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Table Of Contents
624 | Chapter 21 Surfacing Wireframe Models
Surfacing Wireframe Models
Now that you have analyzed approaches to surfacing the pump housing and
practiced surfacing techniques, you are ready to surface the pump.
A surface modeling project may begin with a wireframe, whether it is a DXF
or an IGES file from a client, or a 2D or 3D CAD design you created yourself.
In order to describe the 3D object, most designers begin with a 2D drawing.
In this lesson, you create surfaces for an actual part, a wireframe model of a
hydraulic pump. The surfaced model provides the manufacturer with infor-
mation to create prototypes or to NC-machine patterns, molds, and tooling.
To set up a drawing file
1 Open the file t_pump.dwg in the desktop\tutorial folder.
NOTE Back up the tutorial drawing files so you still have the original files if you
make a mistake. See Backing up Tutorial Drawing Files on page 40.
2 Use AMOPTIONS to set the surfacing options.
Desktop Menu Surface Surface Options
In the Mechanical Options dialog box, select the Surfaces tab. In Surface
Properties specify:
U Display Wires: Enter 5
V Display Wires: Enter 5
In Surface/Spline Options, specify:
Polyline Fit Length: Enter 1
Polyline Fit Angle: Enter 150
Choose Model Size.
3 In the Approximate Model Size dialog box, choose Measure Model.
The Model Size is 4.7223. Choose Apply & Close.