This document summarizes a student's first modeling assignment in ProE which required learning new CAD techniques. While the student struggled with various errors, they gained valuable troubleshooting skills. Key challenges included correctly using the revolve and pattern features. Though frustrating, the assignment helped the student better understand ProE and will save them time on future projects.

1. UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
Project 01
Our Modeling Assignment
Andrew Wise 3474-5237
9/17/2009
This assignment required the class to learn all sorts of wonderful new techniques in ProE. It was also the
first test of the mettle of this section as numerous errors were encountered by all.

2. Table of Contents
I. Project Description/Requirements ....................................................................................................... 3
II. Final Drawing ........................................................................................................................................ 3
A. Part A................................................................................................................................................. 3
1. Figure 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Figure 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
B. Part B ................................................................................................................................................. 4
1. Figure 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Figure 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 4
C. Part C ................................................................................................................................................. 5
1. Figure 5 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
2. Figure 6 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
III. Discussion.......................................................................................................................................... 5
IV. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 6
V. References ............................................................................................................................................ 6

3. I. Project Description/Requirements
This project is the class’s first official venture into the world of Pro Engineer Wildfire 4.0. We will
learn basic CAD techniques such as line, arc, and extrusion as well as the more complication
features such as holes, revolution, and mirrors. Our assignment requires us to learn these
techniques as we complete in ProE Figure #19 on page 3-10, Figure #1 on page 4-1, and Figure
#29 on page 7-16 from our textbook.
II. Final Drawing
A. Part A
Part A was fairly simple. The class learned to make holes and to extrude to trim material.
1. Figure 1 2. Figure 2
Figure 2 has a nice view of the gap in the middle of Part A. This was done with an
extrusion based on a sketch. We then took the extrusion and trim the material from the
middle and created the gap. Also in Figure 2, one can note the use of the round
command along the inside edging of the gap.

4. Figure 1 is a good look at the two holes in this part. One could use the extrude feature
to make these holes and bluntly trim the material, but a more productive approach is to
use the hole feature which allows the user to create holes without drawing an
additional sketch. Also in Figure 1, the class used the chamfer command for the first
time on the edge of Part A.
B. Part B
Part B was more difficult. The class learned more in depth commands like revolve and
mirror.
1. Figure 3 2. Figure 4
The class applied techniques learned from Part A to Part B. Figure 3 shows 4 holes,
chamfered edges, and a feature made via a trimmed extrusion. The conical protrusion
was made with the revolution feature. The user draws a sketch reference to a centerline
and then can revolve his/her drawing about an axis to create a solid shape.
Figure 4 shows that the holes in this part do not go all the way through. This can be
accomplished through a more advanced mastery of the hole feature on ProE. The class
only drew one hole and learned the mirror feature to increase productivity.

5. C. Part C
Part C is by far the most difficult part. We had to learn pattern for the fins.
1. Figure 5 2. Figure 6
The class used the pattern feature to avoid drawing the blades feature in Figures 5 & 6
twelve times each. The time and frustration saved was incalculable.
III. Discussion
While we learned several time-saving CAD tools in this assignment, that does not mean that
they saved us time on this assignment. Nearly every new command brought on hours of new
struggles.
The revolve command was the first hurdle. Initially, we had drawn our sketch and actually
accomplished a revolution for Part B fairly quickly and painlessly. However, the conical
protrusion was located on the axis of rotation and not on the middle of our base. This ground
progress to a stop. Unlike in familiar AutoCAD, feature may not be moved and positioned as

6. desired. Only after attending office hours did we discover that it was not our revolution that
needed changing but rather our extruded base. We had extruded in only one direction. Our
professor showed us how to extrude in two directions. This centered our base on the same axis
as the protrusion’s axis of revolution. This minor detail caused a two hour delay.
The next challenge was the rotated cut done in Part C. We kept getting error messages.
Everything appeared correct, but yet the blades could not be cut. Unbeknownst to the class,
each blade had to be thickened individually or else it could not be cut. We lost at least another
two hours.
While frustrating, this assignment will save me time in the future. I learned about many of the
possible problems in ProE and have become a much better troubleshooter.
IV. Conclusion
The class learned many new techniques in Pro Engineer Wildfire 4.0 through experience, trials,
and tribulations. At the risk of sounding cliché: no pain, no gain.
V. References
Toogood, Roger. Pro Engineer Wildfire 4.0. Edmonton, Alberta: ProCAD Books Ltd, 2006.