Module 2:

Creating Geometry

Introduction to ANSYS
SpaceClaim Direct Modeler
1 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Overview
In this module we will learn about:
• Modes in SCDM
• Sketching Tools
• 3D Modeling Tools
• Display Controls
• Detailing

2 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Preprocessing Workflow
Import/ Geometry
Meshing Solver
Geometry Creation Modifications

Sketches and Planes 3D Operations

Geometry Cleanup
3D Operations
and Repair

Geometry Import Preparation for

Analysis

ANSYS SpaceClaim Direct Modeler

3 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modes in Spaceclaim Direct Modeler
Sketch Mode

Section Mode
• 3 modes available for designing:
– Sketch mode
Enables sketch grid for creating 2D sketch
– Section mode
Enables editing of solid and surface bodies by working
with their edges and vertices in “cross-section” view 3D Mode
– 3D mode
Enables 3D modeling mode for creating/editing
geometries

4 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Creating Sketches
Sketch Grid Sketch Grid
• Sketches are always created on a “Sketch Grid”
• Sketch Grid can be created on
– Any planar surface
– Any existing Plane
• (details about plane creation discussed later)
– Combination of any geometrical entities which define a
planar surface
• 2 coplanar lines
• Line and 1 point
• Coordinate axes etc.

2 coplanar axes
selected
5 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Creating Sketches
Sketch Creation tools
• Hosts standard tools for creating sketches
– Line
• Single, polyline, tangent line, construction line
– Rectangle
• 2 point, 3 point
– Circle
• Center, 3 point
– Ellipse
– Polygon
– Arc
• Tangent, 3 point, sweep arc
– Spline
– Point
– Face Curve Face Curve
• Sketch curve directly on face of body
• Face need not be planar

6 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Creating Sketches
Line Tool

Define line from center - OFF Define line from center - ON

Line drawn from Equidistant line

one end drawn from center

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 Creating Sketches
Line Tool

Cartesian Dimensions Polar Dimensions

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 Creating Sketches
Line Tool
Create layout curves
• Create curves which are not immediately needed to generate 3D
objects
• Curves created are similar to a pencil drawing made on design

Create layout Create layout

curves - ON curves - OFF View in 3D Mode

9 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Dimensioning Sketches
Dimensioning
• Specify sketch dimensions on-the-fly while creating
sketches
– Radius, Length, Width
• Use “Tab” key to switch between dimensions

10 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Editing Sketches
Sketch Editing tools
• Hosts standard tools for editing sketches
– Fillet / Chamfer
– Offset
– Project
– Create Corner
– Trim
– Split
– Bend
– Scale

Bend tool

11 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Switching to 3D Mode
• Switching to 3D mode converts
– All closed sketch objects to surface bodies
– All open sketch objects to curves

Switching to
3D Mode

12 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools - Pull
Pull tool
• Used to convert sketches to 3D
– Pulling a line creates a surface
– Pulling a surface creates a solid
• Distort or deform existing geometry
• Drag the selected object in a chosen direction
when Pull tool is active
• Multi-functional tool
– Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, Offset and Draft faces
– Create Rounds (Fillets), Chamfers or Extrude edges
– Pull a point to create Line
• Several tool guides available to alter its behaviour

13 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools - Pull
Select - Select objects to pull

Pull Direction - Set direction of pull

Revolve – Set axis of revolution

Draft - Select entities (plane, planar face or edge) as pivot to create draft

Sweep - Select entities (edges, lines) to sweep along

Scale – Scale selected entities

Up To - Select destination object

Full Pull – Revolve 360 deg or pull upto trajectory end

Tool Guide

14 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Pull Direction
Modeling Tools - Pull
Face selected for Pull
Blue Edge selected for Pull direction

Face and its edges selected for Pull

Blue Edge selected for Pull direction

Up To

Face selected for Pull

Tool Guide Cylindrical face selected as destination

15 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Revolve
Modeling Tools - Pull
Face selected for Pull
Blue Edge selected as axis of
revolution

