parametric modelling · of the registration and analysis work will be carried out in teams, but the...

MA Advanced Product DesignUmeå Institute of DesignAPD1 5ID101 Product Analysis & ConstructionFEBRUARY-MARCH 2012

PARAMETRIC MODELL INGProduc t ana l ys i s , So l i dWorks ,

rap id p ro to typ ing and work i ng p ro to types

Solid modeling (or modelling) is a consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids. Solid modeling is distinguished from related areas of Geometric modeling and Computer graphics by its emphasis on physical fidelity. Together, the principles of geometric and solid modeling form the foundation of Computer-aided design and in general support the creation, exchange, visualization, anima-tion, interrogation, and annotation of digital models of physical objects.

The use of solid modeling techniques allows for the automation of several difficult engineering calculations that are carried out as a part of the design process. Simulation, planning, and verifi-cation of processes such as machining and assembly were one of the main catalysts for the development of solid modeling. More recently, the range of supported manufacturing applica-tions has been greatly expanded to include sheet metal manu-facturing, injection molding, welding, pipe routing etc. Beyond traditional manufacturing, solid modeling techniques serve as the foundation for rapid prototyping,..

Wikipedia.org

BackgroundIt is becoming increasingly more important for industrial designers to be able to understand and communicate the technological aspects of the profession to other collaboration partners, especially due to the high degree of interaction with engi-neers. Many young industrial designers and design schools have been criticized by the profession in recent years because they lack a basic knowledge of materials and how products are constructed and produced. There are also many students that have no experience with parametric modelling. The alleviation of these prob-lems is one of the main goals of this course.

Course content and goalsThe purpose of the course is to introduce the complexities of product develop-ment and construction and the introduction and application of the CAID program SolidWorks. As there is a great diversity in the individual student’s knowledge of this software, the course will be based on individual tutoring adapted to the stu-dent’s level of skill with solid modelling software.

As a part of the course we will be doing a product analysis exercise in which a given type of product will be disassembled, analysed in terms of function, materi-als and construction. Discussions will be carried out concerning how and why the project was designed for production as it is, and how it could be improved, both technically and functionally. After this exercise the product’s existing electronic components should be drawn with the use of SolidWorks.

In the final phase of the project the product will be redesigned and produced by rapid prototyping and maybe even NC milling for the purpose of creating a full functional prototype of the new product using the original product’s components.

Bom view of radio componentsArtur Tchoukanov, APD 2009

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What is Parametric Modelling?Prior to the introduction of parametric modelling, most programs created engi-neering models via 2D drawings, 3D wireframes or 3D surface models. In each case, full product descriptions, down to the proper dimensioning scheme and tolerances, were impossible. This changed with the introduction of parametric modelling. Engineers and designers need a great degree of flexibility from their computer-aided design (CAD) software. Designing a given component or machine is only the first step in the designer’s work schedule. It is important that he or she will be able to follow up by making quick and easy hypothetical modifications to the design.Parametric modelling allows the designer to make these changes with a fair amount of ease. With parametric modelling, the designer needs only to change a few basic parameters and the entire model will adjust accordingly. Rather than combing through each component piece by piece, one only needs to shift some basic overall formulas and the changes will be effected.The changes made with parametric modelling are made through some fairly weighty mathematical equations. The high processing power of today’s computers allows for an ease of computation that never existed before today. Engineers can very easily use their CAD programs to test hypothetical designs with a degree of freedom that would have been unavailable to earlier engineers.In a parametric model, each entity, such as a boolean primitive, a line or arc in a wireframe, or a filleting operation, has parameters associated with it. These parameters control the various geometric properties of the entity, such as the length, width and height of a rectangular prism, or the radius of a fillet. They also control the locations of these entities within the model. These parameters can be changed by the operator as necessary to create the de-sired part. Parametric modellers that use a history-based method keep a record of how the model was built. When the operator changes parameters in the model and regenerates the part, the program repeats the operations from the history, using the new parameters, to create the new solid. There are many uses for this type of modelling. Designers can test various sizes of parts to determine which is the “best” part for their use by simply adjusting the model parameters and regen-erating the part.

