Introducing SolidWorks SAAST Robotics 2008
SolidWorks Software Visually-based 3-D Mechanical design software Engineers and Designers use it to: Quickly sketch out ideas Experiment with features, dimensions Produce solid models and detailed mechanical drawings
SolidWorks Fundamentals
Design Intent Design intent determines how you want the model to react as a result of changes you make Planning: deciding how to create model determines how changes affect it Factors that define it: Current needs understand the purpose of the model to design it efficiently Future considerations anticipate potential requirements to minimize redesign efforts when changing model
Design Method Develop the model with the following steps Sketches create, decide how to dimension, where to apply relations, etc. Features select appropriate features, determine best features to apply and in what order Assemblies select what components to mate, what types of mates, etc. (we will discuss this next lecture)
Real-World Examples UPENN Formula SAE Team Wheel Center
Real-World Examples UPENN Formula SAE Team Completed Car
Real-World Examples Sandbox Innovations Research & Development Kit
Real-World Examples MACAV UPENN modlab
User Interface Windows functions Dragging, resizing windows, open, save, cut, paste, print, etc. Open a document: drag part from Windows Explorer in blank SW document Create a drawing: drag a part into blank drawing document to create one or more views of part Create an assy: drag components in blank assy document to mate together and create assy Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+O open file, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+Z undo task
User Interface SW Document Windows FeatureManager design tree lists structure of the part, assy, or drawing Select element from tree to edit sketch, feature, supress, unsupress feature or component, etc. PropertyManager displays relevant info along with user-interface capabilities Graphics area
Terminology Origin: appears as arrows, represents (0,0,0) of model. In active sketches, appears in red and is (0,0,0) of sketch. Can add relations to model origin, not to sketch origin Plane: flat construction geometry Use for adding a 2D sketch, section view of model, etc. Axis: straight line used to create model geometry, features, patterns Face: boundaries that define the shape of model or surface Selectable area of model or surface Edge: location where two faces or surfaces meet along a distance Select edges for sketching, dimensioning, etc. Vertex: point at which two or more lines or edges intersect Select vertices for sketching, dimensioning, etc.
Function Selection and Feedback Able to perform tasks in different ways Get feedback as perform task pointers, inference lines, previews, etc. Menus All SW commands accessible via menus Standard Windows conventions sub-menus, check marks indicating active Toolbars Access SW functions with toolbars organized by function, i.e. Sketch toolbar, Assy toolbar. Each has individual icons that represent specific tools Display/hide, dock/undock/float, add/delete, customize Mouse Buttons Left selects menu items, entities in graphics area, objects in FeatureManager design tree Right displays context-sensitive shortcut menus Middle rotates, pans, and zooms part or assy, pans in a drawing
Sketches Models begin with a sketch Sketch features One or more features part Combine and mate parts assembly Parts or assembly drawings Sketch 2D profile or cross-section Create using a plane or planar face All include the following elements: Origin Plane Dimensions Relations
Sketches
Sketches
Sketches Dimensions Specify dimensions and relations between entities Dimensions define length, radius, angle, etc. When change dimensions, the size and shape of part changes Depending on how you dimension part, design intent can be preserved Keep one dimension constant while you change others Driving and driven dimensions
Sketches Driving Dimensions Change the size of the model when you change their value To maintain uniform shape from spline, need to dimension it
Sketches Driven Dimensions Created by SW, used for information only Can be deleted but not modified Change when you modify driving dimensions Deciding which dimensions are the driving and which are driven affects your design
Sketches Sketch definitions Fully defined (black): all lines and curves in sketch and their positions are described by dimensions, or relations, or both Don t need to be fully defined to create feature, should be fully defined to complete a finished part Under defined (blue): entities not fully described Under defined entities are not fixed within sketch so you can drag them Over defined (red): sketches that include redundant dimensions or relations Can be deleted but cannot edit them
Sketches Relations establish geometric relations (equal, tangent, concentric, etc.) between sketch entities Apply two ways: Inference: assumed by SW as draw sketch Add Relations tool: choose type of relation to apply Equality between two horizontal lines same length
Sketches Sketch complexity simplify sketches by: Applying relations as you sketch Taking advantage of repetition and symmetry Example mirror left and right sides using Centerline creates auto relations and dimensions Inference the position of arcs from Origin Dimension and add concentric relation between inner arcs and outer arc of base once
Function Selection and Feedback
Function Selection and Feedback
Function Selection and Feedback Selection Filters Help you select particular type of entity, excluding selection of other entity types Example: to select an edge, select Filter Edges to exclude other entities Select Other Use to scroll through multiple edges or faces in part, including ones that are hidden
Features Completed sketch Feature Sketch-based features Bosses, cuts, holes, extrudes, lofts, sweeps Features such as Lofts, sweeps Require a profile along a path Applied feature: fillets, chamfers, shell, thicken, etc.
