Happy CADing - Design an Infrared Thermometer in ZW3D

[embed]https://youtu.be/Uyzwbb9ruPE[/embed] Since the pandemic began, infrared thermometers can be seen in many public places to detect people’s temperature. It has been playing an important role in curbing the spread of COVID-19. So, how to design one in ZW3D? Let’s see!

Figure 1. The infrared thermometer designed in ZW3D

Step 1: Draw the rough outlines of the thermometer on the YZ plane. In this step, you can import a photo of a real product into ZW3D for reference.

Figure 2. Draw the outlines of the thermometer

Step 2: Create the profiles for the head of the thermometer. Each profile is a blend curve connected by the intersection points and created according to the outlines. How to create a profile? First, we can use the Reference command to create the start and end points, or the reference points as the picture below shows. Then create two construction lines that are tangent to the profile, and make sure that the profiles connect smoothly after being mirrored. The last step is to create a blend curve, which connects the reference points and is tangent to the construction lines.

Figure 3. Draw the profiles for the head of the thermometer

Step 3: Create the surface for the head of the thermometer. Extrude both the upper and lower outlines, which act as the reference for continuity. Then create the head surface by Curve Mesh command. Remember to set the G1 (tangent) continuity between the head surface and the extruded surfaces.

Figure 4. Create the surface for the head of the thermometer

Step 4: Draw the profiles for the handle and then create the surface for it as the above steps illustrated.

Figure 5.Create the surface for the handle of the thermometer

Step 5: Create a curve on the head surface. The curve is intersected with the outlines of the handle. Then cut the head surface by the curve.

Figure 6. Cut the head surface with a curve

Step 6: Create a connection surface between the head and the handle. The connection surface should be tangent to all the adjacent surfaces.

Figure 7. Create the connection surface between the head and the handle

Step7: Add endcaps and fillets for a better sense of touch and appearance. Then thicken the surface to make it a solid. Now we get the shell of half of the thermometer.

Figure 8. Thicken the surface to make it a solid

Step 8: Mirror the shell to get a complete body of the thermometer by Mirror Geometry command.

Figure 9. Mirror the shell to get a complete body of the thermometer

Step 9: Add some features to the body of the thermometer, like a logo, a panel, holes for the buttons and a trigger, and also an LCD screen.

Figure 10. Add features to the thermometer

Step 10: Divide the shell to get the covers of the battery bin and the infrared sensor by the Add Shape command.

Figure 11. Get the covers of the battery bin and the infrared sensor

Step 11: Create the trigger and buttons. the thermometer design is finished.

Figure 12. The final design of the thermometer

Have you got the tricks of designing an infrared thermometer in ZW3D? With its powerful sketch and modeling tools, it’s just a piece of cake. Why not design one by yourself? I am looking forward to your masterpiece.

Download ZW3D and start your creation! Last but not least, I hope that you stay safe and sound from the pandemic. Until next time.