Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

3D Modeling And Viewing

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CAD system is used, to create

a geometric model of an
object.

Such a model serves as a

digital representation, in a
computer, that can be use
later for a variety of
engineering activities such as
analysis and manufacturing.
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What type of geometric model and digital

representation does a CAD system use?

Solid model. A solid model is a complete,

unique and unambiguous representation
of an object. The model resembles the
object.
Solid model has faces, edges, and
vertices to represent its sides, edges
and corners, respectively.
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Example of a Solid Model:

CUBE
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Terminology of a solid model

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The three modeling approaches

• The 3 modeling approaches that designers can choose

from to create solid models are:

Primitives

Features

Sketching
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Primitives
• The primitives approaches views a solid model
as a combination of simple generic and
standard shapes that can be combined. These
shapes are primitives.
• Primitives include block (box), cylinder,
sphere, cone, wedge and torus. This primitives
are combined via the Boolean operation union,
subtraction, and intersection
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The boolean set operations are intuitive and popular ways to combine
solids based on the set operations. The three main are:
•Union (u): The resulting solid corresponds to all the volume from the
operand solids.
•Intersection (n): The resulting solid corresponds to the coincident
volume from the operand solids.
•Difference (-): The resulting solid corresponds to the volume from one
of the operand solids outside the other ones.

Difference
Union intersection
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 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Features
• The features approaches is similar to primitives approaches; it
replaces primitives with features and embeds Boolean operations in
the feature definition.
• For example, creating a hole in a block. Using primitives
approaches. The steps are:
1) create the block using a block primitive
2) create a cylinder in the right location and
orientation relative to the block.
3) Subtract the cylinder from the block
• Using the feature approach, we follow these steps:
1) create the block using a block feature
2) create the hole in the block by creating a hole
feature in the right location and orientation relative
to the block.
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Sketching
• Sketching approach is similar to the features approach,
with one change. Instead of using predefined shapes
only, such as holes and ribs, it allows CAD designers to
create much elaborate and more general features
starting from a sketch.
• A CAD designer uses 2D operations to sketch a region
or cross section, followed by 3D operations, such as
extrusion, to create the feature.
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The best approaches?

• Which of the 3 approaches is the best for creating solid

models?
• The sketching approach is the most commonly used
approach because it combines the best of the three of
them. It allows the creation of many more features than
the features approach.
• The primitives approaches is the least-used approach.
CAD designers are not fond of this approach because its
terminology is rooted in the set theory where Boolean
operations come from. Moreover, editing solids created
this way is inefficient.
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Which CAD/CAM systems support which

approaches?
• Legacy systems such as CATIA, Unigraphics
and I-DEAS support all three approaches to stay
competitive.
• Newer systems such as Pro/E and SolidWorks
support only sketching approach because it is all
needed to create any solid model. They do not
support primitives and do not offer Boolean
operations.
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Step for sketching

The sketching approach utilized the following steps to create any feature:
1) Select or define a sketch plane- need a sketch plane to sketch
plane to sketch geometry on. The sketch plane controls the
orientation of the sketches geometry in the 3D modeling space.

2) Sketch 2D profile- this profile is typically a cross section of the 3D

model that we wish to construct. The profile typically consists of
curves such as lines, arcs, chamfers, and splines. The sketched
geometry resides in the currently active sketch plane.

3) Modify sketch dimensions and update sketch- modify the

dimension of the profile to reflect the final dimensions of the solid
model under construction. After changing the dimension, update the
sketch to reflect the new dimensions.

4) Create the feature- apply one of the 3D operations. Such as

extrusions, to create the feature.
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 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Types of geometric models

• Object and their geometric models can be classified into

three types from a geometric construction point of view.
• These are 2 ½ D, 3D or a combination of both.
• 2 ½ D objects are feature classified into three subtypes:
extrusions, axisymmetric, and composite.
– An extrusion has a constant cross section and a thickness in a
direction perpendicular to the plane of the cross section.
– An axisymmetric object has a constant cross section that is revolved
about an axis of revolution through an angle 0<Ø<360.
– The composite 2 ½ D object is a combination of multiple 2 ½ D objects
• A 3D object is one that does not have any geometric
uniformity in any direction. Can start with 2 ½ D objects
and modify later or use other strategies.
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2½D
2½D
Extrusion
axisymmetric

2½D
Composite 3D Object
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Types of Geometric Models

2½D 3D

Extrusion

Axisymmetric

Composite
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CAD Coordinate Systems

• Governed by the Right Hand Rule

• Defines a workplane
• Unique, default global coordinate system
• Many user-defined, local coordinate systems
• The origin (or origin point) of the drawing is the
point where the X and Y axis cross each other.
It is also the absolute zero point of the
drawing.
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coordinate systems used in CAD

system
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Right Hand Rule - 1

Used to define the positive direction of the axes of a
three dimensional coordinate system
• Thumb indicates the positive x
direction
• Index finger indicates the positive
y direction
• Middle finger indicates the
positive z direction
• Palm of the right hand represents
the xy plane
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Right Hand Rule - 2

