3D Model Creation
In order for Computer Aided Manufacture to take place Computer Aided Design must first be undertaken. If done correctly CAD/CAM will be mm accurate and requires very little post production finishing (depending upon the process used) for prototyping, especially when compared to hand crafting.
Because of this any CAD designs must be 100% accurate as any idem manufactured will be exact to the drawings.
Part 1 - The Body Section
The first part of the design creation was to make the front and rear body sections, with all the revisions discovered in the model making process.
The front and rear are almost exact copies, therefore the same initial drawing can be duplicated with additional features added and altered as required for each individual part.
Part 2 - The Head Section
As with the body section the head was created from a single sketch that was duplicated once all common features were created. Any additional or individual features were then created on the required section as per the design.
Part 3 - 3D Assembly
After all individual parts had been created Creo has the feature to assemble all the parts to make a single assembly product.
This can then be viewed assembled or exploded in rendered and wire frame form. This allows to see the product as a working item and see all individual parts and dimensions working together.
Part 4 - Preparing to CAM
After ensuring that all my pieces work seamlessly as a working model on Creo, these can now be produced as working files for manufacturing.
This requires the parts to be exported as .stl files, a format that is understood by the CAM machines for automated production.
