Parametric Modeling
Parametric tools give you a degree of flexibility which is not possible with conventional 3D tools. This allows complex parametric to be edited easily without needing to be manually rebuilt.
Parametric modeling uses parameters to control the dimensions and shape of elements, which may be modified later, and the model will update to reflect the modification.
The general procedure for parametric modeling is to create a 2D sketch profile using variables, apply constraints, use the profile to create a 3D elements and then modify it by applying variable-driven features to get the desired design. When a component is completed, it can be placed as a Parametric Cell. This captures the design logic, and provides for reuse of a parametrically-driven component.
Based on this workflow, all of the solid creation and modification tools, and some surface creation tools are parametric and associative.
Constraints
- Geometric Constraint
tools and settings:
- Auto 2D Constrain
- Auto Constraint Setting dialog
- Parallel 2D Constraint
- Perpendicular 2D Constraint
- Coincident 2D Constraint
- Tangent 2D Constraint
- Fixed 2D Constraint
- Concentric 2D Constraint
- Equal 2D Constraint
- Parallel 3D Constraint
- Perpendicular 3D Constraint
- Coincident 3D Constraint
- Tangent 3D Constraint
- Fixed 3D Constraint
- Concentric 3D Constraint
- Dimensional Constraint tools:
- Constraints management tools and settings:
The Animation Producer utility has been enhanced to respect the 3D Constraints applied to 3D elements when they are animated. This adds a new scope to the visualization of 3D design and modeling.
Parametric Solids and Surfaces
- Parametric Solid Creation tools:
- Parametric Surface Creation tools:
- Parametric Solids Modification tools:
Features
Variables and Variations
The Variables Dialog provides a way to create named values, called Variables, which may be stored for each model and applied to control the parameters of parametric operations or dimensional constraints. You can use the Expression Builder dialog, to create valid arithmetic, logical and trigonometrical expression for defining a variable. Different states of Variables, called Variations, can be named and recalled. The definition of variables may be derived from an Item Type which also provides a type for the model when it is placed as a Parametric Cell. Parametric Cells use Variations at placement time to define preset object configurations.
Also, while creating a parametric element or while
applying a feature to an element, you can use the variable driven tool settings
(identified by the presence of a variable link
) to assign the value of that
particular dimensional setting from the available variables created in the
Variables dialog. From the Variables
dialog itself, you can export your defined variable values to a .csv file
format, and also you import a .csv file for defining the current variables.
Managing variables efficiently is easy with the remapping options. You can remap the value/property of a variable to another variable when that variable has been used in a parametric cell and you want to delete this variable.
Parametric Cells
Reusable content can be defined using a new Parametric Cell model type. When these components are placed they can be driven by parameters and variables to produce unique geometry while still being efficient, lightweight instances. The workflow of handling a parametric cell is integrated with the existing cell system. The Place Parametric Cell tool has been added for placing models with defined variables as parametric cells.
Derived from the variables' remapping functionality, Update Parametric Cell dialog can be used to remap the variables and variations right at the placed cell instances.
Parametric cells support nesting and you can use it more efficiently with its property binding feature.
You can use the Extract Cell Model dialog to extract a parametric cell definition to a dgn file.
Comparison and Advantages of new Parametric Modeling over Feature-Based Solids Modeling
- The completed parametric components can be placed as parametric cells.
- The parametric support has been extended to Surface creation tools.
- The constraint support has been extended to 3D Elements (Solids and Surfaces).
- Applied 3D constraints are respected while animating the constrained geometries.
- Profile sketches can now be accessed and modified directly on elements itself rather than by using any tool or context sensitive functionality.
- Parametric Modeling lets you manage the 'input elements' of parametric elements and features which smoothens the manipulation of complex operations like in creating boolean geometries.
- The user interface is designed in a very user-friendly manner for parametric modeling. The constraints representation and profile information such as DOF count is more interactive, clutter free and conveniently appears on parametric sketches.
- Another user friendly enhancement to user interface of parametric modeling workflow is the feature's reset pop-up menu, which appears on right-clicking the feature glyphs provided on respective features. It also enables interactive editing of respective parametric elements.
- Parametric Modeling does not require a separate Feature Manager. The Properties dialog is capable of doing all the functions of editing values of parametric elements and sketches, reordering feature priority, deleting or disabling features, and all other functions which were earlier handled by Feature Manager in Feature-Based Solids Modeling.