Variation used to determine direction of
positive rotation about an axis

• Right thumb aligned with

positive axis direction
• Positive rotation indicated by
direction of four fingers curling
about axis
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Example of Workplanes-
CATIA
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CAD Coordinate System Commands

• Creates a new, user-

defined workplane
• Used to translate and/or
rotate a coordinate system
• User-defined coordinate
system assists in
object/feature definition
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Sketching and Sketch Planes

• Sketchers provide CAD designers with various sketches
entities and tools such as lines, circles and so forth.

• Sketchers also provide geometric constraints and

relationships. A sketches provides relations icons that a
designer clicks, and then selects the entities to apply
relations to.

• Based on the selected entities, the sketches makes

available what it thinks will be the correct set of
constraints to choose from.
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• A sketch status is very important issue to the sketcher.

If a sketch profile is not correct defined, a valid solid
cannot be generated from it. Sketcher use color codes to
display sketch geometry to alert designers.
• After a sketch is created, it can exist in one of three
states.
– Under-Constrained sketch – white
– Iso-Constrained – green
– Over-Constrained – purple
• You need to constrain the sketches so as to restrict their
degrees of freedom and make them stable.
• In CATIA v5: Tools >> Sketch Analysis
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Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Three states of Sketch:

• Underdefined (Under-Constrained) sketch is displayed in white,
additional dimensions or relations are required. An underconstrained
sketch is one in which all degrees of freedom, of each entity are not
completely defined using constraints

• Fully-defined (Iso-constrained) sketch is displayed in green; no

additional dimensions or relation required. Fully constraint sketch, is
the one in which all degrees of freedom, of each element, are
defined using the geometric and dimensional constraints.

• Overdefined (Over-Constrained) sketch is displayed in purple; the

sketch contains conflicting dimensions or relations or both. Over-
Constrained sketch is the one in which some extra constraints are
applied. They must be removed.
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Underdefined Fully-defined Overdefined

(underconstrained) (fully-constrained) (overconstrained)
sketch sketch sketch
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Basic Feature of CAD software

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Basic Features
• An analysis of existing CAD/CAM systems
reveals that they all offer a basic set of features.
This set is universal among them, although each
system may use different names to designate
them. This basic set includes the following
features: extrusion, revolution, hole, cut,
sweep, loft, fillet, chamfer, rib, shell, draft,
patterns, spiral, and helix.
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Extrusion Revolution Hole Cut

Sweep Loft Fillet Chamfer

Rib Shell Draft Pattern

Spiral Helix
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• An extrusion feature is used to create a

uniform-thickness model. It requires a cross
section and an extrusion vector (direction and a
distance) as shown below.
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• A revolution feature is used to create

axisymmetric models. It requires a cross section,
an axis of revolution, and an angle of revolution,
as shown below.
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• A hole feature is used to create holes in models.

It requires a hole diameter or radius (size), a
length, and an axis to define orientation.

• A cut feature is used to cut material from

another existing feature. Different CAD systems
use different names for the cut feature. Different
types of cuts can be made such as extruded or
revolved cuts. A slot is also a form of a cut
feature.
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• A sweep feature is used to create a model with

a constant cross section along a nonlinear axis.
It is a generalization of the extrusion feature. It
requires a cross section and a sweep curve, as
shown below. If the sweep curve is linear, the
sweep becomes an extrusion.
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• A loft feature is used to create a model with

a variant cross section along a linear/nonlinear
axis. It is a generalization of the sweep feature.
It requires a set of cross sections as shown
below. A guide curve may be used to blend the
cross sections. If no guide curve is specified, a
linear blending is assumed.
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• The fillet and chamfer features are used

to change the corners of a model.
• A fillet rounds the corner, thus eliminating
its sharpness. This is a good engineering
practice because it reduces the stresses
around the corners.
• A chamfer creates a transition between
two edges of a model.
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• A rib feature is used as a stiffener for models. It

can be viewed as an extrusion. It requires a line,
the faces to stiffen, and a thickness as shown
below.
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• A shell feature is used to carve out material

from a model by "shelling" it. It requires a face to
shell and thickness to keep as shown below.
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• A spiral feature is used to create spirals.

The spiral is considered a sweep along a helix
curve as shown below. It requires a cross
section and a helix curve. The helix curve
requires a pitch and a number of revolutions
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• A helix feature is used to create helical

springs. The helix is considered a sweep along a
helix curve as shown below. It requires a
(circular) cross section and a helix curve. The
helix curve requires a pitch and a number of
revolutions. The helix can be created tapered if
needed.
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The end