SolidWorks Basics: A Project Based Approach

1: Getting Started

Introduction

SolidWorks is a full, two-way parametric design tool. Models are fluid in that they may be changed in shape or size, and the linked documents (such as the drawing) will update to reference those changes. Drawing dimensions may also be changed with the subsequent change occurring on the model and associated files. Apart from the dimensional changes that can occur, features may be geometrically linked to others; as a result, one surface will always remain parallel to another and the depth of a slot will always remain exactly one-half of the overall part thickness.

Models are made up of features. These consist of both part features that are first sketched and then extruded, revolved, swept, or lofted, and placed features (holes, fillets, chamfers, and patterns) that are added to a pre-existing part. Parts are broken down into logical features that are created to form the whole. Part features may either be added to or subtracted from the base body of the part.

Added to this is the ability to find the physical properties of the model or to animate the model showing its complete functioning within the assembly model. Photorealistic images using PhotoWorks can also be produced from the parts or assemblies to help visualize the finished product. Loads can be placed onto the model to determine its resistance to bending or to analyze the weak spots on the part. Individual parts may also be exported to other programs that may aid in applications such as machining or air flow analysis.

Starting SolidWorks

   Select Start , All Programs

   Scroll to the SolidWorks folder, then select the SolidWorks folder.

   Select SolidWorks

When the software first opens, your screen should look similar to Figure 1.1 on the nextpage.

Figure 1.1

User Interface

In Figure 1.1:

•  Area 1 is the SolidWorks "Task Pane" or file explorer. Here you can:

   preview your model before opening it

   select standard items such as fasteners to load into your assemblies

   access SolidWorks online tutorials

   access SolidWorks chat groups

   access a SolidWorks forum

   start a new document

   get help

   watch an instructional video

   and much more

•  Area 2 is the drawing section or graphics area where you will create and manipulate your models.

•  Area 3 contains the standard drop down menus, the pin allows you to lock this menu so that it can always be seen, or to unlock it so that it will expand when your mouse is focused over the arrow beside the SolidWorks logo:

•  Area 4 contains drop down menus allowing you to perform common commands such as:

   start a new document

   save

   print

   re-build your part

   set system options

•  Area 5 contains:

   the online forum search help menu

   the SolidWorks help menu

   the standard windows minimize, full screen, and close window options

Areas 3 and 4 make up the Quick Access ribbon menu. The commands available from these menus will vary, depending on what you are working on, and can be customized.

Starting a Model

   In the Quick Access menu select New or select File, New or CRTL + N. A window similar to that shown in Figure 1.2 will open.

Figure 1.2

From this menu, there are three main options:

1)  Create a new part (solid or surface model)

2)  Create an assembly of components

3)  Create a 2D drawing

   Select Part

   Select OK

Your screen should new look similar to Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3

Feature Manager Design Tree

The feature manager design tree shown here in Figure 1.4 details the creation of the part/assembly. It identifies the steps that have taken place to get to where you are and is located on the left side of the screen.

Figure 1.4

Working from the top of the feature manager design tree down, you will notice:

•  The part name, Part 1 in this case. The graduation cap besides it tells you that this part was created using the educational version of the software. Whatever name you save your part as will display here.

•  Sensors. This folder will contain any sensors you add to your part or assembly.

•  Annotations. This folder will contain controls to turn on/off various annotations, such as dimensions.

Material. By right clicking here, you can select the material for your part.

•  The three standard work planes and the part or assembly origin. These are default planes on which you can create sketches. They are very useful in that they ensure a part begins on the correct plane and that it is positioned correctly to allow economical creation. (You should ALWAYS use these planes and the origin axis to position your initial sketches.)

As you create new features, each will show up in this feature manager design tree.

Reference Planes

Figure 1.5

The three main reference planes are at 90 degrees to one another. Where they all meet is your part origin. You must always lock your parts and assemblies to the part origin. The visibility of any plane can be turned on and off.

   Right click on the Front plane in the feature manager tree.

   Select the glasses , which act as a toggle switch to turn the visibility of the plane on and off. Once the plane is visible as shown in Figure 1.5 above, you can also click on it in the graphics area to select the glasses and hide it.

Turn the visibility on/off of the three planes.

To see this being done, watch the video "Show Hide Planes SW."

Tools and Toolbars

Hide/Show Items

In the top middle of the graphics area is the View (Heads Up) tool bar and roughly in the middle of this tool bar is Hide/Show Items quick selection menu.

From this menu, you can quickly show or hide many commonly used elements:

#1 – planes

#2 – origins

#3 – axes

#4 – temporary axes

#5 – coordinate systems

#6 – points

#7 – curves

#8 – parting lines

#9 – 3D sketch dimensions

#10 – all annotations

#11 – sketches

#12 – grid

#13 – sketch relations

#14 – 3D sketch planes

#15 – lights

#16 – cameras

#17 – decals

#18 – live section planes

#19 – routing points

#20 – dimensions names

#21 – view simulation symbols

#22 – weld beads

#23 – center of mass

The Sketch Ribbon Bar

All parts will start with a sketch. It is very important that you understand SolidWorks is a true sketching tool. This means that when you start sketching, you should not worry about exact sizes or shapes. All sketches should be made as if you were sketching on a pad of paper.The dimensions and specific constraints will be added later to fully define your parts.

The sketch panel, shown in Figure 1.6, appears when you are in sketch mode.

Figure 1.6

Note how each of the tabs is a context sensitive menu. Grayed out selections are not available to be used at that specific time.

   Once you are comfortable with the sketch commands (or any ribbon bar commands), you may wish to use the expert option, where the text descriptions of the commands are removed as shown in Figure 1.7.

