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ZW3D vs Catia Lesson 3 Assembly
3D Modeling Techniques Defined
True Top Down Assembly/In Context Design
vs
Separate Part Design
With Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling
In a Multi-Object Design Environment
One Single File compared to Thirty??

Attention: Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream, Bombardier and other users of  Catia 5 and those that are using the other major Pro/e (Creo) paradigm based systems.

This comparison shows how convoluted and expensive the Catia 5 design environment is. The Catia 5 presentation creates:

10 separate parts
10 separate AIDs (drawings)
4 sub-assemblies
4 sub-assembly AIDs (drawings)
1 top-assembly
1 top-assembly AID (drawing)

30 separate files to maintain.

AID (Associated Information Document) looks like a drawing but is made from views generated from the 3D model incorrectly called the "2D Drawing"

ZW3D with its Multi-Object environment and integrated documentation mode:

1 File, Yes only one file!

Both still have to create released models (parts) only and AIDs (drawings) as PDFs.

Now even with PMI you are still handling 15 files. If the assemblies can even be done as a PMI.

Does anyone ever wonder why we have such an unworkable PLM/PDM system?

Watch as I create the models and sub-assemblies in a multi-object environment using top down/in-context design as the Catia presenter creates each part separately with constrained sketching and painfully inserts them into each assembly.

It is not only the system that is the problem it is the standard design process of "constrained sketching", you can see the increased productivity in what I have coined "StreamLined Sketching and Feature Based Modeling".

The difference in design productivity is stark. Even the most uninformed CEO, VP of engineering, Engineering manager and expert user can not deny the advantages.

Yes we have to revise how we do and archive our native engineering and documentation. But it can be hugely simpler and much more cost effective.

Sadly, we have to get through the InfoTech department first! They have totally controlled the software for over 20 years, but at what cost?


I can tell you, you can not Computerize or Digitally Transform your way into Engineering Design and Documentation productivity where they are trying to reinvent the wheel in a place where the wheel is already very well defined
 
Product knowledge, proven standards and work force continuity is the formula for design success.

The modeling technique is hugely responsible for the level of productivity. Those of you that are only trained in the constrained sketching world of the major CAD systems are truly limited by not using the freedom of Streamlined Sketching and Feature Based Design, that is available in even the most Pro/e-ish of CAD systems. If you or 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?

See this assembly done in IronCAD

These lessons started out as product comparisons, but quickly turned into a study in 3D modeling techniques.

3D Modeling Techniques Defined



I saw the following CATIA YouTube tutorials and thought I would give it a try on ZW3D. I have to tell you it is almost tortuous to watch the CATIA presenter. CATIA is a constrained sketched based system as are Fusion 360, NX, Inventor, Solidworks and Creo. This modeling paradigm is used throughout the industry causing millions of wasted hours.


I have to say the CATIA presenter struggle with such simple parts. I cannot imagine the wasted time CATIA is creating for companies like Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus, Gulfstream, Chrysler and so many more with the complex parts and assemblies that make up an airplane.

The CATIA interface is cluttered and confusing.

The Worst to Best 3D CAD System and Why

Effective, easy to use part modeling is the basis for all engineering productivity.

The order of Design in IronCAD should be Drag and Drop, Sketching, Direct Edit and finally Surfacing if required.

How to create Radial Engine Assembly

Not only does the Catia presenter create each part and sub-assembly separately but he struggles with constrained sketching only.

I include all of the fully detailed AIDs (Associated Information Documents) for this lesson at the end if you would like to try this assembly.

Master Rod Part                                    Piston Part

 

Articulated Rod                            Other Components


Piston Assembly                           Articulated Rod Assembly


Master Rod/Piston Assembly 
          Articulated Rod/Piston Assembly


Final Assembly

    
Assembly is the very best feature of ZW3D. With its multi-object design environment it offers the highest level of productivity. Watch how we use inserting primitive shapes with a minimum of sketching to complete this job in no time. See how easy it is to manipulate parts and an assemblies in a 3D space.

At the end we will create the AID(drawing) in a single file within each part or  assembly.

While creating 3D models from a drawing is the very best way to learn 3D CAD and maybe some design techniques is does not expose the designer to the design flexibility necessary in product design. ZW3D is all top down due to the Multi-Object environment. Creating mating parts is a cruise. But modeling is just one aspect of a well designed productive 3D CAD system.


ZW3D vs Catia

ZW3D is very similar to Catia 5 and the Pro/e clones with differences that make it much more streamlined. It is very easy for those users to get up and running with ZW3D. The unique benefits over the other systems is the multi-object environment with the integrated drawing. You can do complete projects (parts, assemblies and drawings) in one file.

