Drafting and Dimensioning in Solid Edge Tutorial

Ally PLM has created another wonderful Lunch Bytes Solid Edge video tutorial. This time the topic they cover is Solid Edge drafting, dimensioning, and annotation tips and tricks. More detailed topics include how to create drawings in Solid Edge, how to create a quicksheet template, how to add different views, how to create dimensions and annotations, how to make sheet metal callouts, and more. Watch this awesome Solid Edge tutorial below:

How to Insert Symbols in Excel

I've created a new "How To" video tutorial showing you how to insert symbols, like the degree sign, into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, using three different methods including the character map.

How do you simulate rolling in CATIA?

This is anupdate of an older post. I've created a brand new tutorial with step-by-step instructions detailing how to use CATIA V5's DMU kinematics workbench to simulate a rolling object.

First, in assembly design, create a new product and insert two new parts, one name Wheel and the other Ramp. 

I've explained this before but as a real quick overview, to create my ramp I used three sketches (overhead, side profile, and rotation about itself sketch) and combined them with laws. The wheel is a simple sketch and pad command. On my ramp I have two parallel curves 5mm apart. On my wheel I also have two parallel curves offset from each other 5mm. I added a point to one of the edges of the wheels so you can see it spin around in a circle when we simulate it. 

Add a Fix constraint to the ramp to ensure it does not move. It's absolutely vital that the curves on the wheel and the curves on the ramp are tangent to each other. Even a 0.001 gap and it will not work. Use coincidence restraints to pair them together if you have to. Also make sure your ramp is nice and smooth and much bigger than your wheel.

Now it's time to go into the DMU Kinematics workbench. Create a new mechanism and set the ramp as the fixed part. I can constrain all degrees of freedom using only two joints. The first joint is a roll curve joint between curve 1 on the wheel and curve 1 on the ramp. This is a length driven joint meaning you will input the rolling distance over time from the start point. The second joint is a slide curve joint between curve 2 on the wheel and curve 2 on the ramp.

Once you get the hang of it you can simulate more complex systems, like a full-scale roller coaster! 

CATIA KINEMATICS ROLLING TUTORIAL VIDEO: 

View my Introduction to CATIACATScript Macros Video Tutorial.

Solid Edge Synchronous and Ordered Modeling Video Tutorial

Ally PLM released their latest Lunch Byte video tutorial, this time covering the topics of synchronous and ordered modeling. These videos are meant to showcase some of the feature of Solid Edge that you may not be aware of. Watch the embedded tutorial below to learn about how synchronous modeling accelerates the design process allowing for fast and flexible edits.

Solid Edge simulation express video

Ally PLM returns with another video edition of Lunch Bytes, this time talking about Solid Edge simulation express. Watch the Solid Edge video tutorial below.
 

Solid Edge - Simulation Express Tutorial Video

Welcome to another edition of Ally PLM's Lunch Bytes series. This time their topic in this edition is simulation express. Watch the video tutorial below:

Let's Go Design Episode #5: Chassis Design and Assemblies

In the last episode, we discussed weldment features and sketch techniques. This time, we move closer to the final overall CAD design of our Hot Rod Baby Buggy. We watch as Jeremy hot-wires the golf cart motors to show how the aluminum tracks perform flawlessly.

In this episode, Jeremy takes us through:

The Overall Design: Jeremy shares 80% of the CAD design, complete with a 3D model of a dad placed in the center. He shows us the fenders, talks about key components underneath the buggy, and creates a battery compartment using sheet metal.

Sustainability: We use SolidWorks® Sustainability to compare material selections for the fenders of our buggy - sheet metal vs. plastic.

The Assembly: Jeremy shows the basic build and sub-assemblies. He puts together the steel base weldment, aluminum floor, components from the golf cart’s electrical system and finally powers the tank treads.

Watch Episode #5 now at LetsGoDesign.tv

AutoCAD 2008 Video Tutorial

Here is a pretty good video tutorial for using AutoCAD 2008 which includes the Autocad interface, toolbars, pull-down menus, command line, accessing commands.

Robocoaster Model

I constructed a recreation of a Kuka robocoaster in CATIA. I used the car from my cantilevered roller coaster simulations to save time. The track is created using three sketches with laws (one overhead, one side profile, and one for banking). I made this in about a day so please excuse the lack of detail. The purpose was more to show proof of concept that this was possible to create with CATIA.

