Learning Objectives:

• Create sweep feature using the Sweep > Solid and Sweep > Thin options.
• Create features using sweep cut.
• Create Parallel, Rotational, and General blend.
• Use Blend Vertex in blend features.
• Create Shell feature.
• Create datum curves.
• Create Draft features.
 Other Protrusion Options
The Extrude Tool and Revolve Tool buttons available in the Base Features toolbar
were discussed in Chapter 3, and the Sweep and Blend options are discussed in this
chapter.

 SWEEP FEATURES
The Sweep option extrudes a section along a defined trajectory. The order of operation
is to first create a trajectory and then a section. The trajectory for a sweep feature can
be either sketched or selected.

• Creating Swept Protrusions

The Sweep option can be used for adding material as well as for
removing material, that is, for protrusion as well as for cut features.
In the Sweep > Solid option that is discussed here, material defined
by the section is added in the specified path. Choose Insert >
Sweep > Protrusion from the menu bar. The SWEEP TRAJ
(Sweep Trajectory) menu is displayed as shown in the figure.
SWEEP TRAJ menu
 • Sketch Traj option
The Sketch Traj (Sketch Trajectory) option is used when you want to sketch the
trajectory for the sweep feature. This is the most commonly used option for defining
the trajectory. The trajectory can be open or closed. Figure B shows how the section
is swept along the sketched trajectory, and Figure C shows the shaded image of the
swept feature.

Figure B
Sweep
along the Figure C
sketched Shaded
trajectory image
 The following points specify the combinations of trajectories and sections that are
possible/not possible to create.

1. Open section and open trajectory are not possible.

2. Closed section and open trajectory are possible.

3. If the sketched trajectory is a closed loop then the

ATTRIBUTES menu is displayed.
ATTRIBUTES menu

Add Inn Fcs

option Shaded Image
No Inn Fcs option Swept feature
• Select Traj option
The Select Traj (Select Trajectory) option allows you to select a trajectory on the
graphics screen. The trajectory to be selected can be an existing edge or a datum
curve.

Sweep along the selected trajectory Sweep along the selected trajectory
• Sketching a trajectory aligned to an existing geometry
When one end of the sketched trajectory is aligned to the adjacent
geometry of the existing feature, Pro/ENGINEER provides two
options. These options are available in the ATTRIBUTES menu
that is displayed after you complete the sketch of the trajectory and
choose the Continue with the current section button.

ATTRIBUTES menu

Merge Ends and Free Ends options Shaded image

• Creating Sweep feature by selecting a trajectory
When you choose the Select Traj option from the SWEEP TRAJ
menu, the CHAIN menu is displayed. You can use the CHAIN
menu only when if you have created a feature that will be used to
select the trajectory.

• One By One
The One By One option of the CHAIN menu is selected by
default. Using this option you can select an edge or curve
individually, one by one.

• Tangnt Chain
Using this option, you can select an edge or edges tangent to
CHAIN menu
the selected edge.
• Curve Chain
You can select a chain of curves by using the Curve Chain option.

• Bndry Chain
The Bndry Chain option is used only for surface features. You can
define a chain by selecting a quilt and using its one-sided edges.
When you select the edge of the quilt, it is highlighted in blue and the
CHOOSE menu is displayed.
CHOOSE menu
• Surf Chain
Using the Surf Chain option, you can define a chain by selecting a
surface and using its edges. If the surface has more than one loop,
then you are prompted to specify a loop to define the chain. When a
surface is selected, the CHAIN OPT menu is displayed.
CHAIN OPT menu
• Intent Chain
The Intent Chain option is used to select multiple edges.
• Creating thin Sweep Protrusion
The Sweep > Thin option creates a thin sweep feature with a specified thickness.
In the case of thin features, a certain thickness has to be specified. The thickness
is specified on one sides of the section or symmetrically to both the sides of the
section.

Two possible options to create the Model created using

same model the same sections
• Creating a Sweep Cut
To create a Sweep Cut feature, the procedure to be followed is the same as that in
Sweep Protrusion. The only difference is that in case of cut features, the material
is removed from existing feature.

Trajectories for Sweep Cut Shaded model with Sweep

Cut
 Blend
Blend features are composed of two or more sections that are
joined through transitional faces at their edges so as to form a
continuous feature. The Blend is one of the types of
Protrusion options and Cut options that are available in
Pro/ENGINEER. The Blend option is used where the feature to
be created has varying cross sections. To invoke this option,
choose Insert > Blend > Protrusion or Insert > Blend > Cut
from the menu bar, the BLEND OPTS submenu is displayed.

• Parallel BLEND OPTS submenu

Parallel blends have sections that are drawn parallel to each

other and a distance is defined between the parallel sections.
After choosing Parallel > Regular Sec > Done from the
BLEND OPTS submenu, the ATTRIBUTES menu is displayed.

ATTRIBUTES menu
• Straight
The Straight option is used to connect the vertices of all sections in a blend
feature with straight lines.

• Smooth
The Smooth option is used to connect the vertices of all sections in a blend
feature with curves.

