surfcam solid

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SURFCAM SOLIDS TUTORIALS

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2 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials,


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SURFCAM SOLIDS TUTORIALSTABLE OF CONTENTS

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Chapter 1 • Introduction

Learn the position of the main window items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Use the complete online help files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Use the context-sensitive help in the dialog boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Learn the names and descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Learn the characteristics of 2D compared to 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Chapter 2 • Child’s plastic play chair

Open SURFCAM Solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Create a rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Use a construction line to create a circle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Create a construction line from the midpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Toggle the segment to “construction”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Control the length of the construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Create a circle centered at the construction line’s endpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Trim to create the shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Create 2D fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Toggle to Construction the line that won’t be used in the extrusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Switch to Isometric view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Extrude a New Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Create a construction plane and a profile on the top face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Extract Edges to create geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Trim the geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Toggle to construction the elements you will not extrude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Use the profile to “cut” the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Create a construction plane and create a profile for the legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Extrude the new profile to create the legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Create 3D fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Select the faces to create the fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Return to Isometric view, and zoom extents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Select edges to create 3D fillets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Select an edge and propagate the 3D fillet to tangent edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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Change a profile and “rebuild” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Change the profile back to its original dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Save the file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Chapter 3 • Cell phone charger housing

Import a profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Extrude the profile geometry to create a new component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Switch to Isometric View and Zoom Extents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Extrude the profile as a new component. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Import another profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49Extrude the profile to cut the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Switch to Isometric View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Use Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude to cut the component with the profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Create 3D fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Create two 0.5 fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Create four 0.4 fillets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Create two 0.25 fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Create two 0.25 fillets at the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Zoom in and create two 0.25 fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Create a 0.25 fillet on the neck edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58Create a 0.25 fillet on the bottom edges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Create a 0.25 fillet on the front face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Import another profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Create a Construction Plane at 90 degrees from the round face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Set View to Construction Plane, Fit, Zoom, Import Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Revolve the profile to cut the component. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Create a line for the axis of rotation, and toggle the line to construction . . . . . . . . . . . .64Perform the Cut Revolve procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Use a parting line to divide the solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66Create a Construction Plane on the round face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66Create a parting line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Perform the Cut Divide procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Switch to Isometric view, fit, and select Component-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Hide a Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70Shell a Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Chapter 4 • Trim and extend

Open the file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Delete the elements you do not need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Drag to extend the elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76Use “next solution” to display possible results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78Quick trim the elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80Switch to isometric view and Zoom Extents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

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Perform a New Component Extrude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Chapter 5 • Learn 2D geometric relationships

Create three circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Create Tangent Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Create a construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Constrain the geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Look at the constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Trim the geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Create three circles from the constrained geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Test the pivot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Create Minimum Distance constraints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Define a length from another length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Change a length value and rebuild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Test the pivot again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Extra challenge, a bell crank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Chapter 6 • Use formulas to define geometric relationships

Create a profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Create a 4.125 by 3.625 rectangle from the XY Plane origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Offset a 45 degree line 1.25 from the endpoint of a line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Create parallel lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Create a line from an intersection that is perpendicular to another line . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Create 2D fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Convert the top line to construction geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Extrude the profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Extract three edges from the opposite face. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Extrude the extracted edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111Mirror the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Create a line on the long face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Constrain the length of the line to 1.25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Extrude the 1.25 line to support the part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116Create another line on the long face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Constrain the length of the line to 1.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Extrude the smaller line to cut through the support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Create a circle profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Create a line on the face of the back end. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120Change the line to a construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Create a circle and constrain the circle to the construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Create a Minimum Distance constraint of 0.75

between the center of the circle and the bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Extrude the circle to complete the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

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Change the shape of the profile and rebuild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125Create formulas to define elements and procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Create formulas for the Profile-1 radius values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126Create a formula for the radius of the extruded circle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127Create formulas for the procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128

Extrude-1, Set the Up Depth to ={R2}/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128Boss/Cut Extrude-1, Set the Up Depth to ={R2}*3 and Thickness to ={R2} . . . . . .129Boss/Cut Extrude-2, Set the Thickness to ={R3}. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130Boss/Cut Extrude-3, Set the Thickness to ={R2}. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131

Change the 1.00 radius to test the formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132Use Viewports to see the model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

Chapter 7 • Extrusion concepts

Open the file ExtrudeTutor.a3mod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135Extrude the profile to “Next Face” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136Move the profile to create an extrusion error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137Change the Direction to “To Face”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138Move the profile again to create an extrusion error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139Change the Direction to “To Plane” and pick a new face. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140Move the profile above the selected face and rebuild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Chapter 8 • Assembly, blanket chest

Create a rectangle in the XZ Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143Constrain the position of the rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144

Make the small line coincident with the axis line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144Create a Minimum Distance constraint to the origin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144

Name the length values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145Extrude the Rectangle to create a new component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146Mirror the new component about the YZ Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147Create a Filter and hide the second component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148Create a rectangle on the front edge face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149Constrain the size of the rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150Constrain the position of the rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151

Make the left side of the rectangle coincident with the left edge of the face. . . . . . . . .151Set the distance between the lower left corners to 5.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152

Extrude the rectangle to cut the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153Create two squares on the top face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154Constrain the size of the squares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155Extrude the rectangles to cut the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156Use the Sequencer to apply the procedures to component-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157

Show the hidden Component-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157Drag the Procedures to an earlier position inside the Sequencer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158

Extract edges and Extrude profiles to “Next Face” to create the bottom, front and back of the chest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159

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Extract edges for the bottom of the chest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Extrude the profile to create a new component for the bottom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Extract edges for the front and back of the chest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Extrude the profiles to create new components for the front and back . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Create a rectangle from the side face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163Create a length dimension for the height of the rectangle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164Constrain the height of the rectangle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Extrude the rectangle “To Plane” to create the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Offset three faces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Change the value of D and rebuild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168Examine the part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Chapter 9 • Revolved component

Switch to millimeters and display the grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Zoom in to see the grid and create a construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Constrain the length and position of the construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174Approximate the shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Create a vertical line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175Create more segments to complete the shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Constrain the angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177Constrain the horizontal lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Mirror the shape about the construction line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179Constrain the vertical lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180Toggle the copy shape to construction geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181Revolve the profile to form the component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182Hide the constraint dimensions and rotate the view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Chapter 10 • Mold making

Open the file InsertBlock.a3mod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185Insert the file eyepiece.a3mod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186Move the eye and body components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187Insert or create the profile for the parting line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Create a positioning point for the imported profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188Insert the profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Different method—create the profile for the parting line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190Extract edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190Create the first segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191Create the small segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192Create the last segment and trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Cut the block with the profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194Create the filter masks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195Boolean subtract the body component from the top insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Cut the cylinder protrusion from the insert top. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

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Mask the Eye and Body components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197Extract the edge on the face of the cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198Cut the cylinder protrusion with the extracted edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199

Boolean subtract the eye component from the Bottom insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200Hide the Insert Top component and show the Insert Bottom and Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . .200Boolean subtract the Eye component from the Bottom Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201Hide the Eye component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Boolean add the small disc to the Bottom insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203Create ejector pin holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204

Create a circle on the disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204Create another circle horizontal from the first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205Constrain the distance between the circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206Extrude the circles to create the ejector pin holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Insert the file core.a3mod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208Position the core with 3d constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Make the bottoms flush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209Make the core concentric to the Eye cavity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210

boolean subtract the core from the Insert Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211Hide and show or move components to see the work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212

Chapter 11 • 3D constraints

Open the 3D Constraints dialog box, apply flush constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213Apply concentric constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215Make the bottom of post flush with the bottom of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217Abut inside block to base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218Make inside block hole concentric with post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219Make edge of inside block parallel to edge of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220Make doors flush with base part and roof flush with

inside roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221Lock roof and inside roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222Abut the bottom of door2 to the floor of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223Abut the wall of door2 to the wall of base part,

and abut the bottom of roof to the top of base part. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224Make roof assembly concentric with post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225Make edge of roof parallel to edge of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226Abut the bottom of door1 to the floor of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227Abut a face of door1 to a face of base part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228modify the door1 abutment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229modify the door2 abutment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231Create viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233

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Chapter 12 • Dimensioning and drafting

Open a drawing template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Customize the template. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236

Add text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Save the custom template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237Open the custom template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

Create a drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Extract drawing views from a model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Right-click and drag to extract views from the component. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Extract the isometric view from the model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Dimension the top view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Dimension the front view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Delete the three dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245Create ordinate dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246Reset the origin for the ordinate dimension and continue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247Create diameter dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Add the geometric tolerance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

Drafting and dimensioning part 2, optional challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250Use the template DSizeTemplate.a3dtm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250Extract a top view component from the model file ComplexExercise.a3mod . . . . . . . . . . 251Drag to create view components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Create standard horizontal dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253Create standard vertical dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254Create more standard dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255Create the remaining dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Dimension the front view component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

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Press CTRL+P to print this chapter. Use page range 11 to 14.

CHAPTER 1 • INTRODUCTION

1.1 LEARN THE POSITION OF THE MAIN WINDOW ITEMS

Learn the names and locations of these items.

Document control panel

Document tab

Viewing toolbarStandard toolbar

Display mode

Application menu toolbar

Modifier toolbar

Drawing area (viewport or sheet)

Locate Toolbar

Display filter tabs

History tree

Status bar

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12 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 1 • Introduction


1.2 USE THE COMPLETE ONLINE HELP FILES

Click the Help menu, then click a button in the Help menu.

The help menu items are as follows.

Learn how to use the help files.

Click this button, then click on the item to learn. This button also appears on the Standard toolbar.

Open the complete online help.

See the version number, copyright and other information.

Help menu

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 1 • Introduction 13


1.3 USE THE CONTEXT-SENSITIVE HELP IN THE DIALOG BOXES

1. Select the question mark ( ). 2. Select an item in the dialog box.

1.4 LEARN THE NAMES AND DESCRIPTIONS

Each button has a unique and important name.1. Hold the pointer over a button.

Do not click. The button name appears by the pointer.

2. A description of that button also appears at the lower left.

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14 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 1 • Introduction


1.5 LEARN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF 2D COMPARED TO 3D

When you create geometry in a plane you are in 2D mode. Lines and circles are examples of 2D geometry. When in 2D mode, only buttons that apply to 2D appear. 3D actions, like extrusion, move you into 3D mode, and you cannot select 2D buttons. Select a plane and you return to 2D mode. This software makes it easy to move to a 2D plane on a 3D part. Use the plane to create 2D shapes. Then use the new 2D shapes to create more 3D geometry.

