Geometrical sets and Hybrid design

Whenever you create a new part file, you are asked to enter the part name and also given the option to create geometrical set and ordered geometrical sets. So far we did not opt for these options due to the risk of complicating things. You can create geometrical set or ordered geometrical set, or even both in a partbody at the start by selecting the suitable option while providing the name of the part. 

Option provided when new part file being created

Alternatively, you can use the path Insert > Geometrical Set to create a set in case you did not create it at the time of part creation. Also, there's an option that is selected by default 'Enable hybrid design', let's see what's the purpose of these and what do they do. 

What are geometrical sets and ordered geometrical sets?

We have only modeled simple parts so far, with a couple of features or may be with 10-20 features. Parts that are simpler are easy to handle in terms of editing and do not require geometrical sets or ordered geometrical sets, and all features can stay within the PartBody itself. However, with bigger parts with thousands of features, you would require Geometrical sets as well as Ordered geometrical sets to manage the part better. Learning about these is also important since the topic often comes up in interview questions. Geometricals sets as well as geometrical sets are basically like folders, and you can use these folders to organise features of the part that you are creating. Geometrical sets and Ordered Geometrical sets can be used to places sketches, wireframe and surface elements for better organization. These are essentially the same i.e. they are used for organizing the sketches, wireframe and surfaces. However, there are some differences. 

The difference between geometrical and ordered geometrical set is that the order in which the elements are placed in ordered geometrical set is logical as it is in part bodies, whereas it can be arranged in whatever way you want in a geometrical set you want.

Geometrical sets

Geometrical sets help you collect “features” in one place and organise specification tree, We can put any element in a Geometrical set. The order of the features does not have a meaning as they are manged independently. 

Possible parents for Geometrical sets

A geometrical set can have any of these as parent

• Part
• Geometrical sets
• Part body(Non hybrid only)

A geometrical set and the features it includes can be deleted at any point of time by right clicking, but if you want to delete only the geometrical set and not the features in it, this can be done if that geometrical set has other geometrical set as its parent, in that case you will get an option of removing “geometrical set” and all its features transferred to the parent.

A geometrical set can be transferred to another geometrical set or part body any time and likewise the contents of it can be send to any geometrical set. The features in a geometrical set can also be reordered.

Ordered geometrical sets

The way in which the ordered geometrical sets differ from geometrical set is that the features appear in the order of creation and is consistent with the steps of creation. 

Possible parents for Ordered geometrical sets

An ordered geometrical sets can have these as parent

• Part
• Ordered geometrical sets.
• Part body (Hybrid only)

Switching from a ordered geometrical set to geometrical set can be done but the viceversa is not possible.

What is the difference between hybrid and non-hybrid design?

The advantage that a hybrid design environment gives us is that it can have wireframe and surface elements in its part body which a normal body i.e. a non-hybrid design cannot. Hybrid design therefore offers quick understanding about the design chronology.

Hybrid design is a more recent development and is used by default. It makes no difference as such, generally the company you work with may have norm regarding which one to use / not use. There are much more details regarding Hybrid design, Geometrical sets etc. which is perhaps not worth knowing at this point. It makes sense to deal with these things if situation demands.