Top Down and Bottom Up Design

In this episode, Vince and Allison talk about when top down design is the right way to go and the value that design teams can get from a bottom up approach.

Do Parametric and Direct Modeling Mix?

By GEOFF HEDGES 

During product design, teams are often forced to compromise when it comes to using CAD software. Most users are limited to one 3D modeling paradigm – either parametric or direct – for all jobs. Recently, however, vendors have begun to offer CAD tools that they say provide both paradigms.

Unfortunately, these tools typically require you to switch between two different modes and sometimes even two different model representations, never truly combining the strengths of both modeling paradigms in one product design or model.

If you’ve tried to work in one of these environments, you might have concluded that the two work in parallel, but don’t truly integrate with one another.

PTC Creo changes all that. Designers can choose the right modeling approach for the design, all in one environment, with a common data model. The PTC Creo Flexible Modeling Extension adds direct modeling or editing of parametric designs to the familiar PTC Creo Parametric environment.

PTC Creo Flexible Modeling Extension offers many unique advantages as you work in one seamless tool:

• One common data model is maintained, tracking and synchronizing changes made using either a parametric or direct modeling approach. The system never requires you to duplicate design data or design changes.
• Design intent can be protected and preserved in one model.
• One common user interface means fast ramp up. You’ll never have to switch between modes only to find limited capabilities in one mode versus another.
• Design changes made using a direct modeling approach can be incorporated by revising the parametric design intent.

Those advantages help throughout the product design process. Use the PTC Creo Flexible Modeling Extension when you want to:

1. Explore more ideas during concept design.
2. Drive late-stage design changes.
3. Re-use legacy 3D design data.
4. Collaborate on a multi-CAD design.
5. Improve CAE & FEA workflow.
6. Improve manufacturing workflow.

In part 1 of this article, I’ll look at the first three of these:

1.  Concept Design

During concept design, you want to convey a visual representation of product ideas or concepts, create as many design concepts as possible, and evaluate ideas to find the concept that best captures specified criteria and aesthetic requirements.  By combining modeling paradigms, you can build on existing designs or create new ones, with speed, flexibility, and ease of use.

See how PTC Creo supports the quick creation and ideation of geometry from existing parametric designs, so that you don’t have to worry about original design intent. But at the same time, it tracks and keeps all your changes in sync with the parametric model.

2.  Late-Stage Design Changes

Accommodating late-stage design changes supports design innovation, but those changes are often   radical and unexpected. And typically, they need to be rapidly implemented.

By enabling direct editing of parametric models, you can implement late changes quickly and avoid any design intent that limits those changes.  Again, because those changes are made using a direct editing approach, they are tracked and kept in synch with the parametric model.

3. Legacy CAD Data

Many companies keep 3D data authored on outdated software. Unfortunately, traditional CAD solutions do easily make changes to non-native CAD data, with 3D CAD data often treated as “dumb.” That makes legacy data  difficult to maintain, edit, and repurpose.

With direct modeling, you can use legacy data in new product revisions and even new product. You can repurpose and modify it easily, while combining it with other models created in a parametric or direct modeling approach.

Watch this space for the second part of this article, when I’ll explore multi-CAD design, CAE & FEA workflow, and manufacturing workflow.

Process Plant Layout - Water Treatment Plant - Creo Parametric

Adroitec team explored the usage of PTC Creo Parametric for their clients who are into Water Treatment Plant Package providers.

With various images and drawing available on opensource the team started building an Water Treatment Plant (Imaginary one) .  Typically all Water Treatment Plant  has equipment's more than the piping and framework. That makes PTC Creo Parametric the right solution to address their needs.

Team of two people able to develop the following outputs in two days. It was started from scratch.
If we are standardizing it with Creo Platform, the job will be

1. Placing the equipment from library on the layout
2. Creating Piping layout
3. Virtual inspection  and walk through the plant
4. Detailing for fabrication and assembly process for site .

Modules used are PTC Creo Parametric , PTC Creo Piping & Cabling Extension  and  PTC Advanced Framework.
Adding Creo Manikin Extension makes us to explore the ergonomics of various work handling areas for the plant operation.

Sample Plant

- K.R.Kumarsamyraja, National Manager - Systems

Demos & Tech Tips -November 2012

November 2012 (Asia/Calcutta)

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
			1	2
5	6 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Introduction to Creo Parametric	7	8 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM Top-Down Design Using Creo Parametric  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM PLM Overview Demo for SMB 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM PTC University eLearning Libraries Demonstration	9 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM ECAD-MCAD Co-Design Best Practices 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM Data Repair  9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Manufacturing in Creo Parametric 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Large Assembly Management in Creo Parametric  11:30 PM - 1:00 AM Managing Pro/ENGINEER & Creo Parametric Data with Windchill
12	13 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Introduction to Creo Behavioral Modeling	14 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM Design for Manufacturing with Manufacturing Annotation Processes in Creo  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM CAD Data Management Solutions	15 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM Advanced Sheetmetal Tips	16 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM Productivity Gains in Creo Parametric 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM Digital Mockups with Creo View 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Introduction to Creo Simulate
19	20 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM Introduction to Creo Parametric	21 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM IsoDraw 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM Analyzing Models Using Creo Simulate  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM Introduction to Windchill Compliance	22 1:00 AM - 1:30 AM Merging Multiple Designs	23
26	27 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Inheritance Models in Creo Parametric	28	29 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM Introduction to Flexible Modeling in Creo Parametric	30

Creo View Mobile Brings Your 3D Models to the iPad and iPhone

Now you can download the free Creo viewing app, Creo View Mobile, for both the iPad and iPhone.

Fast, reliable, convenient, and free, this new app is for you whether you’re an engineer or a sales rep, always on the go, or just trying to work with others who are on the go.

• Share up-to-date 3D models with prospects or clients, even when you’re traveling.
• Discuss and prepare custom solutions with customers.
• Collaborate with managers, suppliers, development partners, and others.

With Creo View Mobile, you can open, zoom, pan, rotate, explode, browse, and explore product designs.

But that’s not all. “Shake-and-break” to quickly explode views of assemblies, select a part to display its name, and page through pre-defined views.

Watch Michael Distler, PTC Product Marketing Director, show how easy viewing is with Creo View Mobile:

What Designers Need to Know About Creo View Mobile

Designers who use Creo Parametric simply publish designs in the ultra-compact Creo View format, which  is read by Creo View Mobile, Creo View Express, Creo View MCAD, etc. Then they share 3D model representations via email, drop-box, or iTunes, dramatically simplifying the work of passing product design information on to others. Even if you’re not using Creo Parametric, generate Creo View formats for most CAD formats, including IGES and STEP.

Creo View Mobile is ideal for anyone who needs to visualize and understand 3D design data in a mobile environment – now you can fully unlock teamwork across the whole team.

Download Creo View Mobile for Your iPad and iPhone Today!

Don’t have any models to view? View a range of sample models optimized for Creo View Mobile.