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CHAPTER 2 • CHILD’S PLASTIC PLAY CHAIR

This example creates the following solid.

Click here for a short video summary of this chapter.

2.1 OPEN SURFCAM SOLIDS

From the Windows START Menu, click Programs > SURFCAM > SURFCAM Solids, or double-click the SURFCAM Solids desktop icon.

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16 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 2 • Child’s plastic play chair


2.2 CREATE A RECTANGLE

1. Make sure the XY Plane (top) is selected in the History Tree.2. From the Application menu toolbar, click Shapes.3. Click Rectangle.4. Click the XY Plane origin.5. Set the Rectangle dialog box as shown, and click OK.

Tip You can press the TAB key to move to the next field in a dialog box. Then type the next value and press again the TAB key.

6. Click Zoom Extents in the Viewing toolbar (or press ALT+E) to fit all geometry into the window.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 2 • Child’s plastic play chair 17


2.3 USE A CONSTRUCTION LINE TO CREATE A CIRCLE

Create a construction line from the midpoint

1. From the Application menu toolbar, click Line.2. Move to the middle of the segment and click when you see the middle

locator ( ).3. Move horizontally several inches, as shown, and click when you see the

horizontal locator ( ).

Tip If you make an error, click Undo in the Standard toolbar.

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Toggle the segment to “construction”

1. Press the ESC key or click Select/Modify.1. Click the segment. 2. Right click in the drawing area.3. Click Toggle Construction.

Any procedures ignore the construction geometry. The line helps create the other geometry, but the extrusion procedure will not use the line.

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Control the length of the construction line

1. Press the ESC key or click Select/Modify.2. Click Constraints.3. Click Assign 2D Constraints.4. Click Length Dimension.5. Click the construction line.6. Click above the line, as shown.7. Type 10.8. Click Apply (or press the ENTER key).9. Click Close.

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Create a circle centered at the construction line’s endpoint

1. Click Circle.2. Move to the right end of the line, and click when you see the endpoint

locator ( ).3. Type 10 for the radius value, then click OK (or press the ENTER key).

Tip If you press the TAB key after you enter the radius, the diameter value is automatically calculated. If you press the TAB key after you enter the diameter, the radius value is automatically calculated.

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2.4 TRIM TO CREATE THE SHAPE

1. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar (or press ALT+E) to see the whole model.

2. Click Trim/Extend from the Application menu toolbar. 3. Click the circle at a location outside the rectangle.4. Click the smaller section of the upper segment.5. Click the smaller section of the lower segment.

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2.5 CREATE 2D FILLETS

1. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar (or press ALT+E) to see all the geometry.

2. Click Fillet.3. Type 2 for the radius and press the TAB key.4. Move to the location, and click when you see the preview of the fillet.5. Click to create the next fillet.6. Click to create the next fillet.7. Click to create the next fillet.8. Click Done.

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2.6 TOGGLE TO CONSTRUCTION THE LINE THAT WON’T BE USED IN THE EXTRUSION

1. Click the vertical line segment. 2. Right click in the drawing area.3. Click Toggle Construction.

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2.7 SWITCH TO ISOMETRIC VIEW

1. Click Views from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Isometric View.3. Click Close.4. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar (or press ALT+E).

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2.8 EXTRUDE A NEW COMPONENT

1. From the Application menu toolbar, click New Component.2. Click New Component Extrude.3. Type 10.5.4. Click OK. The extruded component appears.5. Click Zoom Extents.6. Click Shaded. Stay in shaded mode for the rest of this example.

Note If a dialog box blocks items you need to see, click and hold on the title bar of the dialog box and drag.

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The extrusion procedure automatically moves you into 3D mode. 3D mode stops the 2D geometry command buttons (See below).

Click Move/Copy. 3D mode also stops 2D command buttons here. The 3D command buttons appear (See below).

History Tree items depend on each other. Component-1 is made from Extrude-1. Extrude-1 is made from Profile-1.

When you delete Component-1, you delete Extrude-1 and Profile-1 (See below).

Any changes to the profile change the extruded component when you Rebuild.

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2.9 CREATE A CONSTRUCTION PLANE AND A PROFILE ON THE TOP FACE

1. Click the top face of Component-1. The face edges change to indicate the face is selected. When you select a face, you return to 2D mode. The 2D command buttons appear and you can create another profile.

2. Click Circle from the Applications menu toolbar.3. Move to the center of the 10-inch radius arc, and click when you see the

circle center locator ( ).Tip If you cannot find the circle center, move to the middle of the segment

that is near the circle center. The middle locator ( ) appears. Move straight to the circle center, and click when you see the locator ( ).

4. Type 8 for the radius, and click OK. The new circle appears.5. See the new construction plane in the History Tree.

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2.10 EXTRACT EDGES TO CREATE GEOMETRY

1. Click Move/Copy.2. Click Extract Edges.3. Click the top face. The new geometry appears on all edges of the selected

face.

Tip When you need to extract one edge, click only that edge. Hold the CTRL key to select more than one edge.

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2.11 TRIM THE GEOMETRY

1. Zoom in. Click Zoom Window from the Viewing toolbar. Think of a rectangle around the area you need to see. Drag* from one corner to the opposite corner.

2. Click Trim/Extend.3. Click the arc section to trim.4. Click the segment section to trim.5. Click the segment section to trim.

* Hold down the mouse button and move.

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2.12 TOGGLE TO CONSTRUCTION THE ELEMENTS YOU WILL NOT EXTRUDE

1. Press the ESC key or click Select/Modify.2. Hold the CTRL key and click the three arcs. 3. Right click in the drawing area.4. Click Toggle Construction from the context menu. Any procedure will not

use these arcs.

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2.13 USE THE PROFILE TO “CUT” THE COMPONENT

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide/Extrude.3. Click the Cut option.4. Set Up Depth to 7.5.5. Click OK. The extrusion cuts the component.

Tip To see the result before you complete the procedure, click the Preview button.

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2.14 CREATE A CONSTRUCTION PLANE AND CREATE A PROFILE FOR THE LEGS

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click View Rotate. Drag* from the middle of the model toward the top. The

model rotates and shows the bottom face.3. Press the ESC key or click Select/Modify.4. Click the bottom face.5. Click Circle.6. Move to the center of the arc, and click when you see the center locator

( ). 7. Type 2 for the Radius value, and click OK.8. Click the center at the next arc, and with the radius value set to 2, click OK.9. Repeat step 8 on the two other circles, as shown. The new circles appear.

* Click and hold the mouse button then move.

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2.15 EXTRUDE THE NEW PROFILE TO CREATE THE LEGS

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Set the Up Depth to 7.5.4. Click Preview to see the result before you complete the procedure.5. Click OK to complete the procedure.

Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude( ) changes a component.

New Component Extrude ( ) creates a new component.

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Select the faces to create the fillets

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click Feature.3. Click Fillet Blend Feature.4. Set Radius to 0.5.5. Hold the CTRL key, and click the bottom face and the bottom of each leg.6. Click OK.

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The new 3D fillets appear.

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Return to Isometric view, and zoom extents

1. Click Views.2. Click Isometric View.3. Click Close.4. Click Zoom Extents.

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Select edges to create 3D fillets

1. Click Feature.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Set Radius to 0.5.4. Hold the CTRL key and click the two edges, as shown.5. Click Apply.

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Select an edge and propagate the 3D fillet to tangent edges

1. Check the Propagate option.2. Click the edge.3. The radius is 0.5. Click OK.

The Propagate option creates fillets on all edges tangent to the selected edge.

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Tip The Extrusion lines appear when the Extrude procedure is selected in the History Tree. To see the component without the extrusion lines, click Component-1 in the History Tree, as shown.

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2.17 CHANGE A PROFILE AND “REBUILD”

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree. This action returns you to the how the model was when the profile was used to create the extrusion.

2. Double-click the 12” dimension.3. Change the value to 20 and click the check mark button in the dialog box.4. Click Rebuild.

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The model appears as follows. To see the component without the extrusion lines, click Component-1 in the History tree, as shown.

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2.18 CHANGE THE PROFILE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL DIMENSIONS

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree. This action again returns you to the how the model was when the profile was used to create the extrusion.

2. Double-click the 20” dimension.3. Change the value back to 12 and click the check mark button in the dialog

box.4. Click Rebuild.

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To see the component without the extrusion lines, click Component-1 in the History Tree.

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2.19 SAVE THE FILE

1. Click Save in the Standard toolbar.2. Type “MyPlaychair.”3. Click the Save button. The extension .a3mod is automatically added

unless you enter a different extension. The file is MyPlaychair.a3mod.

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This example creates the following solid. The front view (A below) shows that the neck is thinner than the body. B shows the Isometric view, and C shows the Right Side view.


A

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CHAPTER 3 • CELL PHONE CHARGER HOUSING

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46 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 3 • Cell phone charger housing


3.1 IMPORT A PROFILE

1. Click YZ Plane (right) in the History Tree. 2. Click Set View to Construction Plane from the Viewing toolbar.3. From the menus, click Insert > Profile.4. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises.5. Open the file ChargerSideProfile.a3prf.

Tip Click the question mark button ( ) at the upper right of the dialog box, then click on any dialog box item to learn.

6. Click the YZ Plane origin.7. Press the ESC key.

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3.2 EXTRUDE THE PROFILE GEOMETRY TO CREATE A NEW COMPONENT

Switch to Isometric View and Zoom Extents

1. Click Views from the from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Isometric View and click Close.3. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar.

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Extrude the profile as a new component

1. Click New Component from the Application menu toolbar.2. Click New Component Extrude.3. Accept the default settings, as shown, and click OK.4. Click Shaded to shade the model.

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3.3 IMPORT ANOTHER PROFILE

1. Click XY Plane (right) in the History Tree. 2. Click Set View to Construction Plane from the Viewing toolbar.3. Click Zoom Extents.4. From the menus, click Insert > Profile.5. Open the file ChargerBackProfile.a3prf.6. Click the XY Plane origin.7. Press the ESC key.

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3.4 EXTRUDE THE PROFILE TO CUT THE COMPONENT

Switch to Isometric View

1. Click Views from the from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Isometric View and click Close.3. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar.

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Use Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude to cut the component with the profile

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Click the Cut option.4. Select Through All from the Direction pull-down.5. Clear the Flip option.6. Click Set Target.7. Select the component.8. Click OK. The cut extrusion is complete.

