ZW3D vs Fusion 360 Lesson 3 Assembly 3D Modeling Techniques Defined Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling Multi-Object Environment and Integrated AID -
One File!
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 Streamlined Sketching
and 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? I am not sure if it is due to these
exercises but I have replaced a few Fusion 360 with ZW3D. Listen to
what these two fellows said.
Brian
"We spoke a year and a
half or so ago about ZW3D. I took the Autodesk Fusion
360 but am becoming increasingly unhappy with it… It’s not very
productive for me, just too slow and cumbersome to get things done
quickly. On on the strength of your recommendations I am ready to
give ZW3D Standard a shot, probably as a rental for the first year.
Bottom line is,
Fusion 360 is “free” but not really free… I am finding that the
slow, clumsy pace of design with it is counterproductive… time is
money."
Thanks much,
Brian
Peter
The initial hull design was done in Rhino, which for some reason
is a standard in the boat industry.
The surface already had
a few problems!
It was imported into Fusion 360 and I did
some of the early concept design work, but when it came to surfacing
I hit road blocks every way I tried it.
At this time Phil
was not part of the project, but I suggested to my client that we
needed Phil's help. Phil also hit road blocks in Fusion 360 even
using some of his unique re-topologizing workflows and T-Splines.
The rest is history, as they say.
Thanks to ZW3D
paired with Phil’s surfacing skills we now have tooling for the hull
created.
You should see the images.
Perfectly smooth
reflections!
Peter
Again I
follow up my IronCAD lesson with a ZW3D lesson. This is a bit different and quite
simple. ZW3D has Boolean primitive shapes you can use, nothing like IronCAD
but offers an added flexibility.
I saw the
following video challenges on LinkedIn and thought I would give them a
try on IronCAD. I got a great response and decided to do it in ZW3D.
I was very familiar with the parts and did it a bit easier. It shows
more the difference in the level of the 3D CAD experience than the
CAD system itself. You can
Download ZW3D and give it a try.
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 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?
These have actually turned
these 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 Fusion 360 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? Of course, this take a good
understanding of descriptive geometry.
I will introduce you
to Streamline Sketching and Feature Based Modeling. Here is ZW3D. We set the units to
millimeters.
We will create a multi-object file with the
top assembly called the "Clamp Assembly". Like Fusion 360, ZW3D allows all
of the parts and assemblies in one file. Neither one are true single
model environments since they have a top assembly. Even though parts
are separate they still are available for top down or in context
design. Sadly this assembly is not conducive to top down design. The
mating parts are much too simple.
We now insert our components. We do not have
to have any graphics to do this. They are basically place holders
until we create the parts. We can add parts and subassemblies at any
time.
Imagine how much easier this is as compared to the clunky process of
the other Pro/e clones that force you to have external parts?
Now that we have all of our parts defined we can start creating
the part. We will open the body.
We now
are working on the Body. We drop in the basic block and size it.
I will create a sketch to take out the
center. I could drop a block and remove it, but sometimes sketching
is faster. We just do a couple of offsets and trim the section. No
dimensions or constraints used.
Now back to the model mode and extrude the sketch.
We
will now add the fillets and the three chamfers. The end chamfers
are 14 x 45 degrees so no more that the set back is required. But
the front chamfer is 14 x 30 degrees requires additional settings.
Now for the small chamfers and the threaded hole.
We are
now done with the body.
Now to the screw. We open the part. This part is too simple to
do any top down, so we will just drop a primitive cylinder and size
it, in fact all of the features will be primitive cylinders. Nope, no
sketch, sketch, constrain, constrain.
We add
the two primitive cylinders.
Add the
chamfer on the bottom and sketch the hole. We are done with the
screw.
Now we locate it.
Now for the pin. We will do a bit of top down design. We do not open
the part, we select to edit the part. Which allows us access to
other parts for reference.
We will
create a sketch on the YZ plane. You can see that the body and screw
are shown and can be used for reference.
Here is the sketch I created a
projected reference edge from the screw and
used it to locate my circle.
Now we extrued the pin as a new part.
Add the fillets and we are done and the pin is located.
We will create another primitive cylinder at the end of the screw.
Even though we will not be creating in context this will save a
move step. We need to create a reference edge (shown as purple in
wireframe) from the screw to locate the primitive cylinder.
Now add the chamfer and two more cylinders to create the counterbore
and hole, again no sketching.
There you go. This assembly only used three sketches.
Since the body is not completely defined in the original isometric, here is a drawing of the
clamp. Realized this is integrated into the same file. I have
selected the body to edit and with a click of the right mouse a
dialog box appears and I select 2D sheet.
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 Streamline Sketching and Feature Based Modeling.
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 our 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.
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.
