TECH-NET and GreatLakes3D are offering a series of 3D CAD/CAM informational webinars focusing only on Industrial/Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and the generic operations of all the 3D CAD systems.

3D CAD has been much more than a profession for me. It has been a passion for over 34 years. I have sold, supported, trained 3D CAD and provided engineering services. I have work with most of the 3D CAD systems and have found that most work pretty much the same. The only difference being the user interface.

The 1980's - 3D CAD - The Beginning

I met Randy, of GreatLakes3D, a few years ago. Both of us have been in the 3D CAD world for decades. Randy came from the manufacturing (CNC) side and between the two of us we provide support from product design to product manufacturing. 

3D CAD is 3D Graphic Design
We Basically Create 3D Shapes
We Can Create Anything

ZW3D LITE Features

Webinar Subjects and Dates

February 18th, 2016

Extrude – The work horse of 3D CAD

I would say that 80% of 3D CAD design is based on the extrude command. We will go through the basics of how we create extruded shapes.

March 3rd, 2016

Spin or Revolve

This command is used probably 10%. Now there are industries like Gas Turbine that much of the work would be done with this command. But in most design it is rarely utilized.

Sweep

This is a command I rarely use, no more than 5%. I have used it to sweep a unique shape that would have taken a combination of the extrude and revolve commands. Also it is the only way to create a shape down a contour. I am sure this would be used in creating tubes.

Helix or Spiral

This is a specialized function of the sweep process. Again this is rarely used and being that, it can be a bit of a mystery. But you will see how easy it is.

Loft

This another command I have rarely use, no more than 5%. I have used it in creating a fuselage for an experimental aircraft. It is a bit of a convoluted command made up of a combination of sketches. I have often used this as a surface design function, which we will get to in a later webinar.

April 28th, 2016 

Direct Edit – Adding flexibility to our design process

All 3D CAD systems have at least made this function available. While history based design is very good in the conceptual design process is can become very difficult, even impossible when it comes for design modifications or changes. We all know change is the only constant in design. Integrated direct editing offers an incredible flexibility to do the changes. Not being dependent on parent/child relationships it allows complete freedom and flexibility to easily complete projects.

Boolean Design – The beginning of solid model

This is a unique design process. It was the very first design process used in solid modeling. It is a bit of a subset of direct edit. Many times it is easier to create a positive part and Boolean subtract from a base part. This also a rarely used process but can add simplicity to our design process.

Multi-Object Design – The most productive CAD system feature

Many call this “top down” or “in context” design. This is where all of the components are included in one file. Where you can work with any of the parts in an assembly. No external parts until the design is complete. Many times you can just leave the parts in the same file if it is a one-person project.

The Integrated Drawing – Simplifying PDM

This is unique to ZW3D and a couple of other programs. It actually makes the Mult-Object concept much more viable. Having the drawing included in the part or assembly files eliminates much of the file management problems. Many of you probably don’t know this exist. It truly is worth the look.

Morphing – Only few 3D CAD systems offer this

Morphing allows you to manipulate faces arbitrarily or precisely. This is unique design process used in different industries. Mostly Industrial Design where aesthetics is a very important part of the design.

Surfacing – So much hype?

There is a lot of hype about surfacing. Truth be told it is only used by 10% of the designers. There are two levels of Surfacing the intermediate which basically supports our solid modeling and the stand alone surfacing.  Standalone surface design is a bit tedious. Based on wire frame design. Basic surface design aids to creating faces that are not easily created in solids. Advanced surface design is used by 2% to create surfaces that are in the realm of correctly creating visual based shapes like cars and other aesthetic shapes. These folks call themselves digital sculptors.

We will keep to the basic levels of surfacing as it relates to industrial/mechanical engineering.

Hybrid Modeling – The future of 3D CAD.

This is the mixture of wire frame, surfacing and solid modeling working together. While many will not require this level of design it is very nice to have it available. The different design paradigms coexist in one design environment, offering design without limitations.

Reverse Engineering

To do reverse engineering you have to be able to utilized scanned data. Extrapolate and develop the necessary graphic to recreate the original parts. You have to have a highly functional Hybrid Modeler to make this happen effectively.

Mold Design

I am a plastic product designer. I utilize the core/cavity split to evaluate the correctness of my parts. But mold design is unique and needs the many required standards available to create the molds. We will see how these work together. Again most mold design package work similarly.

Integrated CNC – Quickest design to manufacturing solution

There are very few integrated CAD/CAM systems. We are working with the most cost effective package. But again all are very similar. If you are a designer, student, manager, etc, that is interested in how CNC works or a professional CNC programmer interested in how others work this is the webinar for you.