Bowling Sign Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to help you become familiar with the BobART features in an assembly.Follow this tutorial along with the other Emboss tutorials to learn more about the BobART Emboss features.The following features will be used to create the model:

  • Emboss Swept - Add
  • Emboss from Component - Merge High
  • Emboss Regular - Merge Low
  • Emboss Regular - Merge High
  • Emboss Regular - Subtract
  • Emboss 2 Rail Sweep - Merge High
  • Loading an Image
  • Vectorizing an Image
  • Saving a Component
  • Emboss from Component - Add

Example File

If you are connected to the Internet, the part file for this example can be downloaded automatically by clicking the following link: BowlingSignAssembly

Once you download and saved the zip file, extract the files on your system in an easy place to remember.You can then open the file to use with this tutorial.All files for the tutorials in this help system available for download can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.bobcad.com/helpfiles.

In the images below, you will see what we are working towards with our BobART creation steps.


Part 1) Open the Example File

  1. In the File menu, click Open.

    The Open dialog box is displayed.

  2. Select the folder in which you saved the example files.

  3. Select BowlingSignAssembly.sldasm, and click Open.

The file is opened and the geometry is displayed in the graphics area.

Important: If, when the assembly is open, the parts in the Feature Manager Design Tree show an icon, right-click BowlingSignAssembly at the top of the Feature Manager Design Tree, and select Set Lightweight to Resolved.The part icons will then show an icon, and you will then have access to the part features.


Part 2) Adjust the Visibility of the Model

In order to see the sketches we are building the BobART model from, we hide the MainBoard component.

Note: The following step is not possible if your assemblies opens with lightweight components.If the MainBoard feature has a icon in front of it, first right-click the feature and select Set to Resolved.This will allow you access to all the data in the feature.Once this is done, you will be able to accomplish Part 2.

  1. In the Feature Manager Design Tree, expand MainBoard.

  2. With MainBoard expanded, right-click Boss-Extrude1 and select Hide.

    The MainBoard is hidden.

Part 3) Beginning an Emboss Model

In order to create a feature, a coordinate system must be associated with the Emboss Model, and canvas must be set up.

Create the Canvas


  1. In the BobART Manager tab, right-click Emboss Model, and click Edit Canvas.

    The Canvas Definition dialog opens in the Data Entry Manager.

    By default, the Canvas Definition dialog uses the Front Plane of the assembly to associate the BobART model with.

Set the Canvas Orientation


  1. In the UCS group, select the Right Plane.

Set the Canvas Size and Location


  1. In the Origin group, set the X value to -24.0000, set the Y value to -62.8750, and set the Z value to 0.5000.

Important: From the Z0 of the selected UCS, the height of the center area of the MainBoard is 0.7500, while the area toward the corners, which will have a feature on it as well, is 0.5000.For that reason our final canvas height position will be at Z 0.5000 with features in the center using a base height of is 0.2500 to place them on the surface of the MainBoard.


  1. In the Model Size group, set the Xvalue to 48.0000, and set the Y value to 30.0000.

Note: The resolution updates automatically as the size is updated.The Resolution will improve the quality of the model, but also increase the size of the file, and the amount of time it takes to regenerate the surface.

A portion of the emboss, which will created at the end of the tutorial is used to illustrate the point.The image on the left shows canvas with a resolution of 21, while the image on the right shows canvas with a resolution of 86.



Normally, since ultra fine details will not be visible on the final machined part, canvas with a higher resolution is not really needed.However, if it is wanted, wait until the model is complete and adjust the resolution at the end.This will keep regeneration times low during the creation of the model.

  1. Select the Remove Non-Emboss Area check box.

    This option will remove all portions of the canvas that are not affected by an emboss feature.Those portions will, however, remain visible until the first time the canvas is regenerated, allowing you to confirm the proper size and placement of the canvas.

  2. Clear the Make as Solid check box.

  3. Click OK.

Part 4) Create the Ring

The ring that circles the bowling pins is created by using an Emboss Swept with the Add application type selected.

Create the Emboss Swept - Ring - Add

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and select Emboss Swept

Set the Feature Attributes

  1. In the Attribute group, change the Name to Ring.

  2. Click the drop down next to Color.

    The quick access dialog appears.

  3. Select yellow.

    The quick access dialog disappears.

  4. Leave the Application Type to Add.This will cause the emboss to be added to the canvas surface.

  5. In the graphics area, select the inner circle geometry as shown next.



    The geometry is added to the Re/Select Geometry list.

  6. Click the drop down for Cross-Section and select Line.

  7. Set the Height value to 1.0000.

    Leave the Slope Angle at 45.0000.

