dm-intro 14.5 ws-01 designmodeler basics

© 2012 ANSYS, Inc. November 20, 2012 1 Release 14.5

14. 5 Release

Introduction to ANSYS DesignModeler

Workshop 1 DesignModeler Basics


Introduction

Background

• This workshop assumes little or no prior experience of DesignModeler. Basic principles will be demonstrated through the creation of a simple pipe intersection.

Objectives

• Creating a Workbench project

• Starting DesignModeler

• Creating a sketch

• Creating 3d geometry

• Updating and modifying geometry

• GUI navigation

• Saving the project


Project Startup

Create the Project

• Start Workbench.

– Start All Programs ANSYS 14.5 Workbench 14.5

– Expand Component Systems and drag and drop a Geometry component system into the Project Schematic.

– Double click on the Geometry cell (A2) to start DesignModeler.


Starting the DesignModeler Session

Set Units

• When starting a new DesignModeler session the application will first require you to specify units.

• In this session we will be using inches.

• In the Units specification box select Inch.

• Click OK.


Preparation

Planning

• Before starting it’s a good idea to think about how the geometry can be defined in terms of sketches and modelling operations.

– Sketches are 2D entities. 3D Geometry is created by applying modelling operations using the sketches as input.

• This basic geometry can be defined by two simple sketches centred about the global origin.

• The larger of the two can then be extruded vertically whilst the smaller extruded horizontally.


Sketch Creation

Create a Sketch

• In the Tree Outline, select the XY Plane.

• Click the Look At button in the toolbar.

• Select the Sketching Mode Tab.

– This will display the Sketching Toolboxes

• Clicking on each bar displaying the name of each Toolbox will activate it and display the available tools.

• Select the Draw Toolbox.


Sketch Creation

Create a Sketch (Continued)

• Select the Circle Tool.

– When any sketching tool is selected the information bar provides instructions.

1. Move the cursor over the origin until a letter ‘P’ appears then click once (‘P’ is a point constraint).

2. Move the cursor away from the origin to define the radius and click once again.

• Don’t worry about the exact size, dimensions are added in a separate step.

• You can use the Undo button if you make a mistake.

1 2


Sketch Creation

Adding Dimensions

• Select the Dimensions Toolbox

• Make sure the General tool is selected.

• Following the sequence shown below.

1. Click once on the circle edge.

2. Move the cursor away and click once again to set the position of the dimension.

1 2


Sketch Creation

Adding Dimensions

• The General dimension tool automatically selects the most appropriate dimension type based on the selected sketch entity – in this case, diameter.

• When working with a sketch, dimensions are displayed in the details view.

• Enter 4 in the Sketch Details View in the field next to the newly created dimension (D1) and press enter. There is no need to type the units.

– The sketch will update.


Sketch Creation

Create the Second Sketch

• Click the ISO ball on the axis triad to snap to the isometric view.

• We can see that the larger circle must be created on the ZX Plane.

• Change the Active Plane to the ZX Plane using the drop down box.

– The view will automatically orientate.


Sketch Creation

Create the Second Sketch

• Create a circle centred on the ZX Plane origin and add a dimension using the same procedure as before. As a reminder;

– Select the Draw Toolbox.

– Select the Circle tool.

– Click on the origin, then click to define the radius.

– Select the Dimension Toolbox.

– Select the General tool.

– Click on the circle then click to position the dimension.

• Set the Dimension to 6 and select the Modeling Mode tab.


Modeling Operations

View Both Sketches

• Expand both the XY and ZX Planes in the Tree Outline as shown.

• The two sketches you have just created are listed below their respective planes.

– By default only the last active sketch is displayed. Right click on each sketch in the Outline Tree and select “Always Show Sketch” to ensure both are displayed.

• Select the isometric view by clicking the iso ball.

• Check you have two sketches orientated as shown.


Modeling Operations

Add a Modeling Feature

• Click on Sketch 1 in the Tree Outline and select the Extrude feature from the Create menu.

– The Extrude command will be inserted into the Tree Outline.

– Commonly used features also have shortcut buttons in the toolbar.


Modeling Operations

Add a Modeling Feature (Continued)

• In the Details View set the extrusion depth to 14.75 leaving all other fields set at default values.

• Click Generate.


Modeling Operations

Add a Modeling Feature (Continued)

• Now we’ll create the longer section by extruding the second sketch.

• Click on Sketch 2 in the tree and select the Extrude feature again from the create menu or toolbar.

– Because the sketch lies in the middle of the required geometry we’ll need to extrude it symmetrically by an equal distance.

• In the Details View set Direction to ‘Both Symmetric’ by clicking in the field and using the drop down box.

• Set the extrusion depth to 14.

• Click Generate.


Notes

• The geometry is now complete

• The following slides will demonstrate how DesignModeler processes changes to sketch dimensions and general GUI operations.

Review


Modifying the Geometry

Edit a Sketch Dimension

• Select Sketch 1 in the Tree Outline.

• In the Details View change the dimension to 2, press enter.

– Note that the sketch updates in the Graphics Window but the Geometry remains the same.

– When a change is made like this any dependent features downstream in the Tree Outline will require regeneration – denoted by the generate symbol.

• Click Generate.

• Reset the dimension to 4 and Generate to restore the geometry.


Using the GUI

Controlling the View

• Use the Axis Triad to quickly align views.

• Select +Z.

• Selecting the opposite side of the any axis will align the view to the reverse normal – select –Y as shown.

• Click the View Back button.

– This will restore the previous view.

• Restore isometric by click the iso ball.


Using the GUI (2)

Rotating & Zooming

• Set the cursor to Rotate.

• Click once on the geometry surface approximately where indicated.

– The red ball indicates the new rotation origin location.

• The model will now rotate around this point.

• Use the box zoom button to zoom in as shown.

• Right click in the Graphics Window, select Zoom to Fit to restore the default zoom level. Use the iso ball to set the view to isometric.


Using the GUI (3)

Hiding Faces

• Set the Selection Filter to Faces.

• Select the face as shown.

• Right click, Hide Face(s).

• To restore, right click, Show all Faces.

• Spend some time practising using the view manipulation tools demonstrated over the last few slides.

• With larger, complex models proficiency with the viewing controls will make tasks much easier.


• This completes the workshop.

• From the main menu select File Close DesignModeler

– Workbench will save any application data.

• From the Workbench Project Page use the file menu and save the project as “DMWS1.wbpj” to your working folder.

Saving the Project

dm-intro 14.5 ws-01 designmodeler basics

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