IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

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IRONCAD

Getting Started Guide


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Copyright 1995 - 2007 IronCAD, LLC All rights reserved.

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i Table of Contents -IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 About IRONCAD

IRONCAD - The Fastest and Easiest way to 3D .................................................................................................. 1-3

IRONCAD Productive Solid Modeling for Creative Design ............................................................................ 1-3

Parts ................................................................................................................................................................ 1-4

Assemblies and Products ................................................................................................................................ 1-5

Working with IRONCAD ..................................................................................................................................... 1-5

Setting the Scene ............................................................................................................................................ 1-6

The Stages of an IRONCAD Project .............................................................................................................. 1-6

Visual and Precision Part Design ................................................................................................................... 1-6

IRONCAD Features .............................................................................................................................................. 1-7

Chapter 2 Starting IRONCAD

System Requirements ........................................................................................................................................... 2-3

What You Need to Know to Work with IRONCAD ............................................................................................ 2-3Installation ............................................................................................................................................................ 2-3

Installing IRONCAD under Windows XP Professional and 2000 ................................................................. 2-3

Starting IRONCAD .............................................................................................................................................. 2-4

Navigating the System .......................................................................................................................................... 2-5

The IRONCAD Window ................................................................................................................................ 2-5

Menus ............................................................................................................................................................. 2-6

Toolbars .......................................................................................................................................................... 2-6

Catalogs .......................................................................................................................................................... 2-7

Saving Your Work .......................................................................................................................................... 2-8

Exiting IRONCAD ............................................................................................................................................... 2-8

Getting Help and Other Information ..................................................................................................................... 2-8

Tooltips ........................................................................................................................................................... 2-8

The Help Tool ................................................................................................................................................. 2-9

IRONCAD Technical Support ........................................................................................................................ 2-9

IRONCAD Web Site ...................................................................................................................................... 2-9

Chapter 3 IRONCAD Quick Start

Setting Up the Working Environment .................................................................................................................. 3-3

Using IntelliShapes, SmartDimensions and SmartSnap ....................................................................................... 3-3

Creating a New IntelliShape Feature by Sketching a Profile ............................................................................... 3-5

Using Direct Face Modeling ............................................................................................................................. 3-7

Shelling a Part ....................................................................................................................................................... 3-8

Blending Edges ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-9

Using a Custom Hole .......................................................................................................................................... 3-10

Creating and Using Custom Catalogs ................................................................................................................. 3-11

Importing a Part .................................................................................................................................................. 3-11Using the Mate and Align Positioning Tool ....................................................................................................... 3-11

Creating an Assembly ......................................................................................................................................... 3-12

Creating a 2D Drawing from a Part .................................................................................................................... 3-13

Creating a Section View ..................................................................................................................................... 3-14

Creating a Detail View ....................................................................................................................................... 3-15

Adding a Dimension ........................................................................................................................................... 3-15


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - Table of Contents i

Chapter 4 3D Design Overview

Knowing the Process .............................................................................................................................................4-3

Starting the Project ................................................................................................................................................4-3

Building a Part .......................................................................................................................................................4-3

Assembling Parts ...................................................................................................................................................4-6

Creating a 2D Drawing ..........................................................................................................................................4-7

Rendering a Part ....................................................................................................................................................4-7Animating a Part ....................................................................................................................................................4-7

Communicating a Part ...........................................................................................................................................4-8

Chapter 5 Creating and Editing Shapes Using 2D Cross-sections

Using 2D Cross-sections in Shape Creation and Modification .............................................................................5-3

Creating the Flywheel with a Spin IntelliShape ..............................................................................................5-3

Setting the Drawing Options ...........................................................................................................................5-4

Drawing the Spin Profile .................................................................................................................................5-5

Positioning Lines Using Endpoint Position Dimensions .................................................................................5-5

Accurately Positioning Lines Using Curve Dimensions .................................................................................5-7

Relocating the Coordinate Axes of Endpoint Dimensions ..............................................................................5-8

Positioning Multiple Lines Simultaneously ....................................................................................................5-9

Using Shape Handles .....................................................................................................................................5-10Editing the Cross-section of an Existing IntelliShape ...................................................................................5-11

Using the Offset Command ...........................................................................................................................5-12

Using 2D Constraints ....................................................................................................................................5-13

How Constraints Affect the Behavior of Shape Handles ..............................................................................5-17

Drag-and-Drop Modeling vs. 2D Cross-section Modeling ...........................................................................5-18

Setting Part and IntelliShape Names and Color ............................................................................................5-20

Creating a Bolt Hole Pattern ..........................................................................................................................5-20

Creating the Crankshaft .................................................................................................................................5-21

Adding More Shapes to the Crank Shaft .......................................................................................................5-23

Creating the Crank Arm ................................................................................................................................5-24

Creating Tangent Lines .................................................................................................................................5-25

Creating Tangency and Concentric Constraints ............................................................................................5-26

Parametric Constraints with Expressions ......................................................................................................5-28Creating an Assembly ....................................................................................................................................5-29

Adding Gear Teeth to the Flywheel ..............................................................................................................5-30

Creating Linked Instances of a Cross-section ...............................................................................................5-32

2D Fillets vs. 3D Blends ................................................................................................................................5-33

Chapter 6 Inside the TriBall

The TriBall ............................................................................................................................................................6-3

Anatomy of the TriBall ...................................................................................................................................6-3

Chapter 7 Advanced Drawing Creation

Advanced Drawing Creation .................................................................................................................................7-3

Creating the Standard Views ...........................................................................................................................7-3

Changing the View Scale and Rendering options ...........................................................................................7-4

Moving Views .................................................................................................................................................7-4

Creating a Datum Reference Frame ................................................................................................................7-5

Adding SmartDimensions ...............................................................................................................................7-5

Modifying Individual Dimensions ................................................................................................................7-10

Adding a Feature Control Frame ...................................................................................................................7-12

Creating Centerlines ......................................................................................................................................7-12

Creating Reference Curves ............................................................................................................................7-13

Multi-Sheet Drawings and Supplementary Views ........................................................................................7-15


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iii Table of Contents -IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

Using the Sheet Drawing Tools .................................................................................................................... 7-19

Named Styles ................................................................................................................................................ 7-19

Adding a Layer ............................................................................................................................................. 7-20

Part/Drawing Associativity ........................................................................................................................... 7-21

Chapter 8 IRONCAD Surface Modeling

Creating 3D Curves .............................................................................................................................................. 8-3Create Surfaces from Solids ................................................................................................................................. 8-6

Creating Surfaces .................................................................................................................................................. 8-7

Chapter 9 Rendering With IRONCAD

Rendering Levels .................................................................................................................................................. 9-3

Lighting ................................................................................................................................................................. 9-7

Perspective ............................................................................................................................................................ 9-9

Surface Smoothness ............................................................................................................................................ 9-10

Printing Images ................................................................................................................................................... 9-11

