Apply Shrink Rate to model

[Tesla77]

We don't have the Mold Design package but I would like to know if it is the same to scale a part model and have it be the same as applying a shrink rate?


If a shrink rate is needed of .006 per inch could you apply 1.006 scale to a part model to get the proper shrink rate size of the part model to apply to mold steel for repairs?

 

[rmatija]

Result its the same

 

[Tesla77]

Does the location of the coordinate systemof the part model affect the outcome of the scale outcome?


I guess my question isthat isthe scale factor uniform to the part detail no matter the location of the coordinate system in reference to the pat model?

 

[pjw]

You're better off with a shrinkage feature. That way you have a record of what you have done. You can also add the scaling parameters to a family table and turn the feature on or off.

 

[solidworm]

doesn't matter where the coordinate system is located or how it is oriented, applying a scale factor will enlarge the part uniformly, in any direction.but the position of points located on the part will vary depending on where the coordinate orgin is. any angle will be preserved, any length will be magnified n times.

Edited by: solidworm

 

[Tesla77]

Do you need to purchase the Pro/Mold module to obtain the shrinkage option? What is the cheapest onecould get by to obtain the shrinkage option? We only build small MUD sets and repair molds. We haveaccess to all part models (Pro/E models) of which all of our molds have been built. But almost all of our molds are built outside the company to mold shops set up for design/builds of molds.All of the out of house mold designs have been saved as AUTOCAD 2d format. We are looking to change many of them into ProEngineer designs from the 2d prints so we have good CAD to make repairs and new component builds.


We don't need a full blown mold designpackage just enough of an add-on so we can apply shrinkrate and do basic mold component creation. Any suggestions for what to do in this situation would be very helpful.
Edited by: Tesla77

 

[michaelpaul]

The shrinkage feature that is available in the regular Pro-E license will apply a uniform scale factor to the entire model.

The shrinkage command available in the mold package will allow you to apply different scale factors in the X, Y, and Z directions which can be quite handy. why this one difference requires a sepearate and expensive license is beyond me but the marketing geniuses at PTC must have their reasons.

 

[Mindripper]

I ran into this same problem a few years ago. Icalled the Pro/E help line. They referred me to a sales representative, who proceeded to try to sell me the Pro/Mold package (thousands of dollars). I called the Pro/E help line again, and much to my surprise, by chance I got an individual who actually wanted to help me. The solution is a classic example of 'smoke-and-mirrors' strategy needed for so many tasks in Pro/E.


1) Create a new unit of measure that is the shrinkage ratio you want. Call it whatever you want: say a 'widget'.


Edit > Setup > Units > Units > New > Widget, with the ratio to a standard unit of measure.


2) Change the model to the new unit of 'widget' with the 'interpret' option:


Edit > Setup > select 'widget' > Set > select 'interpret' option


This scales the model, but now you have a funky unit of measure.


3) Change the model back to standard units:


Edit > Setup > select the units you actually want > Set > select 'convert' option


Not too difficult: just a little trickery.

 

[wamarler]

Heh, that's pretty clever there Mindripper. Still only applies the scale factor in all 3 directions at once though.

As for "marketing geniuses at PTC must have their reasons..." who knows. Maybe it's harder to write algorithms to reliably skew in 3 directions. Perhaps they're just playing the business game. What's the competition like in this regards? Can other CAD packages scale X, Y, and Z independently? If the answer is "they can't," then that explains the high price, personally I don't know.

 

[jsantangelo]

Heh, that's pretty clever there Mindripper. Still only applies the scale factor in all 3 directions at once though.

As for "marketing geniuses at PTC must have their reasons..." who knows. Maybe it's harder to write algorithms to reliably skew in 3 directions. Perhaps they're just playing the business game. What's the competition like in this regards? Can other CAD packages scale X, Y, and Z independently? If the answer is "they can't," then that explains the high price, personally I don't know.

If you set up the model to have it's 3 primary directions controlled by a boundary box you could then theoretically adjust the shrinkage for all 3 directions...

 

[design-engine]

I am told by vendors that the shrinkage function is the one and only reason to purchase Pro/MOLD.I can't verify that tho.

 

[Tesla77]

Bart,


Did you try this method and compare to what Pro/Mold does? Is it the same result?

 

[Alsummer]

Seems somonewho hadPro/Mold, uploaded a template file with the shrinkage featurein ita couple years ago.Then you could use that as your start part file.

 

[Walt Weiss]

I use a warp feature for my castings.
This allows me to set up a numerical value controlled by a relation & parameter.
Then I set up a family table & control the shrinkage from there.
This allows me to have the master part & tooling in the same model, and makes drawing documentation parametric & easy.

 

[neuronex]

I use a warp feature for my castings...

I've heard it said a few times that using a warp for applying shrinkage is unreliable; but I've never seen much proof of that. When creating mold-parts we usually use Edit > Scale Model, which, because there is no model tree entry, has more potential to cause confusion further down the line. Especially when more than one person works on the same part.

So is the warp feature ok to use as a means of applying shrinkage, or is there a good reason not to use it?