IRONCAD vs Fusion 360 Lesson 12 3D Modeling Techniques Defined Feature Based Modeling
These articles started out as
product comparisons, but quickly turned into a study in 3D modeling
techniques.
I truly cannot believe
that a part this simple can be as complex as the Fusion 360 presenter
makes it. You can see it takes at least 10 times as long as I take
with what I have coined "Streamlined Sketching". If you model
this way I could not hire you. I can only imagine how long a complex
part would take with this heavy sketching and constraining.
Constraining is not necessary in any case, what every you gain in
modifying by editing the sketch is defeated by the time it takes to
set it up.
Watch how simple this part can be with
"Streamlined Sketching".
Here is IronCAD. My default is inches,
so let's get started.
For this part we
will start with a sketch. Using the Extrude Wizard create a standalone
sketching plane into the scene using the extrude wizard.
Note: Why does IronCAD
call it a scene instead of a workspace? IronCAD was first released
as a graphic design program called Trispectives. It still has much
of the graphic design functionality. It truly is a wonderful mixture
of professional 3D CAD and graphic design, which puts it in a much
more flexible category as compared to the Pro/e (Creo) clones.
As you can see it
sets it up ready for your sketch. We could set the extrusion depth
but we can easily do that later. This is called feature based
modeling.
We will
Sketch the two base lines using the right mouse button allows us to
edit the lines as we enter them. You can see I have set the
horizontal length to 3.38 and angled line length
to 1.5 by 120 degrees.
Now we
offset the lines .38.
Then
just connect the ends and we are done with the sketch. I do this in
steps to show you the process. You can see how simple and fast this
is. Red dots indicate that the profile is not complete and ready for
the extrusion. We also have a sketching only function that does not
automatically create the part and allows the sketch to be free form.
I really have no idea why the
Fusion 360 presenter would do it any other way. It seems so obvious
to me even in Fusion 360 this would be a better and faster way to
model this part.
We
select finish and edit the size to 1.76.
We put
in our .88 and .43 blends and we are done with the basic
shape. The Fusion 36 fellow is still sketching the bottom shape.
Now
for the slot. We drag a hole slot from the catalog on to the bottom
face and size it by defining it in the dialog box.
We move
the triball to the center of the right radius and locate it to the
center of the .88 radius. This is what makes IronCAD the fastest
conceptual 3D CAD design program. Most of the sketching is not
required. You can compare this step to the amount of time the Fusion
360 presenter took! Again this is an example of feature based
design.
I am
not sure why the Fusion 360 presenter made putting in a custom hole
so complicated. Doesn't Fusion 360 recognize centers of existing
features? Hard to believe.
We go to the tools tab in the
catalog and drag a custom hole on the affected face. We define the
hole we want from the dialog box to the center of the fillet. No
need to move it later.
We now,
using the Triball, link the hole to the center of the other fillet
and we are done. The triball is incredibly sophisticated and works
with features, parts and assemblies. It alone increases your
productivity 2X. Don't let the Triball imitators fool you this feature
adds an incredible level of flexibility no other 3D CAD system
match.
We are
now ready for the rib. This rib is just too simple to use a rib
function we will drop a sketch on the front fact and do our basic
sketch, again using the extrude wizard. This time we will set the
depth to .25.
All we do is project the two edges and edit
them.
Now to connect the ends and we are done. When we finish the
sketch our rib is complete.
Now as
you can guess we use the Triball to move it into place and we are
done. Feature based design is incredibly productive.
We are done with the part in one tenth the time. Go ahead send
it off the manufacturing. They surely don't care how the part was
modeled they are probably getting a STEP file.
I know much of this seems a bit strange. I get
arguments about constrain sketching only for them to have to agree
it is not necessary. Even the most experienced Creo and other
Solidworks clone users have to face facts. I know this is not the
way they taught you. But most of you have not taken any descriptive
geometry classes and are wasting incredible amounts of time.
It is
very important that you look into how you or your 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 unique integrated
history/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.
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. 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 gotomeeting to show this part
or answer any of your questions on the operation of IronCAD. It
truly is the very best conceptual 3D CAD system.
