2011-05-06_110750_pictures2.zip
2011-05-06_110652_pictures1.zip
Hello everyone,
I also posted this question at the PTC forum,but since I did not get a response yet I figured I could try this site as well.
Here is my problem:
After 3 weeks of trying I'm about ready to give up - although that is not really an option with a paying customer waiting for my work.
Here is what I am trying to do:
I want to make a skeleton model of the top surface of a part. (I'm sorry, I am not allowed to tell you what the function of the part is)
The top surface is very complex. The main features are:
- a hexagonal array of cuts - array has almost 10000 copies
- almost as much protrusions ("burls")
- a (sort of) spiral shaped extrusion
- some features on the edge.
The picture 1-model_OK_hexsize-40.jpg gives an idea. The only problem is: the hexsize in it is 40 mm; I want it to be 3 mm. This means a lot more pattern instances. ProE seems to have a problem with that.
View attachment 5086
I tried several approaches.
A:
created several surfaces, then merged them into a quilt
B:
- a hexagon quilt is created in a separate skeleton model.
- A burl quilt is created in another skeleton model.
- A third skeleton model uses external copy geometry to import both quilts
- These are merged into 1 quilt
The advantage over A: I can have several computers do the work simultaniously since creating such a complex quilt takes many hours.
C:
- I started with a solid disc
- made a hex cut, patterned the hexagons
- built all the other features as solid extrudes
Advantage: no merging neccecary. (merging proved to be a problem in A and B)
D:
- started with a 2d disc
- cut out all hexagons
- added the spriral
- thickened into a solid
- did the same with the burls
In each case, I started with a limited number of hex cuts, either by increasing their size or by limiting their number in the pattern (added a second contour inside the pattern area).
Each method worked.
I then modified the pattern to the correct number and size.
Several things then went wrong:
- all of a sudden, some features started to fail. Quilts won't merge anymore, cuts won't regenerate (2-failed_burl_hexsize-35.jpg).
- some instances of a pattern show up at completely the wrong location (3-hex_pattern_problem1_hexsize-3.jpg).
- the amount of time it takes to regenerate increases to "rediculous" imho. Two days, just to make the hex cuts in a 2d plane!
Maybe some system info would help:
Dell precision T3500, X5650 Xeon 6 core 2,67 GHz, 6 GB Ram, 64 Bit, Win 7, Wildfire 5
Does anyone understand why this is not working?
Or have any tips/tricks/ a better way to model this?
Thanks!
Eelco
Edited by: multin
2011-05-06_110652_pictures1.zip
Hello everyone,
I also posted this question at the PTC forum,but since I did not get a response yet I figured I could try this site as well.
Here is my problem:
After 3 weeks of trying I'm about ready to give up - although that is not really an option with a paying customer waiting for my work.
Here is what I am trying to do:
I want to make a skeleton model of the top surface of a part. (I'm sorry, I am not allowed to tell you what the function of the part is)
The top surface is very complex. The main features are:
- a hexagonal array of cuts - array has almost 10000 copies
- almost as much protrusions ("burls")
- a (sort of) spiral shaped extrusion
- some features on the edge.
The picture 1-model_OK_hexsize-40.jpg gives an idea. The only problem is: the hexsize in it is 40 mm; I want it to be 3 mm. This means a lot more pattern instances. ProE seems to have a problem with that.
View attachment 5086
I tried several approaches.
A:
created several surfaces, then merged them into a quilt
B:
- a hexagon quilt is created in a separate skeleton model.
- A burl quilt is created in another skeleton model.
- A third skeleton model uses external copy geometry to import both quilts
- These are merged into 1 quilt
The advantage over A: I can have several computers do the work simultaniously since creating such a complex quilt takes many hours.
C:
- I started with a solid disc
- made a hex cut, patterned the hexagons
- built all the other features as solid extrudes
Advantage: no merging neccecary. (merging proved to be a problem in A and B)
D:
- started with a 2d disc
- cut out all hexagons
- added the spriral
- thickened into a solid
- did the same with the burls
In each case, I started with a limited number of hex cuts, either by increasing their size or by limiting their number in the pattern (added a second contour inside the pattern area).
Each method worked.
I then modified the pattern to the correct number and size.
Several things then went wrong:
- all of a sudden, some features started to fail. Quilts won't merge anymore, cuts won't regenerate (2-failed_burl_hexsize-35.jpg).
- some instances of a pattern show up at completely the wrong location (3-hex_pattern_problem1_hexsize-3.jpg).
- the amount of time it takes to regenerate increases to "rediculous" imho. Two days, just to make the hex cuts in a 2d plane!
Maybe some system info would help:
Dell precision T3500, X5650 Xeon 6 core 2,67 GHz, 6 GB Ram, 64 Bit, Win 7, Wildfire 5
Does anyone understand why this is not working?
Or have any tips/tricks/ a better way to model this?
Thanks!
Eelco
Edited by: multin