Tutorial 4: Complex parts, Shells, Rips, Rounds, Chamfers and Datum Planes

1. Introduction

In this tutorial you will build up on what you have learned in the previous tutorials by creating a bit more complex
part using extrude, revolve and the hole tool. In addition to the hole tool which was introduced previously, Pro/E has
several other tools that can be readily used for modifying existing solids. Some of these tools, such as shell, rip,
round and chamfer, will be introduced. Datum planes are used for drawing sketches in order to create solid features.
When there is no surface available for drawing a sketch at the desired location, additional datum planes can be
created at that location. In this tutorial you will see how additional datum planes can be created.

2. Creating Extrusion

1. Start Pro/E Wildfire.

2. Choose [File] -> [Set Working Directory…], and select a folder to save your work in.
3. Select [File] -> [New], and type the part name [Tutorial4] in Text Box.
4. Click the [OK] Button.

5. Select the Extrude icon from the Feature Creation Toolbar at the right of the screen.

6. Select the Placement button then the Define button

from the Dashboard.
7. Select the plane marked as FRONT to be your sketching plane then click the [Sketch] button.
8. [Close] the References dialog box.

73
9. Select the Line icon from the Sketcher Toolbar and sketch the shape shown in Figure 4.1 and

dimension it as shown in the figure. Note that you will need to use the Create dimension icon to
define the same set of dimensions shown in the figure. Remember that you can add the dimension
between any two entities by clicking both entities then clicking the middle mouse button.

[Figure 4. 1]

10. Click on the check button to exit the Sketcher.

11. From the Dashboard set the extrusion depth to be 125, and click the Check button to complete
the extrusion.

12. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation]. Your part should look similar to
that shown in Figure 4.2.

74
 [Figure 4. 2]

13. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

3. Creating a Shell and another Extrusion

1. Select the Shell icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen (or choose [Insert] -> [Shell]
from the Menu Bar). The options of the Shell tool will be displayed in Dashboard at the bottom of the
Pro/E main window.
2. Form the Dashboard set the Thickness of the shell to be 5 and hit Enter.
3. Using the left mouse button select the Front Surface as shown in Figure 4.3 (it should become
highlighted in pink as seen in the figure), then while holding down the [Ctrl] button on the keyboard
click on the Side Surface as shown in the figure (both surfaces should become highlighted as seen in
the figure).

75
 [Figure 4. 3]

4. Click the check button to complete the shell. Your part should look similar to that shown in
Figure 4.4.

76
 [Figure 4.4]

5. Select the Extrude icon from the Feature Creation Toolbar.

6. Select the [Placement] button then the [Define] button from the Dashboard.
7. Select the Top Surface of the part (indicated in Figure 4.4) as your sketching plane, then click the [Ske
button.
8. [Close] the References dialog box.
9. Select the Rectangle icon from Sketcher Toolbar and create the rectangle shown in Figure 4.5 and
dimension it as shown in the figure.

77
 [Figure 4.5]

10. Now select the two vertical lines (as indicated in Figure 4.5) and delete them using the [Delete]
button on your keyboard.

11. After deleting the two lines, select the Arc icon from the Sketcher Toolbar and create the two
tangent arcs as shown in Figure 4.6. Make sure that the dimensions are same as what is shown in the
figure.

Note: if the arcs you created are not tangent then you can make them tangent using the Impose sketcher

constraint icon then choosing the Make two entities tangent icon. By clicking the line first then the
arc, they will become tangent.

78
 [Figure 4.6]

12. Click on the Check button to exit Sketcher.

13. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation].

14. From the Dashboard set the Extrusion depth to be 50, and click Check button. Your part should
look similar to that shown in Figure4.7.

79
 [Figure 4.7]

15. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

Important Note: The order in which you define the shell is important. Note that we created the second
extrusion after we defined the shell, this way the second extrusion will not be shelled. However, if we defined the
shell after creating the second extrusion, the two extrusions (i.e., the entire part) will be shelled. If you want to
test that you can choose the Shell 1 from the model tree and drag it using the mouse to place it after Extrude 2,
then rotate the part and see how Extrusion 2 become empty from the inside.

4. Creating a Revolve

1. Select the Revolve icon from the Feature Creation Toolbar.

2. Select the [Placement] button then the [Define] button from the Dashboard.
3. Select the Top Surface of Extrude 2 to be your sketching plane, as shown in Figure 4.8, then select
the [Sketch] button.

80
 [Figure 4.8]

4. Do not close the References window, and make sure to change the view mode to wireframe such
that you can see the outline of Extrude 2.
5. Now we will add additional references that will help us in drawing the sketch. Click on the two
horizontal edges of Extrude 2 and the edge of the arc as shown in Figure 4.9. After selecting the
additional references [Close] the pop-up window.

81
 [Figure 4.9]

6. Select the Centerline icon from Sketcher Toolbar.

7. Click point A and point B as shown in Figure 4.10 to create a vertical centerline.

82
 [Figure 4.10]

8. Zoom in on Extrude 2 using the mouse wheel such you see a view similar to that in Figure 4.11.

9. Click on the arrow next to the arc icon then choose the Create arc by

picking its center and endpoints icon.

10. Using the left mouse button first click the center point (as shown in Figure 4.11) to be the center of
the arc then clicking on point 1 to be the start point then clicking point 2 to be the end point of the arc.

