Pro/E Question: Why do you round?

June 25th, 2009

Taking a hint from the days of old:

What’s wrong with a simple note that says “All unspecified radii shall be .010.”?

Rounding is time-consuming and it increases model complexity and regeneration time. At what point do you say “Enough”?

Where’s the boundary between tooling requirements and design needs? Why suffer from complex models and slow regeneration to accomplish a one-time task?  Couldn’t a separate tooling model be done with a merged model?

What about FEA? Most FEA should start simple and add complexity as results reveal the need, so aren’t small rounds a negative for FEA? Is mold flow analysis any different?

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

What about you?

Pro/E tip (model): Rounding

June 25th, 2009

Which of these rounds do you prefer?

Classic result of equal radii in both directions

Preferred result of unequal radii

I prefer the round on the bottom. Similar to surface modeling practices, 4-sided patches are preferred to triangular patches.

The quad patch transition on the bottom is a result of sweeping a smaller radius around a larger radius. A difference of only 10% in radii is enough to create a desirable transition.

The triangular patch transition on the top is a result of the opposite condition: an equal or larger radius is swept around an equal or smaller radius. Most users consider this transition to be the normal case, but the reality is that the triangular patch can create self-intersecting geometry (a.k.a. geometry check) that is not obvious but can cause problems later.

If you can’t force yourself to vary radii values to create the swept round transition on the right, at least be careful to avoid geometry checks with constant round values. After all, who’s actually going to care if a round is .01″, .011″, or .009″?

Pro/E tip (model): Rounding completeness

June 20th, 2009

One of the easiest ways to check for complete rounding is to view a shaded model set to a transparent color. Go ahead and set the Model Display to “Shade” “with edges” and Environment to “Tangent Edges” “No Display”. Here’s an example:

Showing a small part with "show_shaded_edges" yes

Showing a small part with "show_shaded_edges" yes

Even though this is a simple part, you will easily pick up the smallest sharp edges. With a little help from a light file, this is easy on the eyes and works quite well with assemblies.

Pro/E Admin: updated startup script

June 6th, 2009

Since I’ve started working on my own again, I’ve had a chance to update my startup script from long ago. Here’s what I’m trying to do:

  • Make a script that works for multiple versions and multiple clients
  • Create a simple directory structure for project management
  • Maximize script flexibility with system variables

Here’s how “prostart.bat” works:

  • Pro/E is installed in directories by version, e.g. D:\PTC\WF2, D:\PTC\WF3, D:\PTC\WF4
  • Pro/E startup commands correspond to version, e.g. WF2.bat, WF3.bat, WF4.bat
  • The Windows shortcut supplies values to three variables: $VERSION, $CONFIG, $PROJECT
  • Startup directories vary by project and provide last level of config control
  • A startup trail file directs user to personal working directory
  • The config.pro uses  $CONFIG variable to provide flexibility for multiple projects and configs

Shortcut command line:
path_to_startup_batch_dir\prostart.bat version path_to_config_dir path_to_project_dir
Shortcut startup directory: blank because script changes directory to $PROJECT

Simple startup batch file:

@echo off

rem version will come from startup parameter, useful for multiple versions
set VERSION=%1

rem $CONFIG points to config files
set CONFIG=%2

rem $PROJECT is team working directory
set PROJECT=%3

rem Change startup directory according to shortcut, could add configs here
cd /d %PROJECT%

rem Create user work directory below project main directory
set WORKDIR=%PROJECT%\%USERNAME%

rem startup.txt is trail file to change working directory to $WORKDIR and instigate the open file dialogue box

call "D:\PTC\%1\bin\%1.bat" %CONFIG%\startup.txt

Simple startup trail file that still works in WF4:

!trail file version No. 1029
!Pro/ENGINEER TM Release 20.0 (c) 1988-98 by Parametric Technology Corporation All Rights Reserved.
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `main_dlg_cur`
~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1` \
1 `File`
~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `File.wd`
~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1` \
1 `File`
~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `File.psh_working_dir`
~ Update `file_open` `Inputname` \
`$WORKDIR`
~ Activate `file_open` `Open`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `ProCmdModelOpen.file`

Also.

There’s a default config.pro setting: “search_path_file $PROJECT”. Each project can create a subdirectory of reference parts, multiple user subdirectories, and a vault.

And..

I still prefer to install Pro/E outside the Windows “Program Files” hierarchy. PTC may feel the need to comply with M$oft programming guidelines, but I remember PTC’s early problems with spaces in directory names. A side benefit of a separate install location (like D:\PTC) is that I don’t compete with permission enforcement for program directories, and I can do remote installs with simple scripts.

