Lecture 4 – Part 2

Introduction to SolidWorks

IAT 106

Spatial Thinking and Communicating

Spring 2015

M4(III) 2IAT 106: Intro. to SW

SolidWorks

• SolidWorks is an industrial-strength 3-D solid-model based computer-aided design (CAD) system.

• In SolidWorks, you sketch ideas and experiment with different designs to create 3D models.

• SolidWorks is used by students, designers, engineers, and other professionals to produce simple and complex parts, assemblies, and drawings.

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The SolidWorks Model: 3 Design Environments

Part Mode

Assembly Mode

Drawing ModeDrawing Mode

Part Mode

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SolidWorks is ASSOCIATIVE

• Parts, drawings & assemblies all use the same database.

So?

• Any change made in any of the modes (i.e. Part, Assembly, or Drawing modes) is automatically reflected in the other modes immediately.

What’s it mean that SolidWorks is associative?

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SolidWorks is FEATURE-BASED

• Feature: smallest building block that can be modified individually.

• Features are building blocks of the parts (shapes and operations).

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SolidWorks is PARAMETRIC

• Dimensions in the model drive the geometry of the model.

• Modifying the dimensions changes the model.

• Dimensions and relations are stored in the model.

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Getting Started with SolidWorks

On opening SolidWorks, the SolidWorks window and Resource Task Pane are shown (details may vary depending on version)

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Opening a New Model File

New button (toolbar):

• New SolidWorks Document dialog box is displayed:

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File Types

• Modeling– Part (*.sldprt)– Assembly (*.sldasm)– Drawing (*.slddrw)

• Templates:– Part Template (*.prtdot)– Assembly Template (*.asmdot)– Drawing Template (*.drwdot)

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User Interface - a New Part File

SolidWorks User Interface Overviewhttp://help.solidworks.com/2011/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/LegacyHelp/Sldworks/UI/User_Interface_Overview.htm?id=dd90b6685e784933b34dd0cb5fce56ff#Pg0

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Menu bar PropertyManager Status bar

CommandManager

ConfigurationManager FeatureManager design tree

Task Pane

Search Assistant Toolbars

Main elements of SolidWorks interface:

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Standard View Commands

Press ‘Space Bar’

Perspective toggle

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Display Modes

Or, go to View on

Menu bar, then

Click on Display

Section ViewView select Display mode

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How do we actually build a Part?

• Build parts by combining features

Ok how do I make a feature?

• Build feature by drawing a 2D sketch and extruding it into the 3rd dimension:– Use familiar drawing tools.

• The sketch does not need to be dimensionally accurate.– Just needs to represent basic shape (topology) of

profile:• Number of sides• Relationships between elements (parallel, etc.)

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Features

• Features are the building blocks of parts.

• Features are the shapes and operations that construct parts.

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More Shape Features

Cut feature• Removes material from

part.

• Created from 2D sketch.

• Must be attached to rest of part.

Hole feature

• Removes material from part.

• Works like intelligent cut feature

• Usually corresponds to mfg process (eg countersink, thread, etc.)

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Shape Features

Base feature• First feature in part.

• Created from 2D sketch.

• Forms work piece to which other features are added.

Boss feature

• Adds material to part.

• Created from 2D sketch.

• Must be attached to rest of part.

Two boss features

here!

• gothic boss

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What is this term “boss”?

It’s medieval history• In Gothic architecture a boss is a decorative element covering

a joint.

“Boss” is a skeuomorph• Go look skeuomorph up—it is a really important design

concept!

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Operation FeaturesFillet feature• Used to round off sharp

edges.

• Can remove or add material.– Outside edge (convex)

removes material.– Inside edge (concave adds

material.

Chamfer feature

• Similar to a fillet.

• Bevels edge rather than rounding it.

• Can remove or add material.

Fillet features

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Feature attributes

Sketched Features

• Shape features have sketches, are based on sketches

• Sketched features are built from 2D sketches (profiles)

Operation Features

• Do not have sketches

• Applied directly to work piece by selecting edges or faces

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Constructing a Model

• Sketching on one of the default planes– Front, Top, and Right

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Creating a Sketch-based Feature

Sketch Entities

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Sketch the 2D profile

Extrude the sketchResulting base feature

Creating a Rectangular Box

1. Select a sketch plane.

2. Sketch a 2D profile (a rectangle).

3. Extrude the sketch perpendicular to sketch plane.

Select the sketch plane

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SolidWorks – property manager

Confirmationcorner

Preview

HandlePropertyManager

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More on SolidWorks in your upcoming lab.

Comments, Questions?