Tutorial 5: Thin solids, Mirror, Pattern, Datum Axes/Planes and more

1. Introduction

In this tutorial you will create a more complex part using different features and tools. The
main portion of this part will be created using the thin solid option. In order to create this
part you will need to define additional datum axis and datum planes. Furthermore, you will
use some new commands in the sketcher while creating the solid features. In addition,
some new tools like sketched hole, mirror and pattern will be used for creating this part.

1. Creating a Thin Revolved Part

1. Start Pro/E Wildfire.

2. Choose [File] -> [Set Working Directory…], and select a folder to save your work
in.
3. Select [File] -> [New], and type the part name [Tutorial5] in Text Box.
4. Remove the checkmark next to the option and click the [Ok]
button.
5. In the new window choose the mmns_part_solid template from the list, and then
click [Ok].

6. Select the Revolve icon from the Feature Creation Toolbar.

7. Click the [Thicken Sketch] icon in the

Dashboard. Note that a new text field will appear next to the icon when you click it.

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8. Select the Placement button then the Define

button from the Dashboard.

9. Select the plane marked as FRONT then click the [Sketch] button.
10. [Close] the References dialog box.

11. Use the Center line icon and create a centerline collinear with the y axis as
shown in Figure 5.1.

12. Use the line icon and draw the three lines shown starting from point A to point
D (see Figure 5.1) then set the dimensions as shown in the figure. Note that you will

need to use the Create dimension icon to define the length of line CD.

[Figure 5.1]

13. Select the Create circular fillet icon from the Sketcher Toolbar then click near
points 1 and 2 (shown in Figure 5.1) on the horizontal and vertical lines to create a
fillet between them.

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14. Set the radius of the fillet to be 30 mm. Your sketch should look similar to that
shown in Figure 5.2.

[Figure 5.2]

15. Click on the check button to exit the Sketcher.

Note that you can exit the sketcher while the cross section is not closed since we

selected the Thicken Sketch icon before starting the sketch.

16. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation].

17. In the sketch Thickness text field in the Dashboard

, set the thickness to be 3 mm.

18. Press the Check button to complete the revolve. Your part should look similar
to that shown in Figure 5.3.

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 [Figure 5.3]

19. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

3. Adding New Datum Plane and Creating an Extrusion

In this section we will add a new extrusion to the part. However, we first will need to
add a rotated datum plane to sketch the extrusion on it. In order to be able to place
the new datum plane in the location we want, we first need to add a new datum axis to
be used as a reference.

1. Select Datum axis tool icon from the Datum Creation Toolbar at the right of
the screen (or choose [Insert] -> [Model Datum] -> [Axis] from the Menu Bar).
The Datum Axis pop-up window will appear.
2. Select the datum plane labeled as TOP to be your first reference. Note that the new
axis will be placed normal to the Top datum plane and it will have two handles that
can be dragged to two references in order to set the location of the new axis,
however, we will not use them for placing the axis this time.

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Note: you can also select a datum plane directly from the model tree by clicking on it
there. Sometimes selecting from the model tree is less confusing than selecting from
the model itself.

3. While holding down the [Ctrl] button on your keyboard, select the datum plane
labeled as RIGHT to be your second reference. The Axis will be placed along the
intersection line of the two planes same as what you see in Figure 5.4. Note that the
placement status in Datum plane pop-up window is "Through" for both references
and the OK button became active.
4. Press the [Ok] button in the pop-up window to finish. Note that the new datum axis
is added to the Model Tree.

Important Note: When you add any new item to the model it will be highlighted in red
meaning that it is selected so you need to deselect it by clicking somewhere in the
Modeling Window.

[Figure 5.4]

Now we will create a rotated datum plane using the axis we just added.

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5. Select the Datum plane tool icon from the Datum Creation Toolbar at the right
of the screen. The Datum Plane pop-up window will appear.
6. Select the datum axis you just crated (which should be labeled as A_3) to be your
first reference. You may want to select it directly from the model tree such that you
do not confuse it with the axis of the revolved part.
7. While holding down the [Ctrl] button on your keyboard, select the datum plane
labeled as RIGHT to be your second reference.
8. From the datum plane pop-up window, change the Rotation angle to 25 degrees as
shown in Figure 5.5.

Note: Make sure that the datum plane is oriented similar to that shown in the figure, if
it is rotated in the opposite direction you just need to type -25 (negative 25) in the
Rotation text field and hit Enter to make it rotate in the opposite direction.

9. Press the [Ok] button in the pop-up window to finish.

[Figure 5.5]

Now we will create another translated datum plane using the plane we just added.

