Introduction to SolidEdge

Modeling Philosophy Overview

Overview: Solid Modeling is the process of creating and modifying

solid objects. Each solid has topology defining the surface area and
volume of that object. A solid is comprised of faces, edges, and
vertices, which define its topology.

Feature-Based Design
Solid Edge creates a model with a method called feature-based design.
A feature is an option in Solid Edge that lets you create a shape and
form it into a solid. There are many different types of features that add
or remove material from the model. A feature-based solid model is a
collection of several features. This process makes describing a model
much easier because the model is broken down into several smaller
features that are easier to define. The feature order describes the way
the part is built and it shows the sequence that the model was
constructed.

Solid Modeling Advantages (Parametric)

One of the main advantages of solid modeling is the ability to analyze

the model. Solid Edge calculates detailed mass properties such as
weight, volume, and moment of inertia for a solid body. You can also
perform analysis directly on a solid model. Other advantages of solid
modeling include:

- The ability to rapidly create and change models.

- The ability to create a drawing directly from a solid model.

- The ability to create photo-realistic images from a solid.

- To obtain mass properties information.

- To create rapid-prototyping models.

- To evaluate the form, fit, and function relative to the rest of the
assembly.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Project: Advanced Profile Creation Project -
SolidEdge
Project: Advanced Profile Creation Project

Completion Time: 45 Minutes

Objective: Apply the techniques you learned in this chapter. During
this project, you are going to create two sketch profiles. You will
practice using drawing tools like lines, arcs, ellipses, and trimming. In
addition, you will apply the required geometric constraints to hold the
profiles to the desired shape. You will then create the necessary
dimensions to create a fully constrained profile.

Instructions

1: Create a new metric part. Save the part and name it

advanced_profiles.par. Place the file in a location where you have
permission to save parts.

Step 1 - Details

1.1 Click File | New.

1.2 Select the More tab on the New dialog.

1.3 Pick Normet.par from the Templates list.

1.4 Click File | Save.

1.5 Click OK on the File Properties dialog.

1.6 Use the Look In option to navigate to a folder for where to save
the part.

1.7 Enter advanced_profiles in the File name box.

1.8 Click OK to save the part.

2: Create the first sketch. Place the sketch coincident with the Top
plane.
Step 2 - Details

2.1 Click Sketch.

2.2 Click Coincident Plane from the Plane pull-down on the ribbon
bar.

2.3 In the Graphics window, pick the Top plane.

3: Create the geometry for the profile. Start by drawing a circle with
the center attached to the mid point of the reference plane. Next
create five tabs as depicted in the graphic.

Trim the profile to complete the main portion of the geometry

Step 3 - Details

3.1 Click Circle by Center from the Circle fly-out on the

Draw toolbar.

3.2 Move the cursor over the intersection of the two reference planes.
Pick the midpoint of either reference plane.

3.3 Move the cursor to create the circle. Pick the location to create the
circle so it is just inside the reference planes.

3.4 Click Line on the Line fly-out on the Draw toolbar.

3.5 Start at the top of the circle and create a vertical line, an arc, and
another vertical line. The profile should look similar to the following
graphic. Right-click
after the profile is drawn.

3.6 Create four additional tabs just like the last one you just created.
The profile should look similar to the following graphic.
3.7 Click Trim on the Draw toolbar. Hold the left mouse button
down and drag the cursor across the curves in the graphic.
 Release the left
mouse button to complete the trim.

3.8 Repeat the process for the four remaining tabs. The profile should
look similar to the following graphic.


4: Create the construction geometry for the first profile. Start by

creating a circle that is larger that the first circle drawn in the previous
step. Then create a series of lines. Each line is to start at the center of
the profile and terminate at the arc center of each tab. There should
be five lines total.
After the curves are created, convert them to reference geometry.
Step 4 - Details

4.1 Click Circle by Center from the Circle Fly-out on the

Draw toolbar.

4.2 Pick the location for the center of the circle near the center of the
profile.

4.3 Pick the location of the diameter just inside the tabs, but outside
the circle.

4.4 Click Line on the Line Fly-out on the Draw toolbar.

4.5 Pick the mid point of the reference plane for the start of the line
and pick the arc center of one of the tabs.

4.6 Create a line for all five tabs. The profile should look similar to the
following graphic.

4.7 Click Construction on the Draw toolbar.

4.8 Pick the circle. Notice the font changes to phantom.

4.9 Pick the five lines. The profile should look similar to the following
graphic.

5: Apply Geometric Constraints for the first profile. There are several
constraints to apply, here is the basic rundown:
Make all lines for the tab tangent to the arc on the tab.
Make the short lines on the tab parallel to each other,
Make the centerline for each tab parallel to one of the lines on the tab.

The arcs on the top of each tab are of equal length.

Make the construction circle concentric to center of the profile.
Connect the arc center of each tab to the construction circle.
Make sure the lines for to the tab at the top of the profile are vertical.
The profile should look similar to the graphic.
Step 5 - Details

5.1 Click Tangent on the Features and Relationships toolbar.

Pick a short line on the tab and select the small arc. Repeat the
process for all tabs that do not have a tangent constraint applied.

5.2 Click Parallel on the Features and Relationships toolbar.

Pick the short line on one side of any angled tab and then pick the
other short line. Repeat the process for all angled tabs.

5.3 Click Parallel on the Features and Relationships toolbar.

Pick the short line on one side of any angled tab and then pick the long
line that runs to the center of the profile. Repeat the process for all
angled tabs.
5.4 Click Equal on the Features and Relationships toolbar.
Pick the arc on the top tab and pick the arc on the next tab. Repeat
the step until all arcs are equal to each other.

