius for the fillet, or rounded corner, that you would like to create.



    • The fillet radius is the distance from the curve of the fillet to its center point. 

    • A small Fillet Radius value produces a small, tight fillet, and a larger value produces a wider, longer curve.

    • Click OK to close the dialog and finish filleting a corner of the polyline.


  4. With the polyline still selected, you can click on an edge adjacent to the one that you clicked on to select it in step 1.  The corner at which the two edges join will become filleted.


  5. If you prefer to fillet a different corner, click the Select Objects  button to unselect the polyline, then click on the polyline again.

    • When you click on the polyline, make sure you click on an edge on either side of the corner you wish to fillet.

    • Then, click the Fillet Two Lines  edit button and click on the other edge adjoining the corner.

    • When you click on the other edge, the corner between them will become filleted.

 

To use the Chamfer Two Lines edit tool:

  1. Click the Select Objects button, then click on a CAD polyline to select it.


  2. Double-click the Chamfer Two Lines  edit button.


  3. In the Fillet/Chamfer dialog, specify the desired Chamfer Distance

    • The chamfer distance is the length of the chamfer, or angled corner. 

    • Click OK to close the dialog and finish chamfering a corner of the polyline.


  4. With the polyline still selected, you can click on an edge adjacent to the one that you clicked on to select it in step 1.  The corner at which the two edges join will become chamfered.


  5. If you prefer to chamfer a different corner, click the Select Objects button to unselect the polyline, then click on the polyline again.

    • When you click on the polyline, make sure you click on an edge on either side of the corner you wish to chamfer.

    • Then, click the Chamfer Two Lines  edit button and click on the other edge adjoining the corner.

    • When you click on the other edge, the corner between them will become chamfered.

  Note: When you fillet or chamfer the corner of a polyline or polyline-based object, only that corner will be affected.

When you fillet or chamfer the corner of a CAD box or box-based object, all four corners will be affected identically.

MORE INFORMATION

You can also use the Fillet Two Lines and Chamfer Two Lines edit tools to join two unconnected lines or polylines.  To learn how, see article 387 in this database: How do I join two lines using the Fillet and Chamfer tools?

If you do not need to specify an exact fillet radius, you can quickly fillet corners using the Fillet edit behavior.  For more information, see article 639:  How do I create a text box with rounded corners?

Last updated on: Mar 29, 2013


The Chief Architect support team has compiled a list of articles with common questions and answers.


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