This short and general explanation has been inspired by the following sources:http://alum.wpi.edu/~gregm/thesis/node11.htmlhttp://www2.ivcc.edu/perez/Parametric%20modeling.ht

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Work methodThis is a five-week course, and will consist of lectures, individual instruction, product design, model building of a working prototype and a presentation. Most of the work will be done individually in the Top PC lab or by your work tables on your own computers. The course will be run by Tomas Lindehell, and industrial designers Johan Gustavsson and Oscar Björk from the Umeå-based design consultancy Struktur Design AB. A more detailed description of the five weeks can be found on the last page. Some of the registration and analysis work will be carried out in teams, but the creative exercise and presentation will be individual work.

The course contains of the two following sections:

1) SolidWorks course (Approx. 2 weeks)The first weeks consist of a SolidWorks course based on differentiated tutoring with a number of small exercises. For experienced users, there will be the pos-sibility of working with new methods and parametric modelling. During the first half of the fourth week you will get support when you should prepare your files for rapid prototyping. Tomas Lindehell will be teaching these courses.

2) Product analysis / Theme exercise (Approx. 3 weeks) This section is divided into three phases:

2.1: Phase one concerns product analysis where a number of products are disassembled and analysed. After this you will all be given your own product to work with. The different production methods and materials of this main prod-uct should be documented in the final presentation together with full-scale drawings of its various internal parts and components in SolidWorks - This can be done as a team.

2.2: Phase two will be carried out individually. Here you will be asked to cre-ate a new design based on the given product and the theme exercise. Your new design should be build in SolidWorks with the purpose of creating files for prototype production using Rapid Prototyping (RPT).

The theme exercise for your new product design will be handed-out on the first day of the course! 2.3: Phase three involves the finishing of the model and assembling with the original product’s components in order to create a full-functioning prototype. This phase ends with a presentation and evaluation.

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Course approvalDuring this course you will be approved based on:• Your attendance in the mandatory CAID classes and the completion of the • specified tutorials. • Your attendance and participation in the product analysis classes and tutoring • sessions. • The completion of your new design in SolidWorks.• The completion of a working prototype with RPTed parts.• The digital submission of a PDF of your presentation documenting your work process and the final result: //apd2011/Projects/PM course/Results/”Name of student” Cooperating lecturersTomas Lindehell will be responsible for the introduction to SolidWorks and the Advanced CAID [email protected] info: UID website/ For our Students/ CAD and CAID/ MA Rapid Prototyping

Johan Gustavsson from the Umeå-based design consultancy Struktur Design AB will be responsible for the product analysis, at the same time as he will pro-vide insights to the process of 3D modelling for production with case stories and practical examples and feedback on your initial designs. Johan, one of the founders of Struktur Design graduated from UID in 1993. www.strukturdesign.se

Oscar Björk, an APD alumnus, now working part time as a consultant at Struk-tur Design, will be giving individual tutoring and support in SolidWorks.E-mail: [email protected]

Rickard Åström will give an introduction to the Interaction Workshop in week 1o. He will also be available part-time during the last week if any technical sup-port is needed during the assembling of your prototypes. [email protected]

-Have solid fun!Thomas, February 2012

Technical drawing showing a section in 1:1 of a workshop radio Regimantas Vegele, APD 2009

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Exploded view of radio componentsArtur Tchoukanov, APD 2009

Suggested websites for general information:http://www.dh.umu.se/default.asp?ml=10281 - The schools website with practical information about our rapid prototyping maschines

www.solidworks.com- The official website of SolidWorks. (Dassault Systèmes)

www.designinsite.dk- A website with examples and information about materials and manufacturing.

http://alum.wpi.edu/~gregm/thesis/node11.html- A website which partly inspired the short and general introduction on page 4.

