IronCAD Lesson 1 3D Modeling Techniques Defined Drag and Drop/Feature
Based Modeling
No Sketching, Please!
I saw this
presentation of a fellow creating this part in ZW3D. While I found
it interesting and learned a bit. It still depended
on too much sketching and constraining.
I show in this
article how to do the same thing in ZW3D using primitive shape
design.
IronCAD is based on primitive
shape design but uses much more sophisticated Intellishapes
available in a standard or custom catalog. It is the only integrated
history/direct edit MCAD systems. You usually use start with drag
and drop functionality then you have the option of sketching or
direct edit when required, making it the most flexible modeling
system.
These lessons are basically
on modeling techniques using Streamline Sketching (No sketching in
this lesson) and Feature Based Modeling. This lesson was
completely done with drag and drop. Fast and Easy.
Here is the drawing if you would like to
give it a try.
IronCAD Drag and
Drop Design
I would do a
video, but I really am not good at it. So I will show you step by
step.
The modeling technique is
hugely responsible for the level of productivity. Those of you that
are only trained in the constrained sketching world
are truly limited by not using the freedom of feature based design,
that is available in even the most Pro/e-ish of CAD systems. If your
designers are designing in these very unproductive and time
consuming processes it might be time to review your standard design
procedures. Don't have any do you?
Again, I say there are many different ways to model a part.
I can now see, with my exposure to direct edit modelers like CADKEY, I
rarely sketch like you see the ZW3D presenter doing. I have always
created my basic sketches by mostly creating offsets and extending
and trimming or. It seems to be much easier. I never put in a fillet that
can be created later. What do you think? Of course, this take a good
understanding of descriptive geometry.
I will now introduce you
to drag and drop design.
No sketching was done in this
Lesson.
Here is IronCAD. We set the units to millimeters.
I drag and drop a block from the standard catalog. You can have
custom catalogs for common features, parts and assemblies. These
custom catalogs can be available to all users and can be defined for
any level of a project or product.
We drag and drop a "hole" block,
locate and size it. Drag and drop shapes are much more sophisticated
as compared to primitive shapes, each are based on a sketch that can
be edited.
For an example you can drop a cone shape which is
based on a rotated sketch and edit it for any rotated shape you
need. It is very easy to drop this positive or negative shape,
locate it and edit it, than establishing a new sketch.
We drag and drop another block on the
top and size it by pulling or defining the size. We can put in a set
number or with the shift key held down, pull the shape to align with a face or
an edge. There are many options on how to size a feature.
We then drag and drop a cylinder onto the top from face and use the
triball to locate it from the top edge. We then pull the shape to
align with
the back edge of the top block.
We now
add the fillets. The ZW3D presenter put this in the sketch. No fillet
should be defined in a sketch when they can be put in as a feature
later. While this is fine when you create a model from a drawing it
should not be used in the design process. Many problems can be
alleviated when keeping the sketches as simple at possible.
We again drag and drop a block on the
top face, locate and size it. It cannot get simpler.
Using the triball we mirror link the
feature. We show the triball in the move triball mode. Which means
we are locating the triball in the center of an edge that will
prepare for the mirror. The triball is the most sophisticated
feature, part and assembly manipulator. When you have a true single
model environment it is indispensible.
We will now add the fillets. I cannot emphasize how important
not having the fillets included in the sketch in productive
modeling.
Add the hole by dragging and dropping a hole cylinder on to the
face, size it and locate it again with the triball.
Now just add the chamfers.
And we are done!! No Sketching or
Constraining. We only used drag and drop design from a standard
catalog. More productive? Of course.
We
will now detail it for your reference. IronCAD has a separate
documentation file. But it is incredibly functional for all types of
documentation from detailing, to manuals , tech pubs, sales and
marketing. I works with the different configuration from a true
single model environment. Which means you can have the full model
assembly and
documentation in two files.
IronCAD's drag and drop modeling concept
offers 5X productive increase. But with the single model
environment, the only true integrated history/direct edit modeling,
copy and paste from different files and the incredible triball you
can easily get 10X increased productivity. Much of it realized when
the parts or assemblies have to be modified.
Is 3D CAD Productivity an Oxymoron? It is very important that you look into
how you or your designers and engineers are creating the parts. Streamline
Sketching and Feature Based Modeling is easy to learn and implement.
It, alone, will increase productivity 10X. Now, IronCAD with its
integrated
history and robust direct edit functionality can increase your
productivity another 5X or more with changes! Again, time is money
in engineering.
More on Streamline Sketching and Feature Based Modeling. 3D Modeling Techniques Defined To experience this increased level of
productivity, please download IronCAD for a 30 day evaluation. Legacy
data is no problem, IronCAD can read the native files of all of the
popular programs: NX, Solidworks, Catia 4/5, Solid Edge, Inventor and
Creo. IronCAD is a great replacement for the subscription only Autodesk
and PTC products.
Give me a call if you have any
questions. I can set up a skype or go to meeting to show this part
or answer any of your questions on the operation of IronCAD. It
truly is the very best conceptual design system.
If you are interested in adding professional
hybrid modeling capabilities or looking for a new solution to
increase your productivity, take some time to download a fully
functional 30 day evaluation and play with these packages. Feel free
to give me a call if you have any questions or would like an on-line
presentation.
