The BOOK About Solid Edge V14

THE BOOK About Solid Edge V14 Chapter 7 -- The Big 14 Solid Modeling Commands

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7.0 THE BIG 14 SOLID MODELING COMMANDS In order to perform any modeling, or do any work in Solid Edge, you must understand what the commands can do for you. In this section of THE BOOK, you will learn how to use some of the solid modeling commands of the Solid Edge Part module.

Figure 1 The format for this section of THE BOOK will be patterned after the famous five newspaper W’s – Who, What, When, Where and Why. Any journalist worth his or her salt knows to always answer the 5 W’s and the newspaper story will be complete. In THE BOOK, the Who and When will be dropped and replaced with a How. THE BOOK will also add an example section to better help you learn how to use and fully understand the commands of Solid Edge.

7.1 THE SOLID MODELING INTERFACE All of the solid modeling commands in the Solid Edge Part module are found in the Solid Edge Part user interface. This interface is shown in Figure 1.

The solid modeling commands are located down the left side of the user interface. These commands are shown again in Figure 2 in four parts to better fit the format of THE BOOK.

NOTE: The commands of the Surfacing menu, which is also located on the left side of the user interface are discussed in detail in the new THE BLUE BOOK About Solid Edge.

Figure 2 This menu is named the Features Menu. This menu will automatically change throughout the modeling process. The commands across the top of the user interface are all words and these commands make up the Menu Bar. These commands are shown in two parts in Figure 3.

Figure 3 The menu just below the Menu Bar is called the Main Toolbar. These commands are shown in Figure 4 in three parts to better fit the format of THE BOOK.

Chapter 7 -- The Big 14 Solid Modeling Commands THE BOOK About Solid Edge V14

52 Do Not Copy or Reproduce

Figure 4

7.2 THE BIG 14 SOLID MODELING COMMANDS Look again at the solid modeling commands. They are shown, with all the fly-out menus, in Figure 5.

Figure 5 The first two commands are SELECT TOOL and SKETCH. These two commands do not create solid models, but they will be discussed in this section of THE BOOK. The next six commands, shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 6, all add material to the model. They are PROTRUSION, REVOLVED PROTRUSION, SWEPT PROTRUSION, LOFTED PROTRUSION, HELICAL PROTRUSION and NORMAL PROTRUSION. Each of these commands can be used to create the basic shape of the model.

Figure 6 The next six commands, shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 7, all remove material from the model. They are CUTOUT, REVOLVED CUTOUT, SWEPT CUTOUT, LOFTED CUTOUT, HELICAL CUTOUT, and NORMAL CUTOUT. None of these commands can be used to create the basic shape of the model.

Figure 7 Commands to create models with holes and threaded stock are shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 8. They are HOLE and THREAD.

Figure 8 The command below the HOLE command in Figure 5 is the ADD DRAFT command. It can add or remove material to or from the model. It cannot be used to create the basic shape of the model. Rounds and chamfers can be added with the commands that are shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 9. They are ROUND and CHAMFER.

Figure 9 These commands can add/remove material to/from the model. They cannot be used to create the basic shape of the model. The command after the ROUND and CHAMFER commands is the PATTERN command. It is used to copy elements into rectangular and circular arrays. PATTERNS can add or remove material to/from the model. Features on models can be mirrored with the commands shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 10. They are MIRROR COPY FEATURE and MIRROR COPY PART.

Figure 10 These commands can be used to add/remove material to/from the model. Commands to add ribs and other structure to the models are shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11 These commands are RIB and WEB NETWORK. Both of these commands are used to add material to the model. They cannot be used to create the basic shape of the model.



The next button is the LIP command. The LIP is used to add/remove material to/from the edges of models. It cannot be used to create the basic shape of the model.

Figure 12 The next three commands are shown with the fly-out menu in Figure 13.

Figure 13 They are THIN WALL, THIN REGION and THICKEN. These commands are used to help make the creation of thin-wall models easy. The commands at the bottom of the Environment Specific Menu do not help create models and will not be discussed in this chapter. There is one interesting feature about several of the modeling commands. The PROTRUSION and CUTOUT commands work just alike – only backwards. The PROTRUSION command adds material to the model while the CUTOUT removes material from the model. Both commands have identical Smart Steps and Ribbon Bars. The other commands that work just alike, but backwards include:

REVOLVED PROTRUSION -- REVOLVED CUTOUT,

SWEPT PROTRUSION -- SWEPT CUTOUT,

LOFTED PROTRUSION -- LOFTED CUTOUT,

HELICAL PROTRUSION -- HELICAL CUTOUT, and

NORMAL PROTRUSION -- NORMAL CUTOUT. In this chapter of THE BOOK, we will take a look at the first 14 commands on the solid modeling Features Menu.

