Alan Boughey

I was visiting the office of a structural detailing company the other day where they were modelling a coal processing plant using Tekla Structure. The model included all of the mechanical equipment including conveyors, etc. They are able to use BIM for all of the components. What I have seen from VW is it appears limited to playing with building elements. Has anyone looked at this from a Machine Design perspective?

In Machine Design using the 3D spur gear tool the user has the option of displaying detailed or simplified representations of the gear. If the model is drawn using the detailed modeling 3D the 2D representation on the sheet layer must be shown in the same level of detail as the model. The problem with this approach is that you cannot show say the 3 normal orthographic projections in simplified form with an isometric in detail Is there any way that the level of detail can be set for each individual viewport. Still with this tool, the simplified representation option only shows the OD of the gear and ID of the hub with the ID shown in hidden detail. There are no pitch lines or hidden detail of the tooth root that one would normally expect in a simplified 2D representation. This is probably due to the tool trying to show a simplified 3D representation. A desirable option would therefore be to show the 3D item in a 2D simplified representation.

Being able to draw lines directly in x,y,z coordinates rather than just x,y coordinates would add functionality of such applications as preparing piping schematic isometrics as well as construction lines for various 3D structures and mechanical components. When I have posted this on previous version of VW comments came back that the polyline tool enable you to do this but I do not see the x,y,z coordinates specified int he object info palette. Similarly, although you can specify the x,y,z coordinates of a 3D locus, you cannot draw a line between two such points and keep it locked to the points as all lines are 2D and only work on the working plane.

It's not just the dimensioning of 3D objection is isometric or other non-orthographic projects. There are a number of existing tools that will not work even when used on 3D objects in standard orthographic projections. For example: Hole centre tool to work on 3D hole representations The hole centre mark tool will not work on the planar representation of holes from a 3D model. This means that a 2D circle needs to be overlaid on the 3D image to enable the tool to be used. I believe it would be preferable for the tool to be able to recognise the cylinder. Radial Dimension Tool The Radial Dimension Tool does not work on the orthogonal view of a 3D radial profile. The only way to use this tool is to superimpose a 2D arc over the 3D outline. It would be more appropriate to be able to select the 3D profile and add the radial dimension.

It would be good to be able to select an object to rotate, select the axis of rotation and then drag a point on the object such that the object rotates around the selected axis. it would work similar to the 3D view rotation tool but with a fixed axis. Maybe an extension of the tool would be to able to rotate around a point and to set the final rotation to the location of a second point.

It's consistent with the 2-1/2D approach. The other CAD packages using Parasolids engineer do many more of the 3D functions. Can only hope that VW can catch up.

How can you easily change the transparency of a 3D object so that you can see objects behind or inside an object? I have assemblies such as gearboxes in which I would like to be able to show the housing but be able to see the gear assemblies inside the housing.

Is there a way to create a 3D plug in object where you can change the parameters to resize or reposition the ends. I am looking to create some beam components with standard end connections where you can change the length between the ends. Later I would like to be able to select the beam size from a drop down list.

The existing tools to provide 3D properties does not allow the user to determine the mass (weight) and centre of gravity of a group of 3D components. It will only prove the COG and weight for a single 3D body. It odes provide the total volume of a number of individual components if they are grouped, but not the COG, mass or radius of gyration. It would aid 3D analysis for studies of assembled mechanical components (or architectural feature for that matter) for studies such as lifting studies, etc.

Is there a way to display a representation of the XYZ and or IJK coordinate axis so that one can be aware of the orientation of the axes at all time? I have seen this on other CAD packages but can't seen to see how to make this happen on VW. I have trouble knowing the orientation, especially when trying to make 3D rotations or translations.

Does anyone know how you can locate the dimensions of the OD and ID of a rectangle extruded along a helix? I have created a spiral for a screw conveyor and went to check the diameters and could not see anyway for the dimension tool (or measurement tool) to pick up the edges of the objects. Can't even seem to overlay a circle on the spiral as nothing seems to pick up the edges. Also, when extruding along the helical path, is there anyway to control whether the object extrudes on the outside or inside of the helix?

In Machine Design using the 3D spur gear tool the user has the option of displaying detailed or simplified representations of the gear. If the model is drawn using the detailed model in 3D the 2D representation on the sheet layer must be shown in the same level of detail as the model. The problem with this approach is that you cannot show say the 3 normal orthographic projects in simplified form with an isometric in detail (see figure above). Is there any way that the level of detail can be set for each individual viewport? Still with this tool, the simplified representation option only shows the OD of the gear and ID of the hub with the ID shown in hidden detail. There are no pitch lines or hidden detail of the tooth root that one would normally expect in a simplified 2D representation. This is probably due to the tool trying to show a simplified 3D representation. Is there any way to show the 3D item in a 2D simplified representation?

It is noted that the Radial Dimension Tool does not work on the orthogonal view of a 3D radial profile. The only way to use this tool is to superimpose a 2D arc over the 3D outline. It would be more appropriate to be able to select the 3D profile and add the radial dimension.

Please consider the ability to determine the engineering properties of a group of objects that are not necessarily connected or continuous. For example, trying the find the centre of area or mass of a group of individual objects separated by a distance.

I have noted that the hole centre mark tool will not work on the planar representation of holes from a 3D model. This means that a 2D circle needs to be overlaid on the 3D image to enable the tool to be used. I believe it would be preferable for the tool to be able to recognise the cylinder or a hole in a 3D object.

Being able to draw lines directly in x,y,z coordinates rather than just x,y coordinates would add functionality of such applications as preparing piping schematic isometrics as well as construction lines for various structures and mechanical components.