Pro/DESKTOP® Tutorial Advanced level - Space Station Written by Tim Brotherhood Copyright © 2003, Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) All rights reserved under copyright laws of the United States and other countries PTC, the PTC Logo, The Product Development Company, Create Collaborate Control, Simple Powerful Connected, Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/DESKTOP, Wildfire, Windchill, and all PTC product names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries All other product names and marks referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders Conditions of use Copying and use of these materials is authorized only in the schools of teachers who attend official training with a PTC certified trainer All other use is prohibited unless written permission is obtained from the copyright holder Acknowledgements Sheila Schencke, Executive Director, STARBASE Louisiana Barbara Koscak, Executive Director, STARBASE Michigan Rick Simms, Deputy Director, STARBASE Michigan Feedback In order to ensure these materials are of the highest quality, users are asked to report errors to PTC at schools@ptc.com Suggestions for improvements and other activities would also be very welcome Space Station T ABLE OF CONTENTS FILES FOR SPACE STATION INTRODUCTION SKETCHING PROFILES 2D Beginning a design Where I sketch? Viewing onto the workplane Making the palette visible Adding a shape Sketches Removing 'reference' from a constraint Changing a constraint Zooming 10 EXTRUDING A 3D SHAPE 11 Extruding 11 Adding a hexagonal sketch 13 Changing a constraint 13 Moving lines 14 Extrude link corridor 15 MODIFY SOLIDS 16 Adding to a selection 16 Hollow a solid 17 ASSEMBLE COMPONENTS 18 Adding your model 19 Assemble two parts 19 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES 20 Space Station FILES FOR SPACE STATION The following files will be needed to successfully complete this project: File Name axis connect.des Hex compartment.des Solar compartment.des Through compartment.des Space Station I NTRODUCTION In this tutorial you will learn how to create a module for an orbiting space station and how to assemble it to a partly complete space station To achieve this you will learn techniques for creating Pro/DESKTOP parts from scratch Parts are made from solid shapes and creating a solid involves two stages First, a 2D sketch is drawn on a workplane Space Station Second, the shape is stretched or 'extruded' to create the solid SKETCHING P ROFILES 2D Beginning a design • Start Pro/DESKTOP • If the Tip of the Day window appears click on the Close button • Click on , the New File icon to open an empty design window The design window will show the outline of a green rectangle seen at an angle with two green arrows in the center Y axis arrow Origin (0,0) x axis arrow The green rectangle is the Base Workplane and the arrows show the directions for the X and Y axes from the origin Where I sketch? A workplane can have several sketches Workplanes are like the glass panel on an overhead projector and sketches are the transparencies (plastic sheets) you write on For complex diagrams teachers overlay several transparencies, gradually building up the image Pro/DESKTOP can have multiple sketches on each workplane Transparencies = sketches Glass panel = workplane Space Station Workplanes and sketches are listed in the browser on the left hand side of the Pro/DESKTOP screen Here the base workplane has been expanded to show the sketch called initial The + sign changes to a - sign Viewing onto the workplane When Pro/DESKTOP starts a new design the workplane is shown at an angle It is easier to the next bit if we look straight down onto it • Open the View pull-down menu and select Go to • From the fly-out menu select Onto Workplane There are keyboard shortcuts for many of the menus They are listed at the side In future you will be shown the keyboard commands in brackets [Shift + W] Sketching tools The sketching tools for Pro/DESKTOP are down the right hand side of the screen The first four create lines and shapes The last two can create new lines and modify existing lines Straight Circle Rectangle Ellipse Arc or fillet Spline Space Station For the next section you will use pre-drawn shapes from the Pallet If yours is already visible on the right hand side of the screen skip the next small section Making the palette visible • Open the Tools pull-down menu • Click on the Palette option The Palette will become visible The component you will make in the section is a hexagonal living module You will create this design from scratch and then assemble with other modules to create an orbiting space station Adding a shape • In the Palette select the Shapes tab • Move the mouse cursor over the Hexagon shape in the Palette • Hold down the left mouse button and drag the Hexagon shape onto the workplane The position doesn't matter • Release the mouse button Space Station Sketches Notice how the green rectangle changes size and position to surround the shape Dotted 'construction' lines are very useful for setting out the size and position of sketches The hexagon of solid unbroken lines will be used to create the solids It is important that this shape is unbroken Any gaps, overlaps or stray lines will prevent the 3D shape being created Removing 'reference' from a constraint Notice the text in brackets This is a sketch constraint and is telling us the size of the construction circle that surrounds the hexagon The brackets indicate it is a reference constraint The reference brackets need to be removed so that the constraint can change the size of the circle • In the design toolbar on the right of the screen, click on • Move the mouse cursor over the • Left mouse click to select the constraint the Select constraint tool constraint The constraint turns red to show it is selected • Right mouse click over the constraint • In the floating menu click on The brackets will disappear from the constraint Changing a constraint The construction circle controls the size of the hexagon By changing the size of the diameter constraint the circle and hexagon will re-size • Make sure the constraint is selected (colored red) • Double click on the constraint Space Station • The Properties dialog window opens showing the current value of 100mm for the diameter constraint The capsule needs to be metres across the points • Alter the value to 5000 • Click on The hexagon sketch will probably disappear from view because it has increased in size fifty times! Zooming Do you remember from previous tutorials how to zoom to include everything? Autoscale can be found in the View menu but try the alternative keyboard shortcut • Hold down the Shift key and press the A key • Release the Shift key You should now be able to see the sketch with a constraint showing 5000 Try another keyboard shortcut by altering the view to Trimetric • Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard and press the T key The sketch may be partly off screen • Use the shortcut keys to another Autoscale [Shift + A] • Use another shortcut to zoom out to Half size [Shift + H] Now for the exciting bit, creating the solid shape Space Station 10 EXTRUDING A 3D SHAPE Features tool bar If the Features toolbar is visible skip the next small step • Open the View pull-down menu • Select Toolbars • Click on the Features option The Features toolbar should now be visible Extruding Click on, the Extrude tool The Extrude dialog window opens • Drag the Extrude Profile dialog window to show the sketch underneath There are two ways to define the length for the extrusion Space Station 11 Method one Near the center of the sketch there is a small yellow square or 'handle' • Click and drag the yellow handle up the screen A hexagonal prism will be created as you drag (You may need to pause to allow slower computers to catch up) The dialog window remains open and the Distance value will alter as you drag the yellow handle Method two • Click in the Distance section of the Extrude Profile dialog • Type in the number 6000 The capsule will change length until it is six meters long • Click on to close the dialog window You now have a hexagonal solid to form the basis for the space station module Next you will start a new sketch, add another hexagon sketch, resize it and create a shorter extrusion to form an airlock stub Viewing workplanes and sketches Remember the Object Browser? This is the easiest way to view the workplanes and sketches in a model The Object Browser should be showing a list of workplanes • Click on the small + sign, next to the Base workplane The workplane will expand to show sketches The initial sketch is provided with every new design The hexagon sketch was added when you dragged the shape from the palette Note that the base workplane and hexagon sketch are shown in bold This means they are 'active' The extrusion used that sketch because it was active • For the next step change to view Onto Workplane [Shift W] and Autoscale [Shift + A] Space Station 12 Adding a hexagonal sketch Remember how to add a new hexagon shape from the palette? Try it now If you cannot remember here is an outline of the steps • The Palette must be visible on screen • The Shapes tab should be active • Drag the hexagon onto the workplane It will be very small and will need to be enlarged Zooming in • Use keyboard shortcut of Shift + Z to begin a zoom (The zoom command can also be found in the View menu) • Click on the center of the new hexagon sketch and hold the left mouse button down • Drag until the dotted rectangle surrounds the new hexagon • Release the mouse button • The small hexagon will be clearly visible Tip: If you have problems simply Autoscale to see the entire sketch and zoom in again You now need to change the diameter constraint from a reference value and alter the size to 2500 Here is a reminder of the steps to this Changing a constraint • From the Design toolbar, click on • Select the diameter constraint (turns red) • Right click and select Toggle Reference (The brackets disappear) • Double click the constraint • Alter the value to 2500 Space Station , the Select Constraint tool 13 • Click The hexagon will get bigger (Autoscale to see the effect) and will need moving to be centered on the