How can you troubleshoot complex 3D models?

Hardware is critical in running CAD application especially if your are connected to a PLM software and work with large assembly files. Depending upon the type of work/rendering involved with the CAD models it is important to go for a good coniguration. And 8GB RAM is a good enough starter pack if you are handlinfg CAD plus another heavy software tab open on your computer.

Simplifying geometery and good CAD practices are critical - Clean assemblty structure from the beginning - If you import files, re topoligize rather than doirect import - If a part is of less significance, go for surface modeling - Use grouping for hardware assembling - Place the hardwares only before the final submission, else you can suppress and work on large assembly files

People from a mechanical engineering background doing CAD often don't realize that the feature tree (common to feature-based parametric modeling software like CATIA, CREO, Pro/ENGINEER, and SolidWorks) is a kind of software diagram for the 3D model. This means that the feature tree is a representation of the operations and operands required to "compile" the 3D model. A fragile or faulty 3D model is usually the result of bad decisions in terms of the ordering of the 3D CAD operations in the feature tree. Think in a "modular" or "object-oriented" way when creating your 3D features will help you better organize and manage dependencies between them so that the models are more robust when they are modified, and regenerated.

Topology repair can be done to improve your CAD models - Use subdivision surfaces to elimnate share edges and fill the smallest of gaps in the models - Use datum planes, axis for assembly rather than surafces - Recalculate normals, if there are too many surfaces to do it individually - Scale all your objects

Updating softrware regularly can help fix bugs and crashes inbetween work. It is always a good practice to save the work intermittently even though software provides autosave features.

Every software has a dedicated online forum where you can ask for help. Join discord servers where you can get immediate to fast help on your challenges. Also publish ideas and techniques on the forum if you feel it can help the community as this will bring validation to your profile

All 3d models share a concept of "Flow". A point, to a curve, to a surface, to a solid. A vertex, to an edge, to a triangle, to a quad. 3d models originate at a point and flow outwards, ensure that your model flows by modelling with this in mind and eliminating illogical areas where this flow is interrupted. It is obvious, even to a novice 3d modeler. Keep things flowing by keeping them logical. It is the difference between a clear flowing stream and an over-complicated rat's nest. You will notice this flow when you start to eliminate complexity. Keep it simple and accelerate in all applications.