DESIGNING PLASTIC PARTS WITH SOLIDDESIGNER - ABSTRACT

I will describe the process Tom Perry (Actual Part Designer) and I used to figure out how to design lofted plastic parts using MDD's SolidDesigner (PESD) CAD tool. I will show how we integrated ME30 assemblies into the PESD design. I will discuss the concepts of workplane sets, lofting, tangencies, match lines, blend capabilities and restrictions. I will discuss what to expect from SolidDesigner, and what NOT to expect.

SolidDesigner's Advantages Over ME30 Include:

Lofting capability
Advanced Blending Capability

SolidDesigner's Dis-advantages With Respect to ME30 Include:

Learning Curve to come up to speed - new concepts to understand
No "HPMS" type infrastructure
No macro language for customizing
REALLY buggy 2D layout capability

I will address these issues, present examples of workplanes, workplane sets, parts, and assemblies. I will take questions, and make up the answers as best I can.

For further information about the author, see:

Marc J. Zeitlin