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10. Select Datum plane tool icon again. The Datum Plane pop-up window will
appear.
11. From the Model Tree, select the datum plane you just created (which should be
labeled as DTM1) to be your reference.
12. In the Translation text field type in 225 (or -225) such that the new datum plane
is placed similar to that shown in Figure 5.6.
13. Press the [Ok] button in the pop-up window to finish.

[Figure 5.6]

Now we will create an extrusion on the datum plane we just added. However because
now we have many datum planes, we will hide some of them such that we will not get
confused.

14. Go to the Model Tree and using the right mouse button click the RIGHT datum
plane, and then choose [Hide] from the options list as shown in Figure 5.7. Note
that the datum plane will disappear from the model view and its icon in the model
tree will have a gray background .

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 [Figure 5.7]

15. Repeat the same procedure to hide both the TOP and DTM1 datum planes.

Note: If you want to make the datum planes appear again you just have to repeat the
same procedure and select Unhide.

16. Select the Extrude icon from the Feature Creation Toolbar.
17. Select the [Placement] button then the [Define] button from the Dashboard, and
select the datum plane labeled as DTM2 to be your sketching plane. Not that the
Sketch button is still not active because Pro/E could not select the reference plane
automatically.
18. Click on the FRONT datum plane to select it as your viewing Reference.

Note: The viewing Reference you select must be normal to your sketching plane (it can
be a surface or an edge).

19. From the Orientation drop down list, select [Left], as shown in Figure 5.8.

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20. Make sure that the yellow view direction arrow is in the same direction shown in the
figure. If it is in the opposite direction, just click on the arrow and that will flip the
direction or you can use the Flip button.
21. Click the [Sketch] button. Pro/E will switch to Sketch Mode.

[Figure 5.8]

22. When the References pop-up window opens (note that it will be empty), select the
datum plane labeled as FRONT and the datum axis labeled as A_3 to be your two
references (it is better to select the two references directly from the Model Tree)
then [Close] the window.
23. Now sketch the shape of the cross-section shown in Figure 5.9 with the same
dimensions.

24. Press the Check button to exit the sketcher.

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 [Figure 5.9]

25. Click on Saved view list icon; choose [Standard Orientation]. Your part
should look similar to that seen in Figure 5.10.

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 [Figure 5.10]

26. Click on the yellow Extrude Direction Arrow to flip its direction.
27. Click on the arrow next to the extrusion depth icon in the Dashboard (as shown in

the Figure 5.10) and select the Extrude up to next surface option. The part
should now look as shown in Figure 5.11.

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 [Figure 5.11]

28. Press the Check button to complete the extrusion. If you’ve done everything
correctly your part should look similar to that shown in Figure 5.12.

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 [Figure 5.12]

29. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

4. Creating a Sketched Hole and Rounded Edges

1. Select the Hole icon.

2. From the hole shape options drop list in the Dashboard change the hole shape to
[Sketched], as shown in Figure 5.13.

3. Click on the Sketcher icon in the Dashboard. Pro/E will switch to the Sketching
Mode.

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 [Figure 5.13]

4. Select the Center line icon and create a vertical centerline as shown in Figure
5.14.

5. Select the Rectangle icon and draw a rectangle tangent to the centerline and
dimension it as shown in the figure.

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 [Figure 5.14]

6. Select the line icon then draw two horizontal lines of equal length starting from
the corners of the rectangle as shown in Figure 5.15 and set the length as seen in
the figure.

7. Select the center and end points arc icon then draw the two arcs as shown
in the figure (note that the centers of the arcs are located at the corners of the
rectangle).

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 [Figure 5.15]

8. Select the Dynamic trim icon from the Sketcher Toolbar then click on the two
line segments indicated in Figure 5.15 to delete them. After trimming the extra lines
you should have one closed area and the final shape should look like that shown in
Figure 5.16.

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 [Figure 5.16]

9. Click on the Check button to complete the sketch.

10. Click on the Top Surface of Extrude 1 to place the hole on it, as shown in Figure
5.17.

Now we need to drag the placement handles of the hole to two references to set the
location of the hole, however instead of doing it that way we will use another method
which might be easier in some situations.

11. Select Placement button then click inside the Secondary references
box as indicated in the figure.

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 [Figure 5.17]

12. Click on the datum plane labeled as FRONT to set it as your first reference, then
while holding down the [Ctrl] button on your keyboard, select the datum plane
labeled as DTM2 to be your second reference. You will see that the two references
are added inside the Secondary references box.
13. Click on the offset distances inside the Secondary reference box and change their
values to match the values shown in Figure 5.18.

