EXERCISE 1.

1 – MODELING A SHAFT

Figure 1: The shaft and its model tree.

Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 1.1 2012, 2013

Learning Targets
In this exercise you will learn:

 Making sketches and dimensions.

 Creating models in part mode and saving them.
 Using basic features to add or remove material (revolve, extrude).
 Creating datum planes.
 Using basic features to modify material (round, chamfer).

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Getting Started
Start Creo Parametric (using the shortcut created in Exercise 1.0). Select New from the Home ribbon
(Figure 2) or select File  New.

Figure 2: Selecting New from the Home ribbon.

The New window opens. Ensure that under Type Part is selected and Sub-type is Solid. Give a name to
a new part, in this situation shaft (Figure 3). Notice, that Use default template is selected. That means
that new parts are created by copying one template part from Creo installation folder (defined in a
setting file config.pro). Select OK when ready.

Figure 3: Dialog box for New.

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Figure 4: New part in part mode.

As you notice in Figure 4, there are four features already in the model tree on the left. These features
are three basic planes (RIGHT, TOP and FRONT) and one coordinate system (PRT_CSYS_DEF). In the
model tree there is a red arrow labeled Insert Here. It means that new created features are placed
where the arrow points. You can drag the arrow and drop it to a new position in the model tree
allowing adding some features between existing features. The model tree is history based; it means
that if you are moving upwards in the model tree you are also moving back “in time” and vice versa.

Creating the first feature

Defining the feature

Our plan is to design a shaft. A shaft is usually symmetric to its center axis, thus the best tool for

designing this kind of part is Revolve, ( ) which can be found in the Model tab (Figure 5). Select the
revolve tool and wait for the Revolve tool dashboard to open (Figure 6).

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Figure 5: Revolve tool in Model tab.

Figure 6: The Revolve tool's dashboard.

As you notice, the Placement tab is in red. It is because the tool needs a sketch. You can select an
existing sketch or create a new one. In general, if you don’t know what the tool requires, you should
check the message area in the bottom of the window (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Message area and its prompt related to Revolve tool.

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Defining sketch

Sketching procedure:

 Selecting sketching plane and reference plane

 Sketching rough geometry
 Defining geometric constrains
 Defining dimensions
 Giving actual dimension values

Select the Placement tab and click Define; this allows creating an internal sketch. The Sketch window
opens (Figure 8). First we need to select the sketching plane, so select the RIGHT plane (from
graphical area or from model tree). The program has probably selected TOP plane as a reference
plane, but if not, click the right box next to Reference and select the TOP plane. Next we need to
define the orientation of the sketch, choose Top from the drop-down menu. This means, that the
positive side of the TOP plane will be pointed up (positive plane side is in blue, negative in red). If your
Sketch window values look like in Figure 8, click Sketch.

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Figure 8: Sketch-window and its values. Sketching plane highlighted in green, reference plane in blue.

The sketch mode opens and view is adjusted to 2D. Notice that the positive side of the TOP plane
points upwards as desired (Figure 9).

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Figure 9: Sketch mode

First we create a centerline (from the Datum group). Click the centerline tool ( ) and select one point
from the horizontal reference line (turquoise dashed line) and then another point from the same line
and close the tool by pressing the middle mouse button (MMB). In general in Creo, tools are active
until you close them. The just created centerline will be an axis of revolution for our revolve feature
(the sketch will be rotated over centerline).

Now we design profile geometry: Select the Line tool ( , Sketching group). Start from the middle
and select points as shown in Figure 10. When the loop is completed, accept it by clicking MMB and
close the tool by pressing MMB again.

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Figure 10: Sketched lines, starting from the middle (1) until loop is closed (11).

Figure 11: Weak dimensions made by program (grey).

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As you can see the program has provided the dimensioning. The dimensions made by Creo (colored
gray) are called weak dimensions. It means that the program can remove or change them when
needed. This is the reason why we do not want to see any weak dimensions; we want to have full
control over the sketch. The automatic dimensioning may look like this (Figure 11). Please note, that
the values of the dimensions can be different, in this stage we do not care about nominal values, we
only care about that the needed dimensions exist.

