Advanced Tutorial

PMI
Copyright and Trademarks
ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(GUANGZHOU). All rights reserved.

ZW3D™ V2022 PMI

This tutorial may be reproduced provided it complies with the terms presented on the LICENSE AGREEMENT
supplied.

ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(GUANGZHOU) and the program authors have no liability to the purchaser or any other
entity, with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused, directly or indirectly by this software and training
materials, including but not limited to, any interruptions of service, loss of business, anticipatory profits, or
consequential damages resulting from the use of or operation of this software.

Updates may be made to this tutorial and incorporated into later editions.

ZW3D™ is a registering trademark of ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(GUANGZHOU)

The ZW3D™ logo is a registering trademark of ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(GUANGZHOU)

ZWCAD™, ZWSOFT™, the ZWCAD™ logo, and the ZWSOFT™ logo are all trademarks of ZWSOFT CO.,
LTD.(GUANGZHOU)

Printed in the P. R. China.

ZWSOFT CO., LTD.(GUANGZHOU)

Room 01-08, 32/F, No.15, Zhujiang West Road,
Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510623, China
(8620)38289780

I
 Foreword
In this tutorial, we provide various case studies, which are from easy to difficult and combine theory with
practice. We hope to improve users’ 3D CAD/CAM skills and techniques with ZW3D.

The tutorial bases on our technical engineers’ years of experience in the industry and ZW3D, which is the
fruit of a lot of efforts and wisdom. We sincerely hope that the tutorial will do help to you, and your precious
advice on it is highly welcomed.

There are three series for this tutorial: Primary Tutorial, From Entry to Master Tutorial, and Advanced
Tutorial. From easy to difficult, they offer a step-by-step learning process that can meet different user needs.

Primary Tutorial series is for users who have little or no prior 3D CAD/CAM experience. If you are green hands
of 3D CAD/CAM software, or if you are a new user of ZW3D, we recommend that you get started with this
tutorial. Here you can learn the basic knowledge and concepts of ZW3D, rapidly master the simple operations
and workflows of ZW3D, and practice simple cases.

From Entry to Master Tutorial series is for users with basic know-how of 3D CAD/CAM software. If you have
experience in 3D CAD/CAM software and want to master common functions of ZW3D, we suggest that you
start with this series. Here you can dig deeper into the functions and master more operations of ZW3D.

Advanced Tutorial series is for users with practical experience in 3D CAD/CAM software. If you hope to have
a comprehensive command of ZW3D and get the complicated operations done independently, you can
choose to learn this series. Here you can learn to use the software more flexibly and get rich experience to
increase your efficiency.

What you are learning is ZW3D PMI, an advanced tutorial.

Thanks for being our user!

The ZW3D Team

II
 Contents
1 PMI .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Create Dimensions ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Set Global PMI Dimension Attributes .................................................................................... 1
1.1.2 Quick Dimensions .................................................................................................................. 2
1.1.3 Linear...................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1.4 Symmetry ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.1.5 Angular ................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1.6 Radial/Diametric .................................................................................................................... 4
1.1.7 Chamfer.................................................................................................................................. 5
1.1.8 Arc Length .............................................................................................................................. 5
1.1.9 Hole Callout ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.1.10 Bounding ................................................................................................................................ 6
1.2 Add Annotations ............................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.1 Coordinate ............................................................................................................................. 7
1.2.2 Label ....................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.3 Datum Feature ....................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.4 Datum Target ......................................................................................................................... 9
1.2.5 Feature Control .................................................................................................................... 10
1.2.6 Intersection Symbol ............................................................................................................. 11
1.2.7 Weld ..................................................................................................................................... 11
1.2.8 Surface Finish ....................................................................................................................... 12
1.2.9 Center Line ........................................................................................................................... 13
1.2.10 Center Mark ......................................................................................................................... 14
1.3 Add Text.......................................................................................................................................... 14
1.3.1 Text....................................................................................................................................... 14
1.3.2 Balloon ................................................................................................................................. 14
1.4 PMI Tools ........................................................................................................................................ 16
1.4.1 Resize PMI ............................................................................................................................ 16
1.4.2 Regen PMI ............................................................................................................................ 16
1.5 PMI Management ........................................................................................................................... 16
1.5.1 PMI in Views......................................................................................................................... 16
III
1.5.2 PMI Manager ....................................................................................................................... 17
1.5.3 PMI Modification ................................................................................................................. 18

