Evolution of Computer Skills of a Mechanical Engineer

Trust me, I'm an Engineer! This is sad but true. Excel is a great and powerful tool. I think you could group PowerPoint into that category too. I also enjoy the engineering flow chart!

Gift Ideas for CAD and 3D Modelers

Are you shopping for a CAD user, 3D modeler, or an engineer? Well, I have a couple of holiday gift suggestions for you.

A full-color guide to the #1 architectural drafting program—AutoCAD 2012 for Dummies. AutoCAD is the leading software used to create 2D and 3D technical drawings. Used by engineers, architects, and drafting professionals, it can be complex and is a perfect subject for the tried-and-true For Dummies format. Full-color illustrations make the instructions even easier to follow, because examples in the book appear exactly as they will on the screen.

Fully updated for the latest version of software, Kelley’s Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 Instructor remains organized around step-by-step tutorials — the most effective way to teach and learn this procedure-intensive CAD application. Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 Instructor provides a solid background in parametric design and constraint-based modeling. In addition, the comprehensive references make this text an all-in-one tutorial, reference, and lecture guide for students of Pro/ENGINEER.

CATIA V6 (Computer-Aided Three Dimensional Interactive Application) is the world's leading multi-platform CAD/CAM/CAE software suite marketed worldwide by IBM. It allows the user to apply its capabilities to a variety of industries such as automotive, industrial robots, electronics, manufacturing design, aerospace, and consumer goods. CATIA V6 Essentials includes all the major concepts related to the latest version of CATIA, such as installation, modes, and modeling in an easy-to-understand, step-by-step format. It also covers all the major commands and techniques and provides the reader with all of the details to learn the basics with a clear method of instruction. This comprehensive reference will help you navigate this multifaceted software with ease.

Solid Edge ST3 for Designers is a comprehensive textbook that introduces the users to direct modeling with precise control of dimension-driven design through precision sketching and selection handles using the Solid Edge ST3 software. The textbook covers all major environments of Solid Edge ST3 in both the Synchronous and Ordered modeling with a thorough explanation of all tools, options, and their applications to create real-world products.

And some shameless self-promotion. Have you ever wondered what it takes to design and build a roller coaster? At last, there’s a book that shows you. A mix of engineering and art, roller coasters are complex three-dimensional puzzles consisting of thousands of individual parts. Designers spend countless hours creating and tweaking ride paths to push the envelope of exhilaration, all while maintaining the highest safety standards. Coasters 101: An Engineering Guide to Roller Coaster Design examines the numerous diverse aspects of roller coaster engineering, including some of the mathematical formulas and engineering concepts used.

Free 3D CAD Viewer downloadable software compariso

A useful tool in today's world of engineering is to have software which can view 3D CAD models but without having all of the tools of a CAD software system thus making the viewer extremely cheap (ideally it would be free). Here is a table comparing a few different CAD Viewer software programs and in the coming weeks I will be offering a more descriptive breakdown of each one including their strengths and weaknesses. 

How do you create a title block in ProEngineer?

There are two primary methods to bring a title block into a drawing in ProEngineer. To insert a title block into an existing drawing:

First, open the existing drawing: File/Open/directory/filename. The existing drawing appears. Now, clean a space for the title block by selection of a view (mouse left button click). The goal is to get enough space for the title block in the lower right corner. Next, use the new placement of the views and the space for the title block will be ready.

Using "Sketch" tools, select the "Line" tool and draw a title block. In this method, the form is fully defined by a drafter and should comply with the rules adopted by the company or client. To finish drafting, click the middle mouse button somewhere in the area of the drawing.


 
To fill in the title block simply hit the "Insert Note" option of the main menu. Next, select the type of notes in the Menu Manager (Default options: No Leader, Horizontal, Default justification – Make Note). In the actual title block, similar to regular notes, we can fill the lines with letters, numbers and symbol. Notes can be modified by a right mouse button click and select option "Properties" in the menu.