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Create two 0.5 fillets

1. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Wireframe from the Display Mode toolbar. The wire frame mode

makes it easier to select the edges to create the fillets.3. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.4. Click Fillet Blend Feature.5. Hold the CTRL key and click the two edges, as shown.6. Set the Radius to 0.5.7. Click OK.

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Create four 0.4 fillets

1. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Hold the CTRL key and click the four edges, as shown.4. Set the Radius to 0.4.5. Check the Propagate option. The propagate option immediately includes all

edges tangent to the selected edges.6. Click OK.

These 0.4 fillets change this section to a cylinder shape, because this section was 0.8 on each side.

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Create two 0.25 fillets

1. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Hold the CTRL key and click the two edges, as shown.4. Check the Propagate option. 5. Set the Radius to 0.25.6. Click OK.

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Create two 0.25 fillets at the top

1. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Hold the CTRL key and click the two edges, as shown.4. Check the Propagate option. 5. Set the Radius to 0.25.6. Click OK.

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Tip The Shaded mode helps you see where to create the fillet, because you see the shape. Wireframe mode makes it easier to select the back edges, because you do not need to rotate the model to see the edge. Each mode helps you create the fillets.

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Zoom in and create two 0.25 fillets

1. Zoom in. Click Zoom Window from the Viewing toolbar. Then drag from one corner to the opposite corner of the area to increase. The selected area fills the drawing area.

2. Click Shaded from the Display Mode toolbar. 3. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.4. Click Fillet Blend Feature.5. Hold the CTRL key and click the two edges, as shown.6. Check the Propagate option. 7. Set the Radius to 0.25.8. Click OK.

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Create a 0.25 fillet on the neck edge

1. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Click the edge, as shown.4. Check the Propagate option. 5. Set the Radius to 0.25.6. Click OK.

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Create a 0.25 fillet on the bottom edges

1. Click Zoom Extents from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.3. Click Fillet Blend Feature.4. Click the edge, as shown.5. Check the Propagate option. The Propagate option ignores the front

edge, because the edge is not tangent. 6. Set the Radius to 0.25.7. Click OK.

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Create a 0.25 fillet on the front face

1. Click Feature in the Applications menu toolbar.2. Click Fillet Blend Feature.3. Click the front face, as shown, to select all edges of the face. 4. Set the Radius to 0.25.5. Click OK.

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The model now appears as follows.

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3.6 IMPORT ANOTHER PROFILE

Create a Construction Plane at 90 degrees from the round face

1. Click View Rotate in the Viewing toolbar. Drag to rotate the model until you see the round face.

2. Click Construction Planes.3. Click On Planar Face in the dialog box. 4. Click the round face, as shown.5. Click the Transform button in the Construction Planes dialog box.6. Set the X Rotation value to 90.7. Click Apply. 8. Click Close.

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Set View to Construction Plane, Fit, Zoom, Import Profile

1. Click Set View to Construction Plane in the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Zoom Extents in the Viewing toolbar.3. Zoom in, as shown. Click Zoom Window from the Viewing toolbar. Then

drag from one corner to the opposite corner of the area to increase. The selected area fills the drawing area.

4. From the menus, click Insert > Profile.5. Open the file NeckCutProfile.a3prf.6. Click the origin of the construction plane. 7. Press the ESC key.

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3.7 REVOLVE THE PROFILE TO CUT THE COMPONENT

Create a line for the axis of rotation, and toggle the line to construction

1. Click Line.2. Click the origin of the construction plane.3. Move the pointer vertically, as shown. Click when you see the vertical

locator ( ). The length is not important. 4. Click Select/Modify to leave the line creation mode.5. Click the newly created line.6. Right-click in the drawing area and click Toggle Construction.

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Perform the Cut Revolve procedure

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Revolve.3. Click the Cut option.4. Click the Select/Change Axis button.5. Click the line.6. Set the angle to 360.7. Click Preview (optional).8. Click OK.

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3.8 USE A PARTING LINE TO DIVIDE THE SOLID

Create a Construction Plane on the round face

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click View Rotate in the Viewing toolbar and rotate the model until you

can see the round face.3. Click Construction Planes in the Applications menu toolbar.4. Click On Planar Face in the Constructions Planes dialog box. 5. Click the round face, as shown.6. Click Apply. 7. Click Close.

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Create a parting line

1. Click Set View to Construction Plane in the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Zoom Extents in the Viewing toolbar.3. Click Line.4. Point to the construction plane origin. Do not click.

5. Use the vertical locator ( ) and click below the solid.

6. Use the vertical locator ( ) and click above the solid.

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Perform the Cut Divide procedure

1. Click View Rotate in the Viewing toolbar and rotate the model, as shown.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.4. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.5. Click the Cut option.6. Select Through All from the Direction pull-down.7. Click the Type tab.8. Click Surface for the Body type option.9. Click OK.

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Switch to Isometric view, fit, and select Component-2

1. Click Views in the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Isometric View.3. Click Zoom Extents.4. The previous cut procedure divided the component into two components.

Click Component-2 in the History Tree. Component-2 changes color in the drawing area to indicate it is selected.

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3.9 HIDE A COMPONENT

1. Below the drawing area, right-click on any tab, then click on Add. A new tab appears. The tab is called Filter 1.

2. Right-click the Filter 1 tab and click Select Items.3. Clear the Component-1 check box.4. Click the new Filter 1 tab to hide Component-1. Click the Filter 1 tab again to

show Component-1.

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3.10 SHELL A COMPONENT

1. Click Filter 1 from the Display Filter tabs to hide Component-1.2. Click Feature.3. Click Shell Feature.4. Click the face.5. Set Thickness to 0.05.6. Click OK.

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The component appears as follows.

Save the file with the name MyCharger.a3mod.

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This example trims the 2D geometry as shown, then extrudes the geometry to form a solid.


CHAPTER 4 • TRIM AND EXTEND

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74 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 4 • Trim and extend


4.1 OPEN THE FILE

1. Click Open from the Standard toolbar.2. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises.3. Click the file trimming.a3mod.4. Click Open.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 4 • Trim and extend 75


4.2 DELETE THE ELEMENTS YOU DO NOT NEED

1. If necessary, click XY Plane (top) in the History Tree. After you select the XY Plane, you can click the elements in the XY Plane.

2. Hold the CTRL key, and select the two lines, as shown.3. Right-click in the drawing area and click Delete.

Note The green XY Plane (top) rectangle is an indicator of the current plane. This rectangle is not geometry elements.

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4.3 DRAG TO EXTEND THE ELEMENTS

1. Click Trim/Extend on the Applications menu toolbar.2. Drag* to the element, as shown.3. Release the button.

The line extends to the element.

*Click and hold the mouse button then move.

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Extend the other lines, as shown.4-7. Drag to the element and release.

Tip The ESC key or another command stops the Trim/Extend command. If you accidentally stop the command, click Trim/Extend again to continue.

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4.4 USE “NEXT SOLUTION” TO DISPLAY POSSIBLE RESULTS

1. Click the intersection of the elements. 2. Next Solution is active near the lower right of the SURFCAM Solids window. Click

Next Solution one or more times, until you see the correct result, as shown.

Tip The space bar works exactly like the Next Solution button.

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Repeat this on another pair of elements.3. Click the intersection of the elements.4. Press the space bar until you see the correct result, as shown.

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4.5 QUICK TRIM THE ELEMENTS

Click the remaining pieces, as shown.

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Tip This example removes the selected pieces. You can keep the selected piece, and remove the rest of the element, as follows.

1. Click Trim/Extend.2. Click Trim Options. 3. Check Keep Selected Piece, and click OK. 4. Select the element(s).

Note Trim/Extend automatically clears the Keep Selected Piece check box when you leave the Trim/Extend command.

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You can use the complete profile to create 3D geometry.

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4.6 SWITCH TO ISOMETRIC VIEW AND ZOOM EXTENTS

1. Click the Views button from the Viewing toolbar.2. Click Isometric View.3. Click Close.4. Click Zoom Extents in the Viewing toolbar (or press ALT+E).

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4.7 PERFORM A NEW COMPONENT EXTRUDE

1. From the Applications menu toolbar, click New Component.2. Click New Component Extrude.3. Accept the default values and click OK.

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4. Click Zoom Extents.5. To see a shaded view, click Shaded in the Display mode toolbar.6. Click Component-1 in the History Tree to see the component without the

extrusion lines.

7. Save the file as MyTrimming.a3mod.

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A rocker arm transfers motion from one direction to the other. The arm in this example transfers motion in the opposite direction. The example lets the rocker pivot about a fixed point.


CHAPTER 5 • LEARN 2D GEOMETRICRELATIONSHIPS

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88 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 5 • Learn 2D geometric relationships


5.1 CREATE THREE CIRCLES

1. Click Circle.2. Click in the drawing area. The location is not important.3. Type 2 and click OK. The first circle appears.4. Move to the circle center. Do not click. Then move horizontally to the right

approximately four inches, as shown, and click when you see the horizontal locator ( ).

5. Type 0.75 and click OK. The second circle appears.6. Move to the large circle center. Do not click. Then move horizontally to the left

approximately four inches, as shown, and click when you see the horizontal locator ( ).

7. Click a short distance from the center. The size of this third circle is not important. There are now three circles.

These circles fall on the same linear path, but the locations are not fixed.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 5 • Learn 2D geometric relationships 89


5.2 CREATE TANGENT LINES

1. Click Line.2. Click Start Tangent in the Modifier toolbar.3. a. Click the circle as shown.

b. Move to the large circle and click when you see the tangent locator ( ).

Repeat this step to create three more tangent lines. 4. Click a then b, as shown, to create the next line.5. Click a then b, as shown, to create the next line.6. Click a then b, as shown, to create the next line.

Note To create the above lines, click the circles when they light. If you click a circle before it lights, you click an empty space. The line will not be tangent to the circle.

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5.3 CREATE A CONSTRUCTION LINE

1. Line remains selected.2. Move to the center of the left circle and click when you see the center

locator ( ).3. Move to the center of the right circle and click when you see the center

locator ( ). The new line appears.4. Click Select/Modify, or press the ESC key.5. Click the line. 6. Right-click in the Drawing area, then click Toggle Construction. 7. Press the ESC key. The line displays in a different color and line type to indicate

it is a construction line. Remember, procedures ignore all construction geometry.

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5.4 CONSTRAIN THE GEOMETRY

This page creates the following constraints.• Fix the center point of the middle circle.• Make the center point of the middle circle coincident to the construction line.• Make equal the radii of the outer circles.

