ANSYS Appendix A

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Appendix A DesignModeler Quick Reference 1

Appendix A

DesignModeler Quick Reference

[3] Sweep:continuous selection

[2] Control-click:add to or remove

from selection

[1] Click: singleselection.

[4] Right-click: opencontext menu.

[8] Right-click-drag:box zoom.

[7] Scroll-wheel: zoomin/out.

[5] Middle-click-drag: rotation.

A-1 Basic Mouse Operations

Following mouse operations [1-8] can be applied on entities of the graphics area (A-2[5]) or the

(A-2[3]).

[1] Click: Single SelectionClick the left mouse button on a single entity. The entity becomes selected (highlighted).

[2] Control-Click: Add to or Remove from SelectionWhile holding down the control-key, left-click the mouse button on an entity. If the entity hasn't been selected, it adds

to the selection set. If the entity has already been selected, it is removed from the selection set.

[3] Sweep: Continuous SelectionWhile holding down the left mouse button, move the mouse cursor over entities. The entities becomes selected.

[4] Right-Click: Open Context MenuClick the right mouse button on the graphics area or an object in the model tree, you will see a pop-up menu. The

available commands in the menu depend on the context of the operation, therefore it is called a context menu. Some

of these commands can also be found in the pull-down menus or toolbars.

[5] Middle-Click-Drag: RotationThe graphics can be rotated by moving your mouse over the graphics area while holding down the middle mouse

button.

[6] Control-Middle-Click-Drag: PanThe graphics can be panned by dragging your mouse while holding down both control-key and the middle mouse

button.

[6] Control-Middle-click-

drag: pan.


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2 Copyright by Huei-Huang Lee

[7] Scroll-Wheel: Zoom In/OutThe graphics can be zoomed in/out by simply rolling forward/backward your mouse wheel. Shift-middle-click-dragging

(dragging your mouse while holding down both shift-key and the middle mouse button) has the same effect.

[8] Right-Click-Drag: Box Zoom

Click the right mouse button on the graphics area, move the mouse cursor to form a rectangular box, and the areaenclosed by the box will be enlarged to fill the entire graphics area.

[1] Pull-down menusand toolbars.

[3] , in

mode.

[6] .

[5] Graphics area.

[7] Status bar

[4] in

mode.

[2] Mode tabs.

[8] separatorsallow you toresize the

window panes.

When starting up , you will see several areas [1-7] in its GUI (graphic user interface). On the top

are pull-down menus and toolbars [1]; on the bottom is a status bar [7]. In-between are several "window panes" [2-6].

Separators [8] between window panes can be dragged to resize the window panes. You even can move or dock a

window pane by dragging its title bar. Whenever you mess up the workspace, pull-down-select to reset the default layout.

The [3], displaying a "model tree" (discussed in A-13), shares the same area with the [4]; you can switch between these two "modes" by clicking the "mode tab" [2]. The [6]

shows the detail information of the object that currently highlighted in the . The graphics area [5]

displays a model if you are in mode, or displays a sketch if you are in mode.

The status bar [7] contains instructions on completing each operations. Look at the instruction whenever you

wonder about what actions to do next. The coordinates of your mouse pointer are also shown in the status bar; they

are sometimes useful.

A-2 Sketching Environment

Part I 2D Sketching


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View control tools contained in the toolbars (A-2[1]) which are useful when you are working on either 2D sketching

or 3D modeling are summarized in [1-10]. These tools [1-10] are numbered according to roughly their frequency of

use. Note that more convenient mouse shortcuts for , , and are available (see A-1[6-8]).Additional view controls which are usually useful only for 3D modeling are given in Section A-14.

A-3 View Controls

[9] . Click this

tool to undo what you've just done. Multiple

undo's are allowed. Thistool is available only forthe mode.

[10] . Click thistool to redo what you've just undone. This tool is

available only for the mode.

[2] .Click this tool to fitthe entire graphicsin the graphic area.

[4] .Click to turn on/off thismode. When turningon, you can click-and-

drag a box on thegraphic area to enlarge

that portion ofgraphics.

[5] . Click to turn on/off this mode. When turning on,you can click-and-drag upward ordownward on the graphic area to

zoom in or out.

[1] . Clickthis tool to makecurrent sketching

plane rotate towardyou.

[6] . Click this

tool to go toprevious view.

[7] . Click thistool to go to next

view.

[8] These tools work foreither or

mode.

[3] . Click to turn on/offthis mode. When turning on,you can click-and-drag on the

graphic area to pan the graphics.

