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3D Modeling Techniques 
ZW3D vs Creo Lesson Five
No 3D Modeling Can Be This Convoluted
Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling

 
Modeling note:

It is funny, you may not realize how you model because you have many ingrained processes from the past. I have been doing Boolean (direct edit) design since the beginning of solid modeling in CAD. As I have been doing these comparisons I realized that I design in shapes. ZW3D has primitive shapes and robust direct edit functionality. I look at the drawing and pick out the basic shapes of the part instead of creating a sketch. You can see that in this part.



I saw some Fusion 360 exercises online and I decided to compare ZW3D. It quickly turned into a study in modeling techniques. I have created many comparison lessons with Fusion 360, Creo, Solidworks, Solid Edge, Catia, Inventor and NX to show the difference between ZW3D and my modeling techniques. I found every presenters wasting massive amounts of time with overly complex constrained sketching procedures. I was so unimpressed that I decided to model the parts or assemblies showing my modeling techniques plus ZW3D's superb design system.


3D Modeling Techniques Defined

Many of these modeling techniques can easily be implemented even within the most Solidworkish of systems. I call it Streamlined Sketching and Feature Based Modeling. Please review a few of the above ZW3D vs these other systems, there are some very stark differences.

Please watch a Creo user model this part! I really think that Creo cannot be a complicated as this user makes it. I use two sketches, two extrusions, one primitive cylinder, 5 holes, 4 fillets! Except with the primitive shape, which would be a simple extrusion, any system can do this like I did in ZW3D.

Technique, technique, technique!!

With all the tedious constrained sketching for this simple part for the Absolute Beginner, you can imagine a complex part?

Basic 3D Modeling Exercise for Beginners in Creo Parametric 6.0 - 15



While creating 3D models from drawings is the very best way to learn 3D CAD and maybe some design techniques it does not expose the designer to the design flexibility necessary in design. IronCAD is all top down due to the single model environment. Creating mating parts is a cruise. But modeling is just one aspect of a well designed productive 3D CAD system.

Creo is a marginal 3D CAD system based on the dated Pro/e history based modeling system released in 1988. I sold Pro/e years ago and found it not productive enough for our engineering department. We use what we sell. That gives us the experience to effectively support our user base.

29 Years of 3D CAD Incompatibility - The New Generation of 3D CAD!!


Is 3D CAD Productivity an Oxymoron?



ZW3D vs Creo

I would do a video, but I really am not good at it. So I will show you step by step. I will try and get ZW3D support to create one. They are very good.

The modeling technique is hugely responsible for the level of productivity. Those of you that are only trained in the sketch, sketch, constrain, constrain world are truly limited by not using the freedom of feature based design, that is available in even the most Solidworks-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 processes. Don't have any do you?

These lessons have actually turned into exercises in modeling techniques as compared to showing a more productive CAD systems. Again, I say, there are many different ways to model a part. I see with my exposure to direct edit modelers like CADKEY, I rarely sketch like you see the Solidworks fellow 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?



Since ZW3D is a sketch based product with a primitive shape option I will create the model in both processes. The sketched based model will be done with StreamLined Sketching to show the incredible simplicity and productivity over the de facto constrained sketching.

I create a new Part/Assembly file.

Note: When doing production design you can use the Multi-Object file to create a part file under a top file. You then could keep a legacy of modifications or similar parts in a single file



We are already in millimeters. So we can start modeling.

I create the first sketch on the XY plane

For the life of me I do not know why we start throwing in graphics of the basic shape and add constrained dimension instead of just defining the features as we create the sketch.

We look at the drawing and see some basic shapes.

We see a rectangle 100 X 145! So we will start with that. We create the rectangle and put in the size in the dialog box.




I use entities for my construction. I will delete the right line of the rectangle and put in a 42mm vertical line to define the center of the radius. Again we put the length of the line in the dialog box! No constrained dimensions.



We add a circle that defines the radius and size it in the dialog box.



We just create two angle lines tangent to the circle define the angles. Nope, no constrained dimensions yet.



We delete our construction graphics and trim our entities and we are done. We will add the fillets later.



We exit the sketch and extrude the base.



We insert a cylinder primitive on the top face and locate it and set it to add. Having primitive shapes to work with cuts design time. It is quite fun and clever as you get proficient.



We create a YZ plane at the center of the cylinder.



We create the sketch and create the graphics by creating a centerline for construction. The length of the line is defined in the dialog box! No constrained dimensions.



We create 15mm offsets.



Add the top and bottom lines and delete the centerline and we are done with the sketch. Not one constrained dimension. We will add the fillets later.



We just extrude the profile and add the fillets.



We use the create hole feature for the hole in the side face.



Again we use the Create Hole Feature for the top hole. We will create a counter bore.

Now for the life of me I do not know why the Creo presenter created the center hole first. Why in the world do these Creo clone users always use a revolve to create a hole. Why not use the hole generator he uses later.



We will create the fillets on the required edges first and use the centers to locate the holes. Again we use the Create Hole Feature to create the three holes.

Oops I put the wrong size on the hole in the side feature. No problem just edit the hole feature.



We add the fillets.



We are done. Not one constrained dimension. They are hugely time consuming. It is much better to directly create the sketch feature then constrain it later. So easy and straight forward.



He is the drawing so you can give StreamLined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling a try.



You can see more on modeling techniques here.

3D Modeling Techniques Defined




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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 ZW3D. It truly is the Ultimate CAD/CAM System.


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