Before we add our own dimensions, we can remove one unnecessary dimension; in our shaft the
diameter of the shaft should be the same in both ends (length from point 1 to 2 and from 9 to 10
should be the same in Figure 10). To tell that two lines have equal length, choose Equal ( ) from
Constraint group and select two lines (from 1 to 2 and from 10 to 9) and MMB. The L1 text appears
near selected lines to mark the equality.

Figure 12: Two lines selected (green) and moment before MMB between those lines. Notice the equality of the lines
(L1)

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In order to create our own dimensions, the Normal tool can be used ( , in the Dimensions group).
This tool can be used to create all kind of dimensions, such as the length of the line, distance between
two points/lines, radius of an arc, diameter of an arc and angle between two lines. Select the Normal

( ) tool and select lines 4-5 and 6-7 (in Figure 12) and press MMB; the new, user defined dimension
(blue) appears where the mouse was. The tool is still active. Using this tool, create needed dimensions
as seen in Figure 13. Different kind of dimensioning methods are showed in Exercise 1.0, consult it if
needed. When done, close the Normal tool by pressing MMB. To change the values of the
dimensions, just double-click dimension and give a new value as seen in Figure 13. Notice that
dimensions are now in green and locked. To move the dimension value label location, select it holding
LMB and move it to the new desired location.

Figure 13: Sketch done. Locked dimensions in green.

Next check that the sketch fulfills the requirements for Revolve feature by selecting Feature

Requirements ( ) from Inspect group in the ribbon. If everything looks ok, close the window with
Close. Now the sketch is finished. Accept the sketch with (OK, Close group in ribbon).

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Finalizing the revolve

We are back in the part mode and the preview of our defined shape appears (Figure 14). By default
the rotation angle for revolve is set to 360, but it can be changed by double clicking the value in
graphical area or selecting the value field in the dashboard. The angle of 360 is fine for our shaft, so

accept the Revolve by selecting Done ( ).

Figure 14: The preview of revolve

The revolve feature is now displayed in the model tree. Select it by pressing RMB and select Rename
from the menu. Renaming the main features of your model with meaningful names increase its
readability, helping other users understanding your design intents. Give BASE as a name for the
feature. Notice that Creo is not case sensitive, but it will show all user changed features with
uppercase letters even when they are defined in lowercase.

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Saving the model

Save the model by selecting from Quick Access bar or by pressing CTRL-S and selecting Save. The
saving location for your file is always the working directory or location from where your model has
been opened. Except when you are saving your model for the first time, then you can change the
saving location. It is good practice to always save your models in your working directory (which is
defined by shortcut, see Exercise 1.0) to keep control over your files.

Save the model again ( or CTRL-S and Select Save or MMB). Now open your working directory using

Windows Explorer ( Computer and so on… or press Windows-button on your keyboard ( )+E
and so on…). You can see that there are two files named as shaft: shaft.prt.1 and shaft.prt.2 (Figure
15). Every time you save a model, a new version of the model is created. This allows you to go back in
time and open some older version of your model. By default Creo always opens the newest version of
the file (higher number), but you can also open an older version. (When opening a file in Creo, select
Tools and All versions to see all versions of the files you have in that folder.)

Figure 15: Example of a working directory and its files. Notice two shaft.prt.# files.

In general, remember to save the model often! In the first exercises saving after each feature is highly
recommended.

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Making a Keyway
We want to have a keyway in the longer end (FRONT plane side) of our shaft. To make a keyway a
new plane parallel to TOP plane and attached to the previous feature is needed.

