Tune in this Thursday (November 12th) at 11am EST for a cutting edge workflow utilizing our most exciting design apps united on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. REGISTER HERE! @AB will be starting the design off in SOLIDWORKS connected to the platform with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS, @JT will be redesigning the shape using 3D Sculptor, and I will layer on an intricate pattern using 3D Pattern Shape Creator.
https://discover.3ds.com/intricate-pattern-design-workflows-solidworks-and-power-catia
Take a sneak peek at our design below, and we'll show you how we created it on Thursday!
UPDATE (2020-11-16)
In this update, you can find the answers to all our unanswered Q&A from the webinar, the downloadable 3D model if you'd like experiment with the design, and a link to the replay of our recorded webinar.
Q&A
| QUESTION | POST ANSWER |
| Could you control the depth of the pattern? Perhaps going from negative to positive along the grip? | Absolutely. Within the workflow we can setup ways of varying the pattern depth. For instance, for the spiral pattern the grid of points could have an offset dimension which varies. This would allow the tubes swept along the wireframe to come in and out of the grip body. Then we could have both a Remove for cutting and an Add for combining the portions that rise out of the grip. Thanks for asking. It's a cool idea. |
| What's Andy's favourite Radiohead LP? | 1. OK Computer 2. In Rainbows 3. Hail to the Thief 4. Kid A . . . 5. Amnesiac 6. A Moon Shaped Pool 7. The Bends 8. King of Limbs 9. Pablo Honey |
| Will the pattern creation work with surfaces from ICEM Surf? | Definitely. You can use surfaces from ICEM Surf to develop patterns using 3D Pattern Shape Creator. |
| Is there free/edu license available for 3D Pattern Shape Creator? | The 3D Pattern Shape Creator role is available for Academia, but you should reach out to your admin to learn more about the roles available to your specific university. |
| I haven't used 3dexperience.could you please tell me how to start with it ? | We offer plenty of video-based training to help get our new users started. If you have an account at My.SolidWorks.com, you can access the training at https://my.solidworks.com/training/catalog. Or you can access https://eduspace.3ds.com. |
| Will we be getting a link to the full recording later? | Hi Eric, absolutely! You will receive it in your inbox in 5 to 6 days! |
| How are file compatibilities across the ecosystem working with catia-3dex-SW? | 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS both save directly into and open directly from, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Desktop SOLIDWORKS and CATIA V5 also have 3DEXPERIENCE connector add ins that allow for files to be passed back and forth to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. But even without those connectors, SOLIDWORKS and CATIA files can be opened directly on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. |
| how would you guys apply this 3D pattern model shaping to something like a stent for medical device applications ? | You could absolutely create a stent with this. I was asked to make a stent in SOLIDWORKS once and it was actually extremely complicated, especially if you want to show the stent in different positions. You could create a surface that represents where the "mesh" of the stent will be and then create a pattern that represents the shape of the actual material. It would be almost like the spiral pattern Nuri created on the surface, but instead of using the swept tubes for a cut, you would keep the tubes and get rid of the surface they lay on. Hopefully that makes sense. Let us know if you want a more concrete example. |
| the prescribed point cloud on the mesh that allows you to do the snapping - is there a minimum threshold tolerance for the snapping in 3D-space ? | Yes there is, and it's relative to your zoom level. So the further you zoom in, the more precise the snapping becomes. |
| wait...is that 3D pattern sculpting by algorithm applied by the "fold" tool in Solidworks ? | It's utilizing a totally different modeling kernel than SOLIDWORKS. |
| but wait...how would you transfer this to 2D drafting for fabrication/manufacturing ? | You can bring the finished model into SOLIDWORKS to create a drawing. |
| is it required to specify the algorithm expression into the 2D drawing as well ? | Maybe? Maybe Not? It's up to you and your manufacturer/supplier. You have the option to do it either way. |
| Can we add materials to parts in xGen? I’d like to apply something other than the predefined colors. | Yes, for sure. You want to make sure to add a "Publish" node in your workflow to expose the xGenerative Design geometry. Then you can apply materials to the xGenerative Design geometry in SOLIDWORKS or CATIA. |
| In the xGenerative marketing flyer, it mentions jewelry as one of the industrial uses. Do you have any examples or images of jewelry being designed in xGen? | We have a number of examples of jewelry designed in xGenerative Design (the app inside 3D Pattern Shape Creator) but unfortunately their are proprietary to the customer and cannot be shared publicly. |
| Is it spelled borno pattern? | Voronoi |
| What is the file format for publishing these different shapes? In other words, once the design is finished, what is the intended workflow for getting a physical product in your hand (dependent of course on the size of your product)? | 3D Pattern Shape Creator produces Physical Products. These can exported from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as neutral file formats that can be handed off to machinists or to 3D Printers. |
| How is that complex pattern going to translated to being manufactured? | That, of course, will depend on what type of CAM software you are using. The higher end tools would be able to automate the toolpath creation where the lower end tools may be much more labor intensive. It would be a great idea to try this Voronoi pattern handle out on SOLIDWORKS CAM and DELMIA roles. |
