PartDesign Examples

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Introduction

Sometimes you need a hint how powerful a tool is, without too much explanation.

This is a collection of examples that can be achieved with certain tools. For detailed explanations see the tool descriptions and search the web for tutorials.

Pad

PartDesign Pad is a tool to create Pad objects, which are prismatic objects such as extrusion objects, cylinders, cones, cubes, wedges...

Each object is based on an outline (yellow), that defines the cross-section shape (preferably made with the Sketcher Workbench).

The outline is dragged along a direction (extruded) to provide the object with a thickness or a length.
By default it is the normal direction of the plane containing the outline (sketch plane). Optionally the direction can be altered by editing parameters in the properties panel or by selecting a separate straight line (white).

Gallery

Prismatic Primitives

Cylinder		Outline: circle.
Cube		Outline: square. Extrusion length: equals length of square edges.
Cuboid		Outline: rectangle.
Regular Prism		Outline: hexagon.
Wedge		Outline: triangle.

Prismatic Profiles

L-profile		Outline: L shape.
C-profile		Outline: C shape.
Z-profile		Outline: Z shape.
T-profile		Outline: T shape.
Double-T-profile		Outline: H shape, with flange width < flange offset.
H-profile		Outline: H shape, with width = height.

Additive Pipe

PartDesign Additive pipe is a tool to create AdditivePipe objects such as sweep objects, extrusion objects, rotation objects, cylinders, cones, cubes, pyramids, spheres...

Each object is based on at least two lines (preferably made with the Sketcher Workbench):

One outline (yellow), to define the cross-section shape.
One path (white), to sweep along.

It is not hard to realize that some objects can be created with other tools too, but would you have guessed how versatile this tool is without these examples?

Gallery

Circular Sweep Objects

Sphere		Outline: a180° arc and a line connecting the end points. Path: full circle.
Sphere Segment		Outline: a 180° arc and a line connecting the end points. Path: a 240° arc. This function can create segments of any angle except 180° exactly, because it has a problem with start and end plane being coplanar.
Hemisphere		Outline: a 90° arc and two perpendicular lines connecting the end points. Path: a full circle.
Torus		Outline: full circle. Path: full circle.
Cone		Outline: triangle with one edge lying on the centreline. Path: full circle.
Cylinder		Outline: rectangle with one edge lying on the centreline. Path: full circle.
Pipe Hollow Cylinder		Outline: rectangle. Path: full circle.

Prismatic Objects

Straight Sweep Objects

Cylinder		Outline: circle. Path: straight line.
Cube		Outline: square. Path: straight line, same length as square edges.
Cuboid		Outline: rectangle. Path: straight line.
Wedge		Outline: triangle. Path: straight line.
Regular Prism		Outline: regular hexagon. Path: straight line.
Star-shaped Prism		Outline: regular star-shape. Path: straight line.
Double-T Beam		Outline: beam section. Path: straight line.

Conical Objects

Cone

Outlines: Base: full circle, Top: point.
Path: straight line.

(Tip point is an end point of an auxiliary line)

Pyramid

Outlines: Base: square, Top: point.
Path: straight line.

(Tip point is an end point of an auxiliary line)

Tilted Pyramid

Outlines: Base: square, Top: point.
Path: straight line.

(Tip point is the end point of the path)

Curved Sweep Objects

Hose (Pipe)		Outline: 2 concentric circles. Path: curved line.
Square Pipe		Outline: 2 concentric squares. Path: curved line.
Wire		Outline: circle. Path: curved line.
Horn		Outlines: Base: circle, Top: (smaller) circle. Path: curved line.
Legendary Hex-Wrench		Outline: hexagon. Path: curved line.

Spiral and Helical Objects

Coil Spring		Outline: circle. Path: Part Helix.
Hairspring Balance Spring		Outline: rectangle. Path: Part Spiral.
Volute Spring, Conical Spring		Outline: rectangle. Path: Part Helix with an angle.

Transition Objects

Square to Circle via path		Outlines: Base: square, Top: circle. Path: curved line.
Square to Circle direct		Outlines: Base: square, Top: circle. Path: straight line.
Polygon to Star		Outlines: Base: pentagon, Top: star shape. Path: straight line.

Options

Corner Transition

A polyline can be used as a path, and the property Transition influences the shapes of the corners.

Transformed needs special attention as it can produce flat areas where the thickness is 0.

Parameter	Iso View	Top View
Transformed	Inner and outer corners are edges.	The basic shape does not follow the line orientation.
Right corner	Inner and outer corners are edges.	The basic shape follows the line orientation.
Round corner	The corners lying outside the path are rounded.	The basic shape follows the line orientation.

Orientation Mode

Parameter	Iso View	Top View
Standard	Location and orientation follow the path.	(If the object is twisted in an unexpected way, try Frenet)
Fixed	Location follows the path and orientation stays the same as basic shape.	This tends to cause self intersections which lead to further errors: a ghost face in this case.
Frenet	Location and orientation follow the path, based on a different algorithm than Standard.	The basic shape follows the line orientation.
Auxiliary	Location follows the path with a twist around the path that is controlled by an auxiliary curve (blue).	(It is hard to recognise but there is an angle between the planes of auxiliary curve and path that is responsible for the twist)
Binormal