ZW3D vs Fusion 360 Lesson 1 3D Modeling Techniques Defined Streamlined Sketching/Feature Based Modeling
I am not sure if it is due to these
exercises but I have replaced a few Fusion 360 with ZW3D. Listen to
what one of the fellows said.
"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 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.
ZW3D vs Fusion 360 ZW3D is very similar to Fusion 360 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, for easy top down design and the the integrated
drawing. You can do complete projects (parts, assemblies and
drawings) in one file. Imagine how much this would simplify PDM?
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.
Here is ZW3D. We set the units to
millimeters.
The first thing we
will do is insert a block from a Shape>Block Shape at X0Y0Z0 and set
the size at 100x60x50. ZW3D has 5 primitive shapes available.
We now create a sketch on the top face.
We proceed to create the lines to create the
profile to extrude. Notice we can create the line with the length,
which makes this very easy. No dimensions or constraints needed.
We exit sketching
and return to the main workspace and select the extrude command to
create the cut extrusion.
We select OK and finish the cut.
Now we will create
another sketch on the front face. This is where we differ with the
Fusion 360 presenter and you will see why.
We exit
the sketch and create the cut
This is where I
differ from the Fusion 360 example. Making the front diagonal cut
first we do not have to create the points since the features are
there to create the datum. A click of the right mouse button brings
up a dialog box with a dialog box with the option "Insert Datum"
We Insert a datum
using three points
After the datum is
create I create a sketch on using that plane and proceed to create a
rectangle. The size is not important as long as it includes the
faces we need to cut. I am sure the
Fusin 360 example could have also used this function. I am not sure
why he split the solid, maybe just to show the command. But most CAD
work is being charge to some program, so the most efficient
techniques should be taught. This is the different between CAD
jockeys and a engineering professions.
I just create the
extrusion and pull it up enough to make the cut.
select
OK and the cut is complete.
Now for
the back cut. I will just do them since they are just like the
front.
We will now mirror the features.
We
mirror the features and we are done. Was it easier in ZW3D. Yes, a bit. ZW3D adds a
more functionality that increases productivity, at least
compared to this Fusion presentation.
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, can 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.
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.
