Jump to content

Basic functionality


Recommended Posts

Hi,

I am evaluating VW and I have some basic questions.

- How can I drill a simple hole in a solid? In other programs you have generally 3 types of them, with further setups as depth, taper angle, etc. I wasn't able tot find it in VW even after hours of looking (including manual). Have I to do it with substractions or it is hiding somewhere in a sub-sub-sub menu?

- What constraints work for 3D parts at all?

- Is there a modification history for parts where I can edit the properties of operations performed on it and rebuilding the modified solid accordingly?

- I tried to make a spring by generating a helix, drawing a circle perpendicular to one of its end and gave the helix as the path for the circle. It did not followed the helix, just generated a flat "S" like form between its two ends with the circle as cross-section. How can I do it properly?

Link to comment

HI Akos,

Welcome to the forum. A few answers to start you off - there are several ways of doing things and I'm sure you will get many more responses.

VW doesn't care whether the hole was drilled, cast, punched etc. There may be a 3rd party Drilling Plugin but otherwise VW will faithfully represent a void of the shape you define in the location you define.

One way of doing this is indeed the solid subtraction:

Model your drill bit's effective shape, including taper angle etc.

Save it as a symbol with the point set to the insertion point.

You can then position the symbol as required over and

over, perform Subtractions and even replace this bit with a

different on if needed by using the Replace button in the

Object Info Palette.

3D constraints: There is no 3d dimensioning in VW (yet). It has been on the wish list

for a long time so there are effectively no 3d constraints available either.

There is however a robust 3d working plane system and the Align Plane mode of the Working Plane tool helps achieve accuracy in 3d.

3d snapping works effectively as you will have already noticed.

History: A solid object contains a history of all the operations that went into it's creation.

There isn't a visual history but by double clicking it you can view the previous

steps and all it's generating objects. At some point this may become unwieldy

whereupon you may decide to do away with the history by

Modify>Convert>Convert to Generic Solid.

Spring: There are built-in 2d and 3d spring objects in the Machine Design : Tool Sets Palette.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...