Opening the tutorial file (optional)

If you successfully completed Part 1, proceed to the next step: Creating the Side Surfaces, below.

If you were not successful in part 1, open the file called MP3Player_part2.wire, located in the wire directory of the CourseWare project. This file contains the completed model from Part 1.

Watch Part 2 of the tutorial.

Creating the Side Surfaces

First, you will move your curves away from the center line in the z-direction. This will leave some space for a split-line feature you will create later in the tutorial.

1. Maximize the Perspective Window.

   

2. Choose Pick > Object and drag a pick box over all the curves to select them

   

3. Choose Transform > Move and type r0,0,0.25 in the prompt window to move the curves up by 0.25 mm in the z-direction.

4. You will be asked about losing construction history, which relates to the fillet curve. Answer Yes.

   

   Now you will create the side wall using the Draft surface.

5. Choose Surfaces > Draft Surfaces > Draft/Flange . Double-click the icon to open the option window. You will start with the default Draft settings, and then modify them after the surface is created.

   

6. As the curves are already selected, click Go to create the surface.

   

   The default Draft surface is built. The default draft direction is in the positive z-axis, which is correct for your design.

   TipTo change the draft pull direction for future designs, click the dotted lines and arcs representing the axes.

   

   Now you will modify the Draft Angle and the Surface Depth to match the required dimensions.

7. In the Draft option window, change the settings to an Angle of -3 degrees, and a Surface Depth of 2.

   

   The Draft surface is rebuilt to the new settings.

   

8. Choose Pick > Nothing to complete the surface creation.

9. Now you will build the chamfered surfaces.

10. Double-click the Draft icon to open the option window again. Change the settings to an Angle of -45 degrees, and a Surface Depth of 5.

    

    NoteYou will build the chamfered surface to an approximate length. The front face of the MP3 player will later be used to trim the side walls to the correct height.
11. Pick the three top edges of the draft surfaces as the input curves for the new draft surfaces.

    

    Click Go to create the chamfered surfaces.

    

12. Choose Pick > Nothing to complete the Draft surfaces.

    

Creating the Split-Line

Next you will use the Flange surface to create the small split-line feature at the center line.

The Flange surface can only be built from a surface edge, not a curve. This is because it measures its angle from the surface edge, not from a draft direction. So first, you will template your curves to make it easier to select the surface edges.

1. Choose Pick > Component and modify the options so that only curves will be selected.
2. TipYou can either double-click the Pick > Component icon to set up the options in the option window, or you can use the small icons in the menu bar, as shown below.

   

3. Drag a pick box across the model. Only the curves are selected.

   

4. Choose ObjectDisplay > Template to turn the curves into a template that will not be selected by the Pick > Object tool.

   Now you will create some small Flange surfaces to represent the split-line detail.

5. Choose Surfaces > Draft Surfaces > Draft/Flange . Double-click the icon to open the option window. Change the Construction Type from Draft to Flange.

   

6. Change the Surface Depth to 0.5, and change the Angle to 3.
   NoteThe angle of 3 degrees compensates for the draft angle of 3 degrees on the sidewalls. So the flange surfaces will be built parallel to the ground plane.

   

7. Click the lower edges of the side walls and click Go.

   

   The small flange surfaces are created.

   

8. Choose Pick > Nothing to complete the Flange surface.

   To finish off the sidewalls, you will now create another set of flange surfaces to meet the center-line.

9. Choose Surfaces > Draft Surfaces > Draft/Flange again, double-click the icon to open the option window.

10. Change the Angle to 0 and the Surface Depth to 0.25.

    

11. Choose the three edges of the flange surface you just created and click Go.

    

12. Choose Pick > Nothing to complete the Flange surface.

13. 

    The side profile of the surfaces shows how the draft angles and split-line detail have been accurately created.

    

    TipThe Draft and Flange tools may create some extra curves-on-surface. Use Pick > Object Types > Curve on Surface and drag a box over all the surfaces to select them. You can delete these, as they aren’t needed.

Saving your work

1. Choose File > Save As to save the current scene.
2. Save your work in the wire directory of the Lessons project.
3. Name your file myMP3Player2.wire.

For information on creating the Lessons project, or saving your work, see Saving your work in a Windows environment or Saving your work in a Mac OS X environment.