| Can we get some scripting examples thrown into the partner portal to study and learn? | Sure, I would happy to provide some scripting samples in the EKL language. Just so you know, when you place a Script node in xGenerative Design and launch the Script Editor there is a Getting Started available. In the Getting Started there a number of code samples you can test out. I would suggest starting there to introduce yourself to the basics. |
| Does the ability to bring into SOLIDWORKS also work with other CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE 3DParts? | Any 3D geometry created on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can be brought into SOLIDWORKS. |
| Can you easily simplify the geometry to hand it off for FE simulations? | You could create separate versions of the model both with and with the pattern geometry very easily. I think that would be the best way to approach a simulation. |
| Can you hand over a SOLIDWORKS model to a supplier without exposing your design solution, i.e. the parametrization made. | You could export the final design as a neutral file format (i.e. STEP). You could also have a version of the SOLIDWORKS file without the 3D Pattern Shape geometry. |
| Is that the exact same as SOLIDWORKS Connected? | Not exactly. Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS gets added on to an existing traditional installation of SOLIDWORKS via an add-in. By default, SOLIDWORKS saves locally, but you can choose to upload data to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on an as-needed basis. It's compatible with the three latest versions of SOLIDWORKS at any given time. The SOLIDWORKS Connected app which is part of the 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS role is a unique version of SOLIDWORKS that installs locally, but every save sends your data directly to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It automatically updates to the latest version of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform each time there's a new release. |
| How would the role that Nuri plays sit in a company? Is this a specialist maybe or something all designers do? It feels like API program which not everyone creates but many people could use. | Computational design is definitely something that is being taught more and more at schools. I know at least in architecture many recent grads come out of school already with some fluency in computational design. My experience has been that many designers can manipulate these algorithmic workflows while a few, who choose to focus more on computational design, develop the more detailed patterns. |
| Is there a database of predefined patterns setup so you could maybe match existing patterns out there for stippling or other laser type textures out there from molding vendors? | Within 3D Pattern Shape Creator there are a growing library of out-of-the-box features (e.g. the Voronoi node) for developing intricate patterns. The intention is for this role to be very open and flexible in how you develop your own patterns. Many current customers are composing their own workflows using the out-of-the-box features with some custom scripting (in some cases). |
| So the curve evaluator is similar to what is called a “law” in shape designer? | Yes, you can think of the Curve Evaluator in 3D Pattern Shape Creator as similar to a Law Curve in CATIA. |
| Could Intricate Pattern Design be controlled with process composer for optimization routines? | It is possible to connect 3D Pattern Shape Creator to optimization roles in CATIA to drive more advanced and informed decision making. |
| Can you tweak individual nodes of the shapes? | There are ways to be more selective and granular in how you manipulate the pattern. In some cases, it may be a matter of choosing specific inputs or having a strategy for filtering them based on some criteria. In general, when using 3D Pattern Shape Creator it's helpful to come up with a logic that allows for fluid and rapid change of the design. This is one of the solution's strengths. |
| What happens when Andy pulls that model back into SW? | In the background, 3D Interconnect is importing a .SLDXML. What you see is a SOLIDWORKS Part that you can mate into your assembly, modify, create a drawing from, run a simulation on, etc... |
| Is it possible to add this kind of parametric design for, say, a hole pattern on an existing SW part? | Absolutely, you can bring SOLIDWORKS geometry into 3D Pattern Shape Creator and you can export geometry back into SOLIDWORKS. |
| Is it compatible with Grasshopper files? | 3D Pattern Shape Creator an algorithm-driven parametric modeling application built from scratch using CATIA technology. It does not import Grasshopper files. 3D Pattern Shape Creator has its own language that integrates seamlessly with SOLIDWORKS and CATIA. |
| Can you add simulation features to the parameter chain? | Not in 3D Pattern Shape Creator as it is all based on logic and math, but we certainly have SIMULIA roles that include the ability to optimize a design based on fluctuating design parameters and the resultant analyses. |
| So is this a substitute for Solidworks or is an add-in for Solidworks? | xShape is an app in the 3D Sculptor role that runs independently from SOLIDWORKS. But the data can be easily passed back and forth. It does Subdivisional modeling and is not meant to be a replacement for SOLIDWORKS. |
| Really impressed with this! What is the learning curve like? It looks steep?! | With just a few videos freely available on YouTube, I was able to get pretty dangerous with it. I've only scratched the surface of functionality, and I am an expert in modeling software, but it's actually pretty intuitive once you grasp the graph modeling approach. |
| how did you use design modification on tablet? | Both 3D Sculptor and 3D Pattern Shape Creator are fully cloud-based. Everything we demoed (besides when Andy was using SOLIDWORKS Desktop) was done in a browser. Because Nuri created the controls and added them to the Experiment tab, that made it very easy to modify on a tablet with a touch interface. |
| Is training material available on how to do certain tasks, like correct the pattern for molding draft angles? | 3D Pattern Shape Creator is utilized across a wide range of industries. Though we might not offer training on that exact scenario, our more generalized training would provide the fundamental knowledge needed to execute a design task like that. |