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 Pro/e-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?

ZW3D is a history based system with planes, but it also has primitive shapes to increase your productivity. It seems to me watching this Catia exercises that there is no concern for simplifying the process and increase design productivity. Most of us do engineering design and have schedules to meet. Not only do these more productive modeling techniques and a productive system increase design speed it allows us to meet our goals much easier, especially with changes.

I have to say this is incredibly simple. But the Catia presenter has been indoctrinated into these design time consuming modeling techniques. The Solidworks clones are costing the industry millions, if not billions, in lost productivity.



We have already defined the Master Rod in this article.

ZW3D vs CATIA Lesson 2

I will show it again.
Here is ZW3D. It is set to mm so let's get started

We open a Part/Assembly and call it MASTER ROD



These 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 Catia fellow doing. I have always created my basic sketches by mostly creating offsets and trimming or extending. It seems to be much easier. I never put in a fillet that can be created later. What do you think?

These have actually turned into exercises in modeling techniques as compared to showing a more productive CAD system. 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 CATIA fellow doing. I have always created my basic sketches by mostly creating offsets and trimming or extending with descriptive geometry as you would to on a drafting board. It seems to be much easier. I never put in a fillet that can be created later. What do you think?

The Master Rod

We also start with a sketch on the XZ plane.



We will start creating the sketch by using entities to set up the basic construction for my sketch, as you can see I do no constrained sketching. I call this StreamLined Sketching.



We will add our tangent arcs.



We now just trim/extend and delete the unnecessary entities.



We mirror the entities and trim. If you watch the CATIA Video the presenter stops here creates the half solid and continues. This such a simple sketch I have no idea why. It was more complicated to do what he did trying to be clever by half.



We now will extrude mid-plane.



We create anther sketch at XZ plane go to the sketch. We create the two diagonal lines by using the existing graphics then extend to the circle and add the rectangle.




We just trim as shown and are ready to go to extrude remove.



We just extrude from mid-point and remove.



We are done with the basic shape and just add the fillet. We can now add the boss in the middle. We insert a primitive cylinder at X0Y0Z0 and locate and size it and set it to add.

One of my basic rules is that you never sketch a fillet unless the design demands it.



Now we do the same thing for the hole. But this time we locate it a the center of the block, it is already set to 70m, we just need to set it to remove.



Now for the four 10m holes. We just use the hole feature and select the center of the tabs. Mirroring seems like a silly process for such few entities. Doing the complete part gives a better control of the design.



Now create sketch on the XY plane and go to the plane. We create a vertical line at X0Y0Z0, create an offset line create the arc.



We do our trim and when there are blue dot we know the sketch is ready. Nope, not one constraint.



We exit the sketch and extrude the shape.



We mirror the feature and add the boss at the end by inserting a primitive cylinder locating and sizing it.



We insert another primitive cylinder in the center of the new cylinder size and set to remove.



Now we just have the slot left. We create a sketch the outside face and activate it.



We exit the sketch and extrude the slot.



We mirror the slot and add the fillets and we are done. I can't imagine hundreds of Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream and Bombardier designers struggling with CATIA and constrained sketching only. I can tell you moving to StreamLined Sketching and Feature Base modeling would increase productivity 5X with conceptual design and 10X with changes. The only constant in engineering is change.




RADIAL ENGINE ASSEMBLY

We create a new Multi-Object file and name it "RADIAL ENGINE ASSEMBLY"



We create the top assembly Radial Engine Assembly



We will insert our first component which will be the already created Master Rod Assembly.



We already have the Master Rod open we just insert it and set to copy to not have it associated to the original file and accept the default X0Y0Z0 location. This will be a detailed assembly and be the authority for the Master Rod. You can operate ZW3D just like any of the major Solidworks clones with reference parts if you chose.



We have Four assemblies.

We can set up the assemblies by inserting all of the parts or we can do them as we model them. We are doing top down/in-context design so we will do the parts inside the assembly. You can easily move parts and sub-assemblies.

We now insert the Piston Assembly under our Master Rod Assembly

Bushing Rod Upper

We we now create the Rod Bushing Upper by inserting a component under the Piston Assembly.



We go to the assembly mode and create a reference circle as shown.




We insert a primitive cylinder at the center of the the reference circle.



We insert another primitive cylinder center it on the existing cylinder and size it and set it to remove.



We are done with the Rod Bushing upper now for the Piston Pin. We change the color  of the bushing and hide the reference circle. We now add the Piston Pin as another component under Master Rod Assembly.

PISTON PIN

Again we go to assembly and create a reference curve. We insert a primitive cylinder at the center of the curve and size it.