IV
 PMI

1 PMI
Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) is the 3D annotation, which intuitively gives out all technical
information on 3D entities, such as dimensions and annotations.
Key Points:
 Set PMI Dimension Attributes
 Create Dimensions
 Add Various of Annotations
 PMI Management
 PMI modification

1.1 Create Dimensions

1.1.1 Set Global PMI Dimension Attributes
PMI Ribbon Tab->Tools->PMI Dimension
It’s a good design habit that setting the dimension attribute before creating the dimensions. There are four
tabs available to set different kinds of attributes.
1) General Tab
In this tab, you can set dimension text position, arrow type, tolerance type, and alternate units.
2) Lines Tab
In this tab you can set arrowhead type&size, dimension line attributes and extension line attributes including
color line type and line width.
3) Text Tab
In this tab, you can set text font, color, justification, appended text, and text shape
4) Misc Tab
In this tab, you can set space between lines and text.

1
 PMI

PMI Dimension Attributes

1.1.2 Quick Dimensions
1) Activate PMI
Before adding dimensions, you need to specify a view in view manager to attach dimensions.
View Manager->Right Menu on Views->Activate

Activate a View

2) PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Quick Dimension

Use quick dimensions to quickly create basic dimensions.
STEP 01 Pick entities, such as the edge, circle (The 2nd entity is an optional field)
STEP 02 Pick text origin
STEP 03 Select a plane to adjust the text position (This is an optional field)
STEP 04 Set another parameter to get the needed dimension.

Quick Dimension

2
 PMI

For distance dimensions between two cylindrical surfaces, you can specify different
measurements way.

Measure Dimensions

Dimension type: You can manually specify a dimension type, such as Linear, Angular, Radial and Diametric
dimensions.

Dimension Types and Method

Method：There are three methods available for dimensioning.

Projection Methods

Move Text to Plane: Check this option, then the dimension will pick a plane to align the text to the specified
plane.

Move Text to Plane

1.1.3 Linear
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Linear
3
 PMI
Use this command to create a linear dimension by picking two entities.
In this command, you can set a dimension attribute for the current linear dimension.

Linear Dimension

1.1.4 Symmetry
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Symmetry
Use this command to create symmetric dimensions by picking entity and centerline

Symmetric Dimension

1.1.5 Angular
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Angular
Use this command to create angular dimensions by picking two lines or two planes.

Angular Dimension

1.1.6 Radial/Diametric
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Radial/Diametric
Use this command to create radial/diametric dimensions originating from the center of an arc, curve, circle
or cylindrical face. You can create standard, broken, large and leader radial, as well as diametric, linear
diametric dimensions.

4
 PMI

Radial/Diametric Dimension

1.1.7 Chamfer
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Chamfer
Use this dimension type to create chamfer dimensions.
STEP 01 Pick a chamfer entity (an edge, curve, or face)
STEP 02 Specify a reference entity (an edge, curve, or face)
STEP 03 Pick a point to locate the text

Chamfer Dimension

1.1.8 Arc Length

PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Arc Length
Select an arc to create an arc length dimension.

Arc Length Command

1.1.9 Hole Callout
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Hole Callout
Use this dimension type to create hole callouts for holes
STEP 01 Pick the hole face

5
 PMI
STEP 02 Define the text point
You can select the callout elements from the lists for the hole callout, like quantity, diameter, depth, thread
and so on.

Hole Callout Dimension

1.1.10 Bounding
PMI Ribbon Tab->Dimension->Bounding
Use this command to create bounding for shapes or components.
STEP 01 Pick shapes to generate bounding
STEP 02 Select a plane to align one of the bounding faces (Optional field)

Bounding Command

There are two methods to define bounding dimensions.

Method 1:By total
Select By total type. You can change the size value in the input field or by dynamically dragging the
arrowhead of dimensions.