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click the Fix Constraint.4. Move to the middle circle and click when you see the center locator ( ).5. Click the Coincidence Constraint.6. Move to the middle circle and click when you see the center locator ( ).7. Click the construction line. Do not click the midpoint of the construction

line. This constraint allows the circle to move along the line.8. Click Equal Radius.9. Click the right circle, then click the left circle. These are labeled a and b.

10. Click Close.

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5.5 LOOK AT THE CONSTRAINTS

You do not need to look at the constraints. Look at the constraints when you need to see or change the limits of the geometric elements. You can delete a constraint, or change some constraints. You can change constraints that have value, for example a radius constraint. For practice, this example looks at the constraints, but does not change them.

1. Click Constraints2. Click Edit 2D Constraints.3. Click the large circle.4. Click the up and down arrows to see all the constraints.5. Click the Fixed Constraint from the list. You can see the fixed location of the

circle.6. Click the Coincident Constraint created on the previous page. See the line

change to indicate the connection of the circle to the line. 7. Click some of the other constraints. See the elements that change to indicate

their connections. Then click Close.

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5.6 TRIM THE GEOMETRY

1. Click Trim/Extend.2-9. Click the pieces to trim, as shown.

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5.7 CREATE THREE CIRCLES FROM THE CONSTRAINED GEOMETRY

1. Click Circle.2. Move to the center of the large arcs and click when you see the center

locator ( ).3. Type 0.5 and Click OK.

Note This new circle is coincident with the large circle. If the large circle moves, the new circle moves to maintain the coincidence.

4. Move to the left end of the construction line and click when you see the endpoint locator ( ).

5. Type 0.375 and click OK. Note This new circle is coincident with the left endpoint of the construction

line. If the endpoint moves, the new circle moves to maintain the coincidence.

6. Move to the right end of the construction line and click when you see the endpoint locator ( ).

7. Type 0.375 and click OK. Note This new circle is coincident with the right endpoint of the construction

line. If the endpoint moves, the new circle moves to maintain the coincidence.

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5.8 TEST THE PIVOT

1. Press the ESC key to exit the Circle command.2. Drag to turn the model around the center point. You can drag up and down.

The rest of the geometry moves to hold all constraints. For example, because the smaller middle circle was created coincident with the large circle, the smaller circle remains coincident with one of the large arcs. This coincidence makes the smaller circle hold its center point. More tangencies and coincidences hold together the other elements.

3. Drag the line to return the model near the horizontal position.

4. Press the ESC key and continue the tutorial.

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5.9 CREATE MINIMUM DISTANCE CONSTRAINTS

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Minimum Distance Dimension.4. Move to the right end of the construction line and click when you see the

endpoint locator ( ). 5. Move to the arc center and click when you see the center locator ( ).6. Click to position the label.7. Type 3.5 and click Apply. 8. Move to the arc center and click when you see the center locator ( ).9. Move to the left end of the construction line and click when you see the endpoint

locator ( ). 10. Click to position the label.11. Type 7.0 and click Apply.12. Click Close.

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5.10 DEFINE A LENGTH FROM ANOTHER LENGTH

This page changes the dimension constraints so that the left dimension is always two times the right.

1. Double-click on the 3.5 dimension. 2. Change the name to X and click the check mark button.

3. Double-click on the 7.0 dimension.4. Change the value to ={X}*2, and click the check mark button.

Note The equal sign ( = ) is required.

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5.11 CHANGE A LENGTH VALUE AND REBUILD

1. Double-click on the 3.5 dimension.2. Change the value to 4 and click OK.

Remember, the left dimension is {X}*2. This formula changes the left dimension to 8. If you change the right dimension to 5, the left dimension changes to 10.

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5.12 TEST THE PIVOT AGAIN

1. Drag the line to turn the model.

2. Change the right dimension to 3.5. The left dimension changes to 7.0.

3. Save this model with the name MyRockerArm.a3mod.

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5.13 EXTRA CHALLENGE, A BELL CRANK

This example is optional. Try to create the geometry, as shown. Constrain the geometry to turn around the fixed point. Refer to the earlier pages if necessary.

Click here for a short video summary of this challenge.

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This example creates a common woodworking tool. SURFCAM Solids creates models that are easy to change. Change the shape, then rebuild all procedures with one click.

Give a name to an element. Use that name in the formulas that define procedures and the sizes of other elements. Change the size of one element to change other elements according to the formulas you created.


CHAPTER 6 • USE FORMULAS TO DEFINEGEOMETRIC RELATIONSHIPS

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102 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 6 • Use formulas to define geometric relationships


6.1 CREATE A PROFILE

Create a 4.125 by 3.625 rectangle from the XY Plane origin

1. Make sure the XY Plane (top) is active.2. Click Shapes.3. Click Rectangle.4. Click the XY Plane origin.5. Type 4.125 for the Width and 3.625 for the Height, then click OK.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 6 • Use formulas to define geometric relationships 103


Offset a 45 degree line 1.25 from the endpoint of a line

1. Click Line.2. Click the Angle to Line modifier.3. Click on the lower side of the 3.625 line. The end closest to where you

click is where the following Offset value is measured from.4. Type 45 for the Angle and press the TAB key. Type 4.75 for the length and

press the TAB key. Type 1.25 for the Offset and click OK.

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Create parallel lines

1. Line remains selected.2. Click the Parallel to Line modifier.3. Click the 45 degree line, then move to the left of the line. Don’t click.4. Type 0.375 and press the ENTER key.

Tip This example needs a distance value of -0.375 if you move to the right of the line instead of the left. A negative value puts the line on the side opposite to the preview line.

5. Click the line at the base of the rectangle, then move up from the line. Don’t click.

6. Type 1.5 and press the ENTER key.

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Create a line from an intersection that is perpendicular to another line

1. Line remains selected.2. Click the Start Point modifier.

3. Move to the intersection and click when the intersect locator ( ) appears.

4. Move to the line and click when the perpendicular locator ( )appears.

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Create 2D fillets

1. Click Zoom Window and drag a box around the locations where you will place fillets, as shown.

2. Click Fillet.3. Type 0.125 and press the TAB key. 4. Move to the position on the fillet side of the intersection, so that the 0.125 radius

previews, and click.5. Set the Radius value to 1.0 and press the TAB key. 6. Move to the position on the fillet side of the intersection, so that the 1.0 radius

previews, and click.7. Set the Radius value to 0.25 and press the TAB key. 8. Move to the position on the fillet side of the intersection, so that the 0.25 radius

previews, and click.

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Convert the top line to construction geometry

1. Press the ESC key to exit the Fillet command.2. Click Zoom Extents to fit all geometry in the window.3. Click the line.4. Right click and select Toggle Construction.

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Trim

1. Click Trim/Extend.2. Click the pieces labeled a, b and c, as shown.

Tip If you trimmed a line to share its endpoint with another element, this action created a coincidence constraint between the elements. If the trimmed line does not share its endpoint with the other element, you did not create a coincidence constraint between the elements.

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6.2 EXTRUDE THE PROFILE

1. Click Views. 2. Click Isometric View.3. Click Close.4. Click Zoom Extents.5. Click New Component.6. Click New Component Extrude.7. Set the Up Depth to .0625.8. Click OK.

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6.3 EXTRACT THREE EDGES FROM THE OPPOSITE FACE

1. Click Shaded.2. Click View Rotate.3. Drag up to rotate to the opposite face. Then press the ESC key to exit the

rotate command.4. Click the face.5. Click Move/Copy.6. Click Extract Edges.7. Click the edges a, b, and c, as shown. Click the edge when you see the

element locator ( ). If the element locator does not appear, right-click on the edge. Press the right-mouse button until the edge lights and you see the element locator. Then press the left-mouse button to confirm.

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6.4 EXTRUDE THE EXTRACTED EDGES

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Set the Up Depth to 0.375.4. Click the Type tab.5. Click the Sheet option.6. Click the In option.7. Set the Thickness to 0.125.8. To see the result before you complete the procedure, click Preview.9. Click OK.

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6.5 MIRROR THE COMPONENT

1. Click View Rotate.2. Drag up to rotate as shown.3. Click Operation.4. Click Mirror.5. Click the face. This face is the mirror plane.6. To see the result before you complete the procedure, click Preview.7. Click OK.

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The component now appears as shown.

Continue the tutorial on the next page.

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6.6 CREATE A LINE ON THE LONG FACE

1. Click View Rotate.2. Drag to rotate. Rotate until you see the long face.3. Press the ESC key to exit the View Rotate command. 4. Click the long face.5. Click Line.6. Move to the middle of the line and click when you see the midpoint locator

( ).

7. Move straight and click when you see the horizontal locator ( ). The length is not important. We will set the length on the next page.

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6.7 CONSTRAIN THE LENGTH OF THE LINE TO 1.25

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Length Dimension.4. Click the line.5. Click to position the dimension.6. Type 1.25.7. Click Apply.8. Click Close.

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6.8 EXTRUDE THE 1.25 LINE TO SUPPORT THE PART

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Set Direction to Next Face.4. Check the Flip option. The preview arrow points into the component.5. Click the Type tab.6. Click the Sheet option.7. Click the Mid option.8. Set Thickness to 0.25.9. To see the result before you complete the procedure, click Preview.

10. Click OK.

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6.9 CREATE ANOTHER LINE ON THE LONG FACE

1. Click the long face.2. Click Line.3. Move to the middle of the line and click when you see the midpoint locator

( ).

4. Move straight and click when you see the horizontal locator ( ). The length is not important. We will set the length on the next page.

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6.10 CONSTRAIN THE LENGTH OF THE LINE TO 1.00

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Length Dimension.4. Click the line.5. Click to position the dimension.6. Type 1.7. Click Apply.8. Click Close.

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6.11 EXTRUDE THE SMALLER LINE TO CUT THROUGH THE SUPPORT

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Click the Cut option.4. Set the Direction to Through All.5. Click the Type tab.6. Click the Sheet option.7. Click the Mid option.8. Set the Thickness to 0.125.9. To see the result before you complete the procedure, click Preview.

10. Click OK.

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6.12 CREATE A CIRCLE PROFILE

Create a line on the face of the back end

1. Click View Rotate, and rotate as shown.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Zoom Window and drag a box to zoom in as shown.4. Click the face.5. Click Line.6. Move to the middle of the line at the base of the model, and click when you see

the midpoint locator ( ).7. Move to the middle of the small line, and click when you see the midpoint

locator ( ).

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Change the line to a construction line

1. Press the ESC key.2. Right-click the line.3. Then click Toggle Construction.

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Create a circle and constrain the circle to the construction line

1. Click Circle.2. Click to position the circle center.3. Type 0.25 and click OK.4. Click Constraints.5. Click Assign 2D Constraints.6. Click Coincidence Constraint.7. Click the circle center.8. Click the construction line. Do not click on the midpoint of the construction line.

