flashlight on catia

8/9/2019 Flashlight on Catia

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Lab Exercise 2: Creating the Flashlight DesignFramework using Curves

Objectives

After successfully completing this exercise, you will know how to:

Create various types of datum curves. Create various types of datum points. Use base surfaces to create defining curves. Develop a network of curves.

Scenario

You are developing a model of a flashlight. The parabolic reflector of

the flashlight is defined using an equation. Utilizing curves that definethe top view of the model, begin working on a series of curves to

shape the body of the model.

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Task 1. Open the model and review the available data.

1. In the Folder Browser , browse to themodule_03\ flashlight folder.

2. Click on the flashlight folder to view the contents of the folderin the browser.

3. Right-click on the flashlight folder and select Set WorkingDirectory.

4. Select the FLASHLIGHT.PRT from the browser to preview themodel, and then click Open in Pro/E .

5. If necessary, click Datum Planes and CoordinateSystems from the main toolbar to enable their display.

6. Notice the following geometry is available: A sketch that defines the top view of the Flashlight

(TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE).

A sketch that defines the battery compartment(BATTERY_BOX_DEFINITION).

A coordinate system to define the reflector curve(CS_REFLECTOR).



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Task 2. Create a parabolic surface based on equations, forming the

reflector.



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1. Instructor: Make sure that a text editor other than VI editor issetup in case you are running this class on UNIX workstations.

Click Datum Curve from the feature toolbar.

Click FromEquation > Done from the menu manager. Select the CS_REFLECTOR coordinate system. Click Cartesian.2. In the text window, enter the following equations to define the

parabolic reflector curve below the comments sections.

x = 35*t

y = 0

z = 35* t^2

3. From the text window, click File > Save and then File > Exit. Click OK to complete the datum curve.

Figure 32: Reflector Curve (shown highlighted)



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Although the curve by equation accurately defines the parabolicshape required, it is not valid for the Revolve tool since it is not a

sketch.

4. With the curve still highlighted, right-click and select Rename.Enter Curve_Equation as the name.

5. Start the Revolve Tool from the feature toolbar. ClickSurface from the dashboard.

Right-click and select Define Internal Sketch. Select datum plane FRONT and click Sketch. Click Close from the References dialog box.

Click Datum Planes from the main toolbar to disable theirdisplay.

Click Entity from Edge from the sketcher toolbar and selectthe previous curve.

Right-click and select Centerline. Sketch a vertical centerline asshown.

Figure 33: Creating a Sketch

6. Click Complete Sketch from the sketcher toolbar. Press CTRL + D to orient to the standard orientation. Click Complete Feature from the dashboard. Press CTRL and select CS_REFLECTOR and CURVE_EQUATION.



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Task 4. Create curves to define the side profile of the Flashlight.



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Figure 36: The Curves Defining the Side Profile of the Flashlight.

1. Select on the background to de-select all items.2. Start the Sketch Tool from the feature toolbar. Select datum

plane RIGHT and click Flip to flip the view direction to the right.

Select datum plane TOP as the Reference, facing the Top.

3. Click Sketch. Select DTM2 and DTM3 as references, and clickClose from the References dialog box. Click Datum Planesfrom the main toolbar to disable their display.

4. Click Arc from the sketcher toolbar and two arcs as shown inthe following figure. Note that the center of the smaller arc lies

on the vertical reference.

5. If necessary, click Constraints and Tangent , then selectthe arcs.

Right-click and select Dimension . Create dimensions and edittheir values as shown.

Figure 37: First Side Profile curve

4. Click Complete Sketch from the feature toolbar.5. With the sketch still selected, right-click and select Rename. Enter SIDE_PROFILE_1 as the name.

Task 5. Create the second side profile curve to define the parting lineof the body halves.



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1. Start the Sketch Tool from the feature toolbar. Click UsePrevious and click Sketch.

Select DTM2 and DTM3 from the model tree as references, andclick Close.

Click Arc from the sketcher toolbar and sketch two arcs asshown in the following figure. Note that the center of the

smaller arc lies on the vertical reference.

If necessary, click Constraints and Tangent , then selectthe arcs.

Right-click and select Dimension . Create dimensions and edittheir values as shown.

Figure 38: Second Side Profile curve


Splines are useful to create high-curvature profiles without having

to break the curve in multiple arc segments. Arc segments result in anumber of surface patches, therefore surfaces generated from splines

are generally smoother.

Task 6. Create the third side profile curve to define the parting line of

the body halves.

1.Start the Sketch Tool from the feature toolbar. Click UsePrevious and click Sketch.

Select DTM2 and DTM3 from the model tree as references, andclick Close.

Click Spline from the sketcher toolbar. Sketch a spline asshown.



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Right-click and select Dimension . Create dimensions and edit their values as shown.

Figure 39: Third Side Profile curve

2. Click Modify Values from the sketcher toolbar and select thespline.

Click Curvature Analysis from the dashboard. Enter 50 as the Scale value if necessary. Drag the spline points as necessary to adjust the curvature plot

as shown.

Figure 40: Curvature Plot


Task 7. Develop the boundary curve to define the top body cover.



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Figure 41: The Boundary Curve

1. Press CTRL and select the TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE andSIDE_PROFILE_2 curves as shown in the following figure on the

left.

Click Edit > Intersect to create an intersect curve.

To help visualize the Intersect operation, imagine the curves being

extruded towards each other as a surface, and a curve created at the

surface intersection.