7.2.1 The SELECT TOOL Command

WHAT: The SELECT TOOL command.

WHERE: The SELECT TOOL command is located at the top of the Features Menu. It is shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14

HOW: The SELECT TOOL is used to identify or select things that you have created in Solid Edge.

The Ribbon Bar for the SELECT TOOL is shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15 The three commands on the Ribbon Bar are SELECT FEATURES, SELECT DIMENSIONS and EDIT FEATURE.

WHY: In many operations of Solid Edge you must SELECT elements before you can make any changes to the element. The SELECT TOOL is used to delete, relocate and modify elements. The SELECT TOOL is also used to make modifications in relationships and parameters that control your models.

EXAMPLE 1: Look at the model that is shown with its FEATURE PATHFINDER in Figure 16.

Figure 16 To delete the first pattern in the model, you can use the SELECT TOOL to identify the pattern, as shown in Figure 17, and then select the Delete Key on the keyboard.



Figure 17 This type of SELECT TOOL operation is a SELECT FEATURE operation. The pattern will then disappear, as shown in Figure 18.

Figure 18

EXAMPLE 2: Look at the profile that is shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19

This profile can be seen and edited by using the editing features of the SELECT TOOL. The SELECT TOOL is used to select the first PROTRUSION in the FEATURE PATHFINDER, as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20 When the PROTRUSION is selected, the EDIT DEFINITION button, which is located on the Ribbon Bar, can be used to modify the PROTRUSION. This will display the Ribbon Bar for the PROTRUSION. The Ribbon Bar for the PROTRUSION is shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21 The PROFILE STEP button (Figure 22) can be selected to reveal the Ribbon Bar that is shown in Figure 23.

Figure 22

Figure 23 The DRAW PROFILE button, Figure 24, can be selected to show the profile in Figure 25.

Figure 24



Figure 25 To change the value of a Dimensional Relationship, you can use the SELECT TOOL to identify any dimension you see in Figure 25. The Ribbon Bar will change to show you what parameters control the dimension that you selected. This is shown in Figure 26.

Figure 26 To change the dimension, you can key in a new value like 2.000. This will change the profile as shown in Figure 27.

Figure 27

7.2.2 The SKETCH Command

WHAT: The SKETCH command.

WHERE: The SKETCH command is found near the top of the Features Menu as shown in Figure 28.

Figure 28

HOW: The SKETCH command is used to create 2D profile elements. The Ribbon Bar for the SKETCH command is shown in two parts to better fit the format of THE BOOK in Figure 29.

Figure 29 The first command of the Ribbon Bar is the PLANE STEP command. It is shown again in Figure 30.

Figure 30 In this step of the SKETCH command, you select a plane on which you will create the 2D sketch. There are several plane options. They are shown in Figure 31.

Figure 31 The plane option buttons include:

COINCIDENT PLANE,

PARALLEL PLANE,

ANGLED PLANE,

PERPENDICULAR PLANE,

COINCIDENT PLANE BY AXIS,

PLANE NORMAL TO CURVE and

PLANE BY 3 POINTS. You can also select a plane that has already been used. The From field of the Ribbon Bar will let you select planes that have already been used during the modeling process. This is shown in Figure 32.

Figure 32 With this option, you can use a plane from any plane previously used on the model or a feature you created on the model. These options, which are shown in Figure 33, can be accessed by clicking on the triangle at the right side of the From field.

Figure 33



When you select a plane on which to create the sketch, you must use one of these methods. Notice that the COINCIDENT PLANE button is already selected for you. Most of the planes you will use will be coincident to a wall on the model, or coincident to one of the original reference planes on the model. When you select a plane, the Ribbon Bar and the Features Menu will change to a 2D set of functions and commands. These will be discussed in the section about Profiles. Once the plane is selected, you can create the sketch on that plane.

NOTE: In any command in Solid Edge where you must select a plane on which to create a 2D profile, the steps in selecting the plane will be the same. For more information about selecting planes, see Chapter 6 of THE BOOK. For the different ways you can select a plane, see section 7.2.2 The SKETCH Command in this book.

WHY: SKETCHES can be created as independent elements and the 2D profile that you create does not become part of a Solid Modeling command. A SKETCH will not become part of the Profile Step of a Solid Modeling command. This will allow you to create as many sketches in as many orientations as you choose, and allow you to use the SKETCHES at any time later in the modeling process. In complex Solid Modeling commands like LOFTS and SWEEPS, it may be to your advantage to use the SKETCH command to create profiles of the shapes you need before you start the Solid Modeling command. You can use a SKETCH as many times as you choose with a Solid command. Another reason some users like to use SKETCHES is because it allows for creation of the 2D elements separate from the creation of 3D elements. In most older CAD systems this was the only method of modeling, and many users still feel comfortable with this method of creating 2D elements with one command, and then using the 2D to create the 3D model with another command.

