VISI - Basic CAD Fundamentals

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to describe the ways in which Workplanes can be used, how to create and save a new Workplane by giving it a name, how to reorient Geometry to a new Workplane with the Current Workplane to New command, you will also be able to manage Multiple Workplanes, Create a Workplane by 3 points, and how to create a workplane by selecting a face in the drawing.

Download and extract the VISI Basics Training Files for use with the exercises throughout this course.

The topics throughout this lesson address Layers and how to use them to maximize efficiency and organization in a VISI workfile. We’ll start by setting visibility and attribute rules, creating layers and groupings, moving geometry from one layer to another, setting additional drawing filters, and exploring ways in which layers can be used to navigate a drawing.

Throughout this lesson, we will use profiles to complete a few exercises to showcase some commands that creatively transition from 2D to 3D shapes. Extruding a profile can turn an outline into a solid. From the solid, a profile can be used to carve out a pocket. Swinging a profile, whether it is a closed profile or an open profile, produces a solid or sheet with thickness. The final exercise will use all the knowledge gained in the prior lessons to design a component using primitive solids and profiles based on a diagram. You will gain an understanding of how profiles are used for drafting in VISI.

In this lesson, you will explore the many options available for creating 2D drawings of 3D models for manufacture. The Plotview Manager is used to set-up and select the pages for the drawings. A View is a perspective, or way of looking at the geometry in the drawing, including the style in which it should be drawn. The Selection method can either be by done from the parts list or by layers. The Multiview method efficiently allows for the creation of many views at once based on the Options settings. You will learn how to cut a section from within the geometry to create an internal view and place it in the plot. Once you’ve created the views, you will save the Plotview pages as separate files and prepare them for printing. Use the Query commands to analyze geometry for properties, distances, and other measurements. Finally, you will complete an independent Plotview Practice exercise using all that we’ve discussed in this lesson.

By the end of this lesson, you will have gained practical knowledge of the most useful surfacing commands. While there are many options to choose when it comes to forming a surface, creating a plane from a closed area is the simplest concept. A Plane, or surface, can be created with the input selection of a mere three points. A Ruled surface, bound by multiple lines or curves, will be produced in various examples. The formation of a Blend between faces is sometimes the best option for bridging two elements with a surface. An n-sided patch is useful when a gap is found in an otherwise contiguous surface. The most complete surfacing solution is the Auto Constrained surface command, which encompasses multiple tools. 

The concepts in this lesson are presented during the construction of the part model in an exercise. We will start with the simplest form by drawing a cuboid. Another primitive shape to add to the model is the cylinder. Next, we will create a Slot using the subtraction method. Then, we will build two Lugs using mirrored duplication. We will learn how to Unite multiple solids into one element. An adjustment will be made by moving a face. Blends are applied, as well as Chamfers, to finish the model. The additional exercises first show how to Edit Surfaces. Finally, you will complete an independent challenge to model with primitive solids to create a new part. 

In this lesson, the following commands will be covered:

Validate Bodies, which identifies any corrupt faces on a model, Detect Redundant Bodies, which recognizes duplicate data and moves it to an alternate layer, and Detect Gaps, which highlights surface inconsistencies.

In this lesson, you will be working in the Assembly Manager. The Assembly Manager (AM) application is a powerful tool used for compiling the parts list and printing the bill of materials (BOM).  Applications such as Mold, Progress, and Electrode are able to pass the part list data directly to the Assembly Manager where it is possible to finalize the part information, modify data, or add new details. The Assembly Manager also has the capability to export the list as a bill of material in Excel format, organize the material list as required, and has options to create balloon references in plotview.