Features Sweep 3D Fillet
Features Lofts
Assemblies Multiple parts assemblies Assemble parts using Mates Coincident, colinear, parallel, etc. Tools Move Component, Rotate Component Collision Detection, Interference Detection
Drawings Create drawings from part or assembly Multiple views Standard 3 views, isometric (3D), auxiliary Import dimensions from model Add annotations, bill of materials (BOM)
Model Editing Edit sketch edit sketch entities (lines), change dimensions, view/ delete/add relations Edit feature change values associated with feature Edit definition to display PropertyManager Hide and show hide/show surface bodies, sketches, views, lines, components Suppress and unsupress view model with or without particular feature, or part in assy s with/without components Rollback roll up the FeatureManager design tree back to prior state
Resources SW Online Tutorial SW Online Help SolidWorks website Google
Parts
Parts Building blocks for SolidWorks models Used to create assemblies and drawings Overview Learn tools for feature and part creation Design approach
Countertop Example Single part - includes sink and counter First create counter, then make the sink
Countertop Example Create Base Feature with Extrude Create a sketch of a rectangle at origin Dimension and add relations to fully define sketch Extrude sketch
Countertop Example Add an Extrude to the Base Create L-shaped sketch on face of extrusion Extrude sketch
Countertop Example Remove material with Cut-Extrude Similar to extrude except cuts material instead of adding it Create sketch of ellipse on face of base Cut through-all of base
Countertop Example Use Loft to make a solid Loft: solid feature created that connects two or more sketch profiles (remember the propeller) Create Plane1 offset from Top plane (Insert Reference Geom) Sketch ellipse on bottom of base (Convert Entities) Create point on sketch on Plane1 Use Loft tool to connect the two sketches
Countertop Example Shell the Part Loft created a solid feature Use shell tool to cut out material Shell tool: selected faces are removed and thin faces remain on the rest of the part
Countertop Example Round sharp edges with Fillets Fillet: internal rounding of an edge on a surface or solid Applied feature don t need to create sketch to apply them Select edges of existing feature Set radius Create fillet
Countertop Example: Faucet Sketch 1 base profile Extrude sketch 1 Sketch 2 two circles on bottom of base Extrude sketch 2
Countertop Example: Faucet Sweep tool to make spigot Profile circular sketch (crosssection) Path sketched arc, tangent to a vertical line Starting point of path must lie on the same plane as profile Add additional extrudes and fillets
Countertop Example: Faucet Handle Two revolved features Fillet feature
Countertop Example: Faucet Handle Revolve the Sketch Create sketch with Line and Spline tools Add centerline for construction geometry Use Revolved Boss/Base tool to rotate sketch 360 to create solid feature
Countertop Example: Faucet Handle Create Second Revolve Create sketch with Line, Tangent Arc, and Spline tools Add centerline for construction geometry Use Revolved Boss/Base tool to rotate sketch 360 to create solid feature Add cosmetic fillets
Other Useful Tools Convert entities Centerlines for centering parts instead of dimensions Edit sketch plane Trim
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science