Module 27

Surface Modeling Overview

PTC Authorized Training Center - Basic Design in
creo elements / pro 5.0

Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Describe the capabilities and uses for a surface modeling environment.
Describe the parametric and freeform surface modeling paradigms.
Describe how the parametric and freeform surface modeling paradigms can be integrated.
Discuss surface modeling terminology.

Introduction to Surfacing
The figures in this slide illustrate examples of models that have been developed using Pro/ENGINEER
surface modeling tools.
Surface modeling enables you to design the models
that have:

Geometric shapes with high curvatures, or curvature

in two directions.
Fluid, sculpted, or organic shapes.
Shapes that cannot be designed using solid
features.
Smooth shapes with tangent or curvature continuity.

Camera

Surface Modeling Scenarios

Faucet

Helmet

Hedge Trimmer

Surface Modeling Uses

You can use surface modeling for a variety of situations.
You use surface modeling to:

Design enclosures.
Visualize and develop conceptual designs.
Design thin-walled components with complex

shapes.
Fix problems in imported surface data.
Design tooling.
Redefine and manipulate solid models.
Define complex fillets.

Casting Manifold

CD Player

Molding

Surface Modeling Paradigms

In comparison to solid modeling, the surface modeling paradigm uses very different approaches, techniques,
and workflow.
Parametric Surface Modeling:

Driven by dimensions, parameters, and

mathematical equations.

Surface Modeling course.

Freeform Surface Modeling:

Driven by intuition, feel, and aesthetic requirements.

Freeform Surface Modeling Course.
Choosing appropriate method:

Design Input
Design Intent
Designers background

Sheet Panel

Door Interior

Freeform Overview
The Style tool is a powerful and comprehensive surface modeling tool.
Style Tool

Freeform Curves
Surfaces

Creating a Freeform Curve

Creating the Surface

Creating a Second Freeform Curve

Blending Surface Modeling Paradigms

Many product shapes can be constructed using a combination of parametric and freeform surface features.
Blending the two paradigms
Many product shapes can utilize a combination of:

Parametric surface models with freeform curves

and surfaces.

Freeform surface models with parametric framework

and relations.

Designing a Ring
Designing a Freeform Surface

Parametric Framework

Surfacing Terms
Surface modeling terms are important to understand because they are used throughout this course.
Surfaces

Quilt
Surface Patch
Solid Surface
Datum Planes
Surface Quilt

Edges

Surface edge
One-sided
Two-sided

Solid edge
Solid Surface and Edge

Viewing a Surface

Surface Edge

Module 28
Advanced Selection
PTC Authorized Training Center - Basic Design in
creo elements / pro 5.0

Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Understand advanced chain selection.
Understand advanced surface selection.

Advanced Chain Selection

You can select multiple edges in Pro/ENGINEER using different types of chains to increase efficiency and
feature robustness.
Chain types:

Intent chain
One-by-one
Tangent chain
Surface loop
Surface loop from to
Boundary
From-to Boundary loop
Multiple chains

Intent Chain

Selection methods:

Direct with mouse

Chain dialog box
Surface Loop

Advanced Surface Selection

You can select multiple surfaces in Pro/ENGINEER using different types of sets.
Surface set types:

Individual Surfaces
Solid Surfaces
Intent Surfaces
Seed and Boundary
Loop Surfaces
Exclude Surfaces

Selection methods:

Selecting Multiple Individual Surfaces

Direct with mouse

Chain dialog box

Selecting a Surface Loop

Module 29
Basic Surfacing Tools
PTC Authorized Training Center - Basic Design in
creo elements / pro 5.0

Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Create Extrude, Revolve, and Fill surfaces.
Create sweep surfaces with open trajectories.
Create parallel blend surfaces.
Create general blend surfaces.

Creating Surface Extrude Features

Create extruded surface features from 2-D sketches.
Extrude surfaces perpendicular to the sketching
plane.
Extrude open section sketches.
Extrude closed section sketches.

Capped ends

Extruded Open Section Sketch

Extruded Surface, Open Ends, Closed Section Sketch

Extruded Surface, Capped Ends, Closed Section Sketch

Creating Surface Revolve Features

Create revolved surface features from 2-D sketches.
Revolve a section about an axis of revolution in a
sketching plane.
Select different axes of revolution:

First sketched Geometry Axis

Existing Axis
Existing Straight Curve or Edge
Revolve open section sketches.
Revolve closed section sketches.

