Introduction:

  • Computer Aided Design is use of computer system to assist the creation, modification,analysis and optimization of a design.To Design my model I am using CATIA(Computer Aided Three-Dimentional Atractive Application) its commercial software, but i am more comfortable with CATIA.

  • I am thinking to design a hopper for flour mill and it should be pressfit for that purpose angle of adjacent wall of the hopper is calculated.So all walls will fit precisely in adjacent wall, Following figure 1. shows the rough scketch & its angle calculation (Upper Length=10cm, Lower length=6cm and Height=15cm)

    Figure.1

          

  • In CATIA follow the steps as, go to the Start Menu then click Mechanical Design.A submenu Part Design will appear then click Open Scketcher in Scketcher mode.Select proper axis and Draw the Scketch with proper dimension.To apply Dimension i used Dimension constraints.While creating scketch i used Command a)Line, b)Mirror, c)Translate, d)Reference line and e)Center Line. refere figure.2

    • Figure.2

          

  • To see the 3D model of scketch one should get out of this scketcher mode using exit workbench will redirect to Part design mode,in part design mode apply PAD of 3mm(because i m going to cut these parts on Epilog Laser) so here i am applying PAD= 3mm.following figure 3. shows the actual 3d Part after PAD command.then we need to create slot using pocket command.Go to File menu then SAVE the part using .CATpart extension.

    • Figure.3

          

  • As i want to make pressfit hopper i am using two parts with slot and other two parts with projection of 3mm so following Figure.4 shows the 3D model with projection.

    • Figure.4

          

  • At this stage i need to make assembly of the above individual part.If my assembly is correct then it will cut the part perfectly.Click on Start then click Mechanical Design.submenu Assembly Design will appear and here i have to import above .CATpart extention file and arrange parts with properly using allignments. Select the faces that i want to pressfit using coinside and contact contraints. I used a)contact b)coincidence c)offset and d)fix constaints to make assembly. Save this assembly with .CATproduct extension.

    • Figure.5

          

  • i can export individual part from the PART file using START then Mechanical Design.submenu Drafting will appear this will redirect to Drafting of my 3D part file then I can export file with ORTHO graphic 2D layout with .pdf Extension and with 1:1 Scale.

    • Figure.6

          

  • Exported file now can be open in inkscape and need to change the width of every line and group the all part[Note:Line width=0.01mm because Epilog Laser beam diameter is =0.01 mm] save that file again in .pdf for laser cutting

    • Figure.7

          

    Hopper 3D part files

    Hopper 3D part files

    2D Hopper .svg file

    2D Hopper .pdf file