Face selected for Pull

Blue Axis selected as axis of
revolution

Revolve with Full Pull

Face selected for Pull

Blue Axis selected as axis of
Tool Guide revolution

16 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools - Pull

Tool Options

Extrude Copy Pivot

Round Chamfer Edge Edge Edge

17 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015 Face gets split

 Modeling Tools - Move
Move tool
• Multi functional tool
Translation movement
– Translate
– Rotate Move Handle
– Pattern
• Move handle guides the direction
of movement
– Translational movement along 3
“linear” axes
– Rotational movement along 3
“curved” axis
Rotational movement
• Drag the selected object along the
Move handle axis (linear, curved) to
facilitate Move
• Distort or deform existing geometry
• Several tool guides available to
alter tool behaviour
18 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Modeling Tools - Move
Select - Select entities (faces, surfaces, solids, or components)

Select Component - Select solid

Move Direction - Set direction of move

Anchor - Change location of move handle

Move Along Trajectory - Select trajectory (edges, lines) to move along

Move Radially about axis - Move object radially about axis, line or linear edge

Fulcrum - Select plane or edge as pivot

Up To - Select destination object

Orient To Object - Orient object in selected direction

Tool Guide
19 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Modeling Tools - Move

Move Direction

Select object for moving Select Edge as direction. Drag selected object along
Move handle orients to align Red axis to move
Red axis with selected edge

Tool Guide
20 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Modeling Tools - Move
Anchor

By default, Move handle Move handle Move handle Move handle

located at centroid of shifted to centroid shifted to centroid shifted to centroid
selected entity of selected “face” of selected “edge” of selected “face”

Tool Guide
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 Modeling Tools - Move
Fulcrum

Highlighted edge moved

along “Blue” axis with “Blue
edge” as fulcrum point

Tool Guide
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 Modeling Tools - Move Rectangular Pattern

Circular Pattern

Tool Options

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 Modeling Tools - Fill
Fill tool
• Fill selected region with surrounding
surface or solid
• Acts as a “healing” tool to remove:
– Fillets
– Chamfers
– Holes
– Protrusions
– Depressions

24 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools - Fill Fill (Default behavior)

Fill – With Guide Curves

Tool Guide

25 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015 2 curve edges selected as guide curves
 Modeling Tools - Blend
Blend tool
• Create blend between faces,
surfaces, edges and curves
Without Guiding curve

With Guiding curve

26 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools - Combine
Combine tool
• Perform Boolean operations
Merge multiple objects
– Add
– Subtract
• By default, second selected
object acts as a cutter to
perform subtract operation
– Cutter tool guide gets activated
once a body is selected
• Select multiple objects using
“Ctrl” key to add them
– “Merge” tool guide gets
activated automatically Select cylinder Select region
• Option to delete or retain left as cutter to remove
over region after subtract
operation
– “Regions to Remove” tool guide
automatically gets activated
after subtract operation
27 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Modeling Tools – Split Body
Split Body Tool
• Split solid body using:
– Face
– Plane
– Planar surface
• Split surface body using edge
Select region to
Select body to split Select face to cut body remove (optional)

28 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Split Face
Split Face Tool
• Split face using: UV cutter point
– UV Cutter point
– Perpendicular cutter point Face to be split
– 2 cutter points
– Face

Move mouse over

face to preview split.
Click to split face at Select unwanted
selected location edges (red) to remove

29 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working in Section Mode
• Section mode helps to edit solids Problems with geometry:
and surfaces by working with
Overlap
their edges in a cross section
Small feature (fillet)
• Useful for complex models that
Inconsistent inner hole diameters
requires repair/cleanup of
internal details
1. Remove overlap using Move tool
Enable “Select Component” Select “Anchor“ tool guide Select “Up To” Tool Body is now touching
tool guide and select any and position move handle guide and select green adjacent body (no
edge to select the solid body on outermost edge highlighted edge overlap)

30 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working in Section Mode
• Section mode helps to edit solids Problems with geometry:
and surfaces by working with
Overlap
their edges in a cross section
Small feature (fillet)
• Useful for complex models that
Inconsistent inner hole diameters
requires repair/cleanup of
internal details
2. Remove small feature (fillet) using Fill tool

Select edge representing fillet Fillet is now removed

31 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working in Section Mode
• Section mode helps to edit solids Problems with geometry:
and surfaces by working with
Overlap
their edges in a cross section
Small feature (fillet)
• Useful for complex models that
Inconsistent inner hole diameters
requires repair/cleanup of
internal details
3. Make inner holes diameter
consistent using Pull tool
Using “Up To” tool guide, select
Select edge representing hole inner edge of adjacent body Final geometry

