- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 5,596
Here is my preferred CAD program (Called Alibre Design Expert).
This is the blank writing area that's currently showing an X-Y coordinate plane.
Let's say I want to make a grinder hub part. The program gives me drawing tools and I start by just making the profile of 1/2 the part. It is shaped like the letter L backward.
Next thing I do is use the tool to add dimensions. Notice that I did not put shaft part right on the Y axis. I specified that it is .125" away from the Y axis because I later want the ID of the shaft to be .250". In this example 1/2 of the base is 1" diameter. The base thickness is .3" and the sidewall of the shaft part is .250".
The program will allow me to revolve that profile and extrude material as it revolves. Here is the setup where I'm telling it to revolve that L shaped part around the Y axis.
When I press the button, it revolves the part and shows it shaded. It's still shown in 2D but the shading makes it look more like 3D.
I can go back and edit that L profile and modify the dimensions if I want to. When I go into that edit mode, it looks like this where the profile is shown on top of the revolved/extruded part.
Here is what has you screwed-up. Sometimes I am guilty of zooming in on the dimensions of the profile and you can only see the bark on the trees and not the whole forest.
The program can show other views if needed like this:
Is that clearer than mud?
Ray
This is the blank writing area that's currently showing an X-Y coordinate plane.
Let's say I want to make a grinder hub part. The program gives me drawing tools and I start by just making the profile of 1/2 the part. It is shaped like the letter L backward.
Next thing I do is use the tool to add dimensions. Notice that I did not put shaft part right on the Y axis. I specified that it is .125" away from the Y axis because I later want the ID of the shaft to be .250". In this example 1/2 of the base is 1" diameter. The base thickness is .3" and the sidewall of the shaft part is .250".
The program will allow me to revolve that profile and extrude material as it revolves. Here is the setup where I'm telling it to revolve that L shaped part around the Y axis.
When I press the button, it revolves the part and shows it shaded. It's still shown in 2D but the shading makes it look more like 3D.
I can go back and edit that L profile and modify the dimensions if I want to. When I go into that edit mode, it looks like this where the profile is shown on top of the revolved/extruded part.
Here is what has you screwed-up. Sometimes I am guilty of zooming in on the dimensions of the profile and you can only see the bark on the trees and not the whole forest.
The program can show other views if needed like this:
Is that clearer than mud?
Ray