A sketch must be created on a sketching plane, or simply called plane; each plane may have multiple sketches on it. In

the beginning of a session, three planes are automatically created: , , and. Currently active plane is shown on the toolbar [1]. You can create new planes as needed [2]. There are

many ways of deriving a new plane [3], which are demonstrated in the exercises of this book.

A-4 Sketching Planes

[1] Currentlyactive plane isshown here.

[2] Click to create a

new plane.

[3] You can choose manyways of deriving a new

plane.


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A sketch consists of points and edges; edges may

be straight lines or curves. Dimensions and

constraints may be imposed on these geometricentities. As mentioned (A-4), multiple sketches

may be created on a plane. To create a new

sketch on a plane on which there is yet no

sketch, you simply switch to mode

and draw any geometric entities on it. Later, if

you want to add a new sketch on that plane,

you need to click [3]. Only one

plane and one sketch is active at a time [1, 2]:

newly created sketches are added to the active

plane, and newly created geometric entities are

added to the active sketch. When a new sketch

is created, it becomes the active sketch.

A-5 Sketches

[3] Click to create asketch on the active

sketching plane.

[1] Currentlyactive sketchingplane.

[2] Currentlyactive sketch.

[4] Active sketchingplane can be changed

using the pull-down list,or by selection from the

.

[5] Active sketch can bechanged using the pull-

down list, or by selectionfrom the .

[1] toolbox.

[2] toolbox. [3]

toolbox.[4]

toolbox.

[5] toolbox.

A-6 Sketching Toolboxes

When you switch to mode by clicking the mode tab (A-2[2]), you will see the

(A-2[4]). The consists of five toolboxes: , , , ,

and [1-5]. Most of the tools in the toolboxes are self-explained. The best way to learn these tools is to try

them out one by one. During the tryout, whenever you want to clean up the graphics area, pull-down-select . Some tools need further explanation, as described in the following subsections.


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A-7 Auto Constraints1, 2

By default, is in mode, both

globally and locally. While drawing, attempts to

detect the user's intentions and try to automatically imposeconstraints on the points or edges. The following cursor symbols

indicate the kind of constraints that will be applied:

C - The point is coincident with a line.

P - The point is coincident with another point.

H - The line is horizontal.

V - The line is vertical.

// - The line is parallel to another line.

T

- The point is a tangent point.

⊥ - The point is a perpendicular foot.

R

- The circle's radius is equal to another circle's.

Both and modes are based on all entities of the

active plane (not just the active sketch). The difference is that

mode only examines the entities nearby the cursor, while

mode examines all the entities in the active plane.

Note that while can be useful, they

sometimes can lead to problems and add noticeable time on

complicated sketches. Turn off them if desired [1].

A-8 Tools3

Line by 2 TangentsSelect two curves, a line tangent to these two curves will be created.

The curves can be circle, arc, ellipse, or spline.

OvalThe first two clicks define the two centers, and the third click defines

the radius.

Circle by 3 TangentsSelect three edges, then a circle tangent to these three edges will be

created. Remember that an edge can be a line or a curve.

Arc by TangentClick a point on an edge, an arc starting from that point and tangent

to that edge will be created; click a second point to define the other

end point of the arc.

SplineA spline is either rigid or flexible. The difference is that a flexible

spline can be edited or changed by imposing constraints, while a rigid

spline cannot. After defining the last point, you must right-click to

open the context menu, and select an option [2]: either open end or

closed end; either with fit points or without fit points.

[1] By default, is in

mode, both globally andlocally. You can turnthem off whenever

cause troubles.

[1] toolbox.


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Construction Point at IntersectionSelect two edges, a construction point will be created at the

intersection.

Delete Entities

There are no tools in the to delete entities. Todelete entities, select them and right-click-select . Multiple

selection methods (e.g., control-selection and sweep-selection, see

Section 2.1-6 and 2.2-12[2]), can be used to select entities.

Abort a ToolTo cancel a tool in any of toolbox, simply press .

A-9 Tools4

CornerClick two entities, which can be lines or curves, the entities will be

trimmed or extended up to the intersection point and form a sharp

corner. The clicking points decide which sides to be trimmed.

SplitThis tool split an edge into several segments depending on the options

[2]. : you click an edge, the edge will be split

at the clicking point. : you click a point, all the

edges passing through that point will be split at that point. : you select an edge, the edge will be split at all points on

the edge. : You specify the value n,

and select an edge, the edge will be split equally into n segments.

DragDrag a point or an edge to a new position. All the constraints and

dimensions are preserved.

CutIt is the same as , except the originals are deleted.

MoveIt is equivalent to a followed by a .

ReplicateIt is equivalent to a followed a .

