Design Concepts

You can design many different types of models in Creo Parametric. However,
before you begin your design project, you need to understand a few basic
design concepts:
Design IntentBefore you design your model, you need to identify the
design intent. Design intent defines the purpose and function of the
finished product based on product specifications or requirements.
Capturing design intent builds value and longevity into your products. This
key concept is at the core of the Creo Parametric feature-based modeling
process.
Feature-Based ModelingCreo Parametric part modeling begins with
creating individual geometric features one after another. These features
become interrelated to other features as you reference them during the
design process.
Parametric DesignThe interrelationships between features allow the
model to become parametric. So, if you alter one feature and that change
directly affects other related (dependent) features, then Creo Parametric
dynamically changes those related features. This parametric ability
maintains the integrity of the part and preserves your design intent.
AssociativityCreo Parametric maintains design intent outside Part mode
through associativity. As you continue to design the model, you can add
parts, assemblies, drawings, and other associated objects, such as piping,
sheet metal, or electrical wiring. All of these functions are fully associative
within Creo Parametric. So, if you change your design at any level, your
project will dynamically reflect the changes at all levels, preserving design
intent.
The Modeling Process
The following graphic illustrates the modeling process and the role design
intent plays:

Features and Parts
All models that you build contain the following fundamental anatomical
attributes:
FeaturesIndividual geometry created one at a time. Features include
datums, extrusions, holes, rounds, chamfers, surface features, cuts,
patterns, sweeps, and so on. You can have multiple features in a part.
PartsCollection of geometric features that define the geometric entity
called the part. Parts are referred to as components in an assembly. You
can have multiple components in an assembly.
AssembliesCollection of components assembled together to create the
model. You can have multiple assemblies and subassemblies in a
hierarchical order according to their relationships with other assemblies
and the master assembly.
Parent-Child Relationships
You can use various types of Creo Parametric features as building blocks in
the progressive creation of solid parts. Certain features, by necessity,
precede other more dependent features in the design process. Those
dependent features rely on the previously defined features for dimensional
and geometric references. This is known as a parent-child relationship.
The parent-child relationship is one of the most powerful aspects of Creo
Parametric and parametric modeling in general. This relationship plays an
important role in propagating changes across the model to maintain the
design intent. After a parent feature in a part is changed, all children are
dynamically altered to reflect the changes in the parent feature. If you
suppress or delete a parent feature, Creo Parametric prompts you for an
action pertaining to the related children. You can also minimize the cases of
unnecessary or unintended parent-child relationships.
It is therefore essential to reference feature dimensions so that Creo
Parametric can correctly propagate design changes throughout the model.
When working with parent-child relationships, it can be helpful to remember
that parent features can exist without child features. However, child features
cannot exist without their parents.

About the Extruded Feature

Extrusion is a method of defining three-dimensional geometry by projecting
a two-dimensional section at a specified distance normal to the sketching
plane.
Use the Extrude tool as one of the basic creation methods that allows you to
create a solid or surface, and to add or remove material.
You can create the following extrusion types with the Extrude tool:
ProtrusionSolid, Thickened
CutSolid, Thickened
Extruded surface
Surface trimRegular, Thickened
You can create an extrusion in one of two ways. You can click Model
Extrude to open the tool and then sketch or select a sketch to use as the
features section. You can also select a sketch to use as a section and then
click Model Extrude. A preview of the feature is displayed in the graphics
window. You can adjust the feature as needed by changing the extrusion
depth, switching between a solid or surface, protrusion or cut, or assigning a
thickness to the sketch to create a thickened feature.
To Create a Solid Protrusion
1.
Click Model Extrude. The Extrude tab opens.
2. Select a sketch to extrude, or to create a sketch, click the Placement tab,
click Define, sketch a section, and click OK.
Note
You could also select a sketch first, or select a datum plane or planar
surface first, and then click Model Extrude.
3. Select a depth option from the menu:

Blind. Type a value.

Symmetric. Type a value.

To Next. The extrude stops at the first surface of a solid that it
reaches (not available in Assembly mode).

Through All. The extrude stops at the last surface it reaches.

Through Until. Select a reference surface (not available in Assembly
mode).

To Selected. Select a reference point, curve, plane, or surface.
4. To flip the direction of feature creation in relation to the sketching plane,
click .
5. (Optional) The section used for the extrusion is associative with the
sketched datum curve you selected. To break this associativity and copy
the section into the extrusion, click the Placement tab, and then click Unlink.
6. If required, to create a double-sided feature, click the Options tab and
define the depth for the second side.
7. If required, to add a taper to the extrude, click the Options tab, select the
Add taper check box, and then type a value from -30 to 30 for the taper
angle.