SolidWork 2013 - Measuring Distance Using Measure Tool

MEASURING DISTANCES

SolidWorks allows you to measure the distance of the entities and also view the section properties.

Measuring Distances

Toolbar: Tools > Measure

Menu: Tools > Measure

The measure tools is used to measure perimeter, angle, radius, and distance between lines, points, surfaces, and planes in sketches, 3D models, assemblies, or drawings.

To use the measure tools, you have to invoke the Measure dialog box by choosing Tools > Measure from the menu bar or by choosing the Measure button from the Tools toolbar. When you choose the Measure button, the Measure dialog box is displayed. The name of the document in which you are working is displayed at the top of the Measure dialog box. The current cursor is replaced by the measure cursor.

Using the measure cursor select the entity or entities to measure. The various options in the Measure dialog box are:

SolidWork 2013 - Dimensioning Sketch And Some Advance Technnic

DIMENSIONING THE SKETCH

Toolbar: Sketch > Dimension

Menu: Tools > Dimension

After drawing the sketches and adding the relations, dimensioning is the most important step in creating a design. As mentioned earlier, SolidWorks is a parametric software. The parametric nature of SolidWorks ensures that irrespective of the original size, the selected entity is driven by the dimension value that you specify. Therefore, when you apply and modify a dimension on an entity, it is forced to change its size in accordance with the specified dimension value. The type of dimension that will be applied depends on the type of entity selected.

Linear Dimensioning

Linear dimensions are defined as the dimensions that define the shortest distance between two points. You can apply the linear dimension directly to a line, two points, or two objects.

Aligned Dimensioning

Aligned dimensions are used to dimension lines that are at an angle with respect to the X axis and the Y axis. This type of dimensioning measures the actual distance of the inclined lines.

SolidWork 2013 - Adding Geometric Relation To Sketch

ADDING GEOMETRIC RELATIONS TO THE SKETCH

The geometric relations are the logical operations that are performed to add a relationship (such as tangent or perpendicular) between the sketched entities, planes, axes, edges, or vertices. The relations applied to the sketched entities are used to capture the design intent. The geometric relations constrain the degree of freedom of the sketched entities. There are two methods to apply the relations to the sketch. These two methods are

1. Add Relations PropertyManager

2. Automatic Relations

Adding Relations Using the Add Relations PropertyManager

Toolbar: Sketch Relations > Add Relation

Menu: Tools > Relations > Add

The Add Relations PropertyManager is widely used to apply relation to the sketch in the sketcher environment of SolidWorks.

The Add Relations PropertyManager is invoked using the Add Relation button from the Sketch Relations toolbar. The Add Relations PropertyManager is displayed on the left of the drawing area as soon as you choose the Add Relation button. You can also invoke the Add Relations PropertyManager by right-clicking in the drawing area and choosing the Add Relation option from the shortcut menu.

SolidWork 2013 - Creating Patterns

CREATING PATTERNS

Sometimes, while creating a base feature, you may need to place the sketched entities in a particular arrangement such as along linear edges or around a circle. The tools that are used to create the linear and circular patterns of the sketched entities are discussed below.

Creating Linear Sketch Patterns

CommandManager: Sketch > Linear Sketch Pattern

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Linear Pattern

Toolbar: Sketch > Linear Sketch Pattern

In SolidWorks, the linear pattern of the sketched entities is created using the Linear Sketch Pattern tool.

To create the linear pattern, select the sketched entities from the drawing area. Then, choose the Linear Sketch Pattern button from the Sketch CommandManager; the Linear Pattern PropertyManager will be displayed.

Also, the preview of the linear pattern will be displayed in the drawing area. Note that if you have not selected the sketched entities to be patterned before invoking this tool, you will have to select them one by one using the linear pattern cursor. The names of the selected entities are displayed in the Entities to Pattern rollout.

The options in this PropertyManager are discussed below.

SolidWork 2013 - Modifying Tool - How To Move, Rotate, Copy, Past, Scale And Split

Moving Sketched Entities

CommandManager: Sketch > Move Entities

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Move

Toolbar: Sketch > Move Entities

The Move Entities tool in the Sketch CommandManager is used to move an entity from one location to other.

To move an entity, invoke this tool from the Sketch CommandManager or select the entities, right-click, and then choose the Move Entities option from the shortcut menu. Remember that this tool will be available only when at least one sketched entity is drawn. When you invoke this tool, the Move PropertyManager will be displayed and you will be prompted to select the sketched items or the annotations to be moved. The options in this PropertyManager are discussed next.

SolidWork 2013 - Modifying Tools - How to Mirror And Use Of Dynamic Mirror Tool

Mirroring Sketched Entities

CommandManager: Sketch > Mirror Entities

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Mirror

Toolbar: Sketch > Mirror Entities

The Mirror Entities tool is used to create the mirror image of the selected entities. The entities are mirrored about a centerline. When you create the mirrored entity, SolidWorks applies the symmetric relation between the sketched entities. If you change the entity, its mirror image will also change.

To mirror existing entities, choose the Mirror Entities button from the Sketch CommandManager; the Mirror PropertyManager will be displayed. Also, you are prompted to select the entities to be mirrored. Select the entities from the drawing area; the name of the selected entities will be displayed in the Entities to mirror selection box. After selecting all entities to be mirrored, click once in the Mirror about selection box in the Mirror PropertyManager.The Mirror about selection box will be activated automatically and you will be prompted to select a line or a linear model edge to mirror about. Select a line or a centerline from the drawing area as the mirror line; the preview of the mirrored entities will be displayed. You need to make sure that the Copy check box is selected in the Mirror PropertyManager. If you clear this Copy check box, the parent selected entities will be removed and only the mirror image will be retained when you mirror the sketched entities.

Choose the OK button from the Mirror PropertyManager.

Mirroring While Sketching (Dynamic Mirror Entities)

CommandManager: Sketch > Dynamic Mirror Entities (Customize to add)

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Dynamic Mirror

Toolbar: Sketch > Dynamic Mirror Entities (Customize to add)

SolidWork 2013 - Modifying Tool - How to Fillet, Chamfer And Offset

Filleting Sketched Entities

CommandManager: Sketch > Sketch Fillet

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Fillet

Toolbar: Sketch > Sketch Fillet

A fillet creates a tangent arc at the intersection of two sketched entities.You can apply a fillet to two nonparallel lines, two arcs, two splines, an arc and a line, a spline and a line, or a spline and an arc. A fillet between two arcs, or between an arc and a line depends