Expert Machinist > Through Slot Features > To Create a Through Slot Feature
  
To Create a Through Slot Feature
1. On the Machining tab click the arrow next to Slot and select Through Slot.
The Through Slot Feature dialog box opens with the following elements:
Feature Name—The default feature name, such as Thru_Slot1 (the system increments the number for the next Through Slot feature). You can type a customized name.
Define Feature Walls— Select the side surfaces to be machined.
Adjust Feature Boundaries—Change the shape of the feature walls using Sketcher. Use this option, for example, if you have two superimposed slots.
Define Program Zero—Change the coordinate system used for feature definition and machining.
Adjust Soft Walls—Change Hard Walls to Soft and Soft Walls to Hard.
Adjust Feature Bottom—Adjust the Floor depth of feature (by default, a Through Slot extends all the way through the stock). To specify a different Floor depth, select a surface, a datum plane, or type a value along the z-axis of the feature-level Program Zero coordinate system.
2. Select the walls of the slot. Use the following commands on the SURF/LOOP menu:
Surface—Select the wall surfaces individually.
Loop—Specify a closed loop of surfaces by selecting a face they surround. If there is more than one loop of edges (for example, there is a hole in the selected surface), you will be prompted to select an edge to use.
3. On the SURF/LOOP menu, click Done.
4. On the SELECT SRFS menu, click Done/Return.
5. Use the other elements, if needed. Click next to the element to display the current setting. The Preview button lets you check the feature geometry by highlighting the Hard Walls in red, Soft Walls in cyan.
6. Click OK to complete the feature, Cancel to quit.