5.5 Click Concentric on the Features and Relationships

toolbar. Pick the construction circle and pick the arc that is connected
to the center of the reference planes.

5.6 Click Connect on the Features and Relationships toolbar.

Pick the arc center of a tab and pick the construction circle. The cursor
should indicate that you are selecting a Point on Curve when you pick
the construction circle. Repeat the process for all five tabs.

5.7 Inspect the three vertical lines at the top tab. Make sure each of
them have a plus (+) sign at the mid point of each line. If they do not,
click Horizontal Vertical Relationship on the Features and
Relationships toolbar. Pick each line that requires the constraint.

5.8 The profile should look similar to the graphic.

6: Apply dimensions to the first profile. Use the graphic as a reference
for the size of the profile.

Step 6 - Details

6.1 Click Smart Dimension on the Draw toolbar. Pick the arc
on any of the tabs. Move the cursor to display the dimension. Pick the
location for the dimension. Enter 10 for the size of the radius and
press ENTER.

6.2 Pick the construction circle. Move the cursor to display the
dimension. Pick the location for the dimension. Enter 150 for the size
of the diameter and press ENTER.

6.3 Pick an arc that is segmented by a tab. Activate Diameter

on the ribbon bar. Move the cursor to display the dimension. Pick the
location for the dimension. Enter 100 for the size of the diameter and
press ENTER.
6.4 Click Angle Between from the Dimension Between Fly-
out on the Draw toolbar. Pick the vertical construction line. Pick the
construction line for the tab in the upper-right side of the profile. Move
the cursor to display the dimension. Pick the location for the
dimension. Enter 360/5 for the size of the angle and press ENTER.

6.5 Select the construction for the next tab that is in a clockwise
direction. Move the cursor so the dimension is chained from the last
dimension. Pick the location for the dimension. Enter 360/5 for the
size of the angle and press ENTER. Continue picking construction lines
and entering the value until the profile is complete. Once complete,
the profile should be completely black. The completed profile should
look similar to the following graphic.

7: Finish the first sketch and save the part.

Step 7 - Details
7.1 Click Return on the ribbon bar.

7.2 Click Finish on the ribbon bar.

7.3 Click File | Save.

8: Create the second sketch. Place the sketch coincident with the
Front plane.

Step 8 - Details

8.1 Click Sketch.

8.2 Click Coincident Plane from the Plane pull-down on the ribbon
bar.

8.3 In the Graphics window, pick the Front plane.

9: Create the curves for the second profile. The second profile consists
of two ellipses, one at 0 degrees and one at 90 degrees. The two
ellipses share the same center point.
Trim the center portions of the profile away so you are left with four
partial ellipses. The completed profile should look similar to the

following graphic.

Step 9 - Details

9.1 Click Ellipse by Center from the Circle fly-out on the

Draw toolbar.

9.2 Pick the location for the center of the ellipse somewhere below the
horizontal reference plane. Enter 0 in the Angle text box and press
ENTER. Drag the cursor to the left of the origin. Pick the location of the
primary axis. Move the cursor up and pick the location of the
secondary axis.

9.3 Create a second ellipse at the arc center of the first ellipse. Enter
90 in the Angle text box and press ENTER. Pick the location of the
primary axis, then the secondary axis.

9.4 Click Trim on the Draw toolbar. Hold the left mouse button
down and drag the cursor across the curves in the graphic. Release the
left mouse button to complete the trim.

10: Create the geometric constraints for the second profile. There are
several constraints to apply, here is the basic rundown:
Connect the centers of all four ellipses.
Make all four ellipses equal to each other.
Align the four corners of each ellipse both horizontally and vertically.
Make the center of the ellipses align vertically with the mod point of
the reference plane.
The profile should look similar to the graphic.
Step 10 - Details

10.1 Click Connect on the Features and Relationships

toolbar. Pick the arc center of an ellipse and pick the arc center of a
second ellipse. Repeat the process for all four ellipses

10.2 Click Equal on the Features and Relationships toolbar.

Pick the ellipse on the top and pick the ellipse on the right. Repeat the
step until all ellipses are equal to each other.

10.3 Click Horizontal Vertical Relationship on the

Features and Relationships toolbar. Pick the end point of an ellipse
and pick a second end point of a second ellipse. The two points should
align horizontally or vertically. Repeat the process for all four corners.
You should see a dashed box connected to all four corners of the
profile. Each leg of the box should have a plus (+) sign in the middle
of it.
10.4 Click Horizontal Vertical Relationship on the
Features and Relationships toolbar. Pick the arc center of an ellipse
and pick the mid point of the reference plane. The two points should
align vertically. The profile should look similar to the following graphic.

11: Create the dimensions for the second profile. Use the graphic as a
reference for the size of the profile.
Step 11 - Details

11.1 Click Smart Dimension on the Draw toolbar. Pick the

horizontal reference plane and pick the arc center of any ellipse. Move
the cursor to display a vertical dimension. Pick the location for the
dimension. Enter 50 for the size of the dimension and press ENTER.

11.2 Pick the lower end point of the ellipse on the left and pick the arc
center of any ellipse. Move the cursor to display a horizontal
dimension. Pick the location for the dimension. Enter 10 for the size of
the dimension and press ENTER.

11.3 Activate Select Tangency on the ribbon bar. Pick the

tangency of the right ellipse and pick the arc center of any ellipse.
Move the cursor to display a horizontal dimension. Pick the location for
the dimension. Enter 30 for the size of the radius and press ENTER.

12: Finish the second sketch and save the part.

Step 12 - Details

12.1 Click Return on the ribbon bar.

12.2 Click Finish on the ribbon bar.

12.3 Select File | Save.