Description: Create a single cylinder of given diameter and length with the center line orientation along the X-axis.
Archive: http://www.revcad.com/Sheet5/Archive/Examples/single_cylinder.zip Create a two-piece angled cylinder to cone bend with matched cone.
Details: Cylinder Diameter:150; Length:300; Orientation:X-axis.
Author: Trevor Maddison
Date: 4 November 2002
Method:
The cylinder is created using the 'Create Part' command, followed by subsequent input of the two center line end points in the 3D CAD view. Two methods of 3D point input are intorduced - 1. use of the 'Snap Axis' tool with numerical length input, and 2. purely numeric input using both relative and absolute coordinates.
Concepts & Techniques:
1. Setting the initial 3D environment size and design units.
2. Using the 'Create Part' command.
3, Selecting a 3D point in the CAD view.
4. Using the 'Snap Axis' tool.
5. Using the 'Edit Part' dialog to alter dimensions.
6. List the design details.
7. Numerical 3D point input using both relative and absolute values.
Design Image:
Procedure:
1. Open a new design using the 'File|New' command. This opens the 'Open New Design' dialog box requesting initial design input defining the required 3D CAD space for the design and other values (see: Open New Design Dialog ).
2. By default the initial view is normally the 3D/Isometric view. For a simple, single plane design (such as this) the 3D view is probably not required and a 2D view will suffice, but the design is just as simple to create in the 3D view, so for the purpose of gaining familiarity with the 3D environment all the tutorial design procedure are conducted from the 3D/ISO view where possible.
3. Create the part:
Select the 'Create Part' command (accessed via menus as 'Edit|Create Part' or via
the taskbar 'Design' tab icon). The status bar at the base of
the screen now has the message 'Create Part
> Select First Point > Select Point'. This indicates the overall command that is in current execution (the
'Create Part' command) , the current stage of the command ('Select First Point') and the current
prompt/expectation for CAD input ('Select Point'). It indicates a 3D point selection is required to define the
first end of the new part. If the cursor pointer is moved back into the design area a 'cross cursor '
and
'cursor box ' move with the mouse pointer indicating the 3D movement
in the design environment and
that the current operation is point selection.4. The position of the first point is not very important (as for many designs, often all that matters is the relative position of points) although it can be fixed at a particular position by typing in the point location in the command dialog. Use the mouse to select any 3D point in the CAD view. The command now creates and 'activates ' a new part with its first point fixed at the selected point and dynamically stretching (rubber banding ) the object with the cursor to the current 3D cursor position as the cursor is moved. The status bar now prompts for the selection of the second end position to drop the second end of the new part. The selected points are the positions of the part center line ends.
5. Before selecting the second point we need to align the new part with the X-axis, then fix the length (or it can be done in the opposite order).
6. To align the center line with the X-axis select the 'Snap Axis'
tool (via the 'Tools|Snap Axis' menu
command or the taskbar icon on the Design tab. Now move the cursor back into the CAD view. The active
part can be seen to align actively itself to the nearest cartesian axis to the current cursor position. Note
that the mouse pointer and cross cursor are not longer coincident. The current point in the 3D view is
defined by the cross cursor and is restricted to alignment with the nearest axis. Movement can occur in the
other planes (XZ or YZ) by selecting the cursor plane toggle
button on the taskbar 'View' tab.7. Fix the length of the new part using the 'Length' edit box in the command dialog . See 'Creating a Part ' for full information on the controls in the part creation command dialog. Move the mouse pointer nearer to the X-axis so the part aligns with it, then press the left mouse button to confirm the selection of the position of the second end of the object. The selected point is the position of the cross cursor in the 3D view, which now differs from the mouse pointer because its movement is restricted to a single point by both the axis alignment and fixed object length. The second end of the object is now positioned and the object is created in its simplest form, as a cylinder with the default diameter.
8. On selection of the second point the 'Edit Part' dialog box automatically opens on the part so that a section shape can be selected and the dimensions of the section defined. It is always possible to reopen the edit part dialog box at any time so the section shape and size can be left until later if prefered.
9. The new part already has the required circular section by default, so no section shape selection is required. Click in the diameter parameter in the parameter editor of the edit part dialog and type in the diameter (150). The part is automatically adjusted. Close the dialog to accept the new part dimensions.
10. You have now created a design with a single cylindrical object of fixed orientation length and diameter. Now learn how to create multiple object designs and form intersections between the objects - Create a Simple Cylindrical Tee .
Variations:
Recommendations:
Summary:
See also:
1. Tutorial Format
2. Tutorial Index