We insert another primitive cylinder at the center of the pin and size it.



We are done with the pin, we will change the color and blank the reference circle and insert the component Piston.

 

We insert another primitive cylinder on the XZ plane, locate it, size it and set it to remove. You get very adept at locating these primitive shapes. It is actually quite fun!



We will mirror the feature and insert another primitive cylinder on the bottom of the base cylinder, size and set to remove.



Now to add the inside boss. We insert a primitive cylinder and locate, size and set to add.



We mirror the feature on the XZ plane.



Now for the piston pin hole. Insert a primitive cylinder at the center of the face and size it.

We
We now create the bottom groove.

We create a sketch on the bottom of the piston.



Create the sketch.



We select extrude the sketch by locating and setting the width.



Now for the piston grooves. We copy the previous sketch and create the bottom ring groove.



Now we pattern the existing groove.



We create a sketch on XZ plane to create the top of the piston.



We select revolve and select the sketch set the axis and set to 360.



That completes the piston. We will now create the piston pin plug. We go to the assembly mode and create a reference on a mating edge. We insert a primitive cylinder on the circle and size it.



Now for the top of the plug. We insert a primitive cylinder on the existing cylinder size it and add the fillet. It is important to know which feature you use for a reference. We hide the reference circle.



We now have to copy the piston pin plug. We rotate it 180 degrees and we are done with the piston assembly.

We now create the Piston/Articulate Rod Assembly under the radial engine assembly and the Articulate Rod Assembly under that. We now create the articulated rod under the Articulated Rod Assembly.

We look at the shapes that make up the rod an see that it is basically a block.

We insert a primitive block, locate it and size it. We will leave it horizontal then move it into place.



We will insert primitive cylinders on both ends with the center holes.



We now create the slot. We create a sketch on the face of the rod.



We exit the sketch and extrude the slot.



We mirror the slot and we are done with the rod.



We now create the bushing rod lower under the articulated Rod Assembly. Yes, just insert a primitive cylinder to the a referenced center and size it and another in the center, size and set to remove. I know you have the idea.



Oops, I forgot the fillets. While I was doing the detailing of this part I realized I failed to put in the fillets. This one of the reasons that fully detailing your parts are so important especially when you are converting drawings. The trend to minimized dimension is a recipe for disaster by opening the door to Mr. Murphy.

All You Wanted to Know About Drawing to 3D Conversions



Change the color of the rod and will insert a piston into the piston articulated Rod Assembly an move it into place.



We will copy the rest of the piston/articulated rod assemblies and rotate into place. We will change some colors.



Oh Oh i forgot the piston rings. No problem.

We insert the ring under the Piston Assembly. We create a sketch on the top ring groove.



We extrude the ring and create a sketch to create the cut.



We extrude the cut and we are done the the ring. We copy the other 3 rings.



Now for the link pins we insert them under the Radial Engine Assembly. Insert the two primitive cylinders and size them creating the link pin. We copy them to the other holes.



Now for the Main Bushing just reference entity and two primitive cylinders.



We change the color of the Bushing and we are done.



Here is our Manager with all of the parts, sub-assemblies and AIDs (drawings) defined.

Imagine the problems with PDM this would solve. Yes, you can have external parts and sub-assemblies.



ZW3D is the only history based system with integrated AIDs (drawings)and with multi-Object environment ZW3D can have a complete project in one file.

Here are the AIDs (drawings). How would you do these parts and assemblies?

This format is called the detailed assembly. We could have easily just given each AID an individual AID number.













Here is an interesting note. This is a detailed assembly, which means all of the parts are under one document number. I found that I would have to put the combine parts such as bushings and pins in one sheet. I put them under the main assembly. I ask myself, "How would someone following up on this job find them?" Then I realized that I could create a new part called AIDs (drawings) and do all the AIDs under that part file since ZW3D has all of the parts available no matter what part or assembly you are creating the 2D sheet from.


It is very important that you look into how you or your engineers are creating the parts. Streamline Sketching and Feature Based Modeling is easy to learn and implement. It, alone, will increase productivity 10X.  Now, ZW3D with its unique history and robust direct edit functionality can increase your productivity another 5X or more with changes! Again, time is money in engineering.


More on StreamLined Sketching and Feature Based Modeling.


3D CAD Modeling Techniques



To experience this increased level of productivity, please download ZW3D for a 30 day evaluation. Legacy data is no problem, ZW3D can read the native files of all of the popular programs including the PMI data of NX, Solidworks, Catia and Creo. ZW3D is a great replacement for the subscription only Autodesk and PTC products.

For more information or to download ZW3D

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.

Joe Brouwer
206-842-0360


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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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