There’s an old saying among parametric or history-based CAD users that goes something like, “Never fill the hole that you’ve dug for yourself.”
Now, for engineers who are working across CAD packages (and who isn’t these days?), CoCreate’s Designer Modeling 3D CAD software literally hands engineers the shovel to get back on track and start modifying imported models that don’t come through clean.
“Sometimes it’s the case that the person who created the 3D model fudged things and didn’t quite meet the specs, and sometimes it’s a translation error,” says CoCreate’s David Szostak.
Either way, it’s a big problem for engineers.
For example, a 3D model comes in as an IGES or STEP file, and right away the designer notices an improper blend radius. When trying to modify it to the correct radius, the geometry blows up on him (see example at right).
Rather than digging a deeper hole at this point or starting over, Designer Modeling allows the designer to literally backfill extra material over the problem area. This in essence permits the surfaces to be recreated using a more simplified geometry, which allows the modifications to be executed cleanly.
You need this trick if: You are working in a multiCAD environment and are challenged by imported models that don’t always come through clean.
For other cool software tricks using CoCreate’s Designer Modeling 3D CAD software , go to http://www.cocreate.com/demo_archive.cfm
Got a cool software trick? Send us details, including any documentation and supporting code, to kfield@reedbusiness. If we publish your trick, we’ll send you a super cool Design News t-shirt.
A Step-by-Step Process for Reducing Model Complexity
1. There is a problem making a blend (fillet) modification to an imported STEP file.
2. Simplify the model by adding material to cover up the failed blend (fillet) region.
3. Use the “Align” command to move the selected faces back to the original product design.
4. With the complex blend (fillet) area now simplified, execute the modification.
5. Add back the modified radius blend (fillet) to the product design.
6. The imported model now has a correct and modifiable blend (fillet).
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