Suggested websites for advanced CAID tutorials:(Recommended by previous APD students)

http://www.dimontegroup.com/Tutorials/SolidWorks_Tutorials.htm- “DiMonte group gets to some advanced SolidWorks surfaces tools, which basically tutors designers on how to recreate what they do in Alias, but in SolidWorks (start tutorials from bottom up).”

http://www.productdesignforums.com/index.php?showtopic=230- “Shows how to surface model a mouse. You need to sign up for the website. (Maybe Thomas L. has this downloaded?!)”

http://www.rhino3d.com/partners/solidworks/rhino_works_us.pdf - “Here’s a Rhino3D ‘whitepaper’ on how to use it with Solidworks, but it’s quite similar to use with Alias (Except Rhino opens natively in Solidworks and vice-versa, while Alias does not, so STEP format would be used instead).”

http://www.rhino3d.com/3/stlrepair.zip- “Here’s a good rapid prototype file fixing tutorial in Rhino. It explains Rhino tools and strategies for repairing non-watertight models. Similar (and some more powerful) tools exist in Alias (ask Thomas L.). Of course SolidWorks does not need that as it will not export open STL files, and as the name implies the work is supposed to be with Solids.

Week plan: Parametric Modelling 2012Remember to check the web schedule for changes.

Week 9

Monday27/02

Tuesday28/02

Wednesday 29/02

Thursday01/03

Friday02/03

09:00 - 12:00Green PC holken• Theme exercise• Product analysis• Plastic tooling J. Gustavsson &Tomas Lindehell

09:00 - 16:00Top PC labSolidWorksTomas Lindehell





Own work: “Brand Boards” for Mon-day (2h) + initial ideation (2h)

Week 10

Monday05/03

Tuesday06/03

Wednesday 07/03

Thursday 08/03

Friday09/03

Oscar Björk is available for SolidWorks help most of the week!

Note: Tomas Lindehell will be away this week

09:00 - 12:00Black roomBrand Boards + ideation feedbackJ. Gustavsson

09:00 - 12:00IxD workshopIntroduction - G1Rickard Åström

09:00 - 12:00IxD workshopIntroduction - G2Rickard Åström

09:00 - 16:00Top PC labSolidWorks Oscar Björk


13:00 - 16:00Top PC lab SolidWorks Oscar Björk

G2 - Own work2D ideation in 1:1views (3h)

G1 - Own work2D ideation in 1:1views (3h)


Own work: Sketch models in foam 1:1 (4h)

Week 11 Monday12/03

Tuesday13/03

Wednesday 14/03

Thursday 15/03

Friday16/03

Tomas Lindehell and Oscar Björk are available for SolidWorks help all week!

09:00 - 12:00Green PC HolkenFeedback on 2D and foam ideation J. Gustavsson

09:00 - 12:00Green PC holkenConsequences of your designJ. Gustavsson

Own workSolidWorks ModellingTL & OB available for SW support



13:00-17:00Own work:Final design 2D (4h)

13:00-16:00 Own work:Freeze designs!Start modelling!

Week 12 Monday19/03

Tuesday20/03

Wednesday 21/03

Thursday 22/03

Friday23/03

09:00 - 16:00 (Wednesday 09:00 - 12:00)Tomas Lindehell is available for SolidWorks help

09:00 - 16:00Top PC lab Adv CAID, Tomas Lindehell

Own work: Preparing files for approval and rapid prototyping before Wednesday noon at the latest

Own work: Renderings of final design

Week 13 Monday26/03

Tuesday27/03

Wednesday 28/03

Thursday 29/03

Friday30/03

Own work:Finishing workingprototype



Own work:Finishing workingprototype andpresentation

Own work:Prepare for pres.

13:00 - 16:00Red roomFinal critiqueJ.Gustavsson

Mandatory CAID classes

Own workMandatory tutoring, feedback, presentations

Toyota Boshoku & Denso visit!

parametric modelling · of the registration and analysis work will be carried out in teams, but the...

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