  8. In the Fast Edit group, set the Base Height to 0.2500.

    Since our canvas has been given a thickness equal to the outer edges of the Main Board, we just need to adjust the base height of our emboss features to the additional quarter inch of height in the center of the Main Board so our features are on, and not inside it.

  9. Click OK.



    Notice the rest of the stock is gone leaving only the embossed area.This is because we have the Remove Non-Emboss Area check box in the Stock Parameters selected.

Part 5) Utilizing a Component - Bowling Pins

Using a component in BobART is really just importing an STL and adjusting its scale and position.In this case we utilize an STL of bowling pins setup in formation and use the Merge High application type.

Insert the Feature and Select the Component

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss from Component.

    The Emboss from Component dialog appears.

  2. Change the Name to Pins.

  3. For the Color, select white.

  4. Under Application Type, change the type to Merge High.

  5. Click Load Component File.

    The Open dialog appears.

  6. Navigate to the folder in which you saved the example files, and select, BowlingPins.stl.

  7. Click Open.

    The model appears in the graphics area.

Set the Feature Parameters


  1. In the Origin group, change the values to: 

    X: = -6.5000
    Y: = -58.7500
    Z: = -0.5000


  1. In the Component Size group, set the X Size to 13.0000.

    The component is resized.



  2. Click OK.

    The dialog disappears.

Part 6) Embossing the Text : Step 1

Since portions of the text overlap the ring we created, and since we would like the overlapping portion to stand out a little more, we do the text in two steps.In this step we use the Merge Low application type to take a bite out of the ring.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Words.

    Yellow should still be the applied color.

  3. Set the Application Type to Merge Low.

  4. Update the Cross-Section to Convex ARC.

  5. Update the Radius to 0.5000.

  6. In the Fast Edit group, leave the Base Height at 0.2500.

  7. Click OK.

    The effect will not be readily visible until you zoom into the intersection of the words and ring.



    Zoom into the portions of the model where the capital B's overlap the ring, and notice the small notches we created on the ring emboss.


Part 7) Embossing the Text : Step 2

With the portions of the ring removed, we now repeat step 1 and replace the application type with Merge High.

  1. Repeat the steps of Part 6, but change the Application Type to Merge High.

    With the Emboss Model regenerated, the view of the above area should now appear as seen in the image below.


Part 8) Suppress the Previous Feature

Suppressing features can be useful when create embossed models.In this case we want to test how the model would look without a certain feature.

  1. Right-click Words - Merge Low, and select Suppress/Unsuppress.

    The name is grayed out.

  2. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Regenerate.

    The emboss model is updated.



    For comparison, an image of the same feature is shown using the Merge Low on the left, and having it suppressed on the right.


Part 9) Unsuppress the Previous Feature

  1. Repeat the steps of Part 8 to return the model to its original state.


Part 10) Creating the Bowling Ball - Step 1

For the bowling ball, we use the same method as we did with the text.Step 1 will remove a portion of the ring with the Merge Low application type, and the following step will create the bowling ball with the Merge High application type.We use a convex arc with the same radius as the bowling ball.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Ball.

  3. Click Color,select black.

  4. Set the Application Type to Merge Low.

  5. In the graphics area,select the geometry that represents the bowling ball as shown next.



  6. Leave the Cross Section set to Convex ARC, but set the Radius to 2.7500.

  7. In the Fast Edit group, set the Base Height to 0.2500.

  8. Click OK.

Part 11) Creating the Bowling Ball - Step 2

With the portions of the ring removed, we now repeat step 1 and replace the application type with Merge High.

  1. Repeat the steps in Part 10, but set the Application Type to Merge High.

    With the Emboss Model regenerated, the Emboss Model show appear as seen below.

Part 12) Creating the Thumb Hole

For this, and the following feature, we use a custom cross section and the Subtract application type to remove material in order to create the holes in the bowling ball.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Thumb Hole.

  3. Set the color to red.

  4. Set the Application Type to Subtract.

  5. In the graphics area,select the geometry seen below.

Note: The other two finger holes could actually be selected in this feature as well.In this tutorial we separate the like holes into two features so they can be handled differently if we so choose.Feel free to select all three holes at once.If you do, skip part 13 and move to part 14.Click again to show.


  1. Leave the Cross Section set to Convex Arc.

  2. Leave the Base Height set to 0.2500.

  3. Click OK.



    The hole is cut.

Part 13) Creating the Finger Holes

For this, and the following feature, we use a custom cross section and the Subtract application type to remove material in order to create the holes in the bowling ball.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Finger Holes.

