Skip to main content
P
ptc-26551041-Visitor
1-Visitor
January 14, 2013
Question

Help with ProE 4.0, Custom 3D curves, .pts files etc.

  • January 14, 2013
  • 1 reply
  • 9225 views

Wow.

 

ProE is so powerful but so frick'n not user friendly. I've attached a picture of a curve that I managed to define by projecting a sketch onto a curved surface created from another curve, The result is a nice flowy curve through 3d space, not planar. So I have my curve that I want, now I want to isolate this "curve" so I may open it up as a sketch, alone to use as the back bone for other extrusions etc. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this. Does this curve contain any information that I can export? Can I not save it as a seperate entity to open up as a 3D sketch? There has to be a way.....I can't imagine a CAD software as complex as ProE would not let you custom create 3D curves through intersections, projections etc. and then not let you save them............yet I can't figure it out how to isolate my custom curves.


This thread is inactive and closed by the PTC Community Management Team. If you would like to provide a reply and re-open this thread, please notify the moderator and reference the thread. You may also use "Start a topic" button to ask a new question. Please be sure to include what version of the PTC product you are using so another community member knowledgeable about your version may be able to assist.

1 reply

Patriot_1776
Patriot_177622-Sapphire II
22-Sapphire II
January 14, 2013

Any curve derived like that, you can never open up in sketcher in Pro/E, or any OTHER software. Think about it: it took you 2 curves intersected with each other to make it, right? It is derived from other features, so you cannot open it in "sketcher" because it is not planar. I HATE that they're teaching Pro/E users like you're supposed to be SW users now. When you can, create all your trajectories and sections inside the feature not external (unless you're going to use them for other features). You cannot open it in sketcher but you CAN use it for sweeps etc. Of note though, sometimes you cannot do simple sweeps with these because for some stupid reason it says it's an "invalid trajectory". Bull. So, you end up having to do a VSS (Variable Section Sweep) with a constant section as it seems to have no problem with these types of trajectories. I do this kind of stuff all the time.

P
ptc-26551041-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
January 15, 2013

Hello Frank,

Ya, I mean that's what I thought because I spent like hours trying to comb through options to see if I could isolate this curve. But thinking about it now, you are right, sketcher only uses planar dimensions then extrusions and more comples shapes can be pulled from that. But here's the thing, I really don't understand how ProE can be so good if you can only sketch in planar form. What if I'm pulling geometry off of an organic shape that has curves that flow through 3D space...how is this done, sketching in planar to try to achieve that very precise organic shape must be a nightmare if not impossible. Basically, I'm trying to create siderails for a motorcycle frame, they are basically organic in shape, at a certain sections they curve in 3d. I also need to adhere to precise dimensions being pulled from real life, i.e motor clearance etc. I know of about 3-4 ways I could accomplish this with ProE but it's all the basic stuff, making tons of datum planes or making small parts in 2d and then welding them together. That's all easy to do, But I want to make my core lines in 3d then build off of that. What program can I do that with? I'll save proe for smaller 2d parts like brackets, mounts etc.

I understand I could also use the CurveID's to build from while in part mode but there are usually referencing surfaces associated with their creation that get in the way, I just want a nice simple, accurately measured 3D line to sculpt from.

If you look at the picture I've attached, I'm trying to make lines for the main "side rails" or perimeter beams in the frame similar to that of a CR125 dirtbike. Starting from the bottom they move up, fairly flat but then dip in for leg clearance and buldge back out where the gas tank sits, Very organic and shaply. I need to be able to draw lines that will let me build a similar geometry, but very accurately to measured spec. I know that if I could get atleast two main 3d trajectory lines in there, I could build a chain, although difficult to form most the rail by doing a boundary blend. But I can't figure out how to make these first two initial lines through 3D space. I can't just throw it into "styling" to stretch and pull a 2D sketch, it needs to be sketched with accuracy. Any tips, suggestions?

%24%28KGrHqNHJCcFBoLhPPYfBQnGElTlSg%7E%7E60_3.JPGcr125frame.jpg

P
ptc-26551041-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
January 15, 2013

I've started playing around with .pts files and I'm thinking that this is most likely the route i'll have to go.....BUT.

What the heck is the point! CAD is supposed to make life easier! even if I go with .pts files, I need some way of controlling and visuallising the coords in order to get the right dimensions of my curve etc.You should be able to work backwards, ie, draw your curve, dimension it and then extract the raw coords into a file, or better yet just be able to save the Curve right from software interface. Something is fishy here. There is something I'm missing. I would think this would be the backbone of CAD software.No?

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement