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These pages describe the basic drawing and solid modelling techniques that enable you to create a 3D solid model. The 'how to' pages will cover drawing, dimensioning and extruding a solid model. The full tutorial will enhance these basic skills and enable you to create more complex designs.

 
   
 
 
  How to draw a rectangle and add a horizontal sketch dimension:
    To draw a rectangle: Select view - go to -plan Select Rectangle from the design toolbar. Hold down the left mouse button (LMB) and drag mouse from top left to bottom right to create a rectangle. Release LMB. Select Sketch Dimension from the design toolbar and click with the LMB on the right side vertical line ( turns red)
   
 
  Step 2:
    Move the mouse over the left vertical line and hold down the LMB. With the LMB held down drag the mouse vertically upward to create a dimension line between the two vertical lines. When you are happy with the position of the dimension release the LMB.
 
 
 
  How to change a sketch dimension to a specific value:
    To change the value of a dimension: Pick Select Constraints from the design toolbar and double click on the dimension. The Properties box appears, change the Length value to 80mm.
   
 
 
 
  How to add a vertical sketch dimension:
    Select Sketch Dimension from the design toolbar and click with the LMB on the bottom horizontal line (it turns red to show it is selected)
   
 
  Step 2:
    Move the mouse over the top horizontal line and hold down the LMB. With the LMB held down drag the mouse horizontally to the right to create a dimension line between the two horizontal lines. When you are happy with the position of the dimension release the LMB.
 
 
 
  How to change a sketch dimension to a specific value:
    To change the value of a dimension: Pick Select Constraints from the design toolbar and double click on the dimension. The Properties box appears, change the Length value to 50mm.
   
 
 
 
  How to change the viewpoint to Isometric:
    The current view is a plan viewpoint. To change the view to an isometric viewpoint move to the Pull down menu and select: View - Go to - Isometric The viewpoint changes to a 3D isometric viewpoint in preparation to extrude the solid model.
   
 
  Step 2:
    To change the size of the rectangle in relation to the Graphics screen select: View - Autoscale This command centralises the rectangle within the Graphics screen drawing area.
 
 
 
  How to create a solid model:
    Move to the Pull Down Menu and select Feature - Extrude Profile. Change the following values: Add material Above Workplane Distance = 15mm Select OK to complete the command
   
 
  Step 2:
    The illustration shows the solid model extruded to a height of 15mm. This How to sequence has described the basic drawing, dimensioning and solid modelling skills required to progress onto the full tutorial. The tutorial will refer to the conventions described in this How to section.
 
 
 
  How to navigate from sketch to sketch:
    Open the Design file called Camera Top. During the course of this tutorial it is necessary to work on a series of different sketches and workplanes. The next sequence describes how to navigate from sketch to sketch using the workplane browser.
   
 
  Step 2:
    The current active workplane (base) can be seen as a shaded surface. Pro/DESKTOP enables the user to revisit any aspect of the design at any stage in the design process to change the size or position of a particular feature. In this sequence we are going to change the diameter and position of the lens.
 
 
 
  Step 3:
    Pick the Select Lines icon from the design toolbar at the right of the screen. Click on the circle at the base of the lens, it turns red to indicate it is selected. Right click and choose Activate Sketch from the sub menu.
   
 
  Step 4:
    The Activate Sketch command navigates the user from the first workplane (base) to the workplane that contains the sketch called camera lens. When this sketch is active the user can change the size and position of any geometry drawn on it.
 
 
 
  Step 5:
    This snapshot shows an enlarged view of the Workplane Browser. Click on the + sign next to workplane 1 to reveal the sketch called camera lens. The title is in bold to indicate it is the active sketch. The next sequence guide the user through changing the size and position of the circle that creates the 3D lens cylinder.
   
 
 
 
  How to update the size of a feature:
    Pick the Select Constraints icon from the design toolbar at the right of the screen. Double click on the diameter dimension to reveal the Properties box. Change the length (mm) field to 24. The diameter will react and reduce in size.
   
 
  Step 2:
    The 2D circle has reduced in size but the 3D solid remains at the same size. At the top of the screen in the pull down menu the Update icon has changed colour Click on the green light to update the design and the 3D lens cylinder will decrease to 24mm diameter.
 
 
 
  Step 3:
    The snapshot shows the lens cylinder regenerated to the revised diameter of 24mm. Notice how the round features and internal diameter associated with the lens cylinder have also regenerated in proportion to the outside diameter.
   
 
 
 
  How to update the position of a feature:
    Pick the Select Constraints icon from the design toolbar at the right of the screen. Double click on the vertical dimension to reveal the Properties box. Change the length (mm) field to 20. The length will react and reduce in size and pull the circle into a new position.
   
 
  Step 2:
    Pick the Select Constraints icon from the design toolbar at the right of the screen. Double click on the horizontal dimension to reveal the Properties box. Change the length (mm) field to 40.
 
 
 
  Step 3:
    The 2D circle has changed its position. Click on the green light to update the design. Notice how the lens has carried across all of the associated round and internal diameter features to the new position.
   
 
  Step 4:
    The following snapshots show the original and new position of the lens feature. This is an example of how flexible Pro/ DESKTOP is as a conceptual design tool.
 
 
 
  Step 5:
     
   
 
 
 
  How to change the height of a 3D feature
    Pick the Select Face icon from the Design Toolbar at the right side of the screen. Pick the inner cylindrical surface of the lens. It will turn red to show it is selected.
   
 
  Step 2:
    Right click and select Synchronise Browser from the sub menu. This function will identify which Feature in the Browser belongs to the selected surface shown as red.
 
 
 
  Step 3:
    The snapshot shows Extrusion 3 highlighted in the browser. The highlighted feature is the cylinder used to subtract material from the main lens to create the recess.
   
 
  Step 4:
    Move the cursor over the highlighted feature and right click. Select Redefine from the sub menu. The redefine function allows the user to modify any feature of the Target Design at any time in the design process.
 
 
 
  Step 5:
    The Extrude Profile box appears on screen. This is the box that created the feature in the first place. Click in the Distance field and change the value to 2mm. Select OK to complete the command.
   
 
  Step 6:
    Click on the Update button. The snapshot shows the redefined feature reduced to a 2mm recess instead of the original 5mm. This technique can be used for any feature of the Target Design at any stage in the design process.