Introduction To Modelling

INTRODUCTION TO MODELLING
A model can be considered as the mathematical representation of a physical object. This object
can be virtually represented by computers by using various softwares like Solidworks, Catia, Pro
E etc. These softwares are capable of modification of existing models as well as developing a
new model from scratch, and saving it in computer memory. Computer representation of the
geometry of a component using software is called geometric model. Geometric model can find
application in various areas of product development like analysis of geometry, production
planning and control, making structural thermal and kinematic analysis, resource planning,
inspection etc.
Modelling methods should be user friendly and should have complete part representation with
maximum possible accuracy. Various transformations such as move, rotate, scale and
manipulations such as union, intersect, subtract should be able to be performed on geometric
model. Various modelling techniques used include:
Wire frame Modelling

Surface Modelling and
Solid Modelling
Wireframe models are the simplest as it mainly contain information about locations of all the
points and edges in space coordinates, without surface or volume information. This, hence has
some serious limitations and so is used in few cases like tool path simulation. Advantages
include less memory space requirements and easy manipulations.
Surface modelling is the next stage of wire frame modelling. A surface model represents the skin
of an object which have no thickness or material type. These define the surface features as well
as the edges of objects. In addition to wire frame entities, these also have faces. Main
advantages being the considerable reduction in ambiguity and non-uniqueness by hiding the
hidden lines.
In solid modelling, the solid definitions include vertices, edges, surfaces, weight and volume.
This model consisting of the complete description of the solid in a certain form is the most ideal
representation, as al the information required at every stage of product cycle can be obtained
with this technique. The model is a complete and unambiguous representation of a precisely
enclosed and filled volume. It has all the advantages of surface models (uniqueness, nonambiguous, realistic, surface profile) plus volumetric information. Commonly known and
important techniques utilized to represent solid include Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) and
Boundary representation.
SOILDWORKS AS A MODELLING PACKAGE
Being a parasolid-based solid modeller, which utilizes parametric feature based approach to
create models, Solidworks is an advanced and user-friendly software for modelling. It is precise
and capable of performing a wide range of operations like extrusion, revolving, loafting, rib etc.
One among the major advantages of Solidworks is it's ability to recognize design intent of user
and carry out operations based on that. This is accomplished utilizing features. Features are the
shapes and operations that construct a part. These can be utilized in both 2D and 3D modelling.
Some examples for features include shells, chamfers, fillets, holes etc.
Modelling in Solidworks is normally done by making a 2D sketch, if the design is made from
scratch. The sketch might consist of points, lines, arcs, conics and splines. These are then
manipulated or modified by defining dimensional constraints and relationships such as
parallelism, perpendicularity, tangency etc. Solidworks can be utilized to import drawings either
from the same software or other softwares and modify them. In a similar way, a number of
independent drawings/models can be made, which can later be merged in assemblies.
Some of the common operations performed in Solidworks are:
Boss/Extrude Feature: Extrude is used to convert a 2D sketch into a 3D sketch. It projects the
desired surface according to the design intent.
Loft Feature: It is an important tool for surface modelling. With loft feature, organic shapes with
multiple 2D and 3D sketches and guide curves, can be created.
Revolve Feature: This feature is used to revolve a 2D sketch along an axis or centerline.
Rib Feature: It is a special type of extruded feature created from open or closed sketch contours.
It adds material of a specified thickness, in a specified direction, between the contour and an
existing part.

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INTRODUCTION TO MODELLING

Wire frame Modelling

SOILDWORKS AS A MODELLING PACKAGE

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