If you click the midpoint, you constrain the circle to the midpoint.

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Create a Minimum Distance constraint of 0.75 between the center of the circle and the bottom

1. Click Minimum Distance Dimension.2. Move to the circle center and click when you see the center locator ( ).3. Move to the end of the construction line and click when you see the

endpoint locator ( ).4. Click to position the dimension.5. Type 0.75.6. Click Apply.7. Click Close.

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6.13 EXTRUDE THE CIRCLE TO COMPLETE THE COMPONENT

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Set the Direction to Next Face.4. Check the Flip option.5. Click Preview to see the result.6. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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6.14 CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THE PROFILE AND REBUILD

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree.2. Click Set View to Construction Plane.3. Click Zoom Extents.4. Double-click on the 1.00 dimension, or right-click on the dimension and

click Edit Properties. 5. Type 0.5 and press the ENTER key.6. Click Rebuild.7. Click View Rotate and drag to see the change to the solid.8. Click Profile-1 again in the History Tree. Click Set View to Construction

Plane. Change the dimension back to 1.00, and click Rebuild.

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6.15 CREATE FORMULAS TO DEFINE ELEMENTS AND PROCEDURES

Create formulas for the Profile-1 radius values

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree.2. Double-click the 1.00 dimension, or right-click on the dimension and click Edit

Properties. Change the name to R and press the ENTER key. 3. Double-click the 0.125 dimension. Change the value to ={R}/8, change the

name to R2, and press the ENTER key.Note The equal sign (=) is required to create a formula.

4. Double-click the 0.250 dimension. Change the value to ={R2}*2, change the name to R3, and press the ENTER key.

5. Click Rebuild.

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Create a formula for the radius of the extruded circle

1. Click Profile-5 in the History Tree.2. Click Set View to Construction Plane.3. Click Zoom Extents.4. Click Select Filter.5. Clear 2D Entity, and click OK. This filter allows you to select the

dimension, because you cannot select 2D Entities. The filter stops when you click another command or press the ESC key.

6. Right-click the 0.25 radius dimension and click Edit Properties.7. Type ={R3} and press the ENTER key.8. Click Rebuild.

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Create formulas for the procedures

Extrude-1, Set the Up Depth to ={R2}/2

1. Click Views and change to Isometric View. 2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Right-click Extrude-1 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure to return

the model to when the procedure was first created.4. Change the Up Depth to ={R2}/2.5. Click OK.6. Click Rebuild.

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Boss/Cut Extrude-1, Set the Up Depth to ={R2}*3 and Thickness to ={R2}

1. Right-click Boss/Cut Extrude-1 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure. The model returns to when the procedure was first created.

2. Change the Up Depth to ={R2}*3.3. Click the Type tab, and change Thickness to ={R2}.4. Click OK.5. Click Rebuild.

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Boss/Cut Extrude-2, Set the Thickness to ={R3}

1. Right-click Boss/Cut Extrude-2 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure. 2. Click the Type tab, and change Thickness to ={R3}.3. Click OK.4. Click Rebuild.

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Boss/Cut Extrude-3, Set the Thickness to ={R2}

1. Right-click Boss/Cut Extrude-3 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure. 2. Click the Type tab, and change Thickness to ={R2}.3. Click OK.4. Click Rebuild.

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6.16 CHANGE THE 1.00 RADIUS TO TEST THE FORMULAS

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree.2. Double-click on the 1.00 dimension, or right-click on the dimension and click

Edit Properties.3. Change the Radius value to 0.5 and press the ENTER key.4. Click Rebuild.5. Click View Rotate and rotate to see all sides of the component. The new

radius value changes the model where there are formulas.

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6.17 USE VIEWPORTS TO SEE THE MODEL

1. Click Window > Viewports > Add to create more windows. Add three viewports.2. Click Window > Viewports > Tile. The Tile command puts the viewport windows

as shown.3. Click any of the viewport windows, then click an item on the Viewing toolbar and

apply that command to the selected window.

4. Change the Radius value from 0.5 back to 1.00.5. Rebuild.6. Save the model with the name MyWoodTool.a3mod.

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7.1 OPEN THE FILE EXTRUDETUTOR.A3MOD

1. Click Open from the Standard toolbar.2. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises.3. Click the file ExtrudeTutor.a3mod.4. Click Open.

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CHAPTER 7 • EXTRUSION CONCEPTS

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136 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 7 • Extrusion concepts


7.2 EXTRUDE THE PROFILE TO “NEXT FACE”

1. Click the profile Big Stuff-2 in the History Tree. 2. Click New Component.3. Click New Component Extrude.4. Set Direction to Next Face. 5. Click Preview.

Tip When you set Direction to Next Face, the extrusion points away from the solid to the nearest face. If you check the Flip option, the extrusion points through the solid to the nearest face in the opposite direction.

6. Click OK.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 7 • Extrusion concepts 137


7.3 MOVE THE PROFILE TO CREATE AN EXTRUSION ERROR

1. Click Profile-4 in the History Tree.2. Right-click the 1.75 dimension and click Edit Properties.3. Change the value to 2.5 and press the ENTER key.4. Click Rebuild.

An error message appears because the extrusion is higher than the face.5. Click OK to exit the error message.

6. Change the 2.5 dimension back to 1.75, and Rebuild.The error message does not appear because the extrusion is no longer higher than the face.

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7.4 CHANGE THE DIRECTION TO “TO FACE”

1. Right-click on Extrude-4 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure.2. Change Direction to To Face.3. Click Choose Face.4. Click the fillet face, as shown.5. Click Preview.6. Click OK.

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7.5 MOVE THE PROFILE AGAIN TO CREATE AN EXTRUSION ERROR

1. Click Profile-4 in the History Tree.2. Right-click the 1.75 dimension and click Edit Properties.3. Change the value to 2.0 and press the ENTER key.4. Click Rebuild.

An error message appears because the extrusion is higher than the fillet face.

5. Click OK to exit the error message.

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7.6 CHANGE THE DIRECTION TO “TO PLANE” AND PICK A NEW FACE

1. Right-click Extrude-4 in the History Tree and click Edit Procedure.2. Change Direction to To Plane.3. Click Change Face.4. Click the face, as shown.5. Click Preview.6. Click OK.

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7.7 MOVE THE PROFILE ABOVE THE SELECTED FACE AND REBUILD

1. Click Profile-4 in the History Tree.2. Right-click on the 2.0 dimension and click Edit Properties.3. Change the value to 4 and press the ENTER key. 4. Click Rebuild.

The extrusion falls above the selected face. The error message does not appear because Direction is set to To Plane. The extrusion does not touch the face, but stops at the plane of the face. From the side, you can see the plane stop the extrusion.

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8.1 CREATE A RECTANGLE IN THE XZ PLANE

1. Click XZ Plane (front) in the History Tree.2. Click Set View to Construction Plane.3. Click Shapes.4. Click Rectangle.5. Click above and to the right of the ZY Plane origin. 6. Set the Width to 2 and the Height to 14, and click OK.

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CHAPTER 8 • ASSEMBLY, BLANKET CHEST

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144 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 8 • Assembly, blanket chest


8.2 CONSTRAIN THE POSITION OF THE RECTANGLE

Make the small line coincident with the axis line.1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Coincidence Constraint.4. Click the small line. Do not click the middle or end of the line.5. Click the axis line. Do not click the origin.

Create a Minimum Distance constraint to the origin.6. Click Minimum Distance Dimension.7. Click the endpoint of the line.8. Click the XZ plane origin.9. Click to position the dimension.

10. Type 12. 11. Click Apply, then click Close.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 8 • Assembly, blanket chest 145


8.3 NAME THE LENGTH VALUES

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Right-click the 14 dimension and click Edit Properties.3. Set the Name to H and press the ENTER key.4. Right-click the 2 dimension and click Edit Properties.5. Set the Name to D and press the ENTER key.6. Right-click the 12 dimension a click Edit Properties.7. Set the Name to W and press the ENTER key.

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8.4 EXTRUDE THE RECTANGLE TO CREATE A NEW COMPONENT

1. Click Views. Change to the Isometric View and click Close.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click New Component.4. Click New Component Extrude.5. Set Direction to Both.6. Set the Up Depth to ={W}/2. Remember, the equal sign (=) is required.7. Set the Down Depth to ={W}/2.8. Click OK.

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8.5 MIRROR THE NEW COMPONENT ABOUT THE YZ PLANE

1. Click Zoom In/Out. Drag up to reduce the view size.2. Click Pan/Zoom. Drag to position the drawing, as shown.3. Click Move/Copy.4. Click 3D Mirror.5. Click the component.6. Click the Select Mirror Plane button.7. Click YZ Plane (right) in the History Tree for the mirror plane. 8. Click Preview to see the result.9. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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8.6 CREATE A FILTER AND HIDE THE SECOND COMPONENT

1. Below the drawing area, right-click any tab, then click Add. A new tab appears. The tab is called Filter 1.

2. Right-click the Filter 1 tab and click Select Items.3. Clear the Component-2 check box.4. Click OK. 5. Click the new Filter 1 tab to hide Component-2.

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8.7 CREATE A RECTANGLE ON THE FRONT EDGE FACE

1. Click Zoom Window and zoom in as shown.2. Click the front face.3. Click Shapes.4. Click Rectangle.5. Click the first corner of the rectangle.6. Set the Width to 0.75 and set the Height to 1.5 and click OK.

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8.8 CONSTRAIN THE SIZE OF THE RECTANGLE

1. Press the ESC key to exit the Rectangle command.2. Double-click the 1.5 dimension.3. Change the value to ={D}*0.75 and change the Name to T. Then press the

ENTER key.4. Double-click the 0.75 dimension.5. Change the value to ={T}/2. Then press the ENTER key.

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8.9 CONSTRAIN THE POSITION OF THE RECTANGLE

Make the left side of the rectangle coincident with the left edge of the face

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Coincidence Constraint.4. Click the line. 5. Click the edge.

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Set the distance between the lower left corners to 5.5

1. Click Minimum Distance Dimension.2. Click the lower left corner of the rectangle.3. Click the lower left corner of the face.4. Click to position the dimension.5. Type 5.5.6. Click Apply.7. Click Close.

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8.10 EXTRUDE THE RECTANGLE TO CUT THE COMPONENT

1. Zoom Extents.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.3. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.4. Click the Cut option.5. Set the Direction to Through All.6. Click Preview to see the result.7. Click OK to complete the prodecure.

