Tutorial 4: From Sketch-Elements to Extrusions

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Tutorial 4: From Sketch-Elements to Extrusions

Extrusion Elements in MechDesigner

Do Tutorial 3 before this Tutorial


Terminology:

Term :

Definition

Merge-Points :

Two Points are merged into one Point.

The two Points that merge are usually the start-Points and/or end-Points of different sketch-elements.

sketch-loop :

A series of sketch-elements that you join end-to-end to give a closed loop of sketch-elements. You merge their start-points and/or end-Points.

The sketch-elements cannot cross over or touch each other. There cannot be a Branch in which you merge three or more Points from three or more sketch-elements.

Solid :

Any 3D object.

Solids have mass and inertia properties, and thus change the kinetostatic (force) analysis. They do not change the kinematic-analysis.

MD-Solids :

Profiles / Extrusions: Add to a sketch-loop

CAD-Solid :

Imported CAD models: Import from SolidWorks (or other CAD) onto a CAD-Line.

Objectives of Tutorial 4

Learn how to:

Merge-Points and add sketch-loops.

Add Auto-Profiles, Profiles, and Holes

Edit Extrusions

GST-Icon-AddProfile Add Extrusions

Step 4.1: Sketch-loops and Merge-Points

Step 4.2: Use the Auto-Profiles Command

Step 4.3: Level 1: Sketch-Loops in Part Geometry

Step 4.4: Level 2: Sketch-Loops in Part Geometry

The Part-Editor is not as powerful as your solid modeling software. If you add many sketch-elements and sketch-constraints, the Part-Editor may slow down its response.

Our request is that you do not add complex sketches.

For speed:

Break down a complex sketch into smaller, simpler, separate sketch-loops.

To control the position of each sketch-loop, add dimensions from the X-axis or Y-axis to a minimum of one Point in the sketch-loop, and then dimension the sketch-elements relative to each other.