   Right mouse click on the sketch panel,

   Select Use Large Buttons with Text (uncheck this option). The sketch ribbon should now look like Figure 1.7.

Figure 1.7

For now, let’s turn the large buttons with text back on.

   Right mouse click on the sketch panel.

   Select Use Large Buttons with Text

Docking the Menu Bar

   Click and hold on the Sketch menu tab

   Drag it out into the middle of vour screen.

   While still holding the mouse, you should notice three arrows: one near the top center of your screen, one near the center right, and one near the center left of your screen, as shown in Figure 1.8.

Figure 1.8

   Position your mouse over one of these arrows and release it. The Command Manager is now docked. You also can leave the Command Manager free in the graphics area (try it in several locations until you decide what you prefer).

To see this being done, watch the video "Docking the Menu Bar.".

Double-clicking on the floating menu bar will also re-dock the Command Manger automatically.

Shortcut Keys

   Right click in the menu. A new window will open as shown in Figure 1.9.

Figure 1.9

  Select Customize

   Select the Keyboard tab

You will now see a window similar to Figure 1.10.

Figure 1.10

Assign shortcut keys as you see fit, but be certain to first confirm that your new key combination has not been used for another command.

   Accept these selections when complete

Pressing the S key will show the shortcut menu at the cursor location on your screen. Right mouse button click in this shortcut menu to allow you to add icons for often used commands.

Pressing the R key will bring up the recent documents, allowing you to open recently closed documents.

The following Windows short cut keys may also be used:

Adding Commands to a Ribbon Bar

   Right click in the menu, and a new window will open as shown in Figure 1.9.

   Select Customize

   Select the Commands tab

A new window will open that look similar to Figure 1.11.

Figure 1.11

The left side of this window lists all of the Categories of commands; from this list, you will select the desired category. The right side shows all of the Buttons (icons) available for this category. To add a button to a toolbar, simply click on the icon and drag and drop it into the desired toolbar.

   Select the Sketch category as shown in Figure 1.11 above.

  Select the Dynamic Mirror Entities icon, as shown in Figure 1.11 onthe previous page.

   Drag and drop it into your Sketch toolbar so that it looks similar to Figure 1.12.

Figure 1.12

   Accept this selection by hitting

To see this being done, watch the video "Adding a command Button."

To remove a menu icon, go into the customize screen and click and drag the menu icon from the menu bar a drop it into the graphics area.

To see this being done, watch the video "Removing a Command Button."

View Orientation

Pressing the Space Bar will open up the View Orientation window. If you click on the View Cube option (show outlined by the red box with the #1 pointing at it), the View Cube will appear, and you can select any face of the cube as the current normal to view. Pressing the space bar again or selecting the View Orientation from the View (Heads-Up) toolbar will open the View Cube again, until you click on the View Cube option again to shut it off. See Figure 1.13 onthe next page.

Figure 1.13

Mouse Gestures

Holding the RMB and moving the mouse will bring up common commands directly related to the current active command state. For example, if you have a blank part with nothing started, the view orientation will populate the mouse gesture options.

If you are in an active sketch, the common sketching commands will populate the mouse gestures. To select the desired option, simply move the mouse over that section.

The mouse gestures can be customized by:

   Right click in the menu, and a new window will open as shown in Figure 1.9.

   Select Customize

   Select Mouse Gestures

Make any changes that you want to customize the mouse gestures, and then save your changes.

File Types

There are seven basic file types:

Backing up Files

Your files should be backed up regularly to prevent losing valuable data. The default back up location may not be convenient for your needs if you are working on a network computer with "Deep Freeze." If this is the case, follow these steps to change the location of where your files are backed up. (If you do not have the Deep Freeze software, back up your files otherwise.)

   Select Tools

   Select Options

   In the System Options general window, select the System Options tab

   From the column on the left-hand side of the window, select Backup/Recover

  In the Backup section, activate the radio button to Save backup files in the same location as the original option

   Set up the Auto-recover section as shown in Figure 1.14 for a computer with "Deep Freeze." (For any other computer, regularly save your files to the location you choose.)

Figure 1.14

   Select OK

2: Basic Sketching

Line/Arc Sketching

Complex shapes, which include both lines and arcs, can be created by using just the line sketching tool. The handle shown in Figure 2.1 will be created by this method.

Figure 2.1

   Start a new SolidWorks inch part

   Start a new sketch in the front plane

   Right click on the Front Plane in the Feature Tree.

   Select Sketch

   Select Centerline

  Create a center line similar to that shown in Figure 2.1.

   Position your mouse in line with the origin, as shown in Figure 2.2. Click to start the center line.

Figure 2.2

You should see the dotted line indicating that your new line will be in line with or coincident to the origin and the horizontal line constraint at the end of the pencil.

   Move your mouse to the left and click. Be careful to maintain the Coincident and horizontal line constraints. Your screen should now look similar to Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3

   Press the Esc key to exit the command.

You should now notice two important items:

1)  Your line is black in color but the end points are blue as shown in Figure 2.5 on page 20.

2)  Across the bottom of your screen in the status bar, on the right-hand side, you will see that your sketch is Fully Defined

All of your sketches, at this point, should be fully defined. (If your sketch is not fully defined, then drag any blue entity end point around to see if a relationship and/or a dimension is missing.) When an entity turns black, it is fully defined; if it is blue, then it is under defined (meaning that it can still be changed); and if it is red, it is over-defined (meaning that two or more dimensions and/or relationships are generating conflicting solutions).

So why does the system tell you that this line is fully defined if the end points are blue? Since this line is a center line, the length does not need to be defined. (Because it will