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8.11 CREATE TWO SQUARES ON THE TOP FACE

1. Click View Rotate. Drag to rotate the drawing, as shown.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Wireframe HLR.4. Click the top face.5. Click Shapes.6. Click Rectangle.7. Click the left corner, as shown.8. Set the Width to 1.5 and the Height to -1.5. Then click OK.9. Click the right corner, as shown.

10. Set the Width and the Height to 1.5, then click OK.

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8.12 CONSTRAIN THE SIZE OF THE SQUARES

1. Press the ESC key to exit the Rectangle command.2. Right-click a 1.5 dimension and click Edit Properties.3. Change the value to ={T} and press the ENTER key.4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other three 1.5 dimensions.

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8.13 EXTRUDE THE RECTANGLES TO CUT THE COMPONENT

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Click the Cut option.4. Set the Direction to To Plane.5. Click Choose Face.6. Click the plane, as shown. 7. Click Preview to see the result.8. Click OK to complete the prodecure.

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8.14 USE THE SEQUENCER TO APPLY THE PROCEDURES TO COMPONENT-2

Show the hidden Component-2

1. Click the Filter 1 tab.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click View Rotate, then drag to rotate the drawing as shown.4. Click Zoom Extents again.

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Drag the Procedures to an earlier position inside the Sequencer.

This example created the Boss/Cut Extrusions too late. This example needs the Boss/Cut Extrusions before the copy procedure, so that the Extrusions apply to Component-2. Use the Sequencer to move the Boss/Cut procedures and correct this error.

1. Click Wire Frame.2. Click Sequencer.3. Right-click the top of a column and click Fit to text to show the names.4. Drag “Boss/Cut Extrude-1” to the position between “Extrude-1” and “New

Comp Ref-1.” 5. Drag “Boss/Cut Extrude-2” to the position between “Boss/Cut Extrude-1” and

“New Comp Ref-1.”

These changes put the Boss/Cut Extrude procedures before the Copy procedure that created Component-2. From this new location, the Boss/Cut Extrude procedures also change Component-2, which is a copy of Component-1.

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8.15 EXTRACT EDGES AND EXTRUDE PROFILES TO “NEXT FACE” TO CREATE THE BOTTOM, FRONT AND BACK OF THE CHEST

Extract edges for the bottom of the chest

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position as shown.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click the face, as shown.4. Click Move/Copy.5. Click Extract Edges.6. Click the face again. The extracted edges change color.

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Extrude the profile to create a new component for the bottom

1. Click New Component.2. Click New Component Extrude.3. Set Direction to Next Face.4. Click Preview to see the result.5. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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Extract edges for the front and back of the chest

1. Click the face, as shown.2. Click Move/Copy.3. Click Extract Edges.4. Click the face again.5. Click the other face, as shown. The extracted edges change color.

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Extrude the profiles to create new components for the front and back

1. Click Shaded.2. Click New Component.3. Click New Component Extrude.4. Set Direction to Next Face.5. Click Preview to see the result.6. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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8.16 CREATE A RECTANGLE FROM THE SIDE FACE

1. Click the face.2. Click Shapes.3. Click Rectangle.4. Click the upper left corner.5. Move to the upper right corner. Do not click. When you see the endpoint

locator ( ), move straight from the edge and click while you see the vertical locator ( ). The height of the rectangle is not important.

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8.17 CREATE A LENGTH DIMENSION FOR THE HEIGHT OF THE RECTANGLE

1. Press the ESC key to exit the Rectangle command.2. Click Constraints.3. Click Assign 2D Constraints.4. Click Length Dimension.5. Click the line. 6. Click to position the dimension.7. Accept the default value, and click Apply. You will constrain this length on the

next page.8. Click Close.

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8.18 CONSTRAIN THE HEIGHT OF THE RECTANGLE

1. Right-click the dimension and click Edit Properties. 2. Set the value to ={T}. Remember to include the equal sign (=). Press the

ENTER key.

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8.19 EXTRUDE THE RECTANGLE “TO PLANE” TO CREATE THE TOP

1. Click View Rotate and drag to rotate to the opposite side.2. Click Zoom Extents. 3. Click New Component.4. Click New Component Extrude.5. Set Direction to To Plane. 6. Click Choose Face.7. Click the face.8. Click Preview to see the result.9. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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8.20 OFFSET THREE FACES

1. Click Views. Change to the Isometric View.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Operation.4. Click Offset Face.5. Set the Offset value to 1.6. Clear the Offset Inward option.7. Click the face.8. Click Preview.9. Click OK.

10. Repeat the steps to create a 2.0 offset on the front face.11. Click View Rotate and drag to rotate to the other side. Repeat the steps

to create another 1.0 offset on that face.

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8.21 CHANGE THE VALUE OF D AND REBUILD

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree. 2. Click Set View to Construction Plane.3. Right-click on the 2.00 dimension and click Edit Properties.4. Change the value to 1.00 and press the ENTER key.5. Click Rebuild.

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8.22 EXAMINE THE PART

Use Viewports to see different views at one time. See Use Viewports to see the model, page 133.

Save the drawing with the name MyBlanketChest.a3mod.

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This example uses the above print to create a profile. The example then rotates the profile to form the solid.

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172 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 9 • Revolved component


9.1 SWITCH TO MILLIMETERS AND DISPLAY THE GRID

1. Click Tools > Options > Document.2. Set the Length unit to Millimeters.3. Click the Rectangular snap option.4. Check Display Grid.5. Click OK.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 9 • Revolved component 173


9.2 ZOOM IN TO SEE THE GRID AND CREATE A CONSTRUCTION LINE

1. Click Zoom In/Out then drag down until you see the grid lines. 2. Click Line.3. Click the start of the line. The Rectangular Snap makes you select grid

locations.4. Move horizontal about 30 millimeters and click. The length is not

important.5. Click Select/Modify or press the ESC key. 6. Click the line. 7. Right-click in the Drawing Area and click Toggle Construction.

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9.3 CONSTRAIN THE LENGTH AND POSITION OF THE CONSTRUCTION LINE

1. Click Pan/Zoom then drag to position the model as shown. 2. Click Constraints.3. Click Assign 2D Constraints.4. Click Length Dimension.5. Click the line.6. Click to position the dimension.7. Type 30 and click Apply.8. Click Close.

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9.4 APPROXIMATE THE SHAPE

Create a vertical line

1. Click Line.2. Move to the left end of the construction line, so the endpoint locator

( ) appears. Do not click.3. Move vertical about 7 millimeters and click when you see the horizontal/vertical

locator ( ).

4. Move vertical about 3 millimeters and click when you see the horizontal/vertical locator ( ). The new line appears.

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Create more segments to complete the shape

1. Line remains selected. 2. Click the end of the vertical line.3. Move horizontal about 19 millimeters and click. The new line appears.4. Click the end of the new line.5. Move 45 degrees to the next grid location and click to form the new line. 6. Continue this method to create the rest of the shape. Click the end of the

existing line, then click the next position to form the new line.

Tip You can create the geometry in shorter time, because you are not required to create the exact shape. You can create a shape that is approximately what you require then later constrain the geometry with the correct dimensions.

The steps on the next pages constrain the geometry with the correct dimensions.

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9.5 CONSTRAIN THE ANGLES

1. Click View > Grid to hide the grid lines.2. Click Zoom Window and zoom in as shown.3. Click Constraints.4. Click Assign 2D Constraints.5. Click Angle Dimension.6. Click each line.7. Click the dimension position.8. Type 45 and click Apply.9. Click each line.

10. Click the dimension position.11. Type 45 and click Apply.

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9.6 CONSTRAIN THE HORIZONTAL LENGTHS

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click Horizontal Distance Dimension.3. Click the first position.4. Click the second position.5. Click the dimension position.6. Type 25 and click Apply.7. Continue this method and create the 20 dimension.8. Continue this method and create the 18 dimension.9. Continue this method and create the 6 dimension.

Note To prevent errors, this example creates the larger dimensions before the smaller dimensions.

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9.7 MIRROR THE SHAPE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION LINE

1. Click Pan/Zoom and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Move/Copy.3. Click 2D Mirror.4. Move to the intersection. Both lines light. Click to select all elements in the

profile.5. Click OK.6. Click the Construction Line.7. Click Preview to see the result.8. Click OK to complete the copy.

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9.8 CONSTRAIN THE VERTICAL LENGTHS

1. Click Pan/Zoom and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Constraints.3. Click Assign 2D Constraints.4. Click Vertical Distance Dimension.5. Click the first position.6. Click the second position.7. Click the dimension position.8. Type 20 and click Apply. 9. Continue this method and create the remaining vertical constraints. Create the

larger dimensions before the smaller dimensions. If you create the smaller before the larger, outside elements turn to the inside. The graphic below shows the correct order 9a (18mm), 9b (15mm), 9c (12mm), 9d (10mm).

10. Click Close.

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9.9 TOGGLE THE COPY SHAPE TO CONSTRUCTION GEOMETRY

1. Drag a box over the copy. The selected items change.2. Right-click in the drawing area and click Toggle Construction.3. Press the ESC key.

Note Remember, procedures ignore the construction geometry. On the next page, the Revolve procedure ignores the construction geometry.

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9.10 REVOLVE THE PROFILE TO FORM THE COMPONENT

1. Click Shaded. 2. Click New Component.3. Click New Component Revolve.4. Set the Clockwise Direction to 270.5. Click Select Axis.6. Click the construction line. 7. Click OK.

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9.11 HIDE THE CONSTRAINT DIMENSIONS AND ROTATE THE VIEW

1. Click Profile-1 in the History Tree.2. Click General Construction > Constraints > 2D Constraint Options.3. Clear Display Constraint Dimensions.4. Click OK.5. Click View Rotate and drag to the needed view.

6. Save the file as MyRevolved.a3mod.

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This example creates injection mold inserts for the eyepiece of a jewel viewer.*


10.1 OPEN THE FILE INSERTBLOCK.A3MOD

1. Click Open from the Standard toolbar, or from the menus select File > Open.2. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises.3. Open the file InsertBlock.a3mod.

*Example provided by PilotWorks and Petrasolid.

CHAPTER 10 • MOLD MAKING

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186 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 10 • Mold making


10.2 INSERT THE FILE EYEPIECE.A3MOD

1. Click Wireframe.2. Click Insert > Component/Assembly.3. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises, and open the file

EyePiece.a3mod.4. Click the Copy option and click OK.5. Click the origin, as shown.6. Press the ESC key.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 10 • Mold making 187


10.3 MOVE THE EYE AND BODY COMPONENTS

1. Click Views and switch to the Front View.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Move/Copy.4. Click 3D Translate.5. Click the Body component.6. Hold the control key and click the Eye component. 7. Set the dialog box as shown, and click Preview. If the preview displays as shown,

click OK. If not, correct the dialog box and click OK.

