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3D Modeling Techniques 
IRONCAD vs Solidworks Lesson Four
No Sketching Please!

When I introduce IronCAD's very flexible design paradigm I have a hard time to get the Pro/e clone users, like Solidworks and other programs, to understand the drag and drop design paradigm.

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I saw some Fusion 360 exercises online and I decided to compare IronCAD. It quickly turned into a study in modeling techniques. I have created fifteen "IronCAD vs Fusion 360", six "IronCAD vs Solidworks" and one IronCAD vs Creo lessons to show the difference between IronCAD and the two programs and my modeling techniques. I found the Fusion 360, Solidworks and Creo 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 IronCAD'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 IronCAD vs Fusion 360 and Solidworks lessons, there are some very stark differences.

Please watch a Solidworks user model this part! It is quite amazing that he is not familiar with any feature based modeling. It truly makes you wonder it this is really 3D modeling?

 
3D Part (exercise18) Solidworks Tutrorial



Here is the drawing if you would like to give it a try.


While creating 3D models from drawing 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 (Creo) history based modeling system. I have sold this product years ago and found it, like all of the other Solidworks clones, not productive enough for our engineering department. We use what we sell. That gives us the experience to effectively support our user base.

Is 3D CAD Productivity an Oxymoron?

IronCAD vs Solidworks and the Pro/e Paradigm


IronCAD 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 IronCAD support to create one. They are very good.

As with my Ironcad vs Fusion 360 exercises I have found the same problems with Solidworks. 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?


This part in IronCAD takes 8 simple steps!
And not one sketch!

Here is IronCAD. My default is inches, so we will set the units to mm. Let's get started.



I drag and drop a block in to the scene and size it.

Note: Why does IronCAD call it a scene instead of a workspace? IronCAD was first released as a graphic design program called Trispectives. It still has much of the graphic design functionality. It truly is a wonderful mixture of professional 3D CAD and graphic design, which puts it in a much more flexible category as compared to the very mechanical engineering focused Solidworks clones.



We put in the blends.



Now we drag and drop a hole block and size it.



We drag and drop a hole slot on the the center of the face, size it and locate it with the Triball by locking in the vertical axis and using the from command.



We drag and drop a block on to the face and size it by pushing and pulling to match faces then edit the sizebox.



We put in the blends. This is the first time I have seen a SW user not sketch the blends. He actually creates a full radius. I will just put in two 15mm blends.



The next two blends.




Then we drag and drop a hole on the face and center of the radius, size it and we are done.



There you go. Not one sketch. IronCAD is the king of "Feature Based" modeling.



This is another stark examples of how IronCAD's drag and drop of editable shapes from a catalog and the use of the Triball can increase productivity 10X in this case. I usually estimate 5X increased productivity in conceptual design and 10X in changes, and I believe I am being conservative. IronCAD can edit most of the Solidworks clone parts and assemblies faster than it can be done in the native CAD system.

Is 3D CAD Productivity an Oxymoron?

Five Functions that Increase 3D CAD Productivity!!

Please review other exercises.

IronCAD vs Solidworks

IronCAD vs Fusion 360

IRONCAD vs Creo Lesson One



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 IronCAD. It truly is the very best conceptual 3D CAD 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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