And…

You don’t need Pro/E on your Windows path. If you’re running multiple versions, it’s better that you don’t. If your life depends on “ptcstatus”, create a Windows shortcut.

How to change the binding order of network adapters

June 2nd, 2009

I stumble across this problem on ocassion with VPN clients and wireless interfaces interfering with PTC’s hostid detection:

How to change the binding order of network adapters in Windows XP and in Windows 2000

Start > Run > ncpa.cpl > LAN or High-Speed Internet > Advanced > Advanced Settings

binding

Pro/E tip (config): use_temp_dir_for_inst yes

May 18th, 2009

I can’t believe I haven’t written about this option before, but since I’m reviewing my config for WF4, I need to include it for completeness.

You have to wonder: How could PTC ever have set the default to “no”? I mean, family table operations are almost when Pro/E regenerating all those models on a network drive!

Anyhow, I assume everyone has included this option in their configs. As a matter of fact, this might be the first option I put in a config.sup after “company_name”.

Plotting vs. printing, lettering vs. typing, PTC vs. Windows

May 16th, 2009

I had to rewrite this page. It was a mess! The new title seems dramatic but explains my point a lot better.

I’m working on some ideas for PDF’s and type styles, text heights, and line spacing because I think it’s time to leave the PTC/plotting/lettering paradigm behind and move on to the Windows/printing/typing paradigm. It’s time to put down your Ames Lettering Guides and shelve your copy of Lettering for Draftsmen, Engineers, and Students.

Let me explain:

Pro/ENGINEER uses a stroked font which emulates hand lettering as practiced since the early 1900’s. As a result, PTC’s plot routines output Postscript arcs and lines which are meaningless to search algorithms in Acrobat. Companies using PDF’s for drawing distribution would realize huge benefits from indexed searches of PDF’s if Pro/ENGINEER could be configured to produce a legible drawing using True Type fonts.

And so, it’s time to shift paradigms from lettering / plotting to typography / printing. PTC has done a good job of replicating hand-drawn images on screen, but their competition, which originated on Windows, follows the typography / printing paradigm and so creates a more valuable PDF.

Unfortunately, PTC and its users are a slave to history. It won’t be easy to switch, but it can be done. A good time might be the upgrade to WF3+. Maybe a decent mapkey to switch default font would help. Anyhow…

This image is Pro/E with .1″ text height:

PTC's text height is misleading

PTC's text height is actually "Cap height"

Pro/E’s line spacing of 150% compensates for the descenders and does not equate to typography’s definition of line spacing. It’s close, but not really 120%, which is typical for type.

The true point size is closer to 72 x .133 or 9.6

The true point size is closer to 72 x .133 or 9.6

Biggest challenge is to find a font with the same .8 aspect ratio as the Pro/E default, so missing fonts will not affect drawing integrity. I’m leaning towards the Lucida family, but who knows?

8pt
8pt

10pt
10pt

12pt
12pt

Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard * Creating PDF indexes

Administrivia: a few updates

May 3rd, 2009

You are probably aware of at least one obvious change here at the FAQ: a new (old) theme. The default WordPress theme is very legible (the usability bug got me again) and easy for me to customize. It allows me to add:

  • Custom Google search – you might notice that the results are pulled from the Blogroll sites. I thought it might be nice to filter the results a bit.
  • Google Ads – If you’re thinking of doing Ad Sense on WordPress, spend a dollar on the Google AdSense Widget from Mike Smullin.
  • Polls – Made possible by the WP-Polls Widget created by Lester Chan.

I’ve also made nice with the Google search engine so my archive posts are once again searchable.

And, I’ve added a Pro/E jobs page with my own twist.

Pro/E tip (admin): Browser favorites file directory

May 2nd, 2009

Ever wonder where Pro/E keeps your built-in browser favorites list?

PTC keeps three files called “connections_conf.xml, web_favorites.xml, and web_history.xml” in a hidden directory (dictated by Microsoft).

%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\PTC\ProENGINEER\Wildfire\.wf\.Settings

HINT: Copy the string above and paste in a finder window.

If you want to delete your web history, delete web_history.xml. If you want to install default browser favorites, copy web_favorites.html to this directory. Make changes when Pro/E’s not running or you’ll get overwritten.

Note: %USERPROFILE% is usually your “Documents and Settings” folder

Pro/E Tip (Mechanica): Global unit conversion

April 28th, 2009

From the exploder: Use Mechanica, if you have it, to convert units for an assembly.

Don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll check the archive. Super easy way to convert units.

Seems to me I’ve run into problems with different units when exporting assemblies, especially STEP.  My personal opinion, FWIW, is that STEP exports work better with metric units. Even if you don’t want to save changed units, converting units before exporting might save some headaches.