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3D Modeling Techniques 
ZW3D vs Creo Lesson Four
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 three sketches, three extrusion, a draft command, 7 fillets and a shell! 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?

Plastic Part Design Tutorial for Beginners in Creo Parametric



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.

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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 YZ plane



Here is the profile. ZW3D, being a sketch based system, has robust sketching functionality.



We define the second sketch.



We create the profile



We extrude the first sketch to assure we included the second sketch I will make this 100mm



We extrude the second sketch and extrude using the intersect option



We will copy and paste the second sketch to the end of the history and edit the sketch. I will do some offsets and add a line based on the tangent



We clean up the sketch.



We move the sketch up 2mm setting up the base for the new extrusion.



We extrude the inside sketch to the correct height and set to remove



We use the draft function to move the face.



We add our fillets, I rarely sketch a fillet.



Now for the life of me I cannot understand the Creo's presenters modeling techniques, the work here could be done in any of the Pro/e (Creo) clones. I am sure that Creo could do this last step, the Shell. I did this in 3 other CAD systems to make sure all had this functionality from dumb models.

We shell the bottom face ad we are done. I did no more in this model than you would do in yours. I used only sketching.



We are done. three simple sketches, three simple extrusions, 7 fillets and a shell! Now watch the Creo presenter struggle with a such simple part.



Now for the AID (drawing).



You can see the two process that ZW3D offers are both hugely more productive than the tedious constrained based sketching.

You can see more on modeling techniques here.


3D Modeling Techniques Defined




If you would like to try ZW3D please download for a 30 day evaluation.

If you would like more information or to download ZW3D

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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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.

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