Note properties window appears. Bookmarks: Text & Text Style. Select the bookmark with the Text Style window. We can change here the font, letter height, line thickness, width factor between the letters.

Text parameters can also be modified, for example, height of the letters: from 0.156250 to 0.25". The note can also be moved in the drawing area into any other position (Left Button click & hold). This title block is used only once, in this particular drawing, and cannot be used anywhere else.

Pro/Engineer CAD Tips and Tricks

I know I've gotten away from this lately, but I think it is time to get this blog back on track and provide you with CAD systems help. Here are a few best practices I've learned from using Pro/Engineer Wildfire in my engineering job experience over the years. If you're stuck or having difficulty with a project hopefully one of these pointers will help you out. I know Pro/Engineer can be a bit tricky sometimes, especially when you are going from one CAD software package to another interchangeably like I have.

General Notes

• Make sure to use the "erase not displayed" to keep the memory cleared so that changes to parts are saved properly.
  
• Make sure you are using proper environment files by running batch file from the Environment folder in the Pro Engineer main folder.
  
• Since ProE keeps separate files for all versions of drawings, parts, and assemblies it is best to use the "open file" feature instead of dragging and dropping files into ProE. This ensures that you are always opening up the most recent file.
  
• Create cross sections of parts and assemblies in the part and assembly work benches prior to drawing creation.
  
• Create datum annotations at the part and assembly level prior to drawing creation.
  
• Always keep in mind the final product, which is probably a drawing file, and all other stages will be easier.
  

Part Design

• Unless otherwise specified, use internal sketches by selecting the operation then entering into sketcher mode.
  
• Planes should be placed either at an edge, center of a part, or intersecting a main hole feature.
  
• Create special planes as needed for part placement in assembly or to design special features.
  
• When practical, use symmetry about axis in sketcher mode because this reduces the number of constraints needed to drive the part.
  
• Strong dimensions equate to a fully constrained sketch in CATIA. All dimensions should be white instead of grey.
  
• Best practice is to create separate chamfers/rounds for different sizes instead of using sets.
  
• Best practice is to group holes, rounds, and chamfers together by feature at the end of the part tree.
  
• For sheet metal parts, it is best to use the sheet metal workbench and create the parts using the sheet metal portion of it instead of creating an extrude then recognizing the part.
  
• Sheet metal workbench is default inches, you may need to change units to mm (which I often forget. Seems obvious but is an easy mistake to make).
  

Assembly Design

• ProE assembly is parent/child dependent or history based so it is best to build assemblies in a logical manner.
  
• ProE allows the component assembling into the assembly to be opened in another window. Knowing how and when to use this feature can simplify assembly creation.
  
• You can use existing patterns to place repeated components quicker.
  
• ProE has lighter constraints so may use offsets when needed unlike in CATIA (where the offset constraint is heavy so when you are dealing with a large assembly it can get bogged down pretty quickly if you are using a ton of offset constraints. In CATIA, use coincidences instead).
  
• May need to switch between mate and align to get component in proper position.
  
• Using automatic constraints, it only takes two constraints for circular parts.
  
• May add additional constraints to over ride automatic constraint mode as needed.
  

Drawings

• Best practice is to figure out the total number of sheets required then create all sheets prior to starting any view creation.
  
• Best practice is to figure out sub sheet size for all components prior to creating drawings so that drawing creation is quicker and easier.
  
• Best practice is to place all subsheets for an A0 sheet before adding notes or views.
  
• Best practice is to add the notes prior to the views.
  
• Best practice is to add model and set model versus having model open in the background.
  
• Green text from first sheet is not copied to added sheets so you will have to copy/paste this information to other sheets.
  
• If parts/ assemblies are set up correctly, then using show/erase allows for faster dimensioning of components.
  
• For non-split balloons, use default balloon creation.
  
• For split balloon creation, use palette split balloon.
  