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 [Figure 5.18]

14. Press the check button to complete the hole. Your part should look similar to
that shown in Figure 5.19.

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 [Figure 5.19]

15. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

5. Creating Rounded Edges and Mirroring Some Features

1.

1. First we will hide the datum entities that we do not need anymore. So go to
the Model Tree (as described earlier in step 14 of section 3) and Hide the
datum plane labeled as FRONT, the datum plane labeled as DTM2 and the
datum axis labeled as A_3.
2. Also from the Model Tree, select the datum plane labeled as RIGHT and
Unhide it.

3. Select Round icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen (or choose
[Insert] -> [Round] from the Menu Bar). The options of the Round tool will
be displayed in Dashboard at the bottom of the Pro/E main window.
4. From the Dashboard set the radius of the round to be 5 mm.
5. Select the outer edge of Extrude 1 as seen in Figure 5.20.

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 [Figure 5.20]

6. Click the check button to complete the round.

7. From the Model Tree, select Extrude1, then while holding down the [Ctrl]
button on your keyboard, select Hole1 and Round 1 as seen in Figure 5.21.

8. Select the Mirror icon from the Toolbar at the right of the screen, as
indicated in the figure, (or choose [Edit] -> [Mirror] from the Menu Bar).

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 [Figure 5.21]

9. Click on the RIGHT datum plane to set it as the Mirror plane, as seen in
Figure 5.22.

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 [Figure 5.22]

10. Press the Check button. Your part should look similar to that shown in
Figure 5.23.

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 [Figure 5.23]

11. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

6. Adding a Hole and Creating a Pattern

1. Select the Hole icon.

2. Select the inner surface of the revolved part, as seen in Figure 5.24, to place
the hole on it.
3. From the Dashboard set the diameter of the hole to be 6 mm and the depth
to be Trough all .

4. Select Placement button then from the drop list choose the
[Radial] placement option.
5. Click inside the Secondary references box.

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6. Click on the center axis of the revolved part (which should be labeled as
A_2) to set it as your first reference, then while holding down the [Ctrl]
button on your keyboard, select the datum plane labeled as RIGHT to be
your second reference.
7. Click on the radius value inside the Secondary reference box and change it to
20 mm, also change the angle to be 45 degrees.

[Figure 5.24]

8. Press the Check button. Your part should look similar to that shown in
Figure 5.25.

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 [Figure 5.25]

9. Select the hole that was just created then click the Pattern icon from
the Toolbar at the right of the screen as indicated in Figure 5.25 (or choose
[Edit] -> [Pattern] from the Menu Bar). The options of the Pattern tool will
be displayed in Dashboard at the bottom of the Pro/E main window.

10. Press the Dimensions button from the Dashboard.

11. Turn off the datum planes, datum axes and coordinate system using the

On/Off buttons in the toolbar such that you can see the
part better. Your view should look similar to Figure 5.26.

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 [Figure 5.26]

12. Click on the radial distance of the hole (which should be shown as R20 as
seen in the Figure 5.26) to be your first pattern direction. It will be added
inside the Direction 1 box.
13. Change the Increment value from 20 mm to 15mm.
14. From the Dashboard, change the number of copies from 2 (the default value)
to 7. You now should be able to see the outline of the copies locations as
seen in Figure 5.27.

Note: if you press the green check button now you will have a pattern in one direction
which is the radial direction in this case and there will be seven copies in that direction.

15. To add another pattern direction, click inside the Direction 2 box as indicated
in the figure.
16. Click on the angular dimension of the hole (which should be 45º as seen in
the figure) to be your Second pattern direction, as indicated in Figure 5.27.

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 [Figure 5.27]

17. Change the Increment value from 45 degrees to 30 degrees, as seen in

Figure 5.28.

Note: if you want the pattern to go in the opposite direction, you just have to enter a
negative value for the increment.

18. From the Dashboard, change the number of copies in the second direction
from 2 (the default value) to 12. Now your pattern outline should look
similar to that shown in Figure 5.28.

Important note: we were able to define a circular pattern because we used Radial
placement for defining the hole. If the hole placement was Linear then the pattern will
be in the same direction of the dimensions we used to define the hole.

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 [Figure 5.28]

19. Press the Check button to create the pattern. If you followed all the
steps correctly, the final shape of your part should look similar to that shown
in Figure 5.29.

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 [Figure 5.29]

20. Select [File] -> [Save] from Menu Bar then click [Ok] to save the part.

This completes Tutorial 5.

Homework

Estimate appropriate dimensions for the part shown below then create it.

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