Solidworks Project: Learning the Ropes - Entry #9

 Basic Techniques - Revolves and Sweeps

This entry is a continuation of the basic theory conveyed in SolidWorks Project: Learning the Ropes - 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 #9 is the first entry in this series outside of the “Getting Started” realm of the tutorials. This opens up the tutorials to a plethora of categories such as Basic Techniques, Advanced Techniques, Productivity Tools, Design Evaluation, CSWP/CSWA Preparation, and a separate area for Simulation Tutorials, as seen in Fig 1. Each of these categories has numerous tutorials within. Needless to say, there are a lot of tutorials within Solidworks, theoretically paving the way for anyone with access to the software to learn how to put it to use. Of course, this is what this entire project is based on so not much more time will be spent writing about it, but it goes to show the resources available to those who desire to learn 3D design.  

This entry will get into the Basic Techniques category’s Revolves and Sweeps tutorial.  The following is the signposting from this tutorial to reveal what to expect:

In this lesson, you create the candlestick shown below. This lesson demonstrates:

• Creating a revolve feature

• Creating a sweep feature

• Creating an extruded cut feature with a draft angle 

The item being created in this tutorial is a candlestick. The first section is Sketching the First Revolve Profile Arc, and introduces the Revolved Boss/Base tool. Unlike prior tutorials, this one does not start with making a preset shape such as a circle or rectangle, but rather begins with the Line tool, where a line is drawn from the origin point and two smaller lines are drawn off of the ends of that line as seen in Fig. 2. The Smart Dimension tool is used to properly size the lines (Fig. 3) before moving onto the Sketching the First Revolve Profile Arc section.

The Tangent Arc tool is used to easily produce a 180 degree arc stretching from the right hand point of the upper horizontal line. The tool is easy enough to use, only requiring a sweeping arc motion outwards in the direction the arc is to follow, then down, to properly produce an arc in the desired direction. As usual, the Smart Dimension tool is utilized to set the radius of the arc. The result is seen in Fig. 4. Another arc will be made in the Sketching the Second Revolve Profile Arc section, using the PropertyManager to assign dimensions to the arc, followed by trimming away the guideline that was previously created and resizing the various sections, the result of which can be seen in Figs.5-7. The shape is starting to look like a candlestick, but has a few steps to go before the magic happens.

Fig. 8-11 show the process of Completing the Revolve Profile, which consists of adding more Tangent Arcs to connect the base to the outer diameter lines of the vertical shaft of the candlestick, then adding another arc to complete the profile.  The candlestick is then properly sized, giving dimensions to the arcs and bringing this entry to an end. 

Conclusion: This section has been fun; more so than the prior tutorials since the part being created is a recognizable, practical item that could be 3D printed if a user wished, once complete.  

Fig 1. A shot of the tutorial categories available within Solidworks.

Fig. 2. This tutorial starts with basic lines rather than preset shapes.

Fig. 3. Our good friend the Smart Dimension tool helps zero in on our shape.

Fig. 4. Creating the second arc, parameters to the left help with sizing.

Fig. 5. Selecting an area of a line to trim away.

Fig. 6. A fresh trim.

Fig. 7. Resizing the sections after the trim.

Fig. 8. Adding a sweeping contour to start to form the base.

Fig. 9. Completing the profile of the candlestick.

Fig. 10. The Revolve Profile is starting to look like half of a candlestick.

Fig. 11. A beautifully dimensioned and labeled Revolve Profile.