Solidworks Project: Learning the Ropes - Entry #3 - Lesson 1 - Parts - V. 1

 Lesson 1 - Parts - V. 1

This entry is a continuation of the basic theory conveyed in Entry #1, where a 3D model of a pressure plate was created. As stated in Entry #1, the theory being tested in this blog series is based upon the internal tutorial program embedded within Solidworks, which is rumored to be all that is needed to reach intermediate to advanced level understanding of the software, with additional sources only needed for specialized uses or integration with other programs such as Blender for 3D printing. This series will document the progress of a first year engineering student with no prior experience with computer aided engineering design to weigh the theory based on outcomes. 

The process demonstrated followed the tutorials presented through the software itself, with no external assistance from other instructional sources.

Entry #3 begins another section of the tutorials within SolidWorks and is entitled “Lesson 1 - Parts.” This tutorial opens with an overview that signposts what should be expected from this lesson once each section is complete:

• Setting up a new part document

• Creating the base feature

• Adding a boss feature

• Creating a cut feature

• Adding fillets

• Adding a shell feature

• Editing features

• Completed Part

Numerous questions have been posed in response to the previous entries about what a user starts with during these tutorials. Realizing this was not clearly communicated in the previous entries, Entry #3 will cover more of the very basic first steps of the model creating process and greater overall detail to convey the simplicity of the tutorials and ease of use.
Fig. 1 displays the SolidWorks workspace upon opening the program, which shows exactly what the starting point is in these tutorials. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the answer is simply “nothing.” The workspace is blank aside from the toolbars. Every model is intended to be built from scratch at this point in the tutorial process, although Entry #2’s “My First Drawing” tutorial did offer a generic file of Entry #1’s pressure plate model for those who may not have saved their progress from that tutorial since it was required to build upon to complete the drawing.  

Moving onto Fig. 2, the first step to building a new model is creating a new file and selecting what type of model the user intends to build. This tutorial is for a part, so “Part” is selected and a new file is created specifically for building a model of a part.

Fig. 3 showcases a small detail that is very helpful. On the right of Fig. 3 is the tutorial instruction text. Just under the header “Sketching the Base,” see step 1. “Click the Extruded Boss/Base.” Note the icon that follows that text. It cannot be seen in the image, but the icon had been clicked upon, which has revealed the Extruded Boss/Base option in the toolbar. Look to the upper left of the image (Just below the red SolidWorks logo) and the Extruded Boss/Base is highlighted in blue and a bubble appears with a “Basic Features” description.

This feature may not seem like a big deal, but those with experience with any digital design programs may recall the learning curve of simply being able to locate the tools referenced in tutorials. What makes this feature particularly powerful is that it opens up the process to those who may not be particularly computer literate and know how to find hidden toolbars- which there are many of in this program. Furthermore, hovering the cursor over the Extruded Boss/Base icon in the toolbar will result in an animated demonstration of the tool in that Basic Features bubble. Fig. 4. Shows this bubble information along with the result of having selected the Extruded Boss/Base. A Right, Front, and Top plane are now visible on the work surface, and the tutorial requires selecting the Front plane. Fig. 5 shows the results of selecting the Front plane; a red, “L” shaped arrow represents the origin of the shape to be drawn as the Base of the part. Fig. 6. Shows this base having been drawn while Fig. 7 shows the results of using the Smart Dimension tool to set the dimensions by clicking the top line, clicking above the line to trigger the appearance of the Modify Dialog Box where the measurement of 120 can be manually typed in. This was repeated for a vertical line, and inputting 120 now results in the Base taking a square shape.

Fig. 8 shows the result of adding depth to the base, also called “Extruding the Base.” The tutorial has now brought the base of the part to 3 dimensions. This step represents a stopping point in the tutorial and the model should be saved.

Entry #3 concludes with further support of the theory that SolidWork’s internal tutorials are effective methods of learning the software. This section of the tutorial presented no discrepancies, and I conclude that this tutorial could be completed easily by most users with intermediate computer literacy. 

Fig. 1. The blank SolidWorks workspace prior to the start of the tutorials.

Fig. 2. The first step in creating a model, is creating a new file specific to what is being made; in this case, the tutorial requires selecting “Part.”

Fig. 3. Many of the icons within the tutorial instructions can be clicked to reveal the location of that specific tool within the toolbar.

Fig. 4. The upper left shows an animation of the Extruded Boss/Base, while the workspace proper displays plane options for building the Base.

Fig. 5. Once the Front plane is selected, the red “L” shaped arrow represents the origin of what will be the Base of the part.

Fig. 6. A rectangle is drawn.

Fig. 7. Dimensions are added using the Smart Dimension tool.

Fig. 8. The part now has 3 dimensions after extrusion.