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10.4 INSERT OR CREATE THE PROFILE FOR THE PARTING LINE

Create a positioning point for the imported profile

1. Click the front face.2. Be sure Project 3d pick and locate to cplane is selected.3. Click Construction Geometry/Annotation.4. Click Point.5. Move to the end of the line segment and click when the segment lights as

shown and the endpoint locator ( ) appears.

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Insert the profile

1. Click Insert > Profile.2. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises, and open the file

CutInsertBlock.a3prf.3. Click the construction point created on the previous page.4. Press the ESC key.

Note Move ahead to Cut the block with the profile, page 194. After you complete the tutorial, repeat the tutorial and use the following section which creates the profile from the solid.

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10.5 DIFFERENT METHOD—CREATE THE PROFILE FOR THE PARTING LINE

Extract edges

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click Project 3d pick and locate to cplane, at the lower left of the window.3. Click the front face. 4. Click Move/Copy.5. Click Extract Edges.6. Extract the three elements as follows. Move the pointer to the element and

click when you see the edge locator ( ). Select a, b and c.

Note If you click when the edge locator does not appear, the results will not be correct. If needed, right-click on the element and right-click until the segment locator appears, then click.

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Create the first segment

1. Click Wireframe HLD.2. Click Line.3. Move to the end of the line segment and click when the segment lights as

shown and you see the endpoint locator ( ). 4. Move to the left horizontally and click outside the insert block with the horizontal

locator ( ) visible.

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Create the small segment

1. Line remains selected.2. Move to the end of the arc and click when the arc lights as shown and you

see the endpoint locator( ).

3. Move straight down and click with the horizontal locator ( ) visible.

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Create the last segment and trim

1. Line remains selected.2. From above, move down to the center of the circle (side view) until the

locator ( ) appears. Do not click. 3. Move horizontally and click to the right of the insert block with the

horizontal locator ( ) visible. Note There are two circle edges very close to each other. Click at the

location parallel to the top one.4. Move straight to the left and click when the vertical line segment lights as

shown and the perpendicular locator ( ) appears.

5. Click Trim/Extend.6. Click to remove the piece of the line.

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10.6 CUT THE BLOCK WITH THE PROFILE

SURFCAM SolidsSURFCAM Solids

1. Click Views and switch to the Isometric View.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Shaded.4. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.5. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.6. Click the Cut option.7. Set Direction to Through All.8. Click the Type tab and click the Surface option.9. Click OK.

Note If the profile has gaps or overlaps between the elements, an error message appears when you extrude. The elements must connect end to end.

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10.1 CREATE THE FILTER MASKS

1. Click Component-1 in the History Tree, pause, then click Component-1 again. Type the name Insert Top.

2. Click Component-2 in the History Tree, pause, then click Component-2 again. Type the name Insert Bottom.

3. Below the drawing area, right-click any tab, then click Add. A new tab appears. The tab is called Filter 1.

4. Right-click the Filter 1 tab and click Select Items.5. Clear the Insert Bottom check box.6. Click OK. 7. Click the new Filter 1 tab to hide the Insert Bottom component.

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10.2 BOOLEAN SUBTRACT THE BODY COMPONENT FROM THE TOP INSERT

1. Click View Rotate and drag to rotate the model as shown.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Boolean.4. Click Boolean Difference.5. Click the Insert Top component for the Target.6. Click the Tool(s) list area.7. Click the Body component.8. Click the Eye component (The Eye and Body components are inside the Insert Top

component). 9. Check the Save Tools option.

10. Click OK.

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10.3 CUT THE CYLINDER PROTRUSION FROM THE INSERT TOP

Mask the Eye and Body components

1. Rename the newly created Component-1 to “disc.” We will later add the disc component to the Bottom Insert component.

2. Right-click the Filter1 tab and click Select Items.3. Clear the Eye and Body component check boxes, then click OK.

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Extract the edge on the face of the cylinder

1. Click the face of the cylinder.2. Click Move/Copy.3. Click Extract Edges.4. Click the face of the cylinder again.

Note This example removes this cylinder portion because it is vertical and will cause the part to stick in the cavity. We will later use a core insert, placed in the cold side to fill this area.

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Cut the cylinder protrusion with the extracted edge

1. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.3. Click the Cut option.4. Set the Up Depth to 0.303.5. Click Preview to see the result.6. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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10.4 BOOLEAN SUBTRACT THE EYE COMPONENT FROM THE BOTTOM INSERT

Hide the Insert Top component and show the Insert Bottom and Eye

1. Right-click the Filter 1 tab and click Select Items.2. Clear the Insert Top check box, and check the Eye and Insert Bottom check

boxes. Then click OK.

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Boolean subtract the Eye component from the Bottom Insert

1. Click Views and change to the Isometric View.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Boolean.4. Click Boolean Difference.5. Click the Bottom Insert component.6. Click the Tool(s) list area.7. Click the Eye component. 8. Check Save Tools.9. Click OK.

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Hide the Eye component

1. Right-click the Filter 1 tab and click Select Items.2. Clear the Eye component check box and click OK.

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10.5 BOOLEAN ADD THE SMALL DISC TO THE BOTTOM INSERT

1. Click Boolean.2. Click Boolean Union.3. Click the Bottom Insert component.4. Click the Tool(s) list area.5. Click the disc component. 6. Click OK.

The disc component and the Insert Bottom component join to form one component.

Tip The joined components take the name of the “target” component.

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10.6 CREATE EJECTOR PIN HOLES

Create a circle on the disc

1. Click Wireframe HLD.2. Click Views and switch to the Top View.3. Click Zoom Extents.4. Click the top face of the Insert Bottom component.5. Click Circle.6. Click the center of the disc.7. Type 0.0625 and click OK.

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Create another circle horizontal from the first

1. Circle remains selected. 2. Move to the right horizontally from the circle center and click with the

horizontal locator ( ) visible.

3. Type 0.0625 and click OK.

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Constrain the distance between the circles

1. Click Constraints.2. Click Assign 2D Constraints.3. Click Horizontal Distance Dimension.4. Click the center of the left circle.5. Click the center of the right circle.6. Click to position the dimension.7. Type 0.95.8. Click Apply.9. Click Close.

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Extrude the circles to create the ejector pin holes

1. Click Shaded.2. Click Boss/Cut/Divide.3. Click Boss/Cut/Divide Extrude.4. Click the Cut option.5. Set direction to Both.6. Leave the Up and Down depths set to 1.0.7. Click Preview to see the result.8. Click OK to complete the procedure.

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10.7 INSERT THE FILE CORE.A3MOD

1. Click Views and switch to Isometric View.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Insert > Component/Assembly.4. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises, and open the file

core.a3mod.5. Click the Copy option and click OK.6. Click to position the component. The exact position is not important.7. Press the ESC key.

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10.8 POSITION THE CORE WITH 3D CONSTRAINTS

Make the bottoms flush

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Constraints.3. Click 3D Constraints.4. Click Flush.5. Click each face.6. Click Done.

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Make the core concentric to the Eye cavity

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.3. Click Zoom Extents again.4. Click Constraints.5. Click 3D Constraints.6. Click Concentric.7. Click each circle edge, as shown.8. Click Done.

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10.9 BOOLEAN SUBTRACT THE CORE FROM THE INSERT BOTTOM

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click Boolean.3. Click Boolean Difference.4. Click the Bottom Insert component.5. Click the Tool(s) list area.6. Click the Core component. 7. Check Save Tools.8. Click OK.

9. Save the file as MyEyePieceMold.a3mod.

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10.10 HIDE AND SHOW OR MOVE COMPONENTS TO SEE THE WORK

Right-click on the Filter 1 tab to hide and show different components. Use View Rotate to see the model from different angles. Or you might want move components to see them. In the following illustration the Top Insert component was translated up 1 in Z and rotated 90 degrees. The Eye and Body components were translated up 0.75 in Z.

Comments

Use a wire EDM machine to cut the block. The wire EDM contour is close to the shape of the profile used to part the block. However you would most likely modify the wire EDM contour for the small disc-shaped protrusion, then mill the small amount of material remaining around the protrusion. Drill and ream the ejector pin holes and the core hole with standard drilling cycles. Mill the underside of the bottom insert to fit the base of the core.

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11.1 OPEN THE 3D CONSTRAINTS DIALOG BOX, APPLY FLUSH CONSTRAINTS

1. Click Open from the Standard toolbar. Navigate to the folder Tutorial \ Files for Exercises, and open the file constrain3D.a3mod. The file appears as shown.

2. Click Constraints.3. Click 3D Constraints.4. Click Flush.5. Click the face of the port1 component.*6. Click the face of the base part component.

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214 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 11 • 3D constraints


7. Click Shaded w/ Edges. This allows you to right-click to select a face on the unseen side of a wall, as in the next step.

8. Right-click the base part component, as shown. The Y/N mouse appears at the pointer location. Press the right mouse button until the back wall lights, as shown. Then press the left mouse button to accept.

9. Click Shaded. 10. Click the face of the port2 component.

Note The component names, such as port1, port2, and base part are not technical terms. They are merely the names of the components for this example. These component names are listed in the History Tree at the right column of the SURFCAM Solids window.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 11 • 3D constraints 215


11.2 APPLY CONCENTRIC CONSTRAINTS

1. Click Concentric.2. Click the edge of port1.3. Click the edge on base part.4. Click Zoom Extents.5. Click the edge on port2.6. Click the edge on base part.7. Click Zoom Extents.8. Click Shaded w/ Edges.9. Right-click the edge on roof and right-click until the desired edge lights, as

shown. Then press the left mouse button to confirm.10. Click Shaded.11. Click the edge on inside roof.

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12. Click the edge of the small hole on base part.13. Click the cylinder portion of post.

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11.3 MAKE THE BOTTOM OF POST FLUSH WITH THE BOTTOM OF BASE PART

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Zoom Window, and zoom in on the area shown.3. Click Flush.4. Click the bottom of post.5. Click the bottom of base part.

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11.4 ABUT INSIDE BLOCK TO BASE PART

1. Click Zoom Extents.2. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.3. Click Abutment.4. Click the face on inside block.5. Click the face on base part.

