3 Essential Tools for Better MBD in Creo 4

Our Expert Highlights the Model-Based Definition Features You'll Want to Know About in Creo 4.0

Have you found your favorite feature in the newest release of our powerful 3D CAD software platform—Creo 4.0? It might be hard to choose given the long list of enhancements and notable capabilities now available. That’s why we asked each of our product managers to highlight just three not-to-be-missed features in this release.

Raphael Nascimento pointed to advances in model-based definition (MBD). “Model-based definition in Creo 4.0 was a huge focus for PTC,” he said. “In fact, we introduced well over 30 enhancements in Creo Parametric related to MBD.”

Exactly 27 more than we asked for. With some prodding, however, he narrowed it down to these three:

Raphael Nascimento, Creo Product Manager

Easier to Create and Edit Datum Feature Symbols

The datum feature symbol is now a regular annotation, and it doesn’t need to be attached to a plane or axis in the model. Not only does this simplify the creation workflow, but it better represents the requirements of ASME and ISO standards. Nascimento said, “I picked this as a top enhancement because it is just so much easier to use now than ever before.”

Once you click the Datum Feature Symbol icon, you immediately see a preview of the datum feature symbol attached to the mouse pointer, and you can click wherever you want to place it. Plus, Creo automatically chooses the next available datum name (A, B, C, etc.) according to the standard. If you need more text next to the symbol, Creo 4.0 supports that as well. Here’s a video showing how to create and edit annotations:

Enhanced Geometric Tolerance Symbols

We’ve made the workflow for creating and editing geometric tolerance (GTOL) symbols  faster and easier. Like the datum feature symbol, once you click the GTOL icon, the system immediately displays a preview of the GTOL attached to your mouse pointer. You can then place it wherever you want.

Editing the properties is much easier too, since you can just type the values and modifiers right into the various fields in the ribbon. The text symbols now include all modifier symbols required by the standards. Don’t worry if you’re not exactly sure about whether a particular modifier is valid according to the standards. Creo provides syntax checking to make sure your GTOL is ASME and ISO compliant.

Creo 4.0 includes more intuitive workflows for creating and editing geometric tolerances (GTOLs).

Easier to Create and Edit Datum Target Symbols

Creating standards-compliant datum targets has never been easier. The workflow for creating datum targets now aligns with the process for creating other annotations. For example, you immediately see a preview of the datum target on your mouse pointer as soon as you click the datum target icon. Plus, you can select the datum target’s leader attachment and then drag the symbol to the location where you want to place it. 

You’ll see standard target areas of circle, rectangle, and point built in to the annotation itself. And you’ll also notice that the dimension included in the annotation drives the size of the rectangle and circle target areas. “We’ve also included a number of standards-related options,” Nascimento said. “These include a movable datum target and the placement of the dimension outside of the symbol.”

Download the Free E-book

MBD is quickly becoming the preferred approach to design as many of the hurdles to creating a single source authority model for every stage of product development are falling away. To learn more about model-based definition, check out the free e-book from PTC. You’ll find out more about the limits of 2D drawings, how MBD simplifies complexity, and where to get started. Download your copy today.