EXAMPLE 1: Look at the model that is shown in Figure 34.

Figure 34

This model was created by using three sketches to set up a LOFTED PROTRUSION. The three sketches are shown in Figure 35.

Figure 35 Notice that the sketches show up as separate elements in the FEATURE PATHFINDER. To make sure you see the sketches in the PATHFINDER, you can use the shortcut menu on the white area of the PATHFINDER, and select Show All and Sketches, as shown in Figure 36.

Figure 36



7.2.3 The PROTRUSION and CUTOUT Commands

WHAT: The PROTRUSION and CUTOUT commands.

WHERE: The PROTRUSION command is located just below the SKETCH command on the Features Menu. It is shown in Figure 37.

Figure 37 The CUTOUT command is located two buttons below the PROTRUSION command on the Features Menu. It is shown in Figure 38.

Figure 38

HOW: The PROTRUSION is used to take a 2D profile and create a solid model that is the shape of the profile along vectors perpendicular to the plane of the profile. This type of solid is shown in Figures 39 and 40, with the profiles used.

Figure 39

Figure 40

The CUTOUT is used to take a 2D profile and remove material from a solid model that is the shape of the profile. The CUTOUT moves along vectors perpendicular to the plane of the profile. This command cannot be used to create the basic shape of the model. It can only be used to modify the shape of the model. A simple CUTOUT is shown with its profile in Figure 41.

Figure 41 The screwdriver handle that is shown in Figure 42 has a CUTOUT that runs the length of the handle (Figure 43).



Figure 42

Figure 43

The Ribbon Bar for the PROTRUSION and for the CUTOUT command is shown in two parts to better fit the format of THE BOOK in Figure 44.

Figure 44 The Smart Step commands are the first four buttons of the PROTRUSION command Ribbon Bar. These steps include:

PROFILE STEP,

SIDE STEP,

EXTENT STEP, and

CANCEL/FINISH.

The Smart Step commands are shown again in Figure 45.

Figure 45 The PROFILE STEP has two parts; it lets you select a reference plane, and it lets you create the profile. Once the plane is selected, you can create the profile on that plane.

NOTE: In any command in Solid Edge where you must select a plane on which to create a 2D profile, the steps in selecting the plane will be the same. For more information about selecting planes, see Chapter 6 of THE BOOK. For the different ways you can select a plane, see section 7.2.2 The SKETCH Command in this book. The second set of buttons on this Ribbon Bar are DRAW and SELECT FROM SKETCH. These buttons are shown again in Figure 46.

Figure 46 These commands let you create the profile that you need for the PROTRUSION or the CUTOUT, or tell the system that you want to use a SKETCH to create the PROTRUSION or the CUTOUT. To use the SELECT FROM SKETCH option, you must have already created a sketch before you begin the PROTRUSION or the CUTOUT command. The SIDE STEP of this command, which is shown in Figure 47, tells the system on which side to add the material in the PROTRUSION command, or on which to remove the material in the CUTOUT command. When you create the basic shape of the model with the PROTRUSION command, the SIDE STEP will be skipped.

Figure 47 All basic shapes (the first thing you create in a model) must have a closed profile (a profile that has no open sections is closed). When using the PROTRUSION command to add material to the model, open curves may be used. Also, when using the CUTOUT command to remove material from the model, an open curve may be used. An example of using an open profile to add material to the basic shape of the model is shown in Figure 48.



Figure 48 The open profile that was used to add the material is shown in Figure 49.

Figure 49 The SIDE STEP direction selected to create the addition of material is shown in Figure 50.

Figure 50 An example of using an open profile to remove material from the basic shape of the model with the CUTOUT command is shown in Figure 51.

Figure 51 The SIDE STEP direction selected to create the removal of material is shown in Figure 52.

Figure 52 The EXTENT STEP of this command, which is shown in Figure 53, is used to tell the system how far to extend the PROTRUSION, or how far to cut the CUTOUT into the 3D solid model from the profile reference plane.

Figure 53 The options of the EXTENT STEP are shown in Figure 54.

Figure 54 These options are:

THROUGH ALL,

THROUGH NEXT,

FROM/TO EXTENT,

FINITE EXTENT and

KEYPOINTS.



When you are using the PROTRUSION command to create the basic shape of a model, the only options that are valid are FROM/TO EXTENT and FINITE EXTENT. A FINITE EXTENT means the solid will extend a distance that you key in, or a distance that the movement of the cursor indicates. The THROUGH ALL option will make the CUTOUT go through the entire solid model. The direction of the CUTOUT can be in either direction from the plane of the profile, or in both directions. The THROUGH NEXT option means that the CUTOUT will remove material until it runs into another surface on the model. A FINITE EXTENT means the CUTOUT will extend a distance that you key in, or a distance that the movement of the cursor indicates. When using a FINITE EXTENT, the Ribbon Bar will show you the value of the cursor movement in the Distance Field. The Step Field limits the distance to be an increment of the step value. This is shown in Figure 55.

