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3D Modeling Techniques 
ZW3D vs Solidworks Lesson Fourteen
Primitive Shape Design
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 comparisons to Fusion 360, Onshape, Solid Edge, NX, Creo, Catia and Inventor lessons to show the difference between ZW3D and my modeling techniques. I found the presenters working identically 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 's superb design system.

3D Modeling Techniques Defined


Many of these modeling techniques can easily be implemented even within their existing system. I call it Streamlined Sketching and Feature Based Modeling. Please review a few of the above ZW3D comparison lessons, there are some very stark differences.


Please watch a Solidworks user model this part!

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

SolidWorks Practice Exercises | SolidWorks Basics Tutorial |Exercise 7



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.

Solidworks 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 Solidworks

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 first go do configuration and set the units to MM.



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



Modeling with Primitive Shapes

We are already in millimeters so lets get started.

We create a sketch on the YZ plane with Z selected as up.




I create the basic circle add a couple of lines and do two offsets and we have our basic graphics. So simple, so clean.



We now just trim/extend and delete any reference entities.



We extrude the profile



We will now add the small boss by inserting a cylinder primitive, locate and size it set it to add.



Now we will create the base by creating another sketch on the YZ plane. I create a rectangle locate and size it.



I extrude the profile, it still has the same options as the earlier extrude.



Another sketch on the YZ plane we create the basic entitied for the basis of our profile by offsets and drawing them from existing or resulting locations.



We trim/extend as required and delete the reference entity.



We extrude the profile and set to add.


We insert a cylinder primitive on the side face locate, size it and set it to remove. Designing with primitive shapes offers more options and flexibity with your designs.



We will create our last sketch again on the YZ plane. Virtually all of our graphics have been built around this plane. We just create a 10mm offset and create a horizontal reference line create symmetrical offsets and add the vertical line and we have the basic graphics for our cut. We will put in the fillets later.

ZW3D lets you create offsets from existing graphics including sketches, so there is no need to create reference entities.



We use trim/extend to corners so there are just four steps.



We exit the sketch and extrude it. The extrude command is still set with the symmetric option so we just put in the new dimension.



We will put a hole in the boss.



We put in the threaded holes.



Now the holes in the base.



Now for the fillets



We are done! You can use the StreamLined sketching in any system, it cuts the time by more than half.




Here is the drawing if you would like to create the 3D model.
the small cut at the left side the side view.



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




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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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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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