3D Modeling Techniques
IRONCAD vs Solid Edge Lesson 2
Drag and Drop Design
No Sketching Please!
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?
When I introduce IronCAD’s very flexible design paradigm I have a hard time to get the Pro/e clone users, like Solidworks and other programs to understand the drag and drop design paradigm.
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The below link will give 6 short introduction to unique IronCAD operations.
I saw the following video challenge on linkedin and thought I would give it a try. I actually did it before I watched the video, so I did it a bit differently. This will give you an idea how different and flexible IronCAD is compared to the conventional Solid Edge.
Solid Edge Synchronous Technology Tutorial for Beginners – 1
This is a rare opportunity to show how another IronCAD user would create this model. It is in Polish so if you do not speak Polish you can still follow along. You will see some of the same commands used below. Realize both of us do not create one sketch.
After he is done modeling the basic part he shows how easy it is to change the part. That is the superiority of IronCAD paradigm you are never put in a design corner.
IronCAD vs Solid Edge
While creating 3D models from 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. 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.
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 IronCAD support to create one. They are very good.
I always create the part before I watch the Video, so as to not taint my process. Of course, there are a multitude of ways to create a model. There is no right way, just more productive ways. From what I have seen from these very complicated processes done by the Solid Edge Presenters, it is not just limited by the 3D CAD system.
Here is the drawing if you would like to follow along.
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I drag and drop a extrude block into the scene. I size it 145x72x90
Note: Why does IronCAD call it a scene instead of a workspace? IronCAD was first released as a graphic design program called Trispectives. It still has much of the graphic design functionality. It truly is a wonderful mixture of professional 3D CAD and graphic design, which puts it in a much more flexible category as compared to the Pro/e (Creo) clones.
I and drop another cut extrude locate and size it. I have the option to pull or push to match existing faces, edges and centers or put in the dimensions. We can even set the distance from a defined point.
We drag and drop a cut extrude to the mid-point of the face. We then use the “Edit Distance from Point” for the top and the bottom then set the depth.
We now drag and drop a cut cylinder and locate it at the mid-point of the rectangle face to locate then size it.
We drag and drop a cut cylinder to the center point to locate and size it.
We drag and drop a cut extrude and locate it to the mid-point of the edge. You can then set the handle for symmetry and insert the dimension, we set the depth and use Push/Pull to match the face.
We drag and drop a cut cylinder to the mid-point of the relative edge and just use the handles to match the edge. Then pull the handled to match the bottom face.
We are done with the part with no time consuming sketches as the Solid Edge presenter is still putting dimension on the sketches. This is a simple part, but imagine the sketches required for a complex part. Now, there are times when you have to sketch. IronCAD starts with drag and drop, then sketching, direct edit and then surfacing.
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, IronCAD with its unique integrated history/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.
3D Modeling Techniques Defined
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Give me a call if you have any questions. I can set up a skype or gotomeeting to show this part or answer any of your questions on the operation of IronCAD. It truly is the very best conceptual 3D CAD system.
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