• For weldment symbols, use custom palette then browse to C:programfiles\proeWildfire4.0\symbols\library_syms\weldsymlib\iso_weld
  
• For surface finish, insert surface finish, choose retrieve, generic or unmachined as required.
  

A Few ProEngineer Questions and Answers

Q: How do you change the units on an imported STP or IGES file?
A: If a part is created in CATIA in mm and is imported into ProEngineer as a STP or IGES file, ProE units will be in mm. If you want to change it you can go to Edit>Setup...>Units. A list will pop up and you can select your units. from there you will be prompted if you want a 1 to 1 or a scaled conversion factor.

Q:How do you apply material?
A:To assign a material and/or density: Edit > Setup > Mass Props > enter density (Aluminum = 0.095 lb/in^3, Steel = 0.282 lb/in^3). Units are current units for part. An even better way: Edit > Setup > Material > Define. Then Material > Assign.

Q: How do you color individual part surfaces?
A:To color a part: View > Color and Appearance. Follow directions in Appearance Editor. -

Q: What is the best way to create slots?
A: Sketch on the surface where the slot will be located. Go to Pallete>Shapes>hold down left mouse button on Racetrack shape and drag it into the sketch area. You can rotate and scale it as needed. Click the green check mark to confirm. -

Q: How do I create a sweep?
A:Reference Module 11 in the Pro E manual.

Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 Tips

Keyboard/mouse shortcuts
CTRL+D Default view
Middle-Button Spin
SHIFT+Middle Pan
CTRL+Middle Zoom (press, drag up-down)
CTRL+Middle Turn (press, drag left-right)
Scroll Wheel Zoom
CTRL+G Regenerate
CTRL+R Repaint
CTRL+A Activate window

--- Refit (no key, use toolbar icon)

Part Design

To change background color: View > Display Settings > System Colors. Change Background and uncheck Blended Background.

To extrude: R-click for short-cut options.

To dimension: Dimension tool > L-click start > L-click end > C-click to place.

To dimension a diameter: L-click outside > L-click center line > L-click outside > C-click to place.

To assign a material and/or density: Edit > Setup > Mass Props > enter density (Aluminum = 0.095 lb/in^3, Steel = 0.282 lb/in^3). Units are current units for part. An even better way: Edit > Setup > Material > Define. Then Material > Assign.

To find weight and c.g. of a part: Analysis > Model Analysis > Model Mass Properties > Compute

To add relations: Double-click on part to show dimensions. Tools > Relations. Note that dimensions changed to symbols. In the Relations dialog box, use the toggle button to toggle between dimension symbols and numbers. Add relation like this (line 1 is a comment)/* notch is 1/4 the width */d3 = (d1)/4

To add a feature to the top of a part: Pick feature tool > Select Front as sketch plane. In References window, create new Ref by picking top surface of part (rotate to select) and deleting default top reference plane.

To add a round (or fillet): Pick round (or fillet) tool > Pick edge(s) > Drag handles, center-click.

To copy a feature: Edit > Feature Operations > Copy > Same Refs | Select | Dependent > Done > select feature (use of model tree to select) > Done > In GP VAR DIMS box select feature location dimensions to change > Done. Follow messages.

To mirror a feature: Edit > Feature Operations > Copy > Mirror | Select | Dependent > Done > select feature (use model tree to select) > Done > select plane to mirror about.

To make a pattern: Select feature. R-click > Pattern. (Or select the feature then the Pattern tool at the right.) Follow prompts to enter increment value, and total number of instances.

To set units: Edit > Setup > Units > select units > Set > read warning box

To edit dimensions: Double click on part then on dimension. Or right click on feature in menu tree > Edit. Regenerate when done.

To change dimensioning scheme or to re-sketch part: Rght click on feature in menu tree > Edit definition. Takes you to dash board. Placement > Edit Sketch. In the Sketch dialog, select Sketch.

Raised text: Create protrusion on desired surface. Text tool in sketcher toolbar > follow directions, for text line draw bottom to top.

Hex object: New feature > protrusion. Add 2 centerlines that go through the origin, spacing lines by about 120 deg with one of them about 60 deg from vertical. Dimension one of the lines to be 60 deg from the vertical reference and dimension between lines to be 120 deg. Create a Center/Point circle (do not dimension this circle). Select circle, then Edit > toggle construction. Draw hexagon while constraining to the construction circle, the reference lines and the centerlines. Dimension across one flat; the rest will follow.

To change model name: File > Rename.

To view order that model was created: Tools > Model Player. Click for/rev arrows to step through model creation.

To make a spring, use a helical sweep: Create new part. Insert > Helical Sweep > Protrusion > Constant | Thru Axis | Right Handed > Done. Select Front datum for sketch plane and Top datum for top reference. Create a vertical center line that passes through the origin. Create a vertical line of height 20.0 located 5.0 to the right of the origin. Accept the sketch. Enter pitch value of 4.0. Sketch a circular cross-section (the cross-section of the spring) of diameter 1.5. Accept the sketch. Preview the feature.

Blends: Create a new part. Insert > Model Datum > Plane. Reference to FRONT, offset by 100. Select Sketch Tool icon at the right and sketch on the FRONT plane. Sketch the first cross section (a square). Accept the sketch. Create a second cross section sketch on DTM1. Each section in the blend must have the same number of vertices. Create the blend. Insert > Blend > Protrusion > Parallel | Regular Sec | Sketch Sec > Done > Straight > Done. Follow the message prompts. Select the FRONT sketch plane. Flip arrow to point towards the DTM1 plane. In sketcher, use the Create an entity from and edge tool to pick up all four edges of the square. Note the order of the vertices which must be consistent in the next section. When done, select the arrow tool then right press > Toggle Section. Use the edge tool to pick up the next section. Accept the sketch. Enter the depth of the section. Select Preview from the Protrusion dialog box, then OK.

To color a part: View > Color and Appearance. Follow directions in Appearance Editor.

To apply fancy rendering: View > Display Setting > Model Display > Shade tab > Check Real-time rendering.


To add fancy rendering button: R-click in top tool bar > Commands > View > Drag Realtime Rendering button to model display toolbar.


To create a new stored view: Reorient View button > Saved Views > enter name for new view > Save.

To suppress display of tangent lines: View > Display Settings > Model Display > Edge Line, Tangent Edges = No Display.

If printouts of lines for transparent parts are not showing: 1. View > Display Settings > Model Display> Uncheck the box for colors. 2. View > Display Settings > System Colors > Scheme = Black on White. 3. In the Printer dialog box, choose Properties, then set resolution to something higher than 600x600 dpi (if this is an option.)

To spin wildly: Orient mode button > R-click in window > Velocity mode. Drag part with center mouse button.

To create a high quality rendering of the part for use in PowerPoint presentations or reports (taken from a Pro/E FAQ): You can dramatically improve the way your models appear directly onscreen by using Photorender: View -> Model Setup -> Render Control. Click "Render Final Image" on the toolbar that pops up and see the difference! If you do a screen capture now it is going to look so much better. The default background color for rendered images is black. To change the background, click "Modify Render Settings" on the rendering toolbar, and then check the "Render Room" box. Close that dialog and click "Modify Room Settings" on the render toolbar. Click on one of the walls and set the color to white, do the same for the ceiling and floor. Now render the final image and you'll have a white background instead of black. You can of course do much more detailed renderings and output to a file, but just doing the basic steps above to render the image directly on your screen will make a world of difference in any screenshots you take, and the process takes all of about 15 second

To create a co-axial hole. Select axis (Set pick filter to Datums). Select hole tool. With Ctrl held down, select drilling surface or datum.

To create a notch in a cylinder. In the sketcher, lay down a construction line that is at the edge of the cylinder and snap to that construction line.

That's all for now! More later...

ProEngineerProEngineer WildFire 2.0 Student Edition