Creating a new plane

Select Plane tool ( ) from Datum group. The Datum Plane window appears. Select the TOP plane
and notice, that the plane is listed in References field. Click Offset text in References field and select
Parallel from drop-down menu. Then hold CTRL and select a surface and click Through text in
Reference field and select Tangent from drop-down menu. The references should look like in Figure
16. Now we have made a plane that is parallel to TOP plane and follows the diameter of the shaft.
This plane doesn’t have any dimensions because its location is defined by existing geometry. Click
somewhere in the background to deselect the previously created plane.

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Figure 16: Finished Datum Plane definition. References (plane and surface) showed in green.

Creating a cut

To make a cut for a keyway, select the Extrude tool ( ) from Shapes group. The Extrude tool
dashboard opens. Select Placement tab and then Define, the Sketch window opens. Select previously
created plane as sketching plane and RIGHT plane as reference plane (if not automatically selected)
and set Orientation to Bottom (positive side of the plane will be pointing down) (Figure 17). Select
Sketch.

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Figure 17: Sketch definition for a keyway.

Now we are in the sketch mode. Next we sketch two lines (Line, Sketching group) as shown in Figure
18. Select left plane as first point (1) and then some point in the right as second point (2). Close loop
with MMB, the tool is still active. Select a left plane as first point (3) and move mouse to right until it
snaps and shows a letter L over both lines and select that point (4). Click MMB twice to close the loop
and the tool. Now two equal length (L1) and horizontal (H) lines are created.

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Figure 18: Creating second line, notice snapping for equal lengths (letter L). Letter H tells that the line is horizontal.

Next we use Arc tool ( , 3 point arc) from Sketching group to connect previously made lines (we
want to have a U shape keyway). Select the Arc tool and select starting point (2), ending point (4),
move mouse right until arc snaps and offers tangency (letter T) (Figure 19) and select that point. MMB
to close the Arc tool.

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Figure 19: Arc tool and snapping to offer a tangency constraint (T).

To define a keyway we need only two dimensions (width and length) but in sketcher we have three
dimensions. Reason for this is asymmetry in the sketch. In this case the easiest way to define
symmetry is to attach arc’s center point to horizontal reference line (RIGHT plane). This can be done
by using Coincident constraint ( , Constrain group). Select that tool, select arc’s center point and
then select horizontal reference line (Figure 20). The tool is still active, MMB to close the tool.

Figure 20: Coincident constraint, arc's center point selected and selecting horizontal line.

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Because we just created a new geometric constraint (Coincident), one Creo’s weak dimension has
been eliminated; we have two dimensions that can define the shape. We have a length dimension
(from a reference plane to arc’s center point) and a radius of an arc. Next create a new dimension by

selecting Normal tool ( , Dimension group), select one horizontal line, select other horizontal line
and MMB between those lines. Give values as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21: Finished sketch for Extrusion.

Now we have a sketch that is open and contains three objects (line, arc and line) in a chain. When
making cuts the sketch can be an open loop if the open points are attached to the side of geometry
(in this case, attached to vertical reference line that is always on a side of geometry). If the open
points are inside the geometry, it will not work. If sketch looks like in Figure 21, select OK ( ) from
Close group or hold RMB and select OK from list.

Finalizing the extrusion

We are back in the part mode. In Creo, basic tools can be used both for adding or removing material.
Therefore select Remove Material ( ) from a dashboard to make a cut. Next the depth of the cut and
the direction need to be defined. Give the depth of 3 and click the arrow that is pointing upwards
from a sketching plane; this changes the direction of the extrusion (Figure 22). This can be also done

by clicking leftmost in the dashboard. The rightmost one changes the side of removing area;
click that couple of times to see what it does. When the dashboard and the model look like in Figure

22, accept the feature ( ). Select the just made feature from model tree, click RMB and then
Rename (or select feature and F2) and name it KEYWAY.

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Figure 22: Final values for Extrude.

Remember to save your model!

Creating a Groove

Next we make a cut to help positioning the wheel to our shaft. Select Revolve ( , Shapes group), hold
RMB on graphics area and select Define internal sketch. The Sketch window opens, select RIGHT as
Sketching plane, TOP as Reference plane and Orientation as Top (if not automatically selected). Select
Sketch.

