One of the previous drawbacks in SolidWorks Drawings was that, unlike Pro/Engineer, the title block data fields could not be entered / edited by double clicking on the note containing the custom property (Pro-E: parameter).  The previously solution was to open the part or assembly file and edit the custom properties directly in the model, and then the title block data field would update accordingly. As of SolidWorks 2009, this capability became available in SolidWorks although it has existed in Pro/Engineer for several years.

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Most of you realize that 3-D CAD can be used to develop complex geometry through surface modeling, such as injection-molded plastic & die-cast parts, but how often do we really think about the equations used that actually drive these part models? Although we may dimension points on the splines, add constraints (tangent, curvature, etc.), and / or use splines as bridges between curves, we may not always realize there is an equation that describes the shape of the curve.

This brief tutorial is intended to introduce the SolidWorks or Pro-E user to using equations.  Equation driven curves are frequently used in features for the purpose of modeling surface or solid geometry in the part model. Some examples include: springs, wave washers, and optical lenses. Although there are mathematical tools available that integrate into 3-D CAD software (ex: MathCAD with Pro-E), I would like to demonstrate curve driven equation using the existing tools within the CAD software to create 3-D curves starting with Euler’s Equation (http://www.songho.ca/math/euler/euler.html).

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For Pro-E, creating a round / fillet and selecting the conic option is probably the easiest method and the results will be close, but I would like to replicate the method in Pro-E similar to the method previously used in SolidWorks. The “delete face” tool in SolidWorks is useful for removing the face of a tangent fillet (C1) so that it can be replaced with a curvature continuous (C2) fillet. The technique of using a “Boundary Surface” was discussed in the previous posting, but how is this done in Pro-E as no exact equivalent exists for the “delete face” tool?

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When modeling a part in SolidWorks, there are specific situations where a curvature continuous (C2) fillet is desired, but a double hold-line fillet or the “atomic bomb” fillet (split line, delete face, and fill surface) is unable to be created. The delima is how to create these fillets using as few features in the model tree as possible.

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Creating a pattern of features / bodies along a curve is a very useful feature in SolidWorks. Previously, I discussed how to pattern features along a curve using Pro/Engineer, and the technique using SolidWorks is similar, but there are some differences in the work flow between the two CAD software packages.

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Although many of you are probably familiar with various feature pattern creation techniques in 3-D CAD, you may not know that a pattern can be created along a curve or spline. A curve pattern creates instances of a feature along a sketched curve, and does not require equations if the number of pattern members is specified. If desired, pattern members can be skipped as well.

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In most situations, creating cuts as solid features, a Boolean function, is the most efficient method when working with solid bodies. This efficiency applies both in creating the actual feature, and the regeneration / rebuild time. However, there are some modeling situations in 3-D CAD where a solid cut does not work, but substituting a surface cut is a viable solution.

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A useful technique to deform a part in a controllable way, using dimensions, is the indent feature. A tool body is used to deform a target body, and at least one of the bodies must be a solid. By using the indent feature, it can replace other surfacing techniques to create similar features.

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Lately, I have been using SolidWorks for most of my projects. However, I do occasionally get requests for work to be done in Pro/Engineer. One of those requests was to model electrical cabling, and create a flat length on a drawing. Neither I, nor did my client have the Pro/Cable module, so I needed to find a solution to this problem as Pro/Cable would require the purchase of an additional Pro-E module.

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Logo in Pro-E part sketch

From my previous post, I received a request on how to model silkscreening on a part designed in Pro/Engineer using vector graphics.  The previous example was a SolidWorks part, but the techniques are similar although the terminology in Pro-E differs from SW.

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