Mastering Navigation & Sketching in Ansys SpaceClaim for Additive Manufacturing

Welcome to the Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing with Ansys SpaceClaim blog series! In this section, we will provide an overview of Ansys SpaceClaim, including its navigation controls, workspace environment, and basic sketching tools. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced CAD user, mastering these fundamentals is crucial for efficient 3D modeling for additive manufacturing and 3D printing with Ansys SpaceClaim. 

Customizing Navigation Controls in Ansys SpaceClaim 

If you have prior experience with other 3D modeling software, you’ll be pleased to know that Ansys SpaceClaim allows you to customize navigation controls and key bindings to match your preferences. This means that you don’t have to relearn everything from scratch. However, for this Ansys SpaceClaim tutorial, we will use the default key bindings for consistency and ease of following along. 

When you open a new project in Ansys SpaceClaim for additive manufacturing, you’ll be greeted with a blank workspace. To customize your controls, navigate to File > SpaceClaim Options (represented by a cog icon). A dialog box will appear, allowing you to adjust various settings, including key bindings and navigation preferences. Under the Navigation tab, you can modify shortcuts for zooming, panning, and rotating your model. 

Navigating the Ansys SpaceClaim Workspace 

Mastering workspace navigation is essential in Ansys SpaceClaim for 3D printing. Here are some key controls: 

• Rotate View: Click and hold the middle mouse button, then drag to rotate the view. 
• Zoom In/Out: Hold Ctrl + Middle Mouse Button and drag. 
• Pan View: Hold Shift + Middle Mouse Button and drag. 
• Axis-Based Views: Click on the X, Y, or Z axis in the bottom-left corner to align the view along that axis. 

These controls make it easy to manipulate and inspect your model from different angles, which is crucial in 3D modeling for 3D printing. 

Getting Started with Sketching in Ansys SpaceClaim 

Before creating a 3D model for additive manufacturing, you must start with a 2D sketch. Sketching in Ansys SpaceClaim for engineers is intuitive and precise. To enter sketch mode, press K or select Sketch Mode from the ribbon. Here, you’ll find various geometrical tools such as: 

• Rectangle Tool: Click and drag to create a rectangle. You can edit dimensions directly by selecting the values and entering new measurements. 
• Circle Tool: Click and drag to draw a circle, then set its diameter (e.g., 20 mm). 
• Line Tool: Click and drag to create lines, with automatic dimensioning and angle indicators. 

Precision & Editing in Ansys SpaceClaim 

Accuracy is key in Ansys SpaceClaim for manufacturing users. You can modify dimensions dynamically: 

• Click on a dimension to manually enter precise values (e.g., setting a rectangle to 10 mm x 20 mm). 
• Use the Undo (Ctrl + Z) and Redo (Ctrl + Y) shortcuts to refine sketches efficiently. 

The software provides real-time feedback, showing angles and relationships between geometry. 

Final Thoughts 

Getting comfortable with Ansys SpaceClaim basics is essential for efficiency in additive manufacturing. By mastering navigation and sketching, you lay the foundation for advanced modeling techniques. In upcoming Ansys SpaceClaim tutorials for engineers, we’ll explore extrusion, modifications, and preparing models for 3D printing. Stay tuned for more insights in this Ansys SpaceClaim online course! 

This blog is part of our ongoing Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing with Ansys SpaceClaim blog series. If you missed the previous posts, check them out here.   

Skill-Lync has released a FREE comprehensive course covering Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing with Ansys SpaceClaim in detail! Check it out here.

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