Solids ?

[Rob B]

I need help with drawing a solid. I'm trying to learn this solid stuff as I come across different jobs. My boss thinks I should be drawing everything with wireframe and surfaces. I disagree because what I have read here on the forum. I can draw a simple solid. It's when I need to really start to define a lot of detail to a drawing that I get lost.

 

I have posted a drawing on the ftp site. It is located: solidsrob.mc9

As you can see I have drawn the part using wireframe. Can some one draw it with solids then post a step by step how they created the solid.

 

I can then redraw it for myself. By looking at what you have posted as step by step directions and studing the solids manager maybe I can learn something new.

 

Thanks for the help.

Rob

[Storkman]

What I did to start Rob, was used the tutorial for solids and recreated it step by step. I had grasped alot by the time I got through it. I personally can't just read something and then go do it. I have to do it hands on to understand.

[cadcam]

Storkman, you know that's how I did it to.

I think it was even james M from this board that said to do that as I said I need to get a grasp on this solids.

He said here is a few copys of the project from the solids books just do them.

 

That really helped me over the hump.

this was also like 4 or 5 years ago not to long ago.

[Storkman]

Rob, give me an email address I will send your file and a description of how I did it to you. My email address is in my profile.

[Rob B]

Stork,

I will agree about hands on inorder to grasp what is going on. Do you have the MC solids book or are you using samples that come with MC software?

I have the FMMT multimedia software, but it seems to general for me. Maybe I'm trying to hard to get a specific answer to my problem and not looking at the example in general and how I can apply it to my part.

 

email: [email protected]

[Storkman]

I used the tutorial that came with the software

[Tim Johnson]

In our area the resellers have a very nice one day class for solids.

[Storkman]

Check yer mail Rob

[Rob B]

Just got your email Storkman. I will be working on this the next couple of hours while I keep My 3 machines running and programming my next job.

 

I think I get how you said to do the drawing. I haven't used the loft option. That might be my only problem.

[Storkman]

Like I said turn sync on, I used by entity. Or you might get a twist in the solid.

[Rob B]

I will get back with you later this afternoon.

 

Thanks again for the help, and I will use the tutorials to do some practice.

 

Rob

[Storkman]

glad to help.

[Rob B]

Storkman,

 

Everything worked out fine. I want to thank you again. This is another trick that I can add to my bag.

 

Rob

[Storkman]

Once you get used to solids, you won't want to play with surfaces anymore. Glad you understand. Good luck.

[billystein]

please look at robsol1 and see if it is the same as the others

billy

[LaszloK]

Rob, a good way to review the solid modelling process that another person has used is to look at the "tree" in the solids manager for a solid. This will provide all the steps that were used in constructing that solid. With most complex solids the last several operations will be fillets. Most solids are easy until you need to apply the fillets. There are some basic rules like start with the biggest fillets and work down to the smaller ones when possible. Good Luck

[kkominiarek]

the mcam tutorial helped me as well....

[Storkman]

billystein, yours looks the same as mine. The ony difference was you used a loft cut for the 3 leg cuts and I made lofted solids and did a booleen remove. Other than that identical. That's what so great, theres always so many ways to attack a project.

[Rob B]

Hey kkominiarek,

 

Just noticed that we have just made the 200 post club on the forum.

[Storkman]

Avatar time boys!

[billystein]

thanks stork.

hey rob,

how long did it take to draw the wireframe?

I think to really appreciate the use of solids you should put some fillets on this model and then compare the time difference.

consider 10 minutes to make this drawing. now put fillets. the time to fillet with wireframe will probably take longer than the drawing. the fillets are almost automatic with solids.

a few projects like this and i think you will be sold on solids.

[ChuckM]

I agree with these guys. Learning solids is all about building solids. You learn by doing.

 

My fascination with solids started with AutoCad and man I thought it was really cool stuff back then. Then I was blown away again when I started working with SolidWorks. I'm self taught... probably a lot of guys here can say the same.

 

The way I learned solids in a nutshell...

 

1) Buy books on boolean solid building. Building solids in AutoCad for instance isn't much different than doing it in Mastercam.

 

2) Anything you see that looks like it'd be a good challenge to model.... model it!

 

3) Open solids and look at the history tree to see how they're built. Although in many cases, especially at my last job, that may tell you how NOT to do it. Some of these were so sloppy it was hilarious.

 

Good luck with it and if you get stumped, ask questions. Part of learning.

 

-Chuck

[Storkman]

quote:

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Anything you see that looks like it'd be a good challenge to model.... model it!

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+1000 Great advice.