There has been an addition to the PTC family of Design Solutions; PTC Creo 9 has arrived!
PTC Creo 9.0 is the tool that helps with the increasing advances and challenges within product design while providing features and functionalities that keep one ahead of the competition. And Creo 9 takes it to the next level.
Let’s start with the new capabilities coming with Creo 9. In the bigger picture, one could say that this release will concentrate on the following areas:
- Usability & Productivity
- Model-based definition & Detailing
- Simulation and generative design
- Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing
- Design for ergonomics, Manikin, and Vision
For the advanced users, we suggest PTC knowledgebase articles CS357304 and CS361457, which cover all versions, applications, and enhancements in a condensed format.
The CAD user view
Divide surface
The Creo Parametric has its way of handling geometry so that surfaces are kept as large and “clean” as possible. This, however, has a downside if one wants to split the surface into two or more distinct areas. Previously one could circumvent this by using Designate Area, surfaces, or sketches. With the introduction of Divide Surface, it is now possible to:
- Divide surfaces to create new regions
- Isolate constraints and loads to specific locations on the model in simulation
- Greater control of PMI references while making MBD annotations
- Create surface markings for design communication
Multibody
The general usability of multibody has been enhanced by introducing a new Quilt/Body Evolution tree, which will display the structure of all active bodies/quilts and their contributing features. Additionally, the Design Items Tree now supports features in Custom Groups and Grouped items.
These enhancements will help you, mainly while working with large and complex models where the parent-child relationship can get complex. A clear understanding of incrementally built geometry is key when modifying design.
Freestyle
Freestyle is a modeling feature where one creates C2 continuous surfaces based on control mesh manipulation. The sub-divisional control mesh can be connected to external geometry, which will then drive the overall dimensions of geometry.
Additional features exist with Reverse Engineering licensing. Then one can import tessellated geometry, which is used to map the Freestyle surface. This feature is highly automated and fast – great for those who create organic shapes based on scanned, x- ray or MRI data. Application possibilities in the medical devices area are remarkable.
Creo 9 will extend the functionality by introducing a new brush toolset, where control of sub-divisional mesh can be applied in a new way. Additionally, possibilities to mirror geometry are brought to the users’ fingertips.
Hole Features in Patterns
Hole features in a pattern now have more flexibility since one can redefine the hole type and adjust pattern generation options. The latter will help you with massive patterns, where generation times can play a role.
Geodesic Curves
Creo 8 introduces geodesic curves to ensure that the shortest path between two points is represented. With Creo 9, there is new functionality to define the geodesic curve on surface starting from a point and angular direction. This will thus provide additional level of control when geodesic curves are placed on top of complex surfaces.
Surfacing
The Interactive Surfacing environment now supports draft tangent connections for COS (curve on the surface) curves. This will help capture the design intent and improve the geometry reconstruction in Generative Design while keeping the parting line manufacturing constant.
Additional tools for simplifying and smoothing curves are provided as well. The support for periodic loft surfaces has been added as a new capability. These are created with three or more curves.
Assemblies
There are various assembly enhancements in Creo 9 as well. The component replacement and retrieving of missing components features have been enhanced. For those who need the Session ID of models in their assembly relations, it is nice to find them in the Model Tree.
One of the many Product Ideas posted in the PTC Community implemented to Creo 9 is the ability to group explode offset lines. This is just a hint that active participation to community discussions pays off.
New Manikin Editor allows the creation of custom manikin populations. This will help you to evaluate where one can reach and what one can see in our use case. What is the maximum and minimum size for a safe operation, etc. For positioning the manikin to assembly, the 3D dragger brings a new level of control. The Visual Field feature helps visualize visibility cones where obstructing objects have been trimmed off.
Model-Based Definition (MBD) and 2D drawings (Detailing)
With Creo 9 comes some powerful MBD and detailing tools. The surface finish symbols have been modernized to the most recent standard, and the workflow for their creation, placement, and editing is updated. Particularly, at PMI annotations, the ability to indicate semantic definitions is improved with STEP AP242 support for downstream applications and importing such information to Creo Parametric.
Extensive support for parameters in PMI symbols and weld symbols has been added.
Working with cross-sections, the new streamlined workflow is a joy. The hatch gallery with preview contains numerous ANSI/ISO and user-defined hatching patterns. A quick review of all hatched items of a drawing sheet is available in the tree view. Additionally, one can use the new Hatch Designer to create and edit custom hatch patterns with multiple lines.