Rendering Time .................................................................................................................................................. 9-11

Exporting Images ................................................................................................................................................ 9-13

Reflectivity: Ray Tracing and Reflection Mapping ........................................................................................... 9-13

Transparency Effects .......................................................................................................................................... 9-15Draw Edges, Emission, and Technical Publications .......................................................................................... 9-18

Advanced Shadow Settings ................................................................................................................................ 9-19

Templates ............................................................................................................................................................ 9-21

The Projection Tools ........................................................................................................................................... 9-23

Slide Projector .............................................................................................................................................. 9-23

Cylindrical ................................................................................................................................................... 9-23

Spherical ....................................................................................................................................................... 9-24

Bump Maps ......................................................................................................................................................... 9-24

Adding a Custom SmartPaint Surface to a Catalog ............................................................................................ 9-27

Chapter 10 Animating with IRONCAD

Anchor-Animation Relationships ....................................................................................................................... 10-3

Creating an Exploded Parts Animation .............................................................................................................. 10-5

Adjusting Timing with the SmartMotion Editor ................................................................................................ 10-6

Modifying a SmartMotion .................................................................................................................................. 10-7

Creating Animations for General Viewing ......................................................................................................... 10-9

Creating a Dynamic Cutaway Animation ......................................................................................................... 10-10

Exporting Animations ....................................................................................................................................... 10-13

Animation Compression and Color Depth ....................................................................................................... 10-13

AVI ............................................................................................................................................................. 10-13

Animated GIF ............................................................................................................................................. 10-13

Chapter 11 Special Function Key Assignment

File/Edit Function Keys ................................................................................................................................ 11-3

Camera Function Keys/Buttons .................................................................................................................... 11-3

TriBall Function Keys .................................................................................................................................. 11-3

Positioning Function Keys ............................................................................................................................ 11-4

Rendering Function Keys ............................................................................................................................. 11-4

3D SmartDimensions Function Keys ........................................................................................................... 11-4

Cross-section Creation Function Keys ......................................................................................................... 11-4

2D Drawing Creation Function Keys ........................................................................................................... 11-4

Handle (sizebox, face, profile, sheet metal, etc.) Function Keys ................................................................. 11-5

Miscellaneous Function Keys ....................................................................................................................... 11-5


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ivTable of Contents -IRONCAD Getting Started Guide


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Chapter 1

About IRONCAD


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1-2 About IRONCAD - IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

IRONCAD is the productivity leader when it comes to moving creative ideas into full 3D

reality. It utilizes a breakthrough Creative Design approach that delivers a level of design

freedom unmatched in the industry today. IRONCAD is the tool of choice for design engineers

when deadlines are tight and a high degree of unanticipated change is to be expected. It

provides a fresh alternative to todays history based parametric systems utilizing a radical new

drag and drop 3D environment that delivers unmatched ease-of-use, and superior productivity.

This Getting Started Guide will help you to quickly begin using IRONCAD to build 3D

parts and assemblies; create 2D drawings; apply colors, textures, add a variety of rendering

techniques; add animation effects; and communicate the results to the outside world.

This chapter will give you a quick overview of IRONCAD and its basic concepts. The next

chapter, Starting IRONCAD, provides instructions on installing, starting and navigating

IRONCAD. Chapters 3 through 8 offer sample exercises:

Chapter 3 walks through a quick start guide to working with IRONCAD;

Chapter 4 introduces the 3D design process using abstract parts;

Chapter 5 focuses on IRONCADs advanced capabilities for creating and editing

IntelliShapes using 2D geometry;

Chapter 6 demonstrates some of the more advanced capabilities of the TriBall;

Chapter 7 demonstrates some of the more advanced features of IRONCADs 2D drawingcreation capabilities;

Chapter 8 introduces Surface modeling capabilities.

Chapter 9 outlines the Rendering options.

Chapter 10 demonstrates IRONCADs Animation capabilities.

Chapter 11 serves as a centralized reference for IRONCADs default shortcut and function

key assignments introduced throught the various chapters of the Getting Started Guide.

More experienced users may want to begin with the installation instructions in Chapter 2 and

then move to Chapters 3 through 8.

In this chapter:

IRONCAD - The Fastest and Easiest way to 3D

IRONCAD Productive Solid Modeling for Creative Design

Working with IRONCAD

IRONCAD Features


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - About IRONCAD 1-3

IRONCAD - The Fastest and Easiestway to 3DWith all the features expected of a production product development tool, and more importantly

with those features unique to IRONCAD, mechanical design engineers are innovating faster.

Using IRONCAD, users can create 3D parts with a variety of surfaces, colors, and textures,

such as those shown below, and then create 2D drawings required to manufacture them.

Rendering, animation, and powerful exporting capabilities make IRONCAD a complete 3D

design package that allows everyone to innovate faster.

IRONCAD Productive Solid

Modeling for Creative DesignIRONCAD is a cost-effective, full-featured detail design production tool for engineering

design users. It utilizes a new Creative Design approach, which allows greater design

flexibility and capability, resulting in better products in a shorter time. IRONCAD provides an

alternative to the current history based parametric systems utilizing a radical new drag-and-

drop 3D environment with Direct Face Modeling that delivers unmatched ease-of-use,

productivity, and design flexibility with the ability to generate fully associative manufacturing

drawings. IRONCAD brings powerful 3D design capabilities to the desktops of professionals

in the following areas and more:

Industrial design. Use IRONCAD in the conceptual part of the design process for

exploring design alternatives.

Engineering and manufacturing. Use IRONCAD in industrial, mechanical, structural,

civil, and many other engineering disciplines for numerous applications in electro-

mechanical design, metal fabrication, and tooling.

Product design and packaging. Use IRONCAD for the design of consumer and

industrial products and packaging.

Wherever you turn in todays world, you are confronted with 3D computer images. When you

check out an advertisement for a new automobile, its hard to discern if the image displayed is

a photograph of an actual car or a computer-generated model.

IRONCAD offers a unique combination of simplicity and precision. Its easy to begin a 3D

part with shapes, colors, textures, and other items from the IRONCAD catalogs. Simply drag

them from the catalogs and drop them in the 3D scene, IRONCADs working environment for

3D part design.


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Once the basic elements are in place, you can use IRONCADs wide range of precision tools to

size and position your part, and then create the necessary standards-compliant 2D drawings

required to manufacture the part.

Parts

You use IRONCAD to build parts. A part is more than a collection of 3D geometry: it is a

combination of components that intelligently interact with each other. In IRONCAD, these

components can be generated by the ACIS or Parasolid kernel.

IntelliShapes. These geometric forms are the building blocks of a part. You can start

with the basic IntelliShapes in the IRONCAD catalogs or design custom IntelliShapes for

special needs. IntelliShapes instinctively interact when theyre joined or repositioned on

the surface of another.

SmartPaints. Use these colors, finishes and surface textures to add a realistic

appearance to parts.

