3D Modeling Techniques
ZW3D vs Solidworks Lesson Six
Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling
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.
This lesson is a bit of a twofer. It is a comparison between
KeyCreator (CADKEY) and Solidworks.
KeyCreator is a direct
edit only CAD system. I sold CADKEY and KeyCreator for over 31 years
in 1987 and lost the product in 2009 when they went to direct sales. I would
be selling it today. It is a very flexible direct edit system but a
bit clunky for design. You need both history and direct edit for
highly productive modeling. I only using KeyCreator for some hybrid
modeling. But I have moved to ZW3D, it offers much more hybrid
modeling functionality.
It works only with levels and the level management
becomes quite a chore. Even though both ZW3D and KeyCreator are
single model environment ZW3D has much better way of displaying
and manipulating the parts, by hiding, showing and suppressing. ZW3D has just too
many advantages over KeyCreator to even get into it.
But
KeyCreator offers 2X productivity over Solidworks not only in ease
of modeling but the single model environment, even with the levels
is miles above the separate part and assembly environment of
Solidworks.
Please watch both presentation separately. I have
tens of thousand of hours on KeyCreator, being introduced to CADKEY
in 1986 and I am a bit surprised how the presenter modeled this
part. Much of KeyCreator modeling is done by sketching. By avoiding
sketching and showing off a few unique commands, he makes this a
much more complex process. He does not take advantage of earlier shapes and
depends on what KeyCreator calls DDE (Dynamic Dimension Editing). I
do have KeyCreator 2016 (Part of a consulting contract with Kubotek) and
I could do it quite a bit simpler.
Direct edit is very fast
modeling system with 2D to 3D conversions but suffers hugely as a
design product without the flexibility of history design. You really
need both to productive 3D CAD modeling.
Even with the use of the extra unique commands, KeyCreator easily outperforms Solidworks on this simple part.
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.
ZW3D is all top down due to the multi-object 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.
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
constrained sketching 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?
We are already in
millimeters. So we can start modeling.
We insert a primitive
block and size it
We add a second
block and size it and set it to add.
We add the 45R and proceed to create
the bosses. We create the left boss first. We insert a primitive
cylinder of the front face centered on the corner.
In the same command we locate it from
the lower left point using offset: 83 in the "X" and 102 in the "Y"
and set to add.
We do
the same with the right boss.
We
create a sketch to extrude the wall. We first project references of
the necessary lines. We unlink the reference lines to create construction
lines.
We offset the lines and arc to establish the inside face of the
wall.
We trim the lines and our sketch is ready.
Notice: We did not
constrain any of the sketched features. This is what I have coined
Streamlined sketching.
We exit the sketch and extrude the wall.
Now
for the webs we insert a block on the corner of the front face and
size it. We use the offset command to locate it we set it to add.
We do
the same thing on the other side.
We
insert a cylinder size it locate it set to remove.
We pattern the hole
We
insert the two holes in the bosses using center of curvature an size
them.
Now
for the most time consuming step the fillets.
There
you go. So much simpler and faster than either the Solidworks or
KeyCreator exercises.
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.
