PowerSHAPE

Training Course

1. Workplanes
Creating and Editing Workplanes
Workplanes are user-defined datums. They can be positioned and aligned
as required to simplify model creation.

The main Workplane button

is located in the Main toolbar. When
selected, it displays the following buttons in the workplane toolbar to the
left of the graphics window.
2. Wireframe Modelling
Introduction
PowerSHAPE can generate points, lines, arcs, and curves in 2D and 3D
space, which are collectively known as Wireframes. These wireframes have
several functions, which include being the basic framework for several types
of surfaces and solids, and as the drawing entities in Delcam Draft.
Wireframes can be exported in a variety of file formats for use in other
software products.
The buttons for generating Wireframe objects are located within the main
toolbar.

3. Select Line from the Object meu.

4. Select Arc from the Object menu.

5. Select Curve from the Object menu.

6. Wireframe Lines and Arcs Exercise

The following exercise demonstrates basic Wireframe modelling by recreating
the
2D profile shown below. Lines and Arcs will be used to complete the design.
Exercise 1

This example demonstrates the use of arcs to create the lever design shown
below.
Exercise 2

7. Composite Curves
From the Curve toolbar,
select Composite curve.
The Create Composite Curve toolbar appears.

8. General Edits example

At the top of the left toolbar are two fixed buttons; the second button
includes access to the General Edits toolbar. The buttons on this toolbar allow
for standard editing functions that apply to all object types.

9. Surface Modelling
What is a Surface?
Primitive Surfaces
PowerSHAPE can quickly create a range of simple surfaces defined by a
few basic parameters. These are Primitives; they include seven
standard shapes, extruded surfaces and surfaces of revolution. Using
primitive surfaces, only the basic dimensional parameters can be
modified with the original defined shape being fixed. Other types of
surfaces used in

Primitive - Plane, Block, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Torus. Helix.

Extruded surfaces (from pre-defined wireframe).

Surfaces of revolution (from pre-defined wireframe).

The Primitive Cone Surface is shown selected with the Cone

editing dialog displayed.

10. Standard Primitive Surfaces

There are seven standard primitive surfaces in PowerSHAPE: Plane,
Block, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone and Torus and Helix. Primitive
surfaces are generated with minimal data input and can be an ideal
starting point for many applications. Primitives are coloured blue or
gold in the toolbar to distinguish them from other surface creation
options.

11. Surfaces of Revolution Example

A surface of revolution is created by rotating single geometry or a
composite curve around a specified Principal Axis.
1

Open New Model

and create a Workplane at 0 on the XY face.

Select all the wireframe and recreate a surface of revolution.

12. Surface bottle

Using the information provided, create the surface bottle shown.

13. Power Surfaces from Wireframe

Smart Surfacer
Several of the PowerSHAPE surface creation options have been
included into the Smart Surfacer. If you select wireframe before
opening the wizard then the most likely surfacing method is selected
ready to be previewed and/or applied. If an alternative, valid surfacing
method is required, you can toggle to it by opening the list of options
and clicking on the downward pointing chevron.

Automatic Surfacing options covered in this section are:

Fill-In

From-Network

Drive-Curve

From Separate

Two Rails

Example 1:

Example 2:

14. Drive-curve Surface

A drive-curve surface consists of a spine curve along which section
curves, are aligned perpendicular, relative to the spine points. Below
is a drive-curve surface using a two sections running along the whole
length of the drive-curve.
The minimum requirement is one
sectional wireframe, positioned anywhere along the single Drivecurve.
Example 1 :

Example 2 :

15. Surface Filleting

As with Solids, Surface filleting is mainly used to create a smooth
join between two or more surfaces.
A fillet surface is the developed outside contour of a ball if rolled
between two or more surfaces. PowerSHAPE can create both fixed and
variable radius fillets between surfaces. Where the ball makes contact
defines the outer edges of the fillet to where, by default the original
surfaces are trimmed back to the fillet edge. It is also possible to create a
fillet between a composite curve and a selection of
surfaces.
PowerSHAPE creates concave fillets running from the outside (userdefined colour side) or convex fillets from the inside (red side) of the
host surfaces. The concave filleting direction for each surface is marked
by an arrow which, if clicked, reverses the surface causing a concave
fillet to run from the other side. Otherwise, the convex option is applied.

16. Variable Radius Fillets

Variable radius fillets can be created along the fillet track using the
mouse to identify key points or by applying specialist options to position
the fillet arcs either by parametric, relative or absolute values.

17. Surface Editing

Editing a surface using the toolbar
When you create or select a power surface, the Surface Editing toolbar
will be displayed and the options that are appropriate for your surface
are made available.

Use the following table to identify the buttons on the toolbar.,

18. Surface Trim Region Editing

Trim Boundaries
A trim boundary on a surface defines the trim region of a surface.
Trim boundaries are created automatically when:

creating fillet surfaces.

creating draft surfaces.

limiting surfaces using Limit Selection and Limit Point.

A trim boundary consists of parameter curves (pcurves) and
ultimately parameter points (ppoints) joined together to form a
closed region of a surface.
PowerSHAPE provides powerful tools to help you define and edit
your trim region accurately.
19. Parameter Curves (Pcurves) and Points (Ppoints)
Parameter Curves (pcurves) are made up of linear spans that run between
Parameter Points (ppoints). As moves between ppoints are linear, any
curvature is controlled by the proximity of adjacent ppoints within the
tolerance setting.

Surface Edits toolbar.

The Previous Surface editing Toolbar is now replaced with two

toolbars to edit the associated boundary or Pcurve on the selected
surface.
Selecting Boundary mode
options.

displays the following trim boundary

Selecting Pcurve mode displays the Pcurve edit options.

20. Solid Modelling

Introduction
Solid modelling applies a different approach to the creation of a CAD
model compared to surface modelling studided later in the course. The
main difference is that a surface model is formed by a hollow, zero
thickness skin, whereas a solid model is a mass of material. The main
advantages of using solid modelling are the model creation speed,
parametric qualities and the history tree. The user can use the history
tree to reposition or edit operations performed earlier, resulting in the
automatic update of other affected items. PowerSHAPE is unique in
the ability to convert solids to surfaces and surfaces to solids, depending
on which approach is most suitable. Open surfaces can be converted to a
solid, an extremely useful capability which is not available with dedicated
solid- modelling packages.
Within the Main toolbar there are two buttons for creating and Editing
Solids.

When Solid options

is selected, it displays the following buttons in the
toolbar to the left of the graphics window.

21. Solid Primitives

In addition to the primitive solids which are generated from wireframe
items (e.g. Extrude, Rotate), the toolbar contains six pre-defined shapes.

22. Solid Features

When Solid Features
is selected, it displays the following buttons
in the toolbar to the left of the graphics window.

23. Boolean Operations

Boolean operations define the relationship between entities. As a solid is
built up, additional solids and surfaces can be absorbed into it. This
behaviour is illustrated below using the three Boolean operations available
from the solid features toolbar.
Observe the two primitive shapes below. With transparent shading
applied, the yellow cylinder can be seen fully intersecting the blue
sphere.
In this case the Sphere is the primary solid and the cylinder is selected only.

Add solid combine

subtract

intersection

Finish Exercises