SmartMotions. Not all parts are stationary. For example, if you build a robot arm, you

can simulate its motion. IRONCAD includes a catalog of SmartMotions which are basic

motion sequences, such as spinning, bouncing and moving along an axis. You can

combine and edit SmartMotions to create complex animations.

For even more sophisticated animations, you can create and save SmartMotions on

custom-designed paths, offering complete control of the parts animation.

Here are some sample IntelliShapes:

You can combine these IntelliShapes to form a part similar to the one below.

The shapes that compose a part interact with one another in an intelligent fashion. They know

how to land on one another and position themselves when moved. At any point in the part

design process, you can select and work with the individual component shapes. For instance,

the next illustration displays a part with a component shape highlighted.

Note

Throughout the documentation,the term shape generallyrefers to an IntelliShape.


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After selecting one shape in a part, you can move it, resize it, delete it, or perform other

operations.

Once all the shapes are in place, SmartPaints can be added to your part.

Every part has at least one IntelliShape and at least one SmartPaint component; SmartMotions

are optional. If you want animation effects, you can add SmartMotions to the part from the

Animation catalog or create a custom animation path.

These intelligent components of a part are unique in the world of 3D software. They assist you

in creating parts with more flexibility, extra speed and increased efficiency.

Assemblies and ProductsWhen using IRONCAD to design products, your design may require only a single partcomposed of several IntelliShapes. For example, a machine stand could be a single part that

consists of five shapes: one for the top and four for the legs.

Assemblies are made frommultiple parts.

Other products are more complex and may require that individual components be created as

parts that are then joined into assemblies.

Suppose you want to design a new coffee maker. You might want to start by combining a

number of IntelliShapes to build the heating element section. You could go on to build parts

for the carafe, the reservoir and other components. Finally, you could join these individual

parts to create the finished assembly.

And, of course, very complex products may contain multiple assemblies, each containing

several parts.

IRONCAD facilitates creation of product designs at all levels of complexity. The project canbe contained in a single file or in multiple files linked to a single master assembly file.

Working with IRONCADIRONCAD users work in many design fields. Whether you need to build a machine part or a

coffee maker, you can achieve the desired results using the tools in IRONCAD to work through

the various stages of an IRONCAD project.

Note


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Setting the Scene

To begin a design project in IRONCAD, you must first set up an appropriate scene for your 3D

part design. IRONCAD provides a variety of standard scene templates that are predefined with

appropriate dimensions, lighting and other parameters.

As you become comfortable working in IRONCAD, you may want to create and save custom

scene templates, much as you would create a template for a word processing document.

For more information on setting up the scene, refer to Starting IRONCAD in the next

chapter.

The Stages of an IRONCAD Project

An IRONCAD project has six potential stages:

1. Build a part.

Begin by using predefined individual shapes/parts that suit your needs. If none exist,

then join existing IntelliShapes to achieve the basic form of your part or create custom

shapes. Then you can edit or reposition components or a part to refine its design.

2. Build an assembly of parts.

It may sometimes be necessary or desirable to treat multiple parts as assemblies.IRONCAD offers the capability to create such assemblies, and then add, delete or edit

any of its components while maintaining the individuality of each.

3. Create a drawing of a part.

Once a part or assembly has been created, IRONCAD offers a straightforward method

of creating a 2D drawing based on the 3D object. This drawing can be composed of one

or multiple views on single or multiple sheets containing all desired 2D information.

4. Render a part.

Once you create a 3D part, you can apply colors and surface textures to achieve

convincing realism. IRONCAD includes catalogs of SmartPaint elements for this

purpose. For example, you could add a brass finish to a fitting. You also can add

naturalistic details, such as bumps and reflections.

In addition, you can apply a variety of scene rendering techniques to affect the realism

of the part, including facet, smooth and realistic shading. Advanced rendering

techniques offer even more control over the parts appearance.

5. Animate a part.

To animate a part, use SmartMotions included in the Animation catalog, or create a

custom animation path. For complex animation, use the SmartMotion Editor. This tool

is similar to a multi-track tape recorder that offers control of the position and movement

of every animated part in a scene. For instance, you could rotate gears on a gear

reduction assembly.

6. Communicate a part.

IRONCAD parts seldom exist in a vacuum. You can share your parts with others

through 2D drawings, high-resolution printing, electronic mail, OLE integration, andmany other techniques. Export your parts to a wide variety of other applications or

import parts into IRONCAD.

Visual and Precision Part Design

At each stage of the design process, IRONCAD provides two general methods for

accomplishing your goals. They are:

The visual method. You can accomplish many tasks in IRONCAD using the mouse and

visual feedback. For instance, you can edit the size of an IntelliShape by pulling shape or


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sizebox handles. There are additional visual techniques for positioning, assembling,

coloring, and performing most features of IRONCAD.

The precision method. IRONCAD also offers many precision tools for accurate part

design. For example, you could position one component of a part exactly 15.75 cm from

another.

Naturally, the method you choose depends on your preferences and the task at hand. You might

use visual methods for quick results in the conceptual phase of a project and precision methodsduring the detailing phase prior to production.

IRONCAD FeaturesIRONCAD includes many other powerful features that will help in designing parts more

quickly and efficiently.

Dual kernels. Based on your specific design needs, IRONCAD offers the flexibility of

dual kernels -- ACIS or Parasolid.

Drag-and-drop. For quick placement of IntelliShapes, SmartPaints and SmartMotions,

simply drag them from catalogs and drop them in the desired location.

Face modeling. IRONCAD provides tools to directly edit a selected face, irrespective of

its creation history.

Boolean. Add, delete and move shapes with intelligent Booleans.

SmartSnapfunctionality. IRONCADs SmartSnap features aid in visually positioning

the components of a part. When positioning an IntelliShape, valuable SmartSnap

feedback is displayed.

Precision tools. The TriBall, Mate and Align Positioning and Constraint tools,

SmartDimensions, attachment points, scene grid, and many other features are available

in IRONCAD for precision part design.

Extensive 2D drawing and editing tools. Create intricate 2D cross-sections for creating

custom IntelliShapes.

2D drawing layout. Create fully annotated 2D drawings that are fully associative to 3D

parts/assemblies.

SmartRender. SmartRender keeps projects on schedule by switching to less complex

rendering methods while dynamically manipulating parts.

Extensive right mouse button support. The right mouse button accesses powerful

IRONCAD functions. Most onscreen objects react to a click of the right mouse button,

often displaying a pop-up menu, a dialog box or other items.

Catalogs. IRONCADs catalogs contain hundreds of shapes and pre-designed parts,

textures and other resources. You can organize your project by creating new catalogs to

contain your own shapes and parts.

Customizable menus/toolbars/hot keys. IRONCADs default menus, toolbars, and hot

keys are fully customizable to meet specific user needs. Complete compatibility. IRONCAD is compatible with Windows XP Professional and

2000.

