CREO is my 3D weapon of choice with almost 25 years of modelling under my belt.
Consulting in the Australian design industry though, it is a necessity to be equally proficient in SolidWorks. For both CAD systems, though, the Top-Down-Design CAD methodology is the tried-and-true modelling process I follow, almost religiously.
Top-Down is the 'What' I model. Over the years I have found that optimising personal UI (User Interface) modelling workflows have enhanced the of the out of the box User Interface developments of each CAD package is the 'How'.
Personal UI optimisations have had a multitude of benefits for CAD modelling and are not just limited to time savings.
UI enhancements have enabled me to more easily find that modelling flow state, but equally important is easier on my body. But more on that later.
There have always been productivity benefits from process optimisation.
Especially in the early days using Pro-E 18, circa 1996, but certainly more since then, these were the bad old days before icon-based tool pallets, before SolidWorks was prevalent in the Australia market. Back then drop-down menus took the user down the multiple layered feature-based rabbit hole.
At this time I was introduced to Mapkeys as a simple way to optimise modelling productivity.
A Keyboard <EX> Mapkey keystroke would shortcut directly into the sketcher window. No longer did the modeller need to follow the click path of <Feature/Create/Protrusion/Extrude/Sketch> with mouse clicks on a menus from the top ribbon. At the time Mapkeys were KING.
Over the years CAD systems have become more sophisticated in usability through developments in UI. The competition between CAD platforms like SolidWorks and CREO (Pro-E) has seen direct benefits to the end user, especially like me that uses both fluently for my day-to-day business of serving my clients.
The development of icon-based feature selection made great inroads into simplifying the usability and increasing the productivity of CAD designers.
These developments along with my trusty old Mapkeys gave me added efficiencies and a competitive edge.
I still use Mapkeys to this day in CREO 10. An example is using a custom ‘DD” MapKey for measuring geometry on a model.
A simple process of selecting the desired geometry, hit ‘DD’ and the dimension is shown. No longer moving the cursor to the ‘Analysis’ tab and searching for a ‘Measure’ button.
Yes, this only saves 3 seconds, but someone wise once said, "every drop makes the mighty ocean" and a saving is a saving multiplied.
I have recently spoiled myself with a 49-inch widescreen and it is awesome.
It allows me to have multiple windows or icon pallets open at once without reducing the modelling window to a postage stamp.
When in CAD, it also enables for zooming deep into a model whilst still keeping the chosen detail in visual context of the wider model.
But… increased screen size has shown a spotlight on the mileage a cursor has to cover in the day-to-day process of modelling. 49 inches is a lot of real estate for the cursor to cover on the screen and the mouse over the mousepad.
A downside is that many CAD APP windows still have their menus and pallets top left justified.
To highlight the improvements in CAD UI plus the added benefit of personalised workflows through Mapkeys I have conducted the little Case Study below.
Three identical models, created each time from scratch, comprising basic protrusion features of an Extrude, a Revolve, a Sketch, a Swept Blend and a text feature using a different UI workflow.
CREO 10 - Standard out-of-the-box UI with a simple mouse often provided by Company IT departments.
CREO 10 - Standard out-of-the-box UI with a simple mouse but modelling with my custom Mapkeys.
CREO 10 - with Customised UI, custom Mapkeys, Space Mouse and a modelling Mouse with HotKeys.
Figure 1. shows the mouse trace movement of modelling without any out of the box UI enhancement of recent years or my personalised workflows to simulate the bad old days.
I even sat on my left hand to ensure habits built over 25 years did not try to jump in and help.
Stay tuned for part 2 to discover the next level of optimisations for modelling flows and UI for accelerated modelling efficiency and productivity.
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In the meantime, I will be presenting on the this topic at the Leap Australia CREO 11 LAUNCH DAY at Macquarie University this Thursday 25 July – 12:30pm.
To join me register here
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For more information on modelling practices and workflows or the services I can offer you, feel free to reach out via LinkedIn or email.
Big thanks to Michael Lord (SSUG) for your inspiration.
Mouse Trace software is IOGraph.
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