For the simulation, I used the DMU Kinematics workbench. There are four user input commands to (1) drive the robotic arm down the track (2) horizontal rotation about the z axis (3)vertical rotation of the upper arm (4) rotation of the seats about the upper arm axis. In fact, in one of the video clips there is a fifth command- the rotation of one of the domes on which video would be projected, similar to the Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando.

How to create a moving car using Sketchyphysics 2 (Google Sketchup)

Coaster Model Update

Quick update on the cantilevered roller coaster model. I used my VB catscript to quickly and easily create the cross-ties for the upper and lower rails. I also modeled all of the supports and cement footers. Pictured is one of the "side/head knocker" effects where it looks like you are about to run into a post before the cantilevered car serves out of the way in the nick of time. There is also an overview of the layout. Video coming soon!

Surfacing in Solid Edge

Welcome to our second edition of the Ally PLM Lunch Bytes. Our topic we cover in this edition is surfacing. These videos show many good examples of how to use the surfacing tools in Solid Edge.

How do you render an image in Solid Edge?

Do you need to know how to render a 3D model into a marketable high-quality image? Well, check out the videos below for all you need to know about the rendering options in Solid Edge!

How to simulate rolling with CATIA DMU Kinematics?

A reader recently asked if I could put together a tutorial for the kinematics rolling simulation that I created. This may not be extremely detailed but should give you a pretty good idea of the steps to take when trying to simulate rolling in CATIA. This was one of the preliminary tests I ran before attempting to simulate my entire roller coaster model.


(Download the rolling in kinematocs tutorial here)

Every time you use kinematics something needs to be fixed, so the rest of the assembly moves in relation to the fixed part. In this case, the track will be fixed. Set the assembly up in assembly design then switch to the DMU Kinematics workbench when you are ready to begin simulating. You can see the constraints I used in the screen shot. It is very important to pay attention to the degrees of freedom of the system. When dealing with large assemblies, I often fully constrain the entire assembly and then go back in later and delete the constraints where I want a part to be able to move, in order to not be confused. 

Here are the joints I used to create the connected wheel rolling kinematics simulation.  To create these constraints, click “Assembly Constraints Conversion” wizard.  Create a new mechanism then click “Auto Create” and it will automatically create joints based on the constraints in the assembly. Next, you need to manually create the roll curve joints between the wheels and the track.

 

In order to create a roll curve joint you must have two curves that are tangent to one another. Here, you can see the sketch on the wheels is tangent to the sketch on the corner of the track. Double click on one of the roll curve joints and toggle the “Length Driven” option. This is your input. After you click ok you should get a message that reads “The machanism can now be simulated” and the degrees of freedom of the system  (DOF) should be zero.

In order to apply gravity to your simulation you need to create a sketch  called a “trace law.” This is essentially a graph of distance which respect to time, with the horizontal axis being time and the vertical axis being distance. A straight line gives a linear relationship, or a constant speed. Change the graph to an exponential curve and you now have acceleration.

Now you should be able to simulate two connected wheels rolling down a hill with gravity. Any questions?

Steel Roller Coaster Modeled in CATIA V5

As you can see from many of my previous posts, I spend quite a bit of time modeling roller coasters in CATIA. Well, it looks like I'm not the only one. Yunus Alapan, a student at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey, recently submitted a few pictures of a roller coaster he created with CATIA V5. I know from experience how hard and time consuming  it is to model a complete roller coaster by yourself, piece by piece. Hopefully, one day we will see some cars running around the track. Good job Yunus!

And since we are on the topic of CAD coasters, check out my latest simulation of the Cantilevered Roller Coaster. This time I show case the “side knocker” effect! More kinematics experimentation on the CRC model with a mismatch of new and old parts.

Cantilevered Coaster Catia Kinematics Trial #5

Steam Train Piston Assembly Kinematics Simulation in CATIA

Check out the train simulation I did in CATIA V5 with the DMU Kinematics workbench! Your assembly literally has to be perfect before you can even begin to attempt kinematic simulations. Which is why I often times assemble a few pieces and then simulate a small portion of whatever it is I am building just to make sure it is working, then I add on a little more and repeat. It takes longer but is easier to diagnosis problems this way. I use an Excel spreadsheet to help me keep track of the number of degrees of freedom of each part that is not fully constrained during assembly. This seems to help me a lot. What are your strategies?

Rolling in CATIA DMU Kinematics Workbench

Rolling tests for my roller coaster kinematics models.

Cantilevered Roller Coaster Kinematics Test

How To: AutoCAD 2008 Tutorial

I found this video to be very helpful. AutoCAD 2008 Tutorial, the Autocad interface, toolbars, pull-down menus, command line, accessing commands.