ZW3D vs Fusion 360 Lesson 9 3D Modeling Techniques Defined Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling
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 Streamlined Sketching
and 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
processes. Don't have any do you? I am not sure if it is due to these
exercises but I have replaced a few Fusion 360, Creo, Catia and
Solidworks with ZW3D. Listen to
what these two fellows said.
Brian
"We spoke a year and a
half or so ago about ZW3D. I took the Autodesk Fusion
360 but am becoming increasingly unhappy with it… It’s not very
productive for me, just too slow and cumbersome to get things done
quickly. On on the strength of your recommendations I am ready to
give ZW3D Standard a shot, probably as a rental for the first year.
Bottom line is,
Fusion 360 is “free” but not really free… I am finding that the
slow, clumsy pace of design with it is counterproductive… time is
money."
Thanks much,
Brian
Peter
The initial hull design was done in Rhino, which for some reason
is a standard in the boat industry.
The surface already had
a few problems!
It was imported into Fusion 360 and I did
some of the early concept design work, but when it came to surfacing
I hit road blocks every way I tried it.
At this time Phil
was not part of the project, but I suggested to my client that we
needed Phil's help. Phil also hit road blocks in Fusion 360 even
using some of his unique re-topologizing workflows and T-Splines.
The rest is history, as they say.
Thanks to ZW3D
paired with Phil’s surfacing skills we now have tooling for the hull
created.
You should see the images.
Perfectly smooth
reflections!
Peter I saw the following video challenges on LinkedIn and
thought I would give them a try on IronCAD. I got a great response and
decided to do it in ZW3D. I was very familiar with the parts and did it a
bit easier. It shows more the difference in the level of the 3D CAD
experience than the CAD system itself. You can
Download ZW3D and give
it a try.
ZW3D vs Fusion 360 ZW3D is very similar to Fusion 360 and the Pro/e
clones with differences that make it much more streamlined. It is very easy for those users
to get up and running with ZW3D. The unique benefits over the other systems
is the multi-object environment with the integrated drawing. You can
do complete projects (parts, assemblies and drawings) in one file.
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.
These 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 Fusion 360 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?
We are already in
millimeters. So we can start modeling.
Again
I instantly differ from the Fusion 360 presenter by inserting a
primitive block and sizing it. This block makes up the base of the
part.
While he is concerned about sketching shapes, I am thinking of basic components of the part.
We will sketch the
end cuts with a mixture of offsets and defined lines and mirror the
profile.
We extrude the profile.
I
insert a primitive block in the center of the top face using mid
point. I set the operaton to subtract and size the block
We now insert a primitive cylinder at X0Y0ZO and size it.
Now I
am going to be clever by half. ZW3D is very unique and fun. A bit
different than IronCAD. We turn it to wireframe and start inserting
cylinders. So incredibly simple. I have changed the back ground to
make what I am doing more clear.
First cylinder will be the bottom hole. It is not
defined so I will put in a 2mm hole x .6.
Now
for the 3.4 dia X .2 hole
Now
the center hole. This was inserted with the offset command 5.4 dia x
2.2
Almost done now the 4.2 dia cut. We don't have to be too
particular with this hole. But we will precisely place it.
We
will shade it and create the last cut. Inserting a primitive
cylinder on the top and sizing it. I reset the background.
Now to
just add the fillets and hole.
Now
mirror the hole and we are done. Easy as one, two three!!
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, can increase productivity 10X. Now, ZW3D with its unique
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.
To experience this increased level of
productivity, please download ZW3D for a 30 day evaluation. Legacy
data is no problem, ZW3D can read the native files of all of the
popular programs including the PMI data of NX, Solidworks, Catia and
Creo. ZW3D 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 ZW3D. It
truly is the Ultimate CAD/CAM System.