Simulation and Generative Design
Here is a quick summary of the enhancements in the simulations tools.
Creo Ansys Simulation now supports mid-surface geometry for shells, bearing loads and inertia relief, and multiple usability enhancements.
Creo Simulation Live has taken the first steps toward Multiphysics simulation with thermal stress computation. In fluid studies, the Additive Manufacturing users will benefit from gyroids and lattice geometry. As a promise for “future ware,” the contacts should be available with Creo 9.0.1.0.
Creo Flow Analysis now supports multiple projects, lattice geometry, and integrates with Behavioral Modelling (BMX). This BMX integration will help to optimize heat transfer and fluid flow. All this, with usability improvements, elevates CFD to the reach of every engineer.
Generative design used previously strain energy-based optimization for mass reduction while generating geometry. Now one can use Safety Factor as the target, which guarantees that stress levels are kept reasonable.
Additional functional enhancements to modal optimization, support of boll joints, and validation of starting geometry are helping engineers to reach the goals.
The Manufacturing view
Creo 9 will bring new possibilities to additive and subtractive manufacturing. Both are fully embedded in the Creo design environment, thus enabling unparalleled associativity, familiar user interface, and connection to Windchill PLM.
Subtractive Manufacturing
Creo 9 will continue making NC approachable for every engineer by various usability enhancements from sequence parameter sorting, MFG dashboard update, toolpath visualization, new configuration settings, and enabling user-defined CL data parameters.
The quality of toolpaths is enhanced in HSM by adaptive feed and cutter compensation features for faster machining and enhanced tool life.
The multithreading in material removal simulation will help verify the toolpaths faster. The ability to create in-process stock for all NC sequences helps with gouge and collision avoidance.
The geodesic 5-axis finish toolpath in the 5-axis HSM extension adds capabilities like automatic hole filling, containment curves, and multiple tilt controls. The toolpath is optimized for spherical tools in collision avoidance and generating smooth toolpaths with constant stepover on complex parts with undercuts.
Additive Manufacturing
Stochastic lattices now allow creation based on individual surfaces or quilts. These can also contain open areas. Variable wall offset and baffle generation is available to formula-based lattices. These allow one to design efficient heat exchangers and guide fluid flow.
The additive manufacturing of these lattice designs requires support structures and population, checking printability, and building optimized tray assembly. These can be done and set in Creo 9, which has extensive tooling for plastic and metallic materials.
The system admin view
Now let’s look at the hardcore, but necessary, system administration updates and changes.
Maintenance Period
The concept of Creo Enterprise Releases was introduced with Creo 4, and the idea was to have much more extended maintenance periods for specific releases of Creo Parametric to enable companies to implement the program without having to plan for another upgrade within the following year. The Enterprise Releases of Creo Parametric are Creo 4 and Creo 7, while Creo Parametric 5 and 6 are so-called standard releases with a shorter support plan. However, this changes with Creo Parametric 8. To better support multiple Creo releases as requested by Creo users, PTC is changing the support cadence for all new Creo releases beginning in April 2021.
All new Creo releases will be supported for four years, starting with the release of Creo 8.0.0.0 in April 2021. Maintenance releases will be delivered quarterly for the first two years of Creo 8. For subsequent years, maintenance releases will be delivered at a reduced cadence.
Creo 9 continues with the same maintenance release plan as Creo 8.
Browser
The default embedded browser of Creo Parametric is now Chromium instead of the previous Internet Explorer. This change is related to the official end date for Internet Explorer: June 15, 2022. This change will occur to older releases of Creo 7.0.7.0 and 8.0.3.0 – the user can continue to use IE by setting the config option windows_browser_type = ie_browser. With Creo 9.0.0.0, there is no IE support.
Small easter egg
In software, the meaning of “easter egg” is a hidden feature, image, or message. To encourage readers of this block to investigate Creo Parametric 9.0 release even deeper, please try out the following:
- Shift- key and arrows on the keyboard
- Shift+Alt keys and arrows on the keyboard
You’ll find the related config option rotation angle to be handy for finetuning this feature.
Summary
All in all, Creo 9 is another strong release from PTC. The enhancements and new capabilities in core functionality will speed up the modeling process, enable the utilization of new technologies and deliver quality to design.
The enhancements made in simulation, additive and subtractive manufacturing, generative design, and more are highly appreciated.
Powerful. Innovative. Easy to use. That is what Creo Parametric 9.0 is.
Enjoy!