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11.5 MAKE INSIDE BLOCK HOLE CONCENTRIC WITH POST

1. Click Concentric.2. Click the hole edge on inside block.3. Click the cylinder portion of the post.

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11.6 MAKE EDGE OF INSIDE BLOCK PARALLEL TO EDGE OF BASE PART

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position as shown.2. Click Parallel.3. Click the edge of inside block.4. Click the edge of base part.

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11.7 MAKE DOORS FLUSH WITH BASE PART AND ROOF FLUSH WITH INSIDE ROOF

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Flush.3. Click Shaded w/ Edges.4. Right click as shown until the back face lights and press the left mouse

button.5. Click Shaded. 6. Click the face on door1.7. Click the face on base part.8. Click the face on door2. 9. Click the face on roof.

10. Click the face on inside roof.

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11.8 LOCK ROOF AND INSIDE ROOF

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.2. Press the ESC key.3. Click the face on inside roof.4. Click the face on roof.

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11.9 ABUT THE BOTTOM OF DOOR2 TO THE FLOOR OF BASE PART

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown. 2. Click Abutment.3. Click Shaded w/ Edges.4. Right click as shown until the bottom face lights and press the left mouse

button.5. Click Shaded. 6. Click the floor of base part.

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11.10 ABUT THE WALL OF DOOR2 TO THE WALL OF BASE PART, AND ABUT THE BOTTOM OF ROOF TO THE TOP OF BASE PART.

1. Click Shaded w/ Edges.2. Right click as shown until the inside face lights and press the left mouse

button.3. Click Shaded. 4. Click the face on door2.5. Click Shaded w/ Edges.6. Right click as shown until the bottom face lights and press the left mouse

button.7. Click Shaded. 8. Click the top face on base part.

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11.11 MAKE ROOF ASSEMBLY CONCENTRIC WITH POST

1. Click Concentric.2. Click the edge of the hole on roof.3. Click the cylinder portion of post.

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11.12 MAKE EDGE OF ROOF PARALLEL TO EDGE OF BASE PART

1. Click Parallel. 2. Click the edge of roof.3. Click the edge of base part.

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11.13 ABUT THE BOTTOM OF DOOR1 TO THE FLOOR OF BASE PART

1. Click View Rotate and drag to position the model as shown.2. Click Abutment.3. Click Shaded w/ Edges.4. Right click as shown until the bottom face lights and press the left mouse

button.5. Click Shaded. 6. Click the floor of base part.

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11.14 ABUT A FACE OF DOOR1 TO A FACE OF BASE PART

1. Click Shaded w/ Edges.2. Right click as shown until the inside face lights and press the left mouse

button.3. Click Shaded. 4. Click the face on door1.

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11.15 MODIFY THE DOOR1 ABUTMENT

1. Click Select Part.2. Click door1. All 3D constraints for door1 then appear in the list. To help you

identify the selected component, door1 becomes selected in the History Tree.

3. From the list in the 3D Constraints dialog box, click the abutment named “Abutment Rel-6” in the following illustration. This is the abutment of door1 and the wall face of base part. The faces used to create the abutment light in the work area.

Note In this illustration, the selected abutment is named “Abutment Rel-6.” Yours may have a different number.

4. Change the value to 5.5. Click Apply.

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The model appears as shown. Notice door1 is offset 5mm from the wall.

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11.16 MODIFY THE DOOR2 ABUTMENT

1. Click View Rotate and drag to rotate to the opposite side as shown.2. Click Select Part.3. Click door2.4. From the list in the 3D Constraints dialog box, click on the Abutment of door1

and the wall of base part. The faces used to create the abutment light in the work area.

5. Change the value to 5.6. Click Apply.

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7. Click Done. The model appears as shown. Notice door2 is offset 5mm from the wall.

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11.17 CREATE VIEWPORTS

Use Viewports to see different views at one time. See Use Viewports to see the model, page 133.

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Click here for a short video summary of this section.

12.1 OPEN A DRAWING TEMPLATE

1. Click New.2. Click Drawing.3. Click OK.4. Click the Select Template option.5. Scroll down and click the template file D.a3dtm.6. Click OK.

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CHAPTER 12 • DIMENSIONING AND DRAFTING

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236 SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 12 • Dimensioning and drafting


12.2 CUSTOMIZE THE TEMPLATE

Add text

1. Click Zoom Window and zoom in on the title block at the lower right corner.

2. Click the template node “D-1” in the History Tree.3. Click Note. 4. In the Note dialog box set the size to 0.4.5. Click in the text area and type “My Custom Text.” 6. Click OK.7. Click to position the text.8. Press the ESC key.

Tip To change the created text, you can right-click on the text and click Edit Properties, or double-click on the text.

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SURFCAM Solids Tutorials, Chapter 12 • Dimensioning and drafting 237


Tip You can also change the structure of the template. Use the Line command to create new boxes. To delete a line, click the line then press the delete key. You may use any of the commands in the Applications Menu toolbar.

For this example we will not change the structure of the template.

Save the custom template

1. Click File > Save Template.2. Type “exercise template.”3. Click Save.4. Exit the file then click the NO button to indicate you do not want to save the

drawing.

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Open the custom template

You did not need to exit drawing to continue this tutorial. The tutorial closes the drawing only to show that you can open the saved template.1. Click New.2. Click Drawing.3. Click OK.4. Click the Select Template option.5. Scroll to the bottom and click the template file “exercise template.a3dtm,” which

was saved on the previous page. 6. Click OK.

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12.3 CREATE A DRAWING

Extract drawing views from a model

1. Click Extract Drawing View.2. Click Browse and locate the file drafting.a3mod in the \Tutorial\Files for

Exercises folder. 3. Leave the view set to Top View.4. Click OK. 5. Click to position the component.

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Right-click and drag to extract views from the component

1. Right-click on the component and drag toward the bottom, as shown.2. Release the mouse button.3. Right-click on the new component and drag to the right.4. Release the mouse button.

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Extract the isometric view from the model

1. Click Extract Drawing View.2. Click Isometric View.3. Set Scale to 1:2.4. Click OK.5. Click to position the component. 6. Press the ESC key.

The four created view components are Drawing View-1, Drawing View-2, Drawing View-3 and Drawing View-4. These new view components appear in the History Tree.

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Dimension the top view

1. Click Drawing View-1 in the History to make the top view component active.

2. Click Zoom Window and zoom in on the top view, as shown.3. Click Standard Dimension.4. Click the lower left corner.5. Click the center of the lower left circle. Remember to click when you see

the center locator ( ).6. Click to position the dimension.7. Click Add to last baseline sequence.8. Click the center of the upper right circle.9. Click the upper left corner.

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Dimension the front view

1. Press the ESC key to exit the command. 2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Drawing View-2 in the History to make the top view component

active.4. Click Zoom Window and zoom in on the front view, as shown.5. Click Standard Dimension.6. Click the line. 7. Click to position the dimension.8. Click the line. 9. Click to position the dimension.

10. Click the circle center.11. Click to position the dimension.12. Click the circle center.13. Click to position the dimension.

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14. Click the arc at the lower right.15. Click to position the vertex.16. Click to position the radius dimension.17. Click the top line.18. Click the left line.19. Click to position the angle dimension.

Tip You can move a dimension. Click the dimension to select then drag the number to a new place.

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Delete the three dimensions

1. Press the ESC to exit the command.2. Click Zoom Extents.3. Click Drawing View-1 in the History to make the top view component

active.4. Click Zoom Window and zoom in on the top view. 5. Delete all three dimensions. Click on a dimension to select then press the

delete key. Repeat this step for each dimension.The drawing appears as follows.

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Create ordinate dimensions

1. Click Ordinate Dimension.2. Click the lower left corner.3. Click to position the dimension.4. Click the center of the lower circle.5. Click the center of the upper circle.6. Click the upper left corner.

Tip You can change the properties of a dimension. Right-click a dimension and click Edit Properties. For example you can set the tolerance values.

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Reset the origin for the ordinate dimension and continue

7. Click Set new 0,0 dimension origin.8. Click the lower left corner.9. Click to position the dimension.

10. Click the center of the left circle.11. Click the center of the right circle.12. Click the end of the hidden line.13. Click the lower right corner.

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Create diameter dimensions

1. Click Standard Dimension.2. Click the lower left circle.3. Click to position the vertex.4. Click to position the dimension.5. Click the upper right circle.6. Click to position the vertex.7. Click to position the dimension.

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Add the geometric tolerance

1. Click Geometric Tolerance.2. Click the circumference of the upper right circle.3. Right-click then click Edit Properties.4. Set the dialog box. Use any settings. Test the different settings under each tab. 5. Click OK.6. Click to position the tolerance box.7. Create another tolerance box. Try to create the tolerance box as shown.

Save this drawing with the name MyDrawingExercise. The extension .a3drw is automatically added because drawing mode is active.

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DRAFTING AND DIMENSIONING PART 2, OPTIONAL CHALLENGE

This example does not show all the steps. See what you can remember of the previous example. Refer to the previous example when you need some help.

Click here for a short video summary of this challenge.

12.4 USE THE TEMPLATE DSIZETEMPLATE.A3DTM

Create a new drawing. Use the template DSizeTemplate.a3dtm. If necessary, browse for the file.

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12.5 EXTRACT A TOP VIEW COMPONENT FROM THE MODEL FILE COMPLEXEXERCISE.A3MOD

Click Extract Drawing View and select the file ComlpexExercise.a3mod, as shown.

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12.6 DRAG TO CREATE VIEW COMPONENTS

Drag the top view component to create the new view components as shown.

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12.7 CREATE STANDARD HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS

Click Standard Dimension and create the dimensions as shown. After you create the first dimension, remember to click Add to last baseline sequence, and continue.

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12.8 CREATE STANDARD VERTICAL DIMENSIONS

Make the numbers parallel to the arrow direction. Then create the angle dimension.

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12.9 CREATE MORE STANDARD DIMENSIONS

To create the 1.364 dimension which starts at the lower right, right-click the end of small segment, as shown. If the end point of the small segment lights, click to confirm. If the endpoint of the segment does not light, repeat the right-click until the endpoint lights. Then click to confirm.

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12.10 CREATE THE REMAINING DIMENSIONS

Create the “TYP. 3 PL” below the 0.892 diameter dimension. Use the Text Below button in the Dimension Properties dialog box. For the 0.748 dimension, which is at the upper right of the drawing, use the Prefix button and the Text Below button in the Dimension Properties dialog box.

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12.11 DIMENSION THE FRONT VIEW COMPONENT

Click the front view component in the History Tree and dimension as shown.

Delete any view components which are not needed. Save the drawing with the name MyPart.a3drw.

Tip Use the help files to learn more about dimensioning and drafting. From the menus, click Help > Help Topics.

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