Capped ends

Same Revolved Sketch using Different Axes of Revolution

Viewing a 2-D Sketch

Revolving a Closed Section Sketch, Open

versus Capped Ends

Creating Fill Surfaces

You can fill a sketch to create a planar surface.
Sketch rules:
Must use a sketched curve.

Can be internal or external.

Must be closed.

Can have multiple loops.

Can be any shape.
Can reference other geometry.
Filling a Sketch

Fill Surface Containing Multiple Loops

Creating Sweep Surfaces with Open Trajectories

A sweep surface feature consists of a sketched section that sweeps, or traverses, along a trajectory.
Components of a sweep feature:
Trajectory

Selected or sketched
Start point
Sketched section

Closed or open
Crosshairs mark the trajectory
Attributes:
Open Ends
Capped Ends

Sweeping a Closed Sketch Along an Open Trajectory

Sweeping an Open Sketch Along an Open Trajectory

Creating Parallel Blend Surfaces

A parallel blend surface feature blends sections along a dimensioned, linear distance.
Components of a blend feature:
Sections:

At least two required.

Toggle section.
Equal number of entities per section.
Line up start points.

Direction.
Depth.

Blend Sections

Blend Depths

Creating General Blend Surfaces

A general blend rotates sections about the X, Y, and Z-axes of a Sketcher coordinate system and translates
sections along the Z-axis.
Section requirements:

Translation distance along Z-axis.

Rotation angles about X, Y, and
Z-axes.
120 maximum

Sketched coordinate system.

System lines up coordinate systems:

Typically sketched at center of

section.

Viewing the General Blend Sections

Sketched Section

Module 30
Helical Sweeps
PTC Authorized Training Center - Basic Design in
creo elements / pro 5.0

Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Understand the theory behind helical sweeps.
Utilize helical sweeps for surfaces.

Understanding Helical Sweeps Theory

Helical sweeps can be used to create springs, threads, or other helical geometry.
Can be protrusions, cuts, or surfaces.
Helical sweep components:

Sketch profile
Sketch section
Pitch value
Helical sweep options:

Pitch type
Cross-section angle
Helix direction
Helical Geometry

Threads Cut Into a Part Model

Spring

Utilizing Helical Sweeps for Surfaces

Helical sweep surfaces are typically used to create datum curves and other construction geometry.
Uses include:
Construction geometry

Typically used to create other geometry

Trim/Merge with other surfaces
Datum curve construction

Create helical or spiral curves

Helical Surface

Helical Curve

Spiral Curve

Module 31
Creating and Editing Solids using Quilts
PTC Authorized Training Center - Basic Design in
creo elements / pro 5.0

Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Thicken quilts.
Solidify quilts to add and remove material, as well as patch material.
Offset surfaces using the Replace option.

Thickening Surface Quilts

With the Thicken tool, you can offset a selected quilt to create or remove material.
Basic controls:

Add material
Remove material
Thickness value
Flip direction

Thickening options:

Thicken type
Normal to surface
Automatic fit
Controlled fit

Thickening a Surface

Excluded Surfaces

Adding or Removing Material

Thickening a Bottle

Solidifying Quilts to Add Material

You can use the Solidify tool to add solid material to a model, based on a surface quilt.
To be solidified for adding material, a quilt must define
a closed volume.

An enclosed quilt.
An open quilt surrounded by existing solid material.

Original Surface Quilt

Solidified Surface Quilt

Adding Material by Solidifying a Quilt

Solidifying Quilts to Remove Material

You can use the Solidify tool to remove solid material from a model, based on a surface quilt.
To be solidified for removing material, a quilt must
define a volume to remove from the model:

An enclosed quilt.
An open quilt bounded by existing solid material.
An open quilt overlapping the model:
Must pass completely through.

A datum plane.
Removing Material using a Quilt

Removing Material using a Datum Plane

Removing Material using an Enclosed Quilt

Solidifying Quilts to Replace Material

You can use the Solidify tool to add and remove solid material simultaneously, based on a surface quilt.
Commonly referred to as Patch.
Choose to keep material on either side.
Add and remove material simultaneously from multiple
surfaces.
Quilt boundaries must lie on the surfaces.

Viewing the Quilt

Replaced Material

Offsetting Surfaces using the Replace Option

Using the Replace option in the Offset tool, you can replace a single solid surface with a quilt.
Uses:

Add material.
Remove material.
Simultaneously add and remove material.
By default, the quilt is consumed by the replace
feature.

Keep replace quilt.

Offset using Replace that Adds Material

Offset using Replace that Removes Material

Offset using Replace that Adds and Removes Material