WEEK 2

SURFACE OPERATIONS – Use the following commands to modify surface geometry

that is already present in your model.
JOIN – Used to collect several surface entities into a single surface that can be modified
from that point on as if it were one entity. Join is helpful for fillet creation, scaling
operations, and for transformation applications.

Healing – Used to solve surface problems. The healing tool will develop surfaces based
on the geometric features of surrounding surfaces using the tabs shown I the image
below.
Untrim – This tool will allow the operator to modify a surface that has been previously
modified using the trim tools of C5. Select the surface to Un-trim and the software will
restore the surface back to its previous presentation.

Disassemble – As geometry is built and operations are carried out the operator will
require the opportunity to disassemble data. We can use the Disassemble tool to change
how the data is formed.
Split – Use the split command to break entities at a specified plane, surface, or curve as
required. The software will represent the split by under-intensifying the portion to be
removed and waits for designer acceptance. In the sample below we will trim to either the
plane or the curve entity.

In this sample split the lifter body at the part surfaces

Trim – Use the trim command to modify entities by intersecting them with existing
geometry. In this example we will trim lines back to there intersecting corners. Using the
select element 1 and select element 2 choices the system will shorten each line to their
intersection point. Note that in the example the lines overlap, the trim command will also
extend lines out to the intersection as required.

Use the trim command to remove surface patches as below.

Boundary –The designer will use the boundry option to create a boundry element that is
on the extremity of the selected entity normally a surface or solid.

Use option for Limit1 and Limit 2 and create only the portion you need.

Extract – Use the extract option to pull single Surface or Boundary type elements from
existing surfaces or even curve type entities.

This select button allows the operator to select several entities at once.
 Other commands found in the Operations pull down are geometry manipulation
commands that involve moving or changing the size or orientation of your part models
These are:

Translate – The transformation command TRANSLATE is used simply for moving data
around in your workspace. The movements are defined by selecting the entities to be
moved. Now select a direction as shown below.

Rotate – This command is used to move geometry around an axis by a user specified
angle. Rotate example shown above. (Double click image)
Symmetry - This very powerful tool is used to create mirrored images of previously
created geometry. It is a very important tool for the product designer who is creating left
and then right hand versions of part geometry.

Note in figure 1 that the highlighted part geometry was mirrored about the axis creating
the opposite hand of geometry. In the simple transformation example the geometry was
simply moved.
Scaling – The use of scaling is essential in the plastics industry for part expansion
purposes. Due to the molten nature of the plastic the final part will shrink accordingly
once it starts to cool. The designer will apply an expansion ratio to the part to allow for
this resulting shrinkage. Note a typical part expansion factor is 1.0014 or .0014 of an inch
per inch.

The results of a 1.5 ratio expansion are shown below

Affinity – Similar to scaling in principle yet works very differently. The idea behind
affinity expansion is the idea of expanding in only one direction or by different amounts
along different directions. An expansion along the y-axis of the example below will show
as in figure.
The result below shows the part expanded along the y-axis only by a ratio of 1.5
Axis to Axis – this type of transformation is useful in the process of assembling models
into their appropriate associated positions. Also used in mold development as a way to
reposition automotive parts from there original positions onto tool positions.
Operator inputs are 1- the element to be moved, 2- the reference position and 3- the target
position. Note the option to hide or show the initial element. Also note the orientation of
the new data as compared to its original position. This is due to the orientation of the
target axis.
Extrapolate – Used for several purposes that allow for the extrapolation of selected
surfaces or curves. The operator will, for example, extrapolate a surface entity by a
specific Length or Up to element. Using the surface below we can extrapolate the
surface out to the plane element.
GENERATIVE SHAPE DESIGN

The tools of the shape design toolbox are shown above we will use this time to discuss
the GSD tools shown below. Note the similarity to the Wireframe and surface toolbox
tools we have seen. We will discuss the differences that are shown and discuss the newer
tools available. The most important new tools are the radius tools.
Wireframe commands

Shown above are all the available Wireframe commands all familiar to previous
command toolboxes.

Surface commands - Shown below are the surface options available in the GSD
toolbox. All but the adaptive sweep is familiar to other toolboxes we have discussed.
OPERATION Commands
Shown below are the operation options that are available in the GSD toolbox. Some we
have seen, others are new commands to this course. We will spend the next few minutes
discussing these new commands.
Shape Fillet – designers will use this tool to create boundary fillets between surface
entities. Select the first support entity and note the vector direction, select the second
support and note that the vectors for both selections must point in the appropriate
direction for the fillet you are attempting to create.

Used with the example below we can see how the shape fillet can be created between two
extended surfaces with the added bonus of trimming the excess surfaces back to the
intersection fillet.

.
Edge Fillet – create a fillet on any sharp edge of an entity on the designer’s geometry, be
it a simple extrude of a sketch or a collection of surfaces that have been joined together
that have a sharp edge. This simple extrusion off of a sketch shows one sharp corner
selected that a five mm radius will be created on.

Use the sample below by joining the surfaces into one entity and then run the edge fillet
command on the sharp corner. Note the availability of trim and other definition options.
Variable Edge Fillet - the designer will use this tool to create a fillet along a part edge
that requires a variable radius value. Shown below is a part with a 15mm and 30mm
radius. By double clicking on one of the rads the designer can set the value and the
software will blend the radius accordingly. Blends are either cubic or linear in nature.

Face to Face Fillets – used to create fillets between body elements that have a sharp
edge. The fillet value will be more than the distance between the two entities. The
software will roll a spherical shaped fillet between the two entities selected.
Tri-tangent fillet – used to fillet between three face elements. The operator selects the
two support faces and then the extremity face. Now the system will create the new fillet
by making the radius tangent to the support while at the same time removing the
extremity face.
 ADDITIONAL GSD COMMANDS

DEVELOP- Used as a tool for projecting planer Wireframe geometry onto a revolved
surface entity. The operator will select the planer geometry, then the revolved surface,
make any modifications to the default parameters and ok the command.
Junction – use the junction command to like two or three surface sections together via a
tangency condition or others. Select two sketch profiles or other similar profile and the
software will present a solution select an additional section or profile and the surfaces
will adjust to include this new controlling feature. Note four profiles are possible.
HYPERLINK "shape%20GSD%20junction%20ex1.CATPart"
BUMP- use this command to create a controlled bump in a surface. The operator will
select the bump surface, then the limit of the bump, the center of the deformation and a
direction for the surface modification to follow.