Tutorial 10: Surface Modeling

Introduction
While the modeling techniques you have learned so far are ideal for creating parts containing flat planes and continuous curves, surfacing techniques are more
useful for creating parts with complex surfaces and curves. Surface models are created by defining boundary curves, adding surfaces between curves, and
combining surfaces to create parts. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create surfaces, create models from surfaces, and add features to surface models while
designing a telephone receiver.

Extruding Surfaces
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Start Pro/E Wildfire.

Select [File] -> [New], and type the part name [Example10] in Text Box.
Click [OK] Button.
Select the Extrude Tool icon from the tool bar at the right of the screen.
Select the Extrude as Surface icon from the dashboard. This will allow you to extrude a surface with zero thickness rather than a solid part with a defined
thickness, as shown in Figure 10-1. In addition to extruding surfaces, you can also revolve surfaces or create surfaces from boundary curves.

[Figure 10.1]

6. Select the Sketcher icon from the dashboard, and click the reference plane marked as TOP.
7. Click the Sketch button from the Section menu. Pro/E will switch to Sketcher Mode.
8. Draw the line shown in Figure 10.2 and dimension it as shown.

[Figure 10.2]

9. Click the check button to exit Sketcher mode. Since you are defining a surface rather than a solid, the profile does not need to form a closed loop.
10. Set the extrusion depth to be 1.5 inches.
11. Select the icon to extrude an equal depth on each side, as shown in Figure 10.3.

[Figure 10.3]

12. Click the check button. You should see the surface shown in Figure 10.4.

[Figure 10.4]

13. Click on the surface you just created, and select the Mirror Icon from the tool bar at the right of the screen.
14. Select the RIGHT plane to mirror the surface about, and click the check mark. A new surface should be created, as shown in Figure 10.5.

[Figure 10.5]

Sketching Datum Curves

1. Create a datum plane passing through the front edge of the surface you created. Make it at an angle of 10 degrees with the TOP plane. This means you will
use the edge of the surface and the TOP plane as references, as shown in Figure 10.6.

[Figure 10.6]

2. Select the Sketched Datum Curve Tool icon from the tool bar at the right of the screen, as shown in Figure 10.7.

[Figure 10.7]

3. Select the datum plane you just created as the sketch plane, and select the FRONT plane as a reference with the orientation set to Right.
4. You will now need to define the reference points / lines for the curve you will draw. Click on the two points shown in Figure 10.8 to select them as
references. The two vertices should be added to the list of references in the Reference window.

[Figure 10.8]

5. Draw the lines shown in Figure 10.9, and dimension them as shown.

[Figure 10.9]

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Add 0.5 inch fillets to the two corners.

Click the check mark to exit Sketcher mode and select Okay from the Sketched Datum Curve window.
Select the Sketched Datum Curve Tool icon again, and select the same planes as in step 3.
Select the two outside corners of the surfaces as references.
Sketch the curve shown in Figure 10.10.

[Figure 10.10]

11. Add 2 inch fillets to the two corners.

12. Click the check mark to exit Sketcher mode and select Okay from the Sketched Datum Curve window. You should see the two curves shown in Figure
10.11.

[Figure 10.11]

13. Mirror the datum plane that you created about the TOP plane by selecting [Edit] -> [Feature Options] from the menu bar and follow the steps typically used
for mirroring a feature.

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14. Repeat steps 2-12 to create datum curves on the other side of the surfaces.

Creating Surfaces from Boundary Curves and Merging Surfaces

1. Select the Blend Tool icon from the tool bar at the right of the screen, as shown in Figure 10.12.

[Figure 10.12]

2. Select the first curve you drew, hold the Ctrl key, and select the second curve you drew. A surface should be formed as shown in Figure 10.13. Click the
check button to accept the surface.

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[Figure 10.13]

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to form a surface between the two curves on the other side of the part.
4. Use the same process to create a surface between the top two curves, as shown in Figure 10.14.

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[Figure 10.14]

5. Repeat to create a surface between the bottom two curves. You should see the part as shown in Figure 10.15.

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[Figure 10.15]

6. Select the top surface of the part, hold the Ctrl key, and select one of the side surfaces. These surfaces should become highlighted in red, as shown in
Figure 10.16.

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[Figure 10.16]

7. Select the Merge Tool icon from the tool bar at the right of the screen. Click the check mark to merge the two surfaces.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to merge the top surface with the other side surface.
9. Repeat this process of merging two sides at a time until all surfaces are connected.

Creating Features
1. You will now create an offset draft for the speaker. Select the Sketched Datum Curve Tool icon, and select the bottom surface of the part as the sketching
plane.
2. Draw the circle shown in Figure 10-17, and click the check button.

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[Figure 10.17]

3. Select the bottom surface on which you just drew the circle, and select [Edit] -> [Offset] from the menu bar.
4. Change the type of offset to [With Draft] on the Dashboard. The Dashboard should now look like the one shown in Figure 10.18.

[Figure 10.18]

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5.
6.
7.
8.

Click on the Sketch box on the Dashboard and select the circle.
Set the distance to 0.0875 inches, and change the direction of the offset to make sure that the circle will be offset into the part.
Set the draft angle to 45 degrees.
Click the check button. You should see the offset as shown in Figure 10.19.

[Figure 10.19]

9. Now you will thicken the surfaces to create a shelled part. Using the model tree, select the last surface merge. This will allow you to select all of the
surfaces.
10. Select [Edit] -> [Thicken] from the menu bar.
11. Enter a thickness of 0.125 on the Dashboard, and click the check button. You can change the view from Shading to Hidden Line to see the effects of

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thickening, as shown in Figure 10.20.

[Figure 10.20]

12. You will now round the edges of the phone. Select the Round Tool icon from the menu bar at the right of the screen.
13. Select the top two edges of the phone and add 0.5 inch rounds to them.
14. Add 0.125 inch rounds to all of the other edges. The phone should look like the one shown in Figure 10.21.

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[Figure 10.21]

15. If you want, finish the speakers on the phone by adding patterns of holes, as shown in Figure 10.22.

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[Figure 10.22]

16. Select [File] -> [Save] from the menu bar to save the part.
17. Test the information you have learned in this tutorial by completing Problem 10.

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