Parallel blend with straight edges Parallel blend with smooth edges
• Rotational
Rotational blends have sections that are rotated about the y-axis up
to a maximum of 120-degree and the distance between each section
is measured from the coordinate system. After choosing Rotational >
Regular Sec > Done from the BLEND OPTS submenu, the
ATTRIBUTES menu is displayed.

ATTRIBUTES menu

Two sections with dimensions Shaded model of rotational open

blend feature
• General
Using the General option, sections are translated and rotated about the x, y,
and z axes. The sections are aligned using the user-defined coordinate
system. The coordinate system has to be manually placed in every section
sketch that constitutes the blend feature.

 Using Blend Vertex

As mentioned earlier, each section of the blend
feature must have an equal number of entities.
However, you can use the Blend Vertex option if
the number of entities in all the sections are not the
same. For example, to create a blending between a
rectangle and a triangle, add blend vertex on a point
other than the start point of the triangle.

Blending a square with a

triangle using the blend
vertex
 Shell Option
The Shell option scoops out the material from the model and at the same time
removes the selected faces, leaving behind a thin model with some specified
wall thickness. The Shell option can be invoked by choosing the Shell Tool
from the Engineering Features toolbar. You can also choose this option from
the menu bar by choosing Insert > Shell. The Shell dashboard is displayed as
shown in the figure.

Shell dashboard
Using the Shell dashboard you can create two types of shell.
1. Constant thickness shell.
2. Variable thickness shell.
 Highlighted surface to shell Constant thickness shell created
on the selected surface

Faces of the model to select for variable

thickness and the top face to remove Variable thickness shell
 Datum Curves
There are various tools and options to create a datum curve. You can use the Insert a
datum curve button and Sketched Datum Curve Tool button from the Datum
toolbar to create a datum curve. You can also choose Intersect, Project, and Wrap
options in the Edit menu from the menu bar to create a datum curve.

• Creating Datum Curve Using the Insert a datum curve button

The Insert a datum curve button is used to create datum curves. When you choose
this button from the Right Toolchest, the CRV OPTIONS menu is displayed as
shown in the figure.

• Thru Points
• From File
• Use Xsec
• From Equation
CRV OPTIONS menu
• Creating Datum Curve by Sketching
The Sketched Datum Curve Tool button is used to sketch a datum curve using
the sketcher tools. This is the most commonly used option to create a datum curve.
The sketch can be open or closed and is drawn in the sketcher environment.

• Intersect Option
The Intersect option can be invoked by choosing Edit > Intersect from the menu
bar. This option is object action tool. The Intersect option creates a datum curve at
the intersection of a face of the model and a datum plane, intersection of a face of
the model and a quilt surface, intersection of a quilt surface and a datum plane.
When you choose this option, the Intersect dashboard appears as shown in the
figure.

Intersect dashboard
• Project Option
The Project option projects a selected or sketched entity on one or more planar or
non-planar surfaces or datum planes. The projected datum curve forms a true
projection of the selected or sketched entity on the specified surfaces. The dimensions
of the original entity may distort while projecting. Choose Edit > Project from the
menu bar to display the Project dashboard.

Project dashboard

Top view of projected datum curve Projecting a datum curve

 Top view of projected datum curve Projecting a datum curve

• Wrap Option
This option is used to create a datum curve by wrapping a sketched entity around a
solid or a quilt. Choose Edit > Wrap from the menu bar, the Wrap dashboard is
displayed.

Wrap dashboard
Curve wrapped on the cylinder Sketch of the curve to wrap
  Creating Draft Features
In Pro/ENGINEER, drafts are created on existing surfaces. Drafts are created by
rotating the selected surface by a certain angle. One of the applications of draft
features is in moulds and castings where a taper is required to separate the casting
from the mould or vice versa.
Choose the Draft Tool button from the Engineering Features toolbar. The
Draft dashboard is displayed.

Draft dashboard

Parameters
needed to create Resultant draft
a basic draft surface
surface
 Split at draft hinge Split by split object Resultant model

Surfaces for draft After creating draft

 Single surface selected Draft applied to all the
to draft tangent surfaces

Intersect Extend intersect

 Tutorial 1
In this tutorial you will create the model shown in Figure A. Figure B shows the
sectioned front view, top view, and the right side view of the solid model with
dimensions. (Expected time: 40 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the Figure B Top view, front view, and the right
model side view of the model with dimensions
a. First examine the model and then determine the number of features in it. The
model is composed of six features.

b. The base feature is a sweep feature. Select the sketching plane for the base
feature, draw the sketch of the trajectory (Figure C) using the sketcher tools,
and then draw the section. Exit the sketcher to complete the base feature
(Figure D).

Figure C Sketch for base feature Figure D The default trimetric view
of the base feature
c. The second feature is a shell of given thickness. Both the end surfaces of
the sweep feature will be removed during shelling (Figure E).

Figure E Model after creating the

Shell feature
d. The third and the fourth features are extruded features and will be created on
the two ends of the swept feature respectively. These features have different
sketching planes and hence will be created as separate features. Select the
sketching plane, draw the sketch using the sketcher tools (Figure F), apply
constraints and dimensions, and then extrude the sketch to the given distance
(Figure G).

