Loads of questions from the new guy

[Putzola]

Hi,
I'm very new to Solid Edge, only been using ST for a week or 2 and I'm a 3D guy, not an engineer.
I don't expect anyone to answer all of my question but if anyone could help out with 1 or 2 it would be great. Apologies in advance if they are laughable.

- Is there a way to taper an existing cylinder without lofting or revolving?

-How do you create a new sketch while one is still active and how do you move elements of a sketch? (Steering wheel is only active when the whole sketch is selected)

-How do you show thread in drafts? Supposedly Tools -> Options is where to look but I cannot find the options button.

I will be using these models for rapid prototyping and when I export threads in .stl they don't appear on the geometry of the model. (If I open an exported model containing a thread in 3D Max there is no thread)

Also, external threads seem to be missing. I've been making them in the traditional mode and attaching them to an ST model, am I being a clown?

-I created a part, it was fine. Created a draft of said part, it was fine. When I created an draft of the assembly the same part went screwy. There were lines bending that were straight on the model. Any ideas?

Cheers.

 

[donyoung]

- Is there a way to taper an existing cylinder without lofting or revolving?

add a draft (seperate function) or while creating the cylinder
with extrusion specify that under 'Treatment'

- How do you create a new sketch while one is still active and how do you
move elements of a sketch? (Steering wheel is only active when the whole
sketch is selected)

just create a new independend one. All sketches that are created on
the same plane will be collected under one entry below 'Sketches'
To have a new sketch on a different plane unlock the current plane
by LMB on the lock symbol (upper right on screen) and select a drawing
comman (line, arc , ..) and select the new plane.
To move the whole sketch use the Move command

- How do you show thread in drafts? Supposedly Tools -> Options is where to
look but I cannot find the options button.

dimension a thread say a bolt. Then reselect that dimension (not the value!)
and under Edit Definition - Tolerance - Prefix
set the prefix to either %TS or %HC
leave with apply

- I will be using these models for rapid prototyping and when I export threads
in .stl they don't appear on the geometry of the model.

They are only cosmetic so the model won't have that threading. If you really
need one you have to create it by either using helical extrusion or helical cutout

- Also, external threads seem to be missing.

external threads will come in ST2 (sync. mode)

- [...] When I created an draft of the assembly the same part went screwy.
There were lines bending that were straight on the model. Any ideas?

no ideas.

Are you forced to work in sync. mode? Did you work the tutorials?

dy

 

[Putzola]

Perfect, thank you!

I've done a few of the tuts and they were a good starting point but weren't relevant to everything I'm working on.

To be honest I've only worked in sync mode except for the external thread, maybe I'll try the traditional method and see if those lines get sorted.

Thanks again, appreciate it.

 

[donyoung]

Hi,

I've asked about using sync. mode because it's completely
different from trad. mode. In case you get an error it is
nearly impossible to give any help without the model *and*
the LiveRules currently set.
You will encounter a lot of situations where SE won't be able
to comply (".. model can not solve .."). Sync demands a complete
different way of thinking. Sample: a cutout through a C-beam is
what it says in trad. mode but in sync. you have two cutouts that
can be manipulated independend of each other even deleting
one of them is possibe without failure.

dy

 

[HDS]

What kind of rapid prototype process are you using that can produce feature fine enough to create threads?

 

[Putzola]

We've got a BST768 3D printer which uses ABS. The samples that came with the machine have thread so I know it is possible. I think the finest resolution that the machine is capable of is only about 0.25mm but the thread that I need to create is quite large anyway.