  3. Set the color to red.

  4. Leave the Application Type to Subtract.

  5. In the graphics area, select the geometry seen below.



  6. Leave the Cross Section set to Convex Arc.

  7. Leave the Base Height set to 0.2500.

  8. Click OK.



    The holes are cut.

Part 14) Embossing the Cue

The cue is created with a 2 Rail Sweep and the Merge High application type will be used so that it goes through the ring.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss 2 Rail Sweep.

    The 2 Rail Sweep dialog appears.

  2. Change the Name to Cue.

  3. Click the Color drop down and select More Colors....

    The Select Color dialog appears.

  4. Set the RGB values to Red: 211, Green: 202, Blue: 171, and click OK.

  5. Set the Application Type to Merge High.

Select the Geometry for Rail 1


  1. By default the Selected Geometry list for Rail 1 has focus.

    In the graphics area, select the geometry that represents one side of the cue as follows.

Tip: To reverse the chain direction, right-click the Rail Geometry (or Cross-Section Geometry) item, and click Reverse Direction.

Select the Geometry for Rail 2


  1. Click in the Selected Geometry list for Rail 2.

  2. In the graphics area,select the geometry that represents the other side of the cue as follows.

Select the Geometry for the Cross Section


  1. Click in the Selected Geometry list for Cross-Section.

  2. In the graphics area, select the geometry as follows.



  3. In the Fast Edit group, set the Base Height to 0.2500

  4. Click OK.



Tip: Notice the image on the right, shows the cue with its components separated by realistic colors.This was done by splitting the geometry of the cue into separate 2 Rail Sweep features, one for each color.While this does not change the surface, and therefore does not change the final machined product, it can be a nice touch when presenting a visual representation of the final product to a customer.

Part 15) Creating the Bottle

Just like the cue, the bottle is created with a 2 Rail Sweep, and the Merge High application type.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss 2 Rail Sweep .

    The 2 Rail Sweep dialog appears.

  2. Change the Name to Bottle.

  3. For the Color,select brown.

  4. Leave the Application Type to Merge High.

Select the Geometry for Rail 1

  1. In the graphics area,select the geometry that represents one side of the bottle as follows.

Select the Geometry for Rail 2

  1. Click in the Selected Geometry list of Rail 2 to give it focus.

  2. In the graphics area,select the geometry that represents the other side of the bottle as follows.


Select the Geometry for the Cross Section

  1. Click in the Selected Geometry list of Cross-Section to give it focus.

  2. In the graphics area,select the geometry as follows.


  1. In the Fast Edit group, change the Base Height to 0.5000.

  2. Click OK.


Tip: Notice the yellow ring is overlapping our bottle slightly, this can be prevented by first creating a Merge Low feature for our bottle, as we did with the lettering.Since this almost looks as if our ring is gripping our bottle, which is pretty cool, it will be left as is.

Part 16) Adding the Label to the Bottle

A simple emboss regular is used with the Add application type to add the material to the bottle where the labels would be.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Label.

  3. For the Color,select maroon.

  4. Set the Application Type, to Add.

  5. In the graphics area, select the geometry for the labels on the bottle, as seen below.



    The geometry is added to the Re/Select Geometry list.

  6. In the Cross Section group, leave Convex ARC as the selected cross section, but set the Radius to 0.2000.

  7. Set the Base Height to 0.0000.

  8. Click OK.


Part 17) Adjust the Visibility of the Part

In this part, the Main Board is made visible again, and the sketches we used to create the emboss model are hidden.

  1. In the Feature Manager Design Tree, expand MainBoard.

  2. With MainBoard expanded, right-click Boss-Extrude1 and select Show.

  4. Hold Ctrl, and select each of the Sketches under MainBoard.

  5. With all sketches selected, right-click one, and select Hide.

    The MainBoard is shown, and the sketches are hidden.


Part 18) Edit the MainBoard

SolidWorks does not support sketch pictures in assemblies.When you do load images into the assembly, although the images can still be vectorized, the images are invisible.Since we now need to bring in an image, and since we will need to position it visually, we will need to work in the individual part, rather than the overall assembly.


  1. In the Feature Manager Design Tree, right click MainBoard and select Edit Part.

    The font of the MainBoard turns blue, and the other parts in the assembly become transparent showing a particular part is being edited.

Part 19) Load the Image

Now that the MainBoard is in Edit mode, we can import the image we will be vectorizing later in the tutorial.

  1. In the BobART Manager, right-click Images, and select Load Image.

    The Image Location and Orientation dialog appears in the Property Manager.

  2. Select the face shown in the image below.



    The face is added to the Planar Face, Plane or Edge list.