Create a Bounding by Total

Method 2: By Side

6
 PMI
You can change the increment of different sides individually or use Side increment to change the increment
of all sides.

Create a Bounding By Side

Check Symmetric. Then two increments of each direction will keep the same to get the symmetric bounding.
Model size and bounding stock size are shown in the dialog. At last, the bounding box with PMI dimensions
is created, as shown in the image below.

Bounding PMI

1.2 Add Annotations

1.2.1 Coordinate
PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation-> Coordinate
Use this command to create coordinate label dimensions, in addition to the X/Y/Z coordinates, the height
and thickness are also included.
It is useful for creating coordinate leader text pointing to a point.
STEP 01 Pick Leader point and define the text position
STEP 02 Select a coordinate frame or placed plane if needed
The default displayed coordinates are only X,Y,Z, if you also want display the height and thickness, you need
to add it manually in the dimesion editor shown as below.

Coordinate

7
 PMI
1.2.2 Label
PMI Ribbon Tab-> Annotation ->Label
Use this command to create leader labels.
STEP 01 Pick Leader point and define the text position
STEP 02 Input label text
STEP 03 Select a plane to align the text and set other parameters if necessary

Label

1.2.3 Datum Feature

PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Datum Feature
Use this command to create datum feature symbols.
STEP 01 Define the datum label
STEP 02 Pick target entity and define the text point
STEP 03 Select a plane to align the text
STEP 04 Set the dimension attributes according to the requirements

Datum Feature

Set the dimension attribute for the current datum feature symbol.
1. Tab General
There are two different types of label bounding, rectangle, and circle.
Type 1: Rectangle
You can set the text display way and arrowhead type and define arrowhead size in rectangle type.

8
 PMI

Rectangle Type

Type 2: Circle
You can set the text display way and entity mark type and define arrowhead size in circle type.

Circle Type

The way to set line and text dimension attribute is the same as the global PMI dimension attributes.
1.2.4 Datum Target
PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Datum Target
Use this command to create datum target feature symbols.
Type 1: Point
STEP 01 Pick target point and define the text point
STEP 02 Set datum text (1 to 3 datums are available)
STEP 03 Select a plane to align the datum text

Datum Target - Point Type

Type 2: Circle/Rectangle/Line
Use the same method to create other types of datum target, as shown in the images below.

9
 PMI

Datum Target - Circle/Rectangle/Line Type

1.2.5 Feature Control

PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Feature Control
Use this command to create a GD&T feature control symbol (FCS).

Feature Control Symbol

STEP 01 Input FCS text by FCS editor or Text editor

1) FCS Editor
In this editor, you can fill notation text, symbol type, tolerance type, and value.
You can also see the preview of the feature control symbol.
2) Text Editor
In this editor, you can type text manually and add symbol characters.

FCS Editor and Text Editor

STEP 02 Pick leader point and location point

STEP 03 Select a plane to align the FCS text
STEP 04 Set other dimension attributes if necessary

10
 PMI
There are four different types of Leader line. Other attribute parameters are the same as the global PMI
dimension attributes.

Different Feature Control Display

1.2.6 Intersection Symbol

PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Intersection Symbol
Use this command to create intersection symbols.
STEP 01 Pick line/arc 1
STEP 02 Pick line/arc 2

Intersection Symbol
1.2.7 Weld
PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Weld
Use this command to create weld symbols
STEP 01 Pick a base point as the reference entity
STEP 02 Pick location point
STEP 03 Select a plane to align the weld symbol
STEP 04 Set the symbol and attribute based on demand

11
 PMI

Weld Symbol

1.2.8 Surface Finish

PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Surface Finish
Use this command to create surface finish symbols.
STEP 01 Pick ref. entity
STEP 02 Pick a stationary plane to make the surface finish symbol parallel to the plane
STEP 03 Select a lead. Point. This is an optional field, if you don’t pick a lead point, you will create a surface
finish symbol without a leader.

Feature Control

Orientation Type
There are two leader position types for the bend, align and bent. These two icons will only activate when
you pick lead.point.

