Editing geometry of a pattern

[JD Mather]

Taking a look at your part there is a lot of symmetry.

You could model the entire thing in 1/4 and then two mirrors.

So only the stuff in the red box needed to be modeled.

 

Is that what you did?

[shift1313]

Congrats! Looks pretty cool(no pun intended).

[cvriv.charles]

I didn't draw the whole thing as a quarter. I did some as a quarter and the other as a half. A bit of both. I see what you mean though. That would probably be the neatest/ cleanest way of doing it. Thanks. Going to sleep some and then tweak the design. I redraw it as a quarter then mirror and mirror as you men tioned.

[JD Mather]

I see what you mean though. That would probably be the neatest/ cleanest way of doing it.

 

I almost always consider my first 2 or 3 attempts to be merely trials.

 

I like to then go back and start over from scratch once I realize the most elegant robust method. A lot of people are resistant to doing this but I have found that a couple of quick and dirty attempts followed by a final model actually goes really quick. Faster than fighting a dead-end technique.

[shift1313]

I completely agree with that as well. I have also read this several times from guys who do complex surface modeling. Figure out if a loft, or boundary surface and so on will produce the geometry you want. It may not sound like it but sometimes throwing away the model and starting over will save you a lot of time. Certainly a lot of headaches!

[cvriv.charles]

I totally agree with you guys. I am notorious for starting over. While designing, if I get stuck or find a better way of doing something, I will save the file where it is and add a numerical value to the end of the name. So I have a history.

 

I will try the loft and boudry tool. Thanks.

[shift1313]

Well i wasnt saying loft and boundary tools are good for this, just that when dealing with surfaces that one can some times be a better option than the other. Similar, in your case, to modeling the negative space, vs modeling and patterning the positive space.

[cvriv.charles]

Check it out. I had redrawn it again. I had drawn it as a quarter section like JDM pointed out. THe file size uncompressed is only 301K! LOL. Compressed its only 175k:) The last one I showed you wasnt 301K compressed, its was 1301K compressed! My bad:) The design is tweaked a bit but the difference in file size is probably a combination of features/ sketches removed and drawing more efficiently. I love it.

[JD Mather]

... file size is probably a combination of features/ sketches removed and drawing more efficiently. I love it.

 

Good job. This starts to really add up when you consider all of the parts in an assembly.

 

If you ever get a chance to read iWoz by Steve Wozniak (inventor of the Apple computer) I approach models with the same philosphy he used. Always trying to tweak to do more with less.

 

Well, I took some time to look at your model and there are still several improvements that could be made - but the most glaring thing that stood out to me was Work Planes 3 & 4. These are not needed. They are simply duplications of the origin workplanes - use those as your mirror planes.

[cvriv.charles]

Well, sketch 3 I kind of used as a boundry. Sketch4 was just to easier plascement of the other sketches. They can go. Thanks.

[cvriv.charles]

I removed sketches 3 and 4. Sketch3 REALLY wasnt needed. I dont know why I even made it?!?!

 

One thing though,... you see sketch5 of the newest file I uploaded. Having it in two places seems sloppy to me. BUT, it was easier to do it this way because I created sketch5 using projected lines from sketch1. Then I created sketch6 using projected lines from sketch5. Basically dimensioning/ constraining one by using the last. By what shift1313 showed, it was easier to extrude sketch6 first then create the bars inside the sketch6 extrusion. But to draw sketch6 easily, I needed sketch5.

 

If I did everything for sketch5 first and then did everything for sketch6,... the bars for sketch6 would protrude into the sketch5 extrusion.

 

I could draw both sketch5 and sketch6 and then write down all the dimensions and then erase everything and start again using absolute dimensions as oppose to relative dimensions but seriously,... would that be worth it?

 

Or would it better to create what was sketch4 with the dashed circles and use them as guides?!?! So many ways of doing everything! But which is a good practice?!?!? As neat and clean as possible?!?!?

[JD Mather]

I didn't make any comments about the sketches?

[cvriv.charles]

I didn't make any comments about the sketches?

 

You did about 3 and 4. Thats why I removed them. What about situations like sketch5? Good? Bad?

 

I just got done redrawing the very first extrusion to be more efficient. Had to be as clever as possible because not only do I need a 2x120 like the one I have been showing you but I also need a 3x120 and a 4x120. Not going to explain how I did it here. You can just have a look if you want. I think its better than before. Took your advice into consideration. Limit sketches and use the features. Works great.

 

Now i have to redraw the first one again using the new template extrusion:( Then i'll do the 3x and 4x.

[shift1313]

You did about 3 and 4. Thats why I removed them. What about situations like sketch5? Good? Bad?

 

I just got done redrawing the very first extrusion to be more efficient. Had to be as clever as possible because not only do I need a 2x120 like the one I have been showing you but I also need a 3x120 and a 4x120. Not going to explain how I did it here. You can just have a look if you want. I think its better than before. Took your advice into consideration. Limit sketches and use the features. Works great.

 

Now i have to redraw the first one again using the new template extrusion:( Then i'll do the 3x and 4x.

 

 

No he said work planes 3 and 4, not sketches 3 and 4. Work planes 1 and 2 in the current version are the same as your standard planes in the Origin folder (xy and xz) and not needed. If you plan out your first part right with the consideration of changing dimensions you can make updates easy. You just have to pick your dimensional references wisely. For instance instead of drawing two here you could draw one then mirror when appropriate.

[cvriv.charles]

LOL. Oh. I totally misread that. Well,.... sketches 3 and 4 werent needed either:) I will remove the planes too. I understand.

[cvriv.charles]

If you plan out your first part right with the consideration of changing dimensions you can make updates easy. You just have to pick your dimensional references wisely. For instance instead of drawing two here you could draw one then mirror when appropriate.

 

Ok im lost. Your referring to the last three files I uploaded? Is there a better more clever way to increasing the size?

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. Well,... I redid it again. This time removing the workplanes as JDM stated before. The old pointless sketch3 and 4 and gone. This newest file also has the reworked template at the very begininging of the structure. Final file size,.... 131k:) Awesome.

 

If I keep going the the file size will end up being so small that my file will flat out dissappear, lol.

[cvriv.charles]

Ok im lost.

 

Actually I think I do understand you. Im going to rework them again to see if im right,....

[cvriv.charles]

Ok. Here's what I think you meant. With this new file I start off only with a corner of the plate. Not the whole plate. I do all the drawing needed on that corner. I then mirror that corner until the grill is complete. A 2x120 grill. To draw a 3 or 4x120 grill I have but only to draw the small segment needed to create the middle portion of the grill. I then mirror that along with the original corner to create a 3 and 4x120. I havent done that yet but will in a bit.

 

This is the most efficient way to make this grill. I knocked out the 2 pointless sketches, the workplanes, and the first 2 mirrors. So clean and neat. BUT,... to my surprise, the file size is a bit larger now!?!? from 131K to 174K now. Why? That doesnt make sense.

[cvriv.charles]

Gentlemen. I present the 3x120 and 4x120:) Only took minutes to do. Im done. This was a great learning experience. I thank you both for your help.