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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
