KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
KeyCreator Lesson KC2842
Basic Transition
The simple transition part illustrated to the right
can be built in less than a minute or you can
take several hours.
Typically problems occur when a fabricator
starts work by thinking about how he will
fabricate the final part.
Because this part is fabricated from 0.25
thick steel, it might be constructed by
welding together three flat plates and
two corner quarter-round pieces. (I made
the overall model size small for
illustration purposes. An actual unit
might be several feet across in each
dimension.)
Let’s create the part quickly by
taking advantage of some unique
tools in KeyCreator.
The overall outside part dimensions
are shown in the illustration to the
right.
The thickness of all components is
0.25 inches.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Now let’s talk about our approach to this problem. Although our goal is to fabricate two
identical trapezoidal flat plates, one rectangular flat plate, and two quarter-round corner
pieces, the last thing we want to do is to start modeling these pieces.
Instead we’ll create our finished assembly and let
KeyCreator make the pieces for us!
Start with a new file in View 2. (The Front View.)
Click on the CREATE RECTANGLE BY WIDTH HEIGHT
Icon. Use any Anchor Option.
Type 7 for the Width and 9 for the Height and using the Cursor
Option, click on the screen to place the rectangle.
Next, click on the BOX MOVE Icon. Drag a selection box
around the lower, left corner of the rectangle. Click on the
XYZ Option on the Conversation Bar.
Type 3 for the dXC value and hit
the ENTER Key three times.
This turns the rectangle into a
trapezoid.
SELECTION BOX
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Switch to the Isometric View. (View 7.)
Next, click on the EXTRUDE Icon.
Type 8 for the Length and hit the ENTER Key. Select the
trapezoid profile and then click on the rearward-facing vector.
Your part should look like this:
Now, click on the CONSTANT RADIUS BLEND Icon.
Type 0.75 for the Radius. Click on the two, sloping
edges on the left side of the part and hit the ENTER
Key.
Your part should now look like this:
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Click on the SHELL Icon.
A Dialog Box appears.
Type 0.25 for the Shell Thickness and hit the
ENTER Key.
Select the top face, right face, and hidden bottom
face of the part and then hit the ENTER Key.
Your part should now look like this:
Now we can quickly separate this model into the six
component pieces that we need to fabricate prior to
welding up the assembly.
Before we start, take a moment to
toggle the Line Limits Switch in
KeyCreator to Viewport.
(Normally this is set at actual
length. Notice that in the classic
keyboard and Doctor Walt
keyboard the Hot Key for this
function is ALT + L)
Now, switch to the Front View. (View 2.)
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Select a new construction color.
Click on the CREATE POINTS BY END POSITIONS Icon.
Using the EndEnt Option, click on the left ends of
the two lines indicated by arrows in the illustration
to the right.
Because you used toggled the Line Limits, the line that
is created extends to the edges of the viewport. This will
make it easier to select in the next step.
Select a new construction color.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Now, click on the BREAK FIRST Icon.
Click on the top edge of the part and then on the line that you
just created.
This breaks the part into separate solids at the line. (You can
delete the line you made now since we don’t need it anymore.)
Now, switch to the Right View. (View 5.)
Click on the CREATE VERTICAL LINE Icon.
Using the EndEnt Option, click at the two positions
indicated by arrows in the illustration to the right.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Your screen should now look like this:
Use the BREAK FIRST Function again, selecting the
top edge of the part near the middle and then the left,
vertical line.
Repeat, selecting the top edge near the middle and then
the right vertical line.
Before you continue, take a moment to toggle the Line
Limits Switch back to the actual length. (Hot Key
ALT+L)
Now, switch to the Isometric View. (View 7.)
You will now have separate solids on the screen.
If you try to work with the solids, you’ll notice
that the two trapezoidal solids are still one body.
(We call this a disjoint, non-manifold solid.
Because we created them at the same time by
breaking the original solid, they are still one
solid entity.
We can easily eliminate this problem by clicking on the
SEPARATE Icon.
Click on either trapezoidal solid and this will immediately split
them into two separate parts.
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