Figure F Sketch with dimensions Figure G The two extruded features on

and constraints the ends of the sweep feature
e. The fifth and sixth features is a counter bore hole that will be created on the
third feature and fourth features respectively. These holes will be sketched
using the HOLE dialog box (Figure H). The holes are created (Figure I).

Figure H Sketch with dimensions Figure I One hole each on the two
and constraints for the counter extruded features
bore hole
f. The two counter bore holes will be patterned on the third and the fourth
features (Figure J).

Figure J Model after patterning the holes

on the two extruded features respectively

g. Save the model and then close the window.

 Tutorial 2
In this tutorial you will create the model of the pencil shown in Figure A and then
change the color of the pencil. Figure B shows the front view, the section view, and
the detail view of the model. (Expected time: 30 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the model Figure B Drawing views of the model
a. First examine the model and then determine the number of features in it. The
model is composed of six features.

b. The base feature is a protrusion feature in which the octagon (Figure C) is

extruded to a depth of extrusion, see Figure D.

Figure C Sketch of the octagonal Figure D Octagonal sketch after

feature extruding
c. The second feature is an cylinder on the top face of the base feature, see
Figure E.
d. The third feature is a draft feature, see Figure F.

Figure E Model after creating the Figure F Model after creating the
cylindrical feature draft feature
 e. The fourth feature is a revolve feature that will create the tip of the pencil, see
Figures G and H.
f. The fifth feature is a revolve feature that will create the tail-end of the pencil,
see Figures I and J.

Figure G Sketch for Figure H Model Figure I Sketch Figure J Model after
the tip of the pencil after creating the tip with dimensions creating the top of
and constraints the pencil
g. The sixth feature is the text written on the pencil. The text will be written by
using the sketched datum curve, see Figures K and L.

Figure K Text with dimensions Figure L Model after

creating the text

h. Save the model and close the window.

 Tutorial 3
In this tutorial you will create a blend feature shown in Figure A. The two views of the
blend feature are shown in Figure B with dimensions. After creating the model you will
redefine such that the straight blending is changed into smooth blending.
(Expected time: 45 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the model Figure B Drawing views of the model
a. First examine the blend feature and determine the number of sections in it. The
blend consists of four sections.

b. Select the sketching plane for the blend feature. Draw the first section, apply
dimensions and constraints (Figure C), and then toggle the section to draw the
sketch for the second section.

Figure C First rectangular section

with dimensions
c. Draw the second section, apply the dimensions and constraints (Figure D)
and then toggle the section to draw the third section.

d. Draw the third section and then the fourth section, apply the dimensions
and constraints (Figure E).

Figure D The two completed sections Figure E All four completed sections
before giving depths
e. Give the depth between section numbers 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4
(Figure F ).

f. Redefine the model to change the straight blending into a smooth

blending (Figure G ).

Figure F Blend model Figure G Smooth blend feature

 Tutorial 4
In this tutorial you will create the model of a tap shown in Figure A. All dimensions for
the three sections are shown in the figure. (Expected time: 30 min)

Figure A Sectioned view, left-side, front, and top views of the model
a. First examine the model and determine the number of sections in the blend
feature. The model consists of three sections. The first section is the bottom of
tap. The second section is tilted at 50-degree with respect to y-axis and the
third section is further located 30-degree with respect to y-axis.

b. Select the sketching plane for the blend feature, draw the first section, insert a
coordinate system, apply dimensions and constraints (Figure B) and then
continue to the second section.

Figure B Sketch with dimensions and constraints of

section 1
 c. Draw the second section, insert a coordinate system, apply dimensions
and constraints (Figure C) and then continue to the third section.

d. Draw the third section, insert a coordinate system, apply dimensions and
constraints (Figure D) and then specify the distance between the sections.

Figure C Second section of the blend Figure D Third section of the blend
feature feature
e. The blend feature is completed (Figure E).

f. Shell the model by removing the two end surfaces of the blend feature
(Figure F).

Figure E Blend model Figure F Model after shelling

g. Save the model and then close the window.

 Exercise 1
Create the foundation bolt shown in Figure A. The dimensions are shown in Figure B.
(Expected time: 30 min)

Figure A Shaded model Figure B Figure for Exercise 1

 Exercise 2
In this exercise you will create the model shown in Figure A. Figure B shows the
sectioned front view, top view, and the right-side view of the model with dimensions.
(Expected time: 40 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the model Figure B Top, front, and right-side views of the
model
 Exercise 3
In this exercise you will create the model of a soap case shown in Figure A. Figure B
shows the sectioned front view, top view, right-side view, and the detail view with
dimensions. (Expected time: 50 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the model Figure B Top, sectioned front,

right-side, and detail views of the
soap case
 Exercise 4
In this exercise you will create the model of a carburetor cover shown in Figure A.
Figure B shows the sectioned top view, sectioned front view, sectioned right-side
view, and the sectioned bottom view with dimensions. (Expected time: 50 min)

Figure A Isometric view of the model Figure B Top view, sectioned front view,
sectioned right-side view, and sectioned
bottom view of the model