Note: make sure that the T (tangent) appears next to the ends of the arc. If for any reason the auto constraints
did not work and dimensions are displayed on the figure, then just make sure that the radius of the arc is 12.5
and the horizontal distance from the end points to the centerline is set to 20.

83
 [Figure 4.11]

11. Select the line icon then starting from the endpoint of the arc draw a horizontal line then a vertical
line then a horizontal line again ending at the other endpoint of the arc, as shown in Figure 4.12. Set
the distance between the vertical line and the centerline to be 15 as seen in the figure.

84
 [Figure 4.12]

12. Click on the check button to complete the sketch.

13. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation].

14. From the Dashboard set the Revolve angle to be 180, make sure that the revolve direction is correct

if not flip it using the arrow icon.

15. Click the check button to complete the revolve. Your part should now look similar to that shown
in Figure 4.13.

85
 [Figure 4.13]

16. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

5. Creating a Coaxial Hole

1. Select the Hole icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen.
2. From the Dashboard set the hole diameter to be 30 and the depth to be Thru all, as shown in Figure
4.14, then click on the front surface of Extrude 2 to place the hole on that surface.

86
 [Figure 4.14]

3. Select the Placement button from the Dashboard then from the drop-down list choose
Coaxial as seen in the Figure 4.15.
4. Click inside the Secondary references box (as indicated in the figure) then choose the Axis of Revolve 1
such that the hole will be placed along that axis.

87
 [Figure 4.15]

5. Click the Check button to complete the hole. Your part should look similar to that shown in Figure
4.16.

88
 [Figure 4.16]

6. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

6. Defining a new Datum plane and creating a Rip

In this section we will create a Rip on the side of Extrude 2. However, since we do not have a datum plane at that
location in order to sketch the rip on it, we first need to create a new datum plane.

1. Select Datum Plane Tool icon from the Datum Creation Toolbar at the right of the screen, as
shown in Figure 4.17, (or choose [Insert] -> [Model Datum] -> [Plane] from the Menu Bar).

89
 [Figure 4.17]

2. When the Datum Plane pop-up window appears, click on the FRONT datum plane (or you can choose
the datum plane from the model tree) to be your reference then change the Offset value to 62.5 as
shown in Figure 4.18. This will place the new datum plane exactly at the middle of Extrude 2.

90
 [Figure 4.18]

3. Click the [OK] button on the Datum Plane pop-up window. A new datum plane named DTM1 should
appear as seen in Figure 4. 19.

[Figure 4.19]

4. Select Rib icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen (or choose [Insert] -> [Rip] from the
Menu Bar). The options of the Rip tool will be displayed in Dashboard at the bottom of the Pro/E main
window.

5. Select the References button then click the Define button

from the Dashboard.
6. Select the Datum plane you just created “DTM1” to define it as the sketching plane then click the
[Sketch] button. Pro/E will switch to the sketching mode and the References pop-up window will
appear.

91
 7. Do not close the References window, click on Edges 1 and 2, as shown in Figure 4.20, to define them
as references for the rip. Then [Close] the References window.

Important note: when creating a rip between two surfaces, the edges of both surfaces must be selected as
references. Also it is important to note that the reference edges must be passing through the sketching plane or
otherwise they cannot be selected. To explain, for instance you may not choose the vertical edge of Extrude 2
(Edge 1) if the sketching plane (DTM1) was not placed exactly at the mid-thickness of Extrude 1.

[Figure 4.20]

8. Draw a line from point A to point B connecting the two references as shown in Figure 4.21. Then add
the necessary dimensions and set the dimensions to be 40 and 15 as seen in the figure.

92
 [Figure 4.21]

9. Click the Check button to exit the sketcher.

10. From the Dashboard set the Rip thickness to be 12, as shown in Figure 5.22, and rotate the part to
see the outline of the rip. If the yellow rib direction arrow is pointing towards the outside direction
then you will not be able to see the rip as shown in the figure. Click on the arrow to reverse its

direction or you can use the arrow icon in the Dashboard.

93
 [Figure 4.22]

11. Click the Check button to complete the rip.

12. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation]. Your part should look similar to
that shown in Figure 4.23.

Note how the rip follows the curved surface of Extrude 2. You can not get the same result if you try to create a rip
using the Extrude command.

94
 [Figure 4.23]

13. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

7. Edge Rounding and Chamfering

1. Select the Round icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen (or choose [Insert] -> [Round]
from the Menu Bar). The options of the Round tool will be displayed in Dashboard at the bottom of the
Pro/E main window.
2. From the dashboard set the Radius of the round to be 3 as seen Figure 4.24.
3. With the left mouse button click the lower edge of Extrude 2 and all the lower edges of the Rip as
shown in the figure.

95
 [Figure 4.24]

4. Click the check button to complete the round. Your part should look similar to that seen in Figure 4.25.

96
 [Figure 4.25]

5. Select Chamfer icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen (or choose [Insert] ->
[Chamfer] from the Menu Bar). The options of the Chamfer tool will be displayed in Dashboard at the
bottom of the Pro/E main window.
6. From the Dashboard set the chamfer depth to be 3, as seen in Figure 4.26.
7. With the left mouse button click on the edge of the hole as shown in the figure.

97
 [Figure 4.26]

8. Click the check button to complete the chamfer. If you followed the instructions correctly, your
part would look similar to that shown in Figure 4.27.

98
 [Figure 4.27]

9. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

This completes Tutorial 4.

Homework

Estimate appropriate dimensions for the part shown below then create it.

99
100