DuplicateIt is equivalent to , except the entities are pasted on the

same place as the originals and become part of the current sketch. It

is often used to duplicate plane boundaries.

Spline EditIt is used to modify flexible splines. You can insert, delete, drag the fit

points, etc. For details, see the reference4.

[2] Right-click andselect one of the

options tocomplete the tool.

[1] toolbox.

[2] Contextmenu for

tool.

[3] Contextmenu for .


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A-10 Tools5

Semi-AutomaticThis tool will display a series of dimensions automatically to help you

fully dimension the sketch.

EditClick a dimension name or value, it allows you to change its name or

value.

A-11 Tools6

FixedIt applies on any entity to make it fully constrained.

HorizontalIt applies on a line to make it horizontal.

VerticalIt applies on a line to make it vertical.

Perpendicular

It applies on two edges to make them perpendicular to each other.

TangentIt applies on two edges, one of which must be a curve, to make them

tangent to each other.

CoincidentSelect two points to make them coincident. Select a point and an

edge, the edge or its extension will pass through the point. There are

other possibilities, depending on how you select the entities.

MidpointSelect a line and then a point, the midpoint of the line will coincide

with the point.

SymmetrySelect a line or an axis, as the line of symmetry, and either select 2

points or 2 lines. If select 2 points, the points will be symmetric about

the line of symmetry. If select 2 lines, the lines will form the same

angle with the line of symmetry.

ParallelIt applies on two lines to make them parallel to each other.

[1] toolbox.

[1] toolbox.


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ConcentricIt applies on two curves, which may be circle, arc, or ellipse, to make

their centers coincident.

Equal Radius

It applies on two curves, which may be circle or arc, to make theirradii equal.

Equal LengthIt applies on two lines to make their lengths equal.

Equal DistanceIt applies on two distances to make them equal. A distance can be

defined by selecting two points, two parallel lines, or one point and

one line.

A-12 Tools7

[2] You can turn onthe grid display.

[1] toolbox.

[3] You can turn on

the snap capability.

[4] If you turn onthe grid display, youcan specify the grid

spacing.

[5] If you turn onthe snap capability,you can specify the

snap spacing.


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A-13 Modeling Environment

In the first part, we overviewed 2D sketching tools and skip tools relating to 3D manipulations, such as 3D view

controls [1-3] and entities selection [4-6]. These tools will be covered in this second part. Also on the toolbar are a

series of tools to create 3D features [7]; these tools are also discussed in this part.

A-14 3D View Controls

Triad8

On the bottom right corner of the GUI is a triad (A-13[1]), a useful tool. Click any of the triad arrows, the view will

be oriented such that it is normal to that arrow [1]. If you move the mouse on the negative side of an arrow, you will

a black arrow shows up [2]; this black arrow represents the negative direction of that arrow. Clicking black arrows has

the similar effect as the colored arrows, which represent positive directions.

[1] Triad.

[2] Isometricview.

[3] Rotation.[5] Extendselection.

[6] Selectionpanes.

[4] Selectionfilters.

Part II 3D Modeling

Model TreeThe contains an outline of the model tree [8], the structure of the geometric model. Each leaf and

branch of the tree is called an object. A branch contains one or more objects under itself. A model tree consists of

planes, features, and a part branch. The parts are the only objects that are exported to . Right-clicking an

object and select a tool from the context menu, you can operate on the object, such as delete, rename, duplicate, etc.

The order of the objects is relevant: renders the geometry according to the order. New

objects are normally added one after another before the parts branch. If you want to insert a new object BEFORE an

existing object, right-click the existing object and select from the context menu. After insertion,

will re-render the geometry again.

[7] Tools to create3D Features6.

[8] Model Tree


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Accompanying the three triad arrows is a small cyan sphere.

When you rotate the model (Section 4.4-3), the triad arrows

and the small sphere will rotate accordingly. The sphere

represents a point located at an "isometric axis," collection of

points having the same coordinates in all three axes. Its initial

position is (1, 1, 1). Thus, if the sphere coincides with theorigin, that means your view is an isometric view [3]. When

the sphere does not coincide with the origin, clicking the

sphere will reorient the view to become isometric [4].

Isometric View9

As mentioned, the small cyan ball represents an isometric

direction and initially it is (1, 1, 1). In 3D space, there are

totally 8 such directions. For examples: (-1, 1, 1), (1, -1, 1), etc.

These are all isometric views. When you click tool (4.4-1[2]), the view will reorient to the isometric

view closest to the current view, and the small cyan ball will

move to new location accordingly. This tool let you override

the initial isometric direction.

