Sheetmetal > Using Sheetmetal Design > Sheet Metal Feature Order and References
  
Sheet Metal Feature Order and References
The proper feature creation order and sketch references help when modifying the part and presenting it in a drawing. The following illustrations compare the results from different order and reference choices.
Order of Feature Creation
Option A
Option B
1 Create the cut before the bend.
2 When a bend is created new surfaces result. The cut surface stays in the old surface location.
3 Create the cut after the bend and unbend.
4 When you bend back the wall the cut section stays with the cut features.
 
* You can obtain the same result if you create the cut while the wall is bent.
References for Feature Creation
Option A
Option B
1 Horizontal sketching reference created on an unrelated surface. Cut alignment to local edge and dimensioned to local vertex.
2 After bending back, the cut section is still aligned with local edge, but the dimensions are in the wrong location because the sketching references did not move.
3 Horizontal sketching reference is created through the local edge and normal to the sketching plane. The cut is aligned to the local edge and dimensioned to local vertex.
4 After bending back, feature dimensions follow because sketching references follow.