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Figure 42: Selecting Curves and the resulting Three-Dimensional Curve

Task 8. Create a swept surface to define the top surface of themodel.

1. Start the Variable Section Sweep Tool from the featuretoolbar.

Select the SIDE_PROFILE_1 curve as shown in the followingfigure.

If necessary, click the yellow arrow to flip the start point asshown.



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Figure 43: Selecting the Trajectory

2. Click Create Section from the dashboard. Click Arc from the sketcher toolbar. Sketch an arc as shown

(highlighted in red). Notice the arc center lies on the horizontal

reference.

Right-click and select Dimension . Create and edit dimensions asshown.

Figure 44: Sketching Cross-section to Sweep

3. Click Complete Sketch , then click Complete Feature . Press CTRL + D to orient to the standard orientation. Select the TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE, right-click and select Unhide. Orient the model as shown on the right.



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The Top-cover surface

Task 9. Create a curve to define the side surface of the top body

cover.



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Figure 46: Curve used to define the Side Surface

The TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE curve defines the top view of thewaistline of the model. The top surface is tapered inward and is

smaller than the waistline. Therefore the TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE curve

must be offset inwards to create the curve used for the top surface.

1. Select the TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE curve as shown in the followingfigure on the left.

Click Edit > Offset from the main menu. Select datum plane DTM1 from the model tree as the reference

Quilt/Surface.

Enter 3 as the offset value in the dashboard, and clickComplete Feature .



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Figure 47: Offsetting a Curve

2. With the offset curve still selected, click Edit > Project from themain menu.

Right-click to highlight the entire variable section surface quiltthat you just created and then select it.

Right-click and choose Select Direction Reference. Select datum plane DTM1 from the model tree. Click the yellow arrow to flip the direction downward Click Complete Feature .

Figure 48: Projected Curve

Task 10. Create the remaining boundary curves to define the top-

body cover.

1. Click Datum Curve from the feature toolbar.



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Click Thru Points > Done from the menu manager. Select the two vertices shown in the following figure. Click Done from the menu manager and click OK .

Figure 49: Creating a Datum Curve Through Vertices

2. Press CTRL + D to orient to the standard orientation. Repeat theprevious step to create two additional curves using the vertices

shown in the following figure.



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Figure 50: Creating Boundary Curves Through Points

Task 11. Project the Battery Box Outline onto the top surface.

1. Select the BATTERY_BOX_DEFINITION curve from the modeltree, and then click Edit > Project from the main menu.

Right-click to highlight the entire surface quilt and then select it.

Right-click and choose Select Direction Reference. If necessary, select datum plane DTM1 from the model tree, and

click the yellow arrow to flip the direction downward.

Click Complete Feature .



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Figure 51: Projected Curve

2. Press CTRL and select the TOP_VIEW_OUTLINE,SIDE_PROFILE_3, and the Offset curves from the model tree.

Right-click and select Hide.

Figure 52: Curves Hidden

Task 12. Create datum point to control the scoop location.

1. Click Datum Points from the main toolbar to enable theirdisplay.

2. Start the Datum Point Tool from the feature toolbar.



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Right-click to highlight the entire SIDE_PROFILE_1 curve andselect it.

Click Reference from the Datum Point dialog box. Select DTM2 from the model tree. Enter an offset of75. Click OK from the Datum Point dialog box.

Figure 53: Creating a Point to Control the Scoop Location

Task 13. Project an ellipse onto the top surface.

1. Start the Sketch Tool from the feature toolbar. Select datum plane DTM1 from the model tree. If necessary, select datum plane RIGHT as the Reference, facing

the Right.

Click Sketch and select PNT0 as a reference, then click Close. Click Ellipse and sketch an ellipse centered on the datum

point.

Edit the dimension values as shown. Click Complete Sketch .

Figure 54: Sketching an Ellipse



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2. Press CTRL + D to orient to the standard orientation.3. With the offset curve still selected, click Edit > Project from the

main menu.

Select the surface quilt, then right-click and choose SelectDirection Reference.

If necessary, select datum plane DTM1 from the model tree andclick the yellow arrow to flip the direction downward.

Click Complete Feature .

Figure 55: Projecting a Curve

Task 14. Create datum points to control the depth of the scoop, andthe curve locations.

1. Start the Datum Point Tool from the feature toolbar. Select PNT0. Change its type from On to Offset. Press CTRL and select DTM1 from the model tree. Drag the offset handle downward and then enter 3 for the Offset

value.

Do NOT click OK yet.



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Figure 56: Creating PNT1

2. Click New P oint from the Datum Point dialog box. Select a location for PNT2 as shown, then right-click and select

New P oint.

Select a location for PNT3 as shown, then right-click and selectNew P oint.

Select a location for PNT4 as shown, then click OK.



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Click End > Surface > Normal and select datum plane RIGHTfrom the model tree. Click Okay >Done/ Return > OK.

Figure 59: Creating a Datum Curve Through Vertices

3. Click Datum Points from the main toolbar to disable theirdisplay.

Task 16. Review the final curves.

1. Review the created geometry: For the top cover of the flashlight, the top surface is defined and

sufficient curves exist to create of the top cover model, which

could then be mirrored.

The parabolic reflector surface for the flashlight is defined. Other construction curves (some are currently hidden) exist to

define the battery box cover and the lower cover.



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Figure 60: The Final Network of Curves

2. Click Save from the main toolbar and click OK.3. Click File > Erase > Current > Yes.



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This completes the exercise.

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