Rotate with Mouse WheelHold the middle mouse button down while move around the

graphic area, you can rotate the model [5]. It is convenient

but sometimes not enough. (Also see A-1[5].)

Rotate with tool10

The tool (A-13[3]) gives you more controls forrotating the model. After activating the tool by

clicking it, the mouse cursor becomes one of the four shapes

[6-9], and the type of rotation depends on the location of your

mouse cursor [10].

By default, the model center is the center of rotation.

You can set the center of rotation (a red sphere) by clicking

over the model. The red sphere will stay in the middle of the

graphics window.

To restore the center of rotation to the model center,

click anywhere in the graphics window away from the model.

This will re-center the model in the middle of the graphics

window.

[10] The type of rotation depends on

the location of the cursor.

[1] Click anarrow willorient the

view normalto that arrow.

[2] A blackarrow represents

the negativedirection of a

colored arrow.

[4] Click thecyan sphere toreturn to the

isometric view.

[3] If the cyan spherecoincides with the origin,that means the view is an

isometric view

[5] Hold the middle mouse buttondown while move around the graphicarea, you can rotate the model. Also

see A-1[5].

[6] Freerotation.

[7] Roll,rotation aboutscreen Z-axis.

[8] Yaw,

rotation aboutscreenY-axis.[9] Pitch,

rotation aboutscreen X-axis.


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A-15 Mouse Cursor

Various mouse cursors are use to indicate the current operation [1]. An

overview of these cursors might be helpful.

Selection Filters11

By activating a selection filter (A-13[4]), you can make

one of four type of entities (points, edges, faces, and

bodies) selectable. By right-clicking the graphic area,

selection filters can also be accessed through the

context menu, where additional filters are available [1].

Multiple filters can be activated at the same time.

Extend Selection11

Using the current selection as seed, these tools allow

you to extend the seed to include various additional

edges or faces into the selection set [2-5].

Selection Panes12

When you select an entity by clicking your mouse on the model, and if more than one entity lies under the mouse

cursor, the graphics window displays a stack of rectangles in the lower-left corner (A-13[6]). The rectangles arestacked in appearance, with the topmost rectangle representing the visible (selected) entity and subsequent rectangles

representing entities underneath the mouse cursor, front to back. These rectangles are aliases of selectable entities,

that is, highlighting and picking these rectangles are identical and synchronized for the selectable entities.

[1] A list of mouse

cursors.

[1] More selectionfilters can be

accessed through

the context menu.

[3] This is equivalentto executing infinitetimes.

[5] Extend the currentselected faces up to

boundaries defined byselected edges.

[4] Extend the currentselection to include allof adjacent blend faces.

A-16 Selection

[2] Extend the currentselection to include

adjacent tangent edgesor faces.


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A-17 Parts and Bodies13

The last branch of the model tree contains the bodies and parts of the

model [1]. This is the only geometric entities that will be attached to

for simulations. A body is entirely made of one kind of material and is the basic

building blocks of a model. A 3D body are either a solid body, a surface

body, or a line body.

A part is a collection of same type of bodies. All bodies in a part are

assumed to be bonded one another. In parts are meshed

independently—this is the most important concept about the part. Within

a part, the boundary nodes are shared between contacting bodies.

A model may consist of one or more parts. Since parts are meshed

independently, mesh at the boundaries between parts is not necessarily

compatible. In , connections14 (e.g., contacts, joints) among

parts must be established to complete a model.

A-18 Feature-Based 3D Bodies Modeling

A 3D body is created by combining various features. Features can be classified into two categories: base features and

placed features.

Base Features

Base features are also called sketched features because they are created by first drawing one or more sketches, andthen "growing" to 3D features by means of extrusion, revolution, sweeping, or lofting. A newly create base feature can

add to or subtract material from the existing bodies.

Placed FeaturesSome features have predefined shapes and behaviors. To add these features to existing bodies, all we have to do is to

specify where we want to place these features, along with a few other settings. Therefore, these features are called

placed features, for examples: blends, chamfers.

A-19 Base Features15

ExtrudeThe tool is used to extrude a sketch along its normal direction to

create a 3D body. The extrusion may be symmetric or asymmetric to

the sketching plane. The extrusion depth may be a fixed value, through

all bodies (used only for cutting the material), up to a face, or up to a

surface. A face is a bounded region and has a finite area while a surface

is an unbounded region and has infinite area. A surface is often the

extension of a face.

RevolveThe tool is used to revolve a sketch about an axis to create a 3D body.

An angle of revolution can be specified.

[1] Bodiesand parts.


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Documents

ANSYS Appendix A