original Moving lines This involves selecting all the lines in the sketch and dragging them into position • Click on , the Select lines tool • Open the Edit menu and click on Select All All of the lines in the smaller hexagon sketch will turn red Notice the larger hexagon is not highlighted This is because it is on a different sketch Without pressing any mouse buttons, move the mouse over the highlighted lines Whenever the mouse cursor is close to a line it changes to a four-headed arrow When this is visible it is possible to move the selected lines • For the next bit, make sure you can see both hexagons It will be easier to position the sketch accurately if you pick it up by a known position The ideal place is where the two construction lines cross in the center Space Station 14 Notice the co-ordinates above the design window? As you move the mouse over lines, text appears telling you the location of the cursor • Move the mouse over the middle of the highlighted hexagon • When the text feedback says Mid-point click and hold the left mouse button • Drag the smaller hexagon over the original one • The text will offer feedback on the new position • When the feedback text shows Intersection release the mouse button • The hexagons should now be lined up perfectly Extrude link corridor • The new hexagon can now be extruded to form a stub for the link corridor • View the model in trimetric [Shift + T] • From the Features menu or toolbar select the extrude tool , • Use the yellow drag handle to extrude the stub downwards • When the distance in the dialog window shows 1000 release the mouse button • Click on • You now have the basic shape of the space station module Next you will chamfer the ends Space Station 15 MODIFY SOLIDS The first task is to select the edges in the model that need to be chamfered • Click on • Select one of the six edges on the top of the model It will turn red , the Select edges tool in the design toolbar Any attempt to click on further edges will de-select the first Here's how to add edges to the selection Adding to a selection • Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard • Click on another line It is added to the selection, joining the first in being highlighted red • Continue to hold the shift key down clicking on edges until all six are selected Chamfer The modify solids tools are in the features menu and toolbar • Click on • Drag one of the yellow handles on the model to create the chamfer • Release the mouse button when the chamfer distance reaches 800mm Space Station , the Chamfer tool 16 • Rotate the model to see the under side of the model • Use the same technique to add an 800mm chamfer to the bottom edges of the large hexagon Leave the small hexagonal stub without chamfers because this will be used to connect this module to the rest of the space station All that remains is to hollow the shape The first step is to select the face that will provide the opening Hollow a solid • Turn the model to show the end of the small hexagonal stub • In the Design tool bar click on tool , the Select Face • Move the mouse over the end face • When the edge pre-highlights in cyan, click to select it The face will turn red • In the Features toolbar click on • Set the shell Offset (thickness) by dragging the yellow handle or typing the value of 50mm • Click on • Save the model • Close any designs, leaving Pro/DESKTOP running for the next part of this tutorial Space Station , the Shell Solids tool 17 • You are now able to create shapes using sketches and the Extrude Profile feature • You can now practice the assembly techniques introduced in a previous tutorial using your module and other components we have provided ASSEMBLE COMPONENTS Tip: Assemblies should always start with an empty design window • Start a New Design • Maximize the design window Adding components • Open the Assembly pull-down menu • Locate the folder with the sample STARBASE files • Select the component axis connect.des and click • You won't be able to see the component • Hold down Shift and press the A key to Autoscale the screen view, [Shift + A] • Hold down Shift and press the H key to half scale the screen view, [Shift + H] Fix a component The connector component should still be selected (red edges) • Right click with the mouse • From the floating menu select Fix Component Space Station 18 Adding your model • Use the same steps to add your own module to the design window Do not fix your component Assemble two parts You may need a reminder on how to add assembly constraints between components • Drag your component into close proximity with the connector • Select two end faces • Apply a Mate constraint • Select the surfaces highlighted in red and add an align constraint • Add a constraint to adjacent external faces (align) The components are fully assembled Three constraints have been added, the minimum needed to rigidly connect two components Space Station 19 EXTENSION A CTIVITIES Several other components have been provided With these you can assemble your own space station model How about designing another module using the techniques you have learned? Space Station 20