32 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working with Assemblies
Components Right click on topmost
assembly to create
• Create components to better “New component”
organize bodies in the
Structure tree

Move to New Component Move Each to New Component

33 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working with Assemblies
Components
• Reorder bodies/components
using drag and drop

Active Component
• Allows to work with objects
within that component
• Other components get greyed
out
• To activate, right click on the
component and select
“Activate Component”
34 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Modeling Tools – Working with Assemblies
Open Component
• Ability to work on a specific
component by opening it in a
new session
– Right click and select “Open
Component”
• Changes made to the Component Changes made Changes reflected
component objects get opened in new to component in original model
reflected in the original model session (added fillet)

35 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Working with Assemblies
Replace Component
• Replace an existing component with
another saved component
– Reuse existing models

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 Modeling Tools – Working with Layers
Layers
• Useful for grouping objects based on visual characteristics
– Visibility
• Click bulb icon to change visibility
Objects are hidden
Objects are visible
– Color
– Linestyle
• Right click in Layers panel and select “New” to create a
new layer
– Set appropriate layer color
– All new objects created in this layer will have the same layer
color
• To add selected objects to a layer, right click on the
desired layer and select “Assign To Layer”

37 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Modeling Tools – Managing Views
Views
• Change shortcuts for standard views Create View Panel
• Create custom views to save object
orientation and visibility
• Control visibility behavior for custom
views
– Leave Unchanged: New objects retain
their visibility
– Visible: New objects become visible
– Hidden: New Objects get hidden

38 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Display
Display tab
• Hosts several features for managing Change Transparency
display of geometry
– Cut, Copy, Paste objects
– Standard and custom view
– Change object color
– Manage layers
– Change graphics mode
• Wireframe, shaded etc.
– Rendering options
– Change transparency
– Arrange graphics windows
– Etc.

Opaque Transparent
39 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015
 Display
Display tab
• Change face color
– Select face
– Right click and open Color panel
– Select “Face” target
– Select desired color

40 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Detailing
Detail tab
• Create drawing sheets for the current
model. Views of the design are
created automatically which can then
be edited or moved on the sheet.
• Drawing sheets are saved within your
design.
• To insert a new drawing sheet go to
File > New > Drawing Sheet

41 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Detailing
• You can add Dimensions, Cross Sections,
General Views, and Annotations
• In the Structure tree, expand ‘Drawing
Sheets’ and then ‘Sheet 1’ to show the
Views on the sheet
• To insert a new General view
– Click on ‘General’ button in the Views Ribbon
group.
– Place the preview box in the empty area on
the sheet.
– Note: Select a View (inside the dashed grey
outline) and drag to move it on the Drawing
Sheet.

42 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Detailing
• To view the cross-section
– Select the ‘Cross Section’ button.
– Select View 3 (the Side view).
– Drag the mouse over View 1 (the Front view).
As you move the mouse, View 3 should
appear as a cross section.
– Click to place the section plane.

43 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Detailing
• Insert Bill of Materials
– Select the Bill of Materials button in the
Annotation Ribbon group.
– Select Indented from the dropdown.
– Place the BOM in the corner of the Drawing
Sheet.

44 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Detailing
• Add Annotation
– You can add Notes, Dimensions, Geometric
Tolerances, Surface Finish, Datum Symbols,
Center Marks, Center Lines, and Threads.
– Use the ‘Select’ tool to select the highlighted
object
– Use the ‘Dimension’ tool to create a measured
dimension.
• Select one side of the ‘bracket,’ then the other.
• Note: Placing a dimension with one reference will
display the length of the edge, and with two
references will display the distance or angle
between them.
– Use the Note tool to enter text onto the plane

45 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015

 Videos available (look for separate directory)

Module2_Basic_Sketch.mp4 Module2_Basic_Pull.mp4 Module2_Basic_Move.mp4 Module2_Basic_Fill.mp4

Demo of Sketching Demo of Pull (20:53) Demo of Move (13:37) Demo of Fill (09:58)
(16:52)

Module2_Basic_Combine.mp4 Module2_Basic_Structure_Tree.mp4 Module2_Basic_Assembly.mp4 Module2_Basic_Detailing.mp4

Demo of Combine Demo of Structure Tree Demo of Assembly Demo of Detailing

(09:41) (16:53) (14:29) (12:13)

46 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. May 19, 2015