Lesson Five - Creating a Flange

This is one of several tutorials that give step-by-step examples of the various approaches to creating a drawing. Experiment with all methods to see what best suites your type of work.

In this session you will use the SHAFT command to create a 3D model of a flange. You can also create the flange as a 2D or wire frame model, but not all features will appear if direct generation is used. This session uses the pull-down menus primarily. Optionally, you can type the commands at the Command: prompt.

  1. Start SI Mechanical (see Starting SI Mechanical in the Getting Started section of this manual).
  2. Use the DPVAR command to set the UNIT DPVAR variable to MM.

Create Solid Part

You will now create a solid shaft with five segments. The entire part will be created in one operation after all segments and features are specified.
  1. Use the SHAFT command to create the part:
    1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
    2. Select the Shaft Options... item in the menu. The shaft dialogue box will be displayed.

      SHAFT dialogue box

  2. Pick the Insert button until there are five segments shown in the Segment image. Use the < and > buttons to move along the shaft.
  3. Use the edit boxes to set the segment dimensions. Segments will be set according to the following dimensions:
    SegmentLengthStart diaEnd dia
    110.030.030.0
    220.036.036.0
    36.032.032.0
    416.060.060.0
    510.0100.0100.0
  4. Add a Data field to the Main features Current: list. Main features apply to the entire shaft. The Data field will have these Major parameters: Field name is DESCP, and Field value is FLANGE. Type is String. Pick OK.
  5. Add a Recess to the Main features Current: list. Main features apply to the entire shaft. The recess will have these Major parameters: Location is Start, and Diameter: is 20.0. All other parameters, including Depth:, are 0.0. A depth of 0.0 indicates a through recess. Pick OK.
  6. Add another Recess to the Main features Current: list. The recess will have these Major parameters: Location is End, Diameter: is 44.0, and Depth: is 16.0. All other parameters are 0.0. Pick OK.
  7. Move to segment two and add a thread to the Segment features Current: list. Segment features apply to individual segments. The thread will be a Millimeter thread with a Size: of M36 X 4. Pick the Threads... button and set the threads to Detailed. Pick OK. The segment is automatically sized to fit the selected thread.
  8. The threaded segment will have a chamfer at the start and end of the thread. Add a chamfer to the Segment features Current: list for segment two. The chamfer will have these parameters: Location is Both, Distance: is 1.5, and Angle: is 45. Pick OK.
  9. Move to segment four and add a fillet to the Segment features Current: list. The fillet will have these parameters: Location is Start, and Radius: is -6.0. A negative radius causes a reduced diameter fillet as opposed to an increased diameter fillet. Pick OK.
  10. Move to segment five and add a fillet to the Segment features Current: list. The fillet will have these parameters: Location is Start, and Radius: is -3.0. Pick OK.
  11. Add a hole pattern to the Segment features Current: list for segment five. Select a hole with these parameters: Location is Start, Type is METRIC HOLES, Size is M6 X 1, Start is Cbore, and Hole depth is 10.0 Thru. The Pattern will have these parameters: Items are 6, Radius: is 40.0, Angle: is 60, and Rotation angle: is 0. Pick OK.
  12. Set the View to Solid, pick OK, and insert the part.

    Flange displayed in SHAFT dialogue box

    Command: shaft
    Solid, Front, 5 segment(s), 6 feature(s)
    Insert point <options>: 210,160
    <Rotation angle>/Reference: [Enter]

  13. Change the viewing angle with the AutoCAD VPOINT command.

    Command: vpoint
    Rotate/<View point>:<0.0,0.0,1.0>: r
    Enter angle in X-Y plane from the X axis <270>: 45
    Enter angle from X-Y plane <90>: 35

    Flange model

Save this drawing as flange.dwg to use in Lesson Six. You can use the SYMCHG command to make changes to the part.