Feature Control Display Type

Type 1: Align

12
 PMI

Display Type: Align

Type 2: Bent

Display Type: Bent

Set symbol type and the symbol layout will be shown, then you can fill fields in the layout.

Symbol Type and Symbol Layout

1.2.9 Center Line

PMI Ribbon Tab->Annotation->Center Line
Use this command to create a centerline for revolved faces.
Pick revolved faces and set parameters for the centerline, like dash length, overrun, gap and so on.

13
 PMI

Center Line Command

1.2.10 Center Mark

PMI Ribbon Tab->Amination->Center Mark
Use this command to create center marks for revolving faces or circles. There are three different center mark
types.
Pick revolve faces and select a type for the center mark.

Center Mark

1.3 Add Text

1.3.1 Text
PMI Ribbon Tab->Text->Text
Use this command to create text.
STEP 01 Pick a point to locate the texts
STEP 02 Input text
STEP 03 Pick a plane to align the text. This is an optional field.
In this command, you can define the text font, color height, as well as the leader length.

Text

1.3.2 Balloon
PMI Ribbon Tab->Text->Balloon
Use this command to create balloons.There are two types.
14
 PMI
Type 1: Text
STEP 01 Pick a point to locate the text and input text
STEP 02 Set the text font, color and text height for the balloon if needed

Balloon Type: Text

Type 2: Image
STEP 01 Pick a point to locate the image
STEP 02 Search for the image file
STEP 02 Change the image size according to the requirements

Balloon Type: Image

Balloon Format
When using these two balloon types, you can set balloon format, like position types, leader types, balloon
background and outline

Balloon Format
Settings
1) Check Lock to Screen, the balloon will lock to screen and you cannot move or rotate it.
2) Check Keep balloon on top, the balloon will keep display on top.

15
 PMI

Balloon Settings

1.4 PMI Tools

1.4.1 Resize PMI
PMI ribbon Tab->Tools->Resize PMI
Use this command to resize all PMI entities in the active view.
When you zoom in or out, PMI entities may become too large or too small to be read, then you can resize all
current PMI entities properly.
1.4.2 Regen PMI
PMI ribbon Tab->Tools->Regen PMI
When you modify the objects, the PMI entities related to the objects may not regenerate automatically.
Then you can use this command to regen all PMI entities in the active view.

1.5 PMI Management

1.5.1 PMI in Views
Before adding dimensions, you need to specify a view in view manager to attach dimensions. Then you can
go to view the manager to check PMI in different views.

PMI in Views

Right-click on view, there are two options for PMI display.

Check Only display PMI in active view, it will only display PMI in the active view.
Check Only attach PMI in one view, one PMI entity can only attach in one view.

PMI Settings in View

16
 PMI
1.5.2 PMI Manager
View Manger-> PMI

PMI Manager

In the PMI manager, you can manage PMI on the right-click menu on PMI.

Quick Menu of PMI Manager

1) Display PMI
Uncheck this option to hide all PMI
2) Resize PMI
Refer to PMI ribbon Tab->Tools->resize PMI
3) Regen PMI
Refer to PMI ribbon Tab->Tools->regen PMI
4) Group/Ungroup PMI
Group PMI: All PMI will be grouped according to dimension type.

Group PMI

Ungroup PMI: All PMI will be sorted in the order of creation

17
 PMI

Ungroup PMI

5) Regen PMI Manually

Check this option, then PMI will not automatically update when you replay history.
1.5.3 PMI Modification
1) Modify PMI Text Position
Double click the PMI entity to move the PMI text position.

Double Click to Modify PMI Text Position

2)Modify PMI in Quick Menu

Right-click on a PMI entity/PMI in view/PMI in the PMI manager to call the PMI quick menu.

Quick Menu for PMI Modification

➢ PMI Modification Tool

In the quick menu, you can modify the PMI text, text position, dimension point, and tolerance.

PMI Modification Tool

➢ Attach PMI in View
You can attach current PMI in any views

18
 PMI

Attach PMI in View

➢ Modify PMI Attribute
Call dimension attribute setting of current PMI to modify current PMI dimension attributes.

Modify PMI Attribute

19