  3. Click OK.

    The Open dialog appears.

  4. Navigate to the location you saved the parts for the tutorial, and select 3B_Logo.jpeg.

  5. Click Open.

    Under Images, a new item Image -3B_Logo is now available.

Part 20) Exit Edit Mode

Now that the image is loaded, we no longer need to be in part edit mode.

  1. At the top right corner of the graphics area, click the Exit Edit Part button.



    The part is now out of edit mode, and the other components of the assembly become opaque once more.

Part 21) Reposition the Image

We will now position and size the image to get it in a good location.

  1. In the Feature Manager Design Tree, under MainBoard.sldprt, notice a Sketch has been added to the bottom.

    Expand the new sketch.

  2. Notice a Sketch Picture is under the Sketch.

    Right-click the Sketch Picture and select Feature Properties.

    The Sketch Picture dialog opens in the Property Manager.



    The location of the image is revealed.

  3. Move your mouse over the location of the image, and notice your mouse switches to a pan icon.



    Click and drag the image to the location shown in the following image.



  4. Once in position, hover over the bottom-right corner until the icon changes to scaling icon, then click and drag until it seems an even distance from the closest edges.



    Notice each B in the logo is close to, but not touching, the edges of our parts.Because of the orientation of the logo we will also want to make sure the size we select will work on the other side of the sign as well.This can be done by dragging the image between the two corners to make sure it looks good in each location.As you can see, being able to see the image is extremely helpful.If we would have brought this image into the overall assembly rather than through an edited part, this repositioning by sight, as we have done here, would be impossible.

  5. For this example, set the width of the image to 7.0000.

    Because the Keep Aspect Ratio option is active, the height updates automatically.

  6. Update the Origin location to X-22.7500, Y4.1250.



  7. Click OK.

Part 22) Vectorize the Image

Vectorizing the image will provide us with the geometry needed to emboss the logo.

Vectorize the Image

  1. In the BobART Manager, under Images, right-click Image -3B_Logo and select Vectorize....

Tip: Notice we made the accuracy higher instead of lower.This is because the lower you go, the more the individual pixels are taken into consideration, as you can see in the image below.

Test Another Result


  1. Under Vectorize Parameters, click in the Accuracy: field and type *2 behind the existing value of 0.8000, and press Tab and click Apply.



    This result looks a little better than our last, so we'll try to increase the accuracy value once more.

Test Another Result


  1. Add *2 to the accuracy value, and press Apply.



    Since this one isn't as good as the last one, we will change the value back.

Test Another Result


  1. Add /2 to the accuracy value.

  2. To test one last thing, clear the With Splines check box, to remove splines from the geometry.



    This geometry looks just a little bit cleaner, so we will leave the vectorization with these settings.

  3. Click OK to exit the dialog.

  4. Right-click Image -3B_Logo and select Blank/Unblank.

    The image disappears.

Now that we have the geometry we need from the vectorization, we can create an emboss feature for the logo with a basic Add application type.

Insert the Feature and Set the Parameters

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss Regular.

  2. Change the Name to Logo.

  3. For the Color,select white.

    Leave the Application Type, on Add.

  4. In the Cross Section group, leave Convex ARC as the selected cross section, and the Radius as 0.2000.

  5. In the Fast Edit group, leave the Base Height at 0.0000.

  6. Click OK.

Hide the Sketch

  1. In the Feature Design Tree, under MainBoard.sldprt, right-click theSketch and select Hide.

    The sketch disappears.


Part 24) Save the Logo as a Component

By saving this emboss as a component we can use it for the other side of our sign, and even for other projects in the future if we wish.

  1. Right-click Logo - Add, and select Save as Component/STL.

    The STL Save Option dialog appears.

  2. Leave the default tolerance, and make sure the Coordinate System is set to Local Art Model.

  3. Click OK.

    The Save As dialog appears.

  4. Select the folder the files are saved in, name the file LogoComponent, and click Save.

Part 25) Emboss from Component

With the component saved, we can now emboss from that component.

Insert the Feature and Select the Component

  1. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss from Component.

    The Emboss from Component dialog appears.

  2. Change the Name to Right Logo.

  3. Set the Color to white.

  4. Leave the Application Type to Add.

  5. Click Load Component File.

    The Open dialog appears.

  6. Navigate to, and select, LogoComponent.stl.

  7. Click Open.

    The component opens in the graphics area but is hidden by the part geometry.

Set the Feature Parameters

  1. In the Origin group, change the values to : X: 16.3500, Y: -43.4500, Z: -0.5000.



  2. Click OK.

This concludes the tutorial.

Related Topics

BobART Overview