Custom macros generated using Microsofts Visual Basic.


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Chapter 2

Starting IRONCAD


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2-2 Starting IRONCAD - IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

To begin working with IRONCAD as quickly as possible, follow the instructions in this

chapter.

In this chapter:

System requirements

What you need to know to work with IRONCAD

Installation

Starting IRONCAD

Navigating the system

Exiting IRONCAD

Getting help and other information


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - Starting IRONCAD 2-3

System RequirementsTo run IRONCAD, you need at least the following:

A Pentium II 450MHz or faster CPU. 2.0 GHz processor recommended.

Windows XP Professional or 2000.

256 MB of RAM or higher minimum. 512 MB of RAM recommended.

255 MB of hard disk space. (Typical installation will require 202 MB.)

IRONCAD works with display adapters that produce 16-bit or 24-bit color. OpenGL

graphics accelerator with minimum of 64MB memory recommended. 128MB graphics

memory or more recommended for best performance.

A CD-ROM drive.

What You Need to Know to Work with

IRONCADIn the world of 3D design software, IRONCAD is unusually clear and simple to operate. Itisnt necessary to learn numerous abstract concepts or acquire diverse technical skills to work

with IRONCAD.

Of course, you need to be familiar with the graphic user interface for your version of Microsoft

Windows. If you work with a word processor, spreadsheet or other mainstream application

program, your knowledge of the user interface is probably sufficient to begin using

IRONCAD. However, if youre not accustomed to working with a mouse, windows, icons, and

the other elements of a graphic environment, refer to the tutorial or reference manual for your

operating system.

InstallationInstalling IRONCAD under Windows XPProfessional and 2000

Make sure no programs are running on your system. If you use an anti-virus program, disable

(turn off or exit) it before beginning the IRONCAD install process. You can re-enable the anti-

virus and other programs after the IRONCAD installation is finished.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have a previous version of IRONCAD alreadyinstalled, it is recommended that you uninstall it and restart yourcomputer before installing the latest version. If you have customized anyfiles in the IRONCAD folder (such as catalogs, templates, and/or any otherfile or sub-folder), make a backup copy of those files to an alternate folder

or disk. After the installation process is finished, you can copy those filesor folders into the IronCAD folder in their respective locations.

If you have created custom toolbar (.xml) files, create a copy and then move them back after

installation. However, the old .xml files will not have any of the new toolbars that are included

in the newer version of IRONCAD. We recommend using the new .xml files and adding the

old custom information to the new files.


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To uninstall IRONCAD under Windows XP Professional and 2000:

1. Click the Start button on the Windows task bar.

2. On the task menu, select the Control Panel option.

3. Within the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs.

4. From the list of installed programs, select IRONCAD and click Remove.

IRONCAD is now uninstalled from your hard drive. It will preserve any file you

created or modified, as well as the directories that contain those files.

To install IRONCAD under Microsoft Windows XP and 2000:

1. Read the information under IMPORTANT NOTE above before beginning installation

of IRONCAD.

2. Insert the IRONCAD CD into your CD-ROM drive.

The IronCAD Setup dialog box is displayed automatically if your CD-ROM drive is set

to auto-run. Select the icon for IRONCAD to begin the installation process.

If the Setup dialog box is not displayed, select the Start button on the Windows taskbar and then select Run. In the Open field, enter the following command using the

letter of your CD-ROM drive. For example: d:\Setup.exe.

3. Follow the installation instructions.

Starting IRONCADAs with installation, the procedure that you use for starting IRONCAD is the same for

Windows XP and 2000.

To start IRONCAD under Windows XP and 2000:

1. On the Windows task bar, click the Start button.

2. On the task menu, select the Programs option.

3. On the Programs menu, select IRONCAD to display a cascading menu.

4. From the cascading menu, select IRONCAD x.x.

The IRONCAD opening screen appears.

After the IRONCAD opening screen, a dialog box is displayed asking if the user would like to

register the product now.

If the user decides not to register at this time, the product will run for 60 days. After the

60-day period, the product must be registered to continue using it.

If the user decides to register the product, an activation wizard will open to guide the user

through the process of registering the product for the current machine. The serial number

and codeword shipped with the product, along with the users information, are used to

create an activation code that will be emailed back to the user. The registration process can

be completed by sending this information to IronCAD via the web or by fax.

The Welcome dialog box appears. Before you can begin working in IRONCAD, its

necessary to create a new scene.

To create a new scene:

1. Choose Create a new Scene to begin a new project.

Note

To conserve disk space, you can

omit some image catalogs fromthe installation process. Once

you install IRONCAD, you canaccess these catalogs directly

from the CD-ROM.


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2. Deselect Always show this dialog on startup if you dont want this dialog box

to appear when you start IRONCAD.

3. Choose OK.

The New dialog box appears.

4. On the New dialog box, choose the scene tab that best fits the type of work you do,

then select one of the scene templates.If youre not sure which template type or scene template to choose, select the Blank

Scene template from the English tab.

IRONCAD displays a blank 3D scene. Now youre ready to begin working in IRONCAD.

Navigating the SystemSince youre familiar with Microsoft Windows, you already know how to use most elements of

the IRONCAD interface. Much of your work in IRONCAD involves standard Windows

techniques in two environments: the scene environment for part design and the drawing

environment for 2D drawing creation.

Drag-and-drop object placement. Use this technique in the scene environment to builda part by choosing items from catalogs. You also can edit the components of a part or

drawing view using the drag-and-drop method.

Pop-up menus. Most elements of the IRONCAD working environments include pop-up

menus of unique options. To display the pop-up menu for an item, right-click the item --

that is, click it once with the right mouse button.

Properties sheets. Like pop-up menus, nearly all items in IRONCAD have properties

sheets. These dialog boxes facilitate such operations as customizing the features of a part

or drawing element in IRONCAD. The properties sheet for an item is accessed through its

pop-up menu.

The remainder of this section introduces the unique features of the IRONCAD interface. Once

youre familiar with the basic concepts and techniques in this section, you can move on to the

next chapter and learn how to build a part.

The IRONCAD Window

When you open an IRONCAD scene or drawing, you see its associated main window and those

components listed below that are associated with the current working environment:

3D Scene. This is the workspace for 3D part design in the scene environment.

2D Drawing. This is the workspace for 2D drawing creation in the drawing environment.

Menus. IRONCADs default main menu bars provide access to most of the scene and

drawing commands in IRONCAD. IRONCADs menus are, however, fully customizable.

Toolbars. IRONCADs default scene and drawing toolbars provide options for working

with files, 2D and 3D graphics, drawing tools, and other important features of IRONCAD.

Like menus, IRONCADs toolbars can be customized, as desired.

Catalog. Catalogs are available in the scene environment and are groups of related

resources such as parts and surface finishes. To use catalog items in your part design

projects, simply drag and drop their icons into the scene.

Scroll bar and navigation buttons. Use the scroll bar to move through catalogs, to

browse their contents, or to view sections of a drawing too large to be displayed entirely

on the screen.

Tabs. To display a particular catalog or drawing sheet, select its tab.


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Status bar. Use this space at the bottom of the window to view informative messages and

tips about IRONCAD. The right side of the status bar shows the current unit of

measurement and the time.

Menus

Most of the default main menus follow conventions widely used in desktop software. For

example, if you have more than one scene/drawing open, you can switch between them usingthe Window menu.

You can access detailed descriptions of all menu options in the IRONCAD On-line Help

system.

In addition to the main menu bar, many elements of IRONCAD have pop-up menus.

Right-click on the element to display a pop-up menu with commands related to the selected

element.

Toolbars

The toolbars available in the IRONCAD scene environment are:

Standard 3D Dimensions

Selection 2D Technical Drawing

Text Format 2D Constraints

Camera 2D Editing

IntelliShape Creation 2D Construction

SmartPaint Face/Edge Edit

SmartMotions 3D Curves

SmartMotions Surface

Camera Picker

The toolbars available in the IRONCAD drawing environment are:

Standard Text Format

Viewing Sheet Drawing

Annotation Sheet Editing

Styles and Layers Selection

View Dimensions

You can choose the toolbars that appear in the IRONCAD display.

To display a toolbar:

1. Choose Toolbars from the Viewmenu or right-click on any currently displayed

toolbar.

2. On the Toolbars dialog box or the drop-down menu, check the box beside the

name of the toolbar you want to display.

To hide a toolbar, clear its checked box.

3. Choose Close in the dialog box.

Here are three of the toolbars in IRONCAD: IntelliShape Creation, Camera, and

View.

IntelliShape Creation toolbar (Scene)

Note

The convention of right-clickingis used throughout IRONCAD.

In addition to revealing pop-upmenus, you can use right-clicksto position or copy a part.


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Camera toolbar (Scene)

View toolbar (Drawing)

IRONCADs toolbars will help you implement many scene and drawing functions easily and

quickly.

Moving and Resizing a Toolbar

When you first start IRONCAD, the toolbars may appear across the top, down the left side, and

across the bottom of the workspace. They dont have to remain in these default locations,

however. You can position them anywhere in the IRONCAD window.

To move a toolbar, use the mouse to drag it to a new location.

Drag a toolbar by left-clicking its background between the available options and moving it to a

new location. If you drop it near an edge of the IRONCAD window, it appears as a horizontal

or vertical strip. If you drop it over a sheet or scene, it appears as a palette that floats over the

workspace.

To resize a floating toolbar, drag one of its corners.

Click and drag the corner to display an outline of the toolbars new shape. Drop the toolbar

when the desired shape is displayed.

Catalogs

The IRONCAD scene environment includes the following default catalogs installed on your

hard drive:

Shapes. This catalog contains a basic set of IntelliShape primitives such as blocks and

spheres. You combine these IntelliShapes to build parts.

Advanced Shapes. This catalog contains IntelliShape primitives that allow the user to

customize a shapes appearance by editing a set of variables.

Sheet Metal. This catalog includes IntelliShapes for items used in sheet metal design,

such as stock, bends, stamps, and punches.

Tools. This catalog contains a set of parameterized IntelliShapes created using the OLE

automation capabilities within IRONCAD. They present the user with an input dialog for

customization.

Animation. This catalog contains motion effects to use to animate your parts.

Surfaces. Obsidian, Rubber, and Shiny Blue are a few of the items in this catalog that can

be dragged and dropped onto parts and shapes in the scene.

Textures. Use a variety of textures, such as Marble, Chrome, or Wood to add realism to

your parts.

Bumps. This catalog contains a variety of different images that use bump mapping to addrealistic textures to parts.

Color. Use a variety of standard windows colors to quickly add color to parts in the scene.

Many other catalogs, including specialty catalogs, are available on the IRONCAD CD-ROM.

You can work with the default catalogs installed on your hard drive or any supplementary

catalogs available on the CD-ROM. The advantage of working with catalogs on the CD is that

it saves hard disk space. Of course, when you want to access a catalog on the CD, the CD must

be in your drive. If you work with a particular catalog frequently, you may want to copy its

Note

Move a toolbar anywhere in theIRONCAD window.


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contents to your hard disk. You can reserve the CD for rarely-used items and experimentation.

Saving Your Work

When youre finished working in IRONCAD, or ready to move on to another project, save

your work. IRONCAD stores all the scene or drawing components and all their associated

properties in a single file.

To save new work in a file:

1. From the File menu, choose Save As.

IRONCAD prompts you for the name of a file.

2. Select the directory where you want to save the file if different from the directory

that is displayed.

3. Enter a descriptive title for the file name and choose Save.

IRONCAD saves your work in a file with this title. Unless you specify a different

extension, IRONCAD appends the extension .ics to a scene file and .icd to a drawing

file.

The next time you save your work, choose Save from the File menu instead ofSave As.

IRONCAD uses the existing name for the file. The only time you would use the Save Asoption with an existing file is to make a copy with a different name.

Exiting IRONCADWhen youre finished working with IRONCAD and have saved your work in a file, close the

program and return to Windows.

To exit IRONCAD, choose Exit from the File menu.

You will return to Microsoft Windows.

Getting Help and Other InformationWhen you have a question regarding IRONCAD, there are a number of resources available for

answers. Read the remainder of the Getting Started Guide for examples that introduce

some of the most important features of IRONCAD. In addition, theIRONCAD On-line

Help system contains thorough, task-oriented descriptions of nearly every IRONCAD feature.

TooltipsUse Tooltips to view the label

for a button on a toolbar.In addition to the manuals, IRONCAD itself offers on-line help in several forms. For instance,

if you arent sure about the functionality of a toolbar option, you can find out very quickly.

To display the name of a particular tool, point to it.

IRONCAD displays a Tooltip, a small box with the name of the tool. If youd rather not

display Tooltips, its easy to disable them.

To disable Tooltips display:

1. From the View Menu, select Toolbars.

2. On the Toolbars dialog box, clear the Show Tooltips box, then choose OK.

The Help Tool

Its easy to get information about other elements of the IRONCAD environment, as well.

Note


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To display information about a feature in the IRONCAD window, clickthe Help tool, then click the feature.

IRONCAD opens its on-line help system and displays the requested information.

Browsing the Help System

For information on IRONCAD concepts and tasks, refer to the On-line Help system.

To view a list of Help topics, select IRONCAD Help from the Helpmenu.

IRONCAD displays a tri-pane window with Contents, Index, and Search tabs for its

Help system displayed on the left and the IRONCAD Welcome screen on the right. Click

on the icon to the left of a topic on the Welcome screen or on a topic in the Contents for

information on it.

If you dont see the topic you want in the Contents or on the Welcome screen, look for it

by name by clicking the Index tab to display a complete listing of topics and subtopics. Or

click the Search tab to define search criteria for locating a topic.