Making a sketch

Figure 23: Location for groove.

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We want to create a groove that is attached to geometry. If any changes are made for the main
dimensions of the shaft, a groove follows those changes and updates its location (Figure 23). In order
to create sketch lines attached to existing geometry, we need to change references. A reference can
be a plane, a surface, an edge, a point etc., basically anything where something can “snap”. In
previous sketches, we used the default references that mostly are base planes (FRONT etc.), so our
geometry was attached only to those planes. Now we want our sketch (and therefore feature) to
follow the surfaces of an existing feature.

Select References ( , Setup group) or hold RMB and select References; the References window opens.
There are two planes listed, select them and click Delete. Then select the two surfaces (a and b)
shown in Figure 24. Notice turquoise dashed lines; one horizontal, other vertical. References doesn’t
have to be vertical or horizontal, they can be pointing anywhere. Close the References window by
selecting Close.

Figure 24: References for groove.

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Select under Arc tool Center and Ends ( ). Then select arc’s center point (1) on horizontal reference
line, starting point (2) on the crossroads of two reference lines and endpoint (3) on horizontal
reference line (Figure 25). Click on MMB to close the arc tool.

Figure 25: Arc using Center and Ends.

For this sketch, only one dimension is automatically created and it is a radius dimension. In this case
using the radius dimension does not reflect the desired design intent. Thus, we need to create a new
dimension: Select Normal tool (Dimensions group), select point 3, then point 2 and MMB to make
dimension, give it a value of 4 and click MMB to close the tool. Now our sketch is ready (Figure 26).
Notice that we didn’t make a centerline (the axis of revolution). Accept the sketch ( or RMB and
select OK).

Figure 26: Sketch ready to accept.

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Finalizing the groove

We are back in the part mode. The tool is asking us (the bottom line of the program window) to select

the axis of revolution, because the sketch didn’t have one. Set the axis display on ( ) and the plane
display off ( ). Now we can select axes from our previous features, in this case there is only one axis,
select it; this axis is from the first revolve feature. Click Remove Material ( ) from dashboard or hold
RMB and select Remove Material. Select Properties and name it to GROOVE. If your screen looks like

in Figure 27, accept the feature by selecting or press MMB. Set the axis display off ( ).

Figure 27: Ready to accept Revolve.

Remember to save your model!

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Rounds and Chamfers

The basic (functional) geometry of the shaft is now ready and there is only some fine tuning to do.
Last features to add are rounds and chamfers.

Creating rounds

Select the Round tool ( ) from Engineering group. In general, tools that add or remove material are
located in the Shapes group and tools that edit material are located in Engineering group. Select the
first edge (1), hold CTRL and select the second edge (2) as shown in Figure 28. Open the Sets tab and
notice that there is one set that has two edges in its References field. Change the radius value to 2
(Figure 29) and accept the feature ( or MMB).

Figure 28: Edges for Round.

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Figure 29: Ready to accept Round.

Creating chamfers

Select Chamfer tool ( ) from Engineering group. Select five edges (remember to hold CTRL after the
first edge) as shown in Figure 30. Then change the dimensioning from D x D to 45 x D and give value of
2 (Figure 31). Accept the feature ( or MMB).

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Figure 30: Edges for Chamfer.

Figure 31: Changing dimensioning schema.

Ending Notes
Now your model should look like in Figure 1. To make your model look like in that figure, select
Shading With Reflections as Display Style (Figure 32).Notice that there are also other shading modes
to use.

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Figure 32: Changing Display Style to Shading With Reflections.

We have created a shaft that is defined using the main design dimensions; diameter of the shaft,
diameter of the attaching cylinder, length of the shaft, length of the attaching cylinder etc. The
keyway and the groove are attached to BASE geometry and its main dimensions, allowing them to
follow the changes made to the main geometry. This allows other person to use your model and helps
you to redefine your model in the future when design criteria changes.

This concludes our exercise. Remember to save your model!

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