Figure 55 If the Step is set to .125, the Distance will only show increments of .125 as the cursor moves on the screen. Figure 55 also shows the SYMMETRIC EXTENT button, which is shown again in Figure 56.

Figure 56 The SYMMETRIC EXTENT in the PROTRUSION command was used to create the models shown in Figures 57 and 58.

Figure 57

Figure 58 When this button is selected, the PROTRUSION will be created with equal amounts of material on both sides of the profile. The FROM/TO EXTENT will let you extend a CUTOUT from one wall (or surface) on a model to a second wall (or surface) on the model. The profile does not have to be created on either wall. Also, the CUTOUT command can use Construction Surfaces as FROM/TO surfaces. The CUTOUT that is shown in Figure 59 has a bottom that is a double-curved surface. It was created with the FROM/TO EXTENT to the Construction Surface that is shown in Figure 60.

Figure 59



Figure 60 The FROM/TO EXTEND of the PROTRUSION command is used to create the PROTRUSION until it runs into a surface or another part of a solid model. Construction Surfaces may be used to set the extent of a PROTRUSION. The model that is shown in Figure 61 was extended to the two surfaces that are shown in Figure 62.

Figure 61

Figure 62

The FROM/TO EXTENT can also be used on other simpler models such as the one that is shown in Figure 63. In this model the PROTRUSION was used to add the round between the two walls on the top of the model. The profile was created on a reference plane that does not touch part of the solid model. The profile used is shown in Figure 64.

Figure 63

Figure 64 Notice that the reference plane and profile are located in the center of the section that was added to the model.

WHY: The PROTRUSION command is the most frequently used solid modeling command. Most of the basic shapes that you will need to create can be created with this command. It is also used to add material to models.



WHY: The CUTOUT command is the most frequently used solid modeling command for material removal. Most of the basic shapes that you will need to remove from a model can be created with this command.

EXAMPLE 1: Look at the model that is shown in Figure 65.

Figure 65 This is the base of a swivel office chair like the one you are probably sitting in. The PROTRUSION command was used to create the basic shape of this model. The PROTRUSION is shown in Figure 66. A circle was used as the profile.

Figure 66 A second PROTRUSION was used to add material to the model. This is shown in Figure 67.

Figure 67 The two PROTRUSIONS were used in a PATTERN to get the model that is shown in Figure 68.

Figure 68 The basic shape of a model can be extremely simple, as demonstrated in this example.

EXAMPLE 2: Look at the model of an electrical connector that is shown in Figure 69.



Figure 69 This model was created by using the PROTRUSION command to create the basic shape which is shown in Figure 70. The profile used is also shown in the figure.

Figure 70

EXAMPLE 3: Look at the model of an electrical connector that is shown in Figure 71.

Figure 71 This model has six different CUTOUTS. Some of these CUTOUTS are shown in the PATHFINDER shown in Figure 72.

Figure 72 The holes in the front of the model were made with CUTOUTS with the profile that is shown in Figure 73.



Figure 73

EXAMPLE 4: Look at the model in Figure 74.

Figure 74 A CUTOUT using a FROM/TO EXTENT was used to remove the material from the model. Notice that the CUTOUT does not go completely through the model. The profile used is shown in Figure 75.

Figure 75

7.2.4 The REVOLVED PROTRUSION and REVOLVED CUTOUT Commands

WHAT: The REVOLVED PROTRUSION and REVOLVED CUTOUT commands.

WHERE: The PROTRUSION command is located just below the PROTRUSION command near the top of the Features Menu. It is part of a fly-out menu with the SWEPT PROTRUSION, LOFTED PROTRUSION, HELICAL PROTRUSION, and NORMAL PROTRUSION commands. It is shown with the fly-out in Figure 76.

Figure 76 The REVOLVED CUTOUT command is located just below the CUTOUT command near the middle of the Features Menu. It is part of a fly-out menu with the SWEPT CUTOUT, LOFTED CUTOUT, HELICAL CUTOUT and NORMAL CUTOUT commands. It is shown with the fly-out in Figure 77.

Figure 77

HOW: The REVOLVED PROTRUSION command is used to take a 2D profile and revolve the profile about an Axis of Revolution. The resulting part looks like a part that is created on a lathe. The shape of a REVOLVED PROTRUSION can be anything cylindrical, conical or spherical. This type of solid is shown in Figures 78 and 79. In both figures, the profile used to create the REVOLVED PROTRUSIONS is shown. The Axis of Revolution is the dashed and dotted line that is shown. The axis can be part of the profile.

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