IRONCAD Technical Support

For questions about technical support options, please contact your authorized Channel Partner

or IronCAD.

IRONCAD Web Site

Visit IRONCADs web site at www.ironcad.com for up-to-the-minute information about

IRONCAD. Our web site is frequently updated with the latest product and support

information.


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Chapter 3

IRONCAD Quick Start


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3-2 IRONCAD Quick Start - IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

This chapter is a straightforward, step-by-step introduction to some of IRONCADs main

functionality.

In this chapter:

Setting Up the Working Environment

Using IntelliShapes, SmartDimensions and SmartSnap

Creating a New IntelliShape Feature by Sketching a Profile

Shelling a Part

Blending Edges

Using a Custom Hole

Creating and Using Custom Catalogs

Importing a Part

Using Direct Face Modeling

Using the Mate and Align Positioning Tool

Creating an Assembly

Creating a 2D Drawing from a Part

Creating a Section View

Creating a Detail View

Adding a Dimension


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - IRONCAD Quick Start 3-3

Setting Up the Working Environment1. Create a new scene.

From the File menu, choose New, and then Scene.

2. Select the template labeled Gray.ics from the Metric folder and then choose OK.

Using IntelliShapes, SmartDimensions

and SmartSnap1. Drag the Block from the Shapes catalog and drop it into the scene.

2. Use the Fit Scene tool from the Camera toolbar for a close-up view of the block.

3. Select the block at the IntelliShape editing level.

This level is indicated by a yellow sizebox with red handles displayed over the block.

4. Drag the red handles to resize the block, as desired.

5. Right-click on one of the sizebox handles and choose Edit Sizebox from the

resulting pop-up menu.

6. Enter the following values then clickOK:

L: 120

W: 100

H: 75

7. If necessary, select the Fit Scene tool again.

8. Drag an H Cylinderfrom the Shapes catalog and drop it on the center of the side

face of the block, as shown. A green dot will indicate the center of the face.

9. Click and drag one of the H Cylinders side sizebox handles until the holes diameter is

approximately the size shown in the following illustration.


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10. Select the H Cylinder at the IntelliShape editing level and then, from the Create menu,

select SmartDimension, and then Linear.

Alternately, you can select the Linear SmartDimension tool on the Dimensions

toolbar.

11. To place the SmartDimension, click the center of the H Cylinder, then click the top

face of the block (not the edge), and release.

12. With the H Cylinder still selected at the IntelliShape editing level, right-click on the

dimension value and choose Edit this SmartDimension from the resulting pop-up

menu.

13. Enter a value of45, select the Lock option, and then choose OK.

14. Select the H Cylinder Intellishape by clicking anywhere on its inner surface (except the

center) and drag it to the end face of the block. Notice the "constrained" movement of

the H Cylinder as it is dragged around the blocks corner.

15. Drag the H Cylinder back to its approximate original location.

16. With the H Cylinder selected at the IntelliShape editing level, right-click on the

SmartDimension value and choose Delete from the resulting pop-up menu.

17. Still at the IntelliShape editing level, select the H Cylinder and, depressing the Shift

key (to activate SmartSnap), drag the center of the H Cylinder so that it snaps to the

center of the end face of the block, as shown.

Sizebox

Handles

Note

Placing a Smart-Dimensionbetween components of thesame part at the

IntelliShape editing level (withthe exception of an edge on

first selection), or betweenseparate parts at the part

editing level, adds a fullyfunctional SmartDimensionwhich can be edited and/orlocked, as necessary.SmartDimensions applied tocomponents of the same part atthe part editing level functiononly as annotation dimensions.and cannot be edited/locked.

...then click here.

Dimension Value

To place the SmartDimension,

click here...


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Creating a New IntelliShape Feature

by Sketching a Profile1. From the Create menu, choose IntelliShape, and then Extrude.

Alternately, you can select the Extrude tool on the IntelliShape Creation toolbar.

2. Move the cursor over the upper right corner of the blocks top face until a green dot

indicating its vertex is displayed, as shown. Click on the vertex.

The Extrude Shape Wizard appears.

3. On Page 1 of the Wizard, choose RemoveMaterial, and then Next.

4. On Page 2, choose Next again.

5. On Page 3, enter a distance value of50, and then choose Next.

6. On Page 4, Choose No for display of drawing grid, and then choose Finish.

The 2D drawing surface will appear.

7. From the 2D Editing Toolbar, select the Project3D Edges tool.

If the toolbar is not displayed, select the View menu, choose Toolbars, and thenselect 2D Editing.

8. Click on the two edges shown below to select them.

Be careful to click only the two edges, and not on the side face of the block, since

selecting the face would project all four edges of that face.


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9. Select the Two Point Line tool from the 2D Technical Drawing toolbar.

10. Using SmartSnap feedback to locate the midpoints, click and drag to draw a line

from the midpoint of one projected edge to the midpoint of the other, as shown.

11. From the 2D Editing toolbar, select the Trim Curve tool.

12. Trim the lines, as shown below.

Click these edges to project

them onto the 2D grid.

Tip

A small green dot indicatessnapping to the line, and a largegreen dot indicates a midpointor endpoint. The small red dots

indicate unconnectedendpoints, which must beconnected before completing the

profile sketch (except for surfacecreation).

Pick 1

Pick 2


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13. Choose Finish Shape.

14. Use the Orbit Camera tool (F3) from the Camera toolbar to move your viewpoint

around the block to view the IntelliShape which has been created.

We will now use the Extrude to Add Material to the part in a new feature.

15. From the Create menu, choose IntelliShape, and then Extrude.

16. Click the top face of the part.

17. On Page 1 of the Wizard, choose AddMaterial, and then Next.

18. On Page 2, choose Next again.

19. On Page 3, enter a distance value of8, and then choose Next.

20. On Page 4, Choose No for display of drawing grid, and then choose Finish.

The 2D drawing surface will appear.

21. From the 2D Editing Toolbar, select the Project3D Edges tool.

22. Select the top face to project to 2D geometry.

23. Choose Finish Shape.

Shelling a Part1. Select the block at the part editing level, displaying its cyanblue outline.

2. From the Modify menu, select ShellPart.

Alternately, you can select the desired face and select the Shell Part option on

the Face/Edge Edit toolbar or you can right-click the part, and select Shell

from the resulting pop-up menu.

The Shell Part session barappears in the Command Manager.

Tip

When using the 2D editing tools,note the instructions indicatedin the lower left section of thestatus bar of the IRONCAD

window.

Tip

On a three-button mouse,the middle button can be

used to Orbit the camera atanytime.


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3. Click the top face of the block to specify that it should remain open after shelling.

4. Enter 4 in the Thickness field on the Shell Part session bar and select the Apply

and Exit Command option.

5. Use the Orbit Camera tool (F3) to move your viewpoint around the block to observe

the results of the shelling operation.

Blending Edges1. Select the inner cylindrical surface of the H Cylinder at the surfaces editing level.

It will become highlighted with green edges.

2. From the Modify menu, select BlendEdges.


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Alternately, you can right-click the surface and choose Blend Edges from the

resulting pop-up menu, or select the Blend Edges option on the Face/Edge Edit

toolbar.

The Blend Edges session barappears in the Command Manager.

3. On the Blend Edges session bar, select Constant as the type of blend and, in the

constant blend radius field, enter 8.

4. Select the Apply and Exit Command option to apply the blend and exit the blend

operation.

5. Use the Orbit Camera tool (F3) to observe the results of the blending operation.

Blend this


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Using a Custom Hole1. From the Tools catalog, drag and drop a Custom Hole shape on the side of the part,

as shown.

A Custom Hole dialog box will appear.


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2. Click the Metric toggle. Under Hole Dimensions, enter a Hole Diameter (d)

of6 Hole Depth (h) of12, CBore Depth(bh) of3 and a CBore Diameter

(bd) of24, and then choose OK.

3. Click once anywhere in the scene background to deselect the hole, then select the Fit

Scene tool on the Camera toolbar (F8).

Creating and Using Custom Catalogs1. From the Catalogs menu, deselect Autohide so the Catalog Browserwill

remain open to the right of the scene.

2. From the Catalogs menu, select NewNewNewNew to create a blank catalog.

A new catalog labeled Catalog1 will appear in the Browser.

3.Click the part at the part editing level (all edges will highlight in

cyanblue

) and thendrag the part into the catalog and drop it. A custom icon is automatically created for the

part once it has been successfully added to the catalog.

4. Select the parts catalog icon to highlight its label and then click on Unnamed in its

text box. Enter Sample and press the Enterkey.

5. Create a new scene.

6. From the File menu, choose New, and then Scene.7. Select the template labeled Blue.ics from the Metric folder and then choose OK.

8. From the new catalog, drag and drop the Sample part near the center of the new scene.

Importing a Part1. From the File menu, choose Import.

2. From your hard disk, locate Program Files\IronCAD\x.x\Tutorials and open the

Tutorials folder.

3. Choose the part labeled SampleTop.sat and select Open.

The new part will appear in the scene. Select the FitScene tool, if necessary, to viewboth parts. Note that even if Parasolid is set as the default kernel, the imported part

remains a .sat file, indicated by its gray surface color.

Using Direct Face Modeling


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Direct Face Modeling can be used to edit models that have no feature history, such as imported

models.

1. Set the Selection Filter to Faces by auto-feature.

2. Select the filleted face on the top of the imported part, right click and select Faces to

Intellishape. The fillets are now recognized as an IronCAD Blend.

3. Set the Selection Filter back to Any.

4. Select the Blend, right click and select Edit Shape.

5. Set the Blend Radius to 8.

6. Select the Apply and Exit Command option in the Proon the session bar, which

will complete the Blend operation.

7. Select the top face of the imported part at the Face editing level.

If necessary, choose the Select Tool on the Selection toolbar. Click on the top

face until a green outline appears around it.

8. From the Modify menu, select MoveFace.

Alternately, you can select the desired face and select the Move Face option from the

Face/Edge Edit toolbar or right-click on the face and select Move from the resultingpop-up menu.

The Move Face session barappears in the Command Manager.

9. Select the TriBall tool (F10).

10. Drag the top handle of the TriBall upward a distance of approximately 10, as shown.


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11. Right-click on the TriBalls distance value and choose EditValue from the resulting

pop-up menu.

12. Enter a value of10.

13. Select the Apply and Exit Command option on the session bar, which will

complete the Move Face operation.

14. From the Edit menu, choose DeselectAll.

Alternately, you can click anywhere in the scene background to deselect current

selections.

Using the Mate and Align PositioningTool

1. Select the imported part at the part editing level.

2. Select the Mate and Align Positioning tool from the Standard toolbar.

Alternately, from the Tools menu, you can choose Mate and Align Positioning

Tool.

3. Move the cursor over various areas of the selected part and note the arrow feedback.

4. Click on the midpoint of the lower edge of the closest face, as shown. (A green

SmartSnap dot indicates the edges midpoint.)

Note

The Face EditingNotification dialog isdisplayed after completion of all

face editing operations,informing you that thehighlighted IntelliShapes will becombined and that any futuremodifications must be made

using the face editing tools. Itoffers the option of proceedingwith the operation or cancelingit.


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5. Move the cursor over the midpoint of the upper outer edge of the Sample part until the

green SmartSnap dot appears. If needed, press the Tab key to reverse the direction ofthe arrow, aligning it with the orientation of the arrow on the imported part.

6. Click to complete the mate and align positioning operation.

7. Deselect the Mate and AlignPositioning tool.

Creating an Assembly1. Select the SceneBrowseroption on the Standard toolbar (or select Scene

Browserfrom the View menu.)

The Scene Browser is displayed to the left of the scene. The two parts in the current

scene are represented by redblockicons.

2. Right-click on the imported part in the Browser and choose PartProperties from

the resulting pop-up menu.

3. Enter Top in the UserName field and choose OK.


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4. Right-click on the Sample part in the Browser and choose PartProperties from the

pop-up menu.

5. Enter Base in the UserName field and choose OK.

6. From the Assembly menu, choose Assemble (or click the Assemble option on

the Assembly toolbar). An assembly composed only of the Base is created. To

expand the assembly to display its components in the Scene Browser, click the +

symbol to the left of its icon. This will display the Base part within the assembly.

7. Add the Top part to the new assembly by dragging its icon and dropping it onthe

Assembly icon, as shown.

8. Select the Assembly in the scene and note that both parts within the assembly are

highlighted in yellow.

Creating a 2D Drawing from a Part1. Select the Base part then go to File, Save As Part/Assembly.

2. Choose a filename and save. This part is now externally linked to the assembly

allowing you to create from it a part drawing.

3. From the File menu, choose New, and then Drawing.

4. From ISO, select the template labeled A1.icd, then choose OK.

5. Select the Fit Sheet tool from the Viewing toolbar.

6. From the Create menu, choose View, and then Standard.

The Standard Views Creation dialog box appears.

Alternately, you can select the Standard View option from the View toolbar.

7. Select Browse and, from your hard disk, locate the file you saved in step 2.


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8. Highlight the following four view ports: Top, Front, Right, and T.F.R. (Isometric)

views, then choose OK.

The 4 views are created and placed on the drawing sheet.

Creating a Section View1. Use the WindowZoom tool to zoom in on the Top view (upper left) on the sheet.

2. From the Create menu, choose View, and then Section.

The Section View Command Managerappears.

Alternately, you can select the Section View option on the View toolbar.

3. Select the VerticalSection tool.

4. Click to position the vertical cut line on the drawing, approximately as shown.

Note

If hidden edges arentdisplayed, right-click on the

view, selectProperties from theresulting pop-up menu, selectHidden edges underDisplayoptions, and selectOK.


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5. Select the FlipDirection tool so that the section arrows point to the right.

6. Select the FitSheet tool.

7. Select the Place the SectionView tool and position the new section view to the

right of its parent view, as shown above.

Creating a Detail View1. From the Create menu, select View, and then Detail.

Alternately, you can select the Detail View option on the View toolbar.

2. Click to specify the center of the detailed view and move the cursor, as shown, to define

the source area and click again to set.

3. Move the cursor near the center of the sheet and click to specify the location of the newdetail view.

Adding a Dimension1. Use the WindowZoom tool to zoom in on the Front view (lower left).

2. From the View menu, choose Toolbars, and then Dimensions.


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The Dimensions toolbar is displayed.

3. Select the SmartDimension tool, and then click on the rightmost vertical edge of the

part, as shown. Drag the dimension to the right and click again to position it.

4. Deselect the SmartDimension tool.5. Right-click on the dimension value and choose Properties from the resulting pop-up

menu.

6. Select the Tolerancing tab and select Show Tolerance with Plus and Minus

style. Enter the following values and then choose OK:

Above Value: .05

Below Value: .03

7. Use the Fit Sheet viewing tool to zoom out for a view of the entire sheet.

Click here to add


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Chapter 4

3D Design Overview


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4-2 3D Design Overview - IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

This chapter illustrates the six potential stages of an IRONCAD project. Like most of the

examples youve seen so far, the sample project uses simple geometric shapes to illustrate the

features of IRONCAD.

In this chapter:

Knowing the Process

Starting the Project

Building a Part

Assembling Parts

Creating a 2D Drawing

Rendering a Part

Animating a Part

Communicating a Part


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - 3D Design Overview 4-3

Knowing the ProcessAs you read in Chapter 1 of this Getting Started Guide, an IRONCAD project has the

following potential stages:

Building a part

Assembling parts

Creating a 2D drawing

Rendering a part

Animating a part

Communicating a part

At times you may alternate between these stages or eliminate some of them, but the concepts

and techniques at each stage remain the same.

Throughout the 3D design process, IRONCAD has two general methods for performing many

functions:

The visual method. Use the mouse and instant visual feedback to size, position, and

assemble parts; apply colors and textures to parts; and animate parts.

The precision method. You can use a number of measuring tools and properties sheets to

achieve extreme precision in your 3D designs.

You may want to use visual methods for quick results at the beginning of a project in the

conceptual phase and precision methods later in the detail design phase when precision is

required. Or, you may choose to use precision methods throughout the project.

Starting the ProjectTo create a new scene:

1. If necessary, start IRONCAD.

The IRONCAD opening screen appears, followed by the Welcome dialog box.

2. Choose Create a new Scene to begin a new project.

3. On the New Scene dialog box, choose the scene tab that best fits the type of work

you do, then select one of the scene templates and clickOK.

If youre not sure which template type or scene template to choose, select the Blue.ics

template from the Metric tab.

IRONCAD displays a blank 3D scene. Now youre ready to work in IRONCAD.

Building a PartYou can begin a part with a single IntelliShape. This shape could be one of IRONCADs

standard IntelliShapes or a custom shape of your own design. Shapes and parts are initially

generated by the specified default modeling kernel -- either ACIS or Parasolid. However,

IRONCAD offers the option of switching between the two kernels, on a part-by-part basis, by

selecting the part in the scene and then pressing Ctrl+K. ACIS kernel support is indicated by a

gray surface color on the selected part, Parasolid by beige. To change the default kernel, select

Options from the Tools menu, select the Parts tab, and at the bottom left of the dialog box,

select the desired option under Default kernel type for new parts.

If IRONCAD is already running,choose the New option fromthe File menu and then selectScene and clickOK..

Note


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The IRONCAD catalogs contain many generic and special-purpose IntelliShapes. When you

work with predefined shapes, you drag them from the catalog and drop them in the 3D scene.

For example, to use a block as the foundation for a new part, you would drag it out of the

Shapes catalog and drop it in the scene.

Initial shape for new part

The following are a few other IntelliShapes that are included in the Shapes and Advanced

Shapes catalogs:

Sample shapes

When you drag a shape from a catalog and drop it in the scene, youre practicing the visual

method of part design. Much of your part design can be accomplished using the drag-and-drop

technique with shapes, colors, textures, lights, and other items.

At other times, however, you may require precise results that are beyond the capability of

visual, drag-and-drop part design methods. For example, if none of the predefined

IntelliShapes meet your requirements, you can create a custom shape using one of the available

IntelliShape Creation tools.

For precise part design, you canuse the 2D Technical Drawingtools to create a cross-sectionand then extend it into 3D.

To create a custom shape, use the 2D Technical Drawingtools to create the desired cross-

section, as shown on the left below:

Use the visual drag-and-dropmethod to work with

IntelliShapes from IRONCADcatalogs.

Note

Note

2D cross-section . .

. . . extruded into a 3D shape


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IRONCAD Getting Started Guide - 3D Design Overview 4-5

Once youve created the cross-section, IRONCAD can extend it into 3D using a variety of

techniques that includes extrusion, spinning, sweeping and lofting. For example, the shape on

the right above displays the result ofextruding a 2D cross-section.

Regardless of how you create the initial shape of a part, you may need to resize it. IRONCAD

offers visual and precision methods for resizing shapes and parts. For instance, you can display

either IntelliShape sizebox or shape handles with the Handle Toggle to resize a shape using

the drag-and-drop technique.

IntelliShape with sizebox/shape handles and Handle Toggle displayed

Using the mouse, you can drag a handle to edit the shapes size. Heres the result of dragging

one of the sizebox handles on the block shape:

Resized IntelliShape

Naturally, this method assumes that you can visually judge the correct size. However, you may

require a precisely sized block. IRONCAD offers a number of tools for precision sizing.

Once the initial shape has been created, you can add additional shapes to build your 3D part.

You might drag a second shape from a catalog and drop it on the first one.

Part with two shapes

One of the intelligent properties of IntelliShapes is that they instinctively interact with one

another. When you drop a new shape on an existing one, the new shape lands in the same way

as a physical object would land.

Note

You can use visual or precisionmethods to resize a shape.

Note

Add new shapes to build yourpart.


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As with sizing, there are visual and precision methods for positioning the shape components of

a part. You can drag one shape over another and use SmartSnap feedback to help locate

centers, edges, and other key points.

Visual positioning using SmartSnap feedback

In more complex situations, you can use measuring and positioning tools, such as the TriBall

and SmartDimensions, for accurate results.

Precise positioning using SmartDimensions

As you build your part, you continue to add, size, and position IntelliShapes. At any stage of

the process, you can select and work with the part as a whole or any of the shapes within the

part. To activate SmartSnap for an existing shape hold down the Shift key.

In the event that de

IRONCAD Getting Started Guide

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