Difference between adding a new feature or editing an existing one

A question that we sometimes get on training courses is what is the difference between drawing "a hole" directly in the sketch for a positive block compared to drawing a new H Cylinder, i.e. adding a new negative extrusion as a separate feature?

A clear and crucial difference is mainly that you can control the depth of the hole created with a "stand-alone" H Cylinder (it has its own handle/value that controls the depth), while the circle in the sketch is always linked to the depth of the extrusion, in this case the same as the outer contour.

In addition to controlling the depth of the hole, it is also much easier to control the position of the "stand-alone" hole using TriBall or locked dimensions, instead of editing these positions/dimensions in the sketch of the block.

If you would like to add a keyway in the hole, what is best there? Should you draw a rectangle in the same sketch as the circle or should it be its own feature?

Again, the control of how deep the wedge groove should go and whether you want to be able to control its shape with handles or the position with the TriBall can be crucial. But both work if you are aware of the difference between doing them one way or the other, as described briefly in the video below. The video has no sound as this article can be read in several languages.

If you embroider the question and compare "simple" shapes with "more complicated" shapes (the difference could be, for example, the number of lines in the sketch), you can also see it this way;

For "simple shapes" it is quick and easy to pull out a "ready-made primitive" which you can then modify quickly with the handles. Any shape you find in the catalogs can be manipulated/changed. So it's a "quick start" because of course the shape doesn't always have to be "completely finished" immediately after releasing it. Perfect for quick sketches and concepts! The video has no sound as this article can be read in several languages.

For a "more complicated" shape with many contour lines, it may sometimes be quicker to draw up "directly from scratch" via the sketch, or to simply modify at a later stage the "simple" shape you first started with (block/cylinder/concept model).

Keep in mind that even many 'simple' shapes together can form a 'more complicated' geometry. So even there, the answer may actually be that "simple is better in the long run". If everyone in the firm using IRONCAD is roughly equally skilled and knows the principles of how it works, then it may be better to prefer working with "more compact and sketch-based" shapes. But for those who do not really master the tools of the sketch, parts built up of many "simple" shapes can definitely be faster to modify. In fact, even for those who are more familiar with sketch work.

By combining settings on each individual feature, when you have several selected at the same time, you can control whether a feature should change shape or change position. By default, when an IntelliShape is selected, the different colored round Sizebox handles are always displayed, which are used to change shape. When more than one IntelliShape is selected and you switch from Sizebox to Shape handles on one or more IntelliShapes, they will be moved instead, as described briefly in the video below. The video has no sound as this article can be read in several languages.

Regarding a "round hole", there is also a special hole tool, ICM Holes, in the appendix IronCAD Mechanical which is good to know. Many people use this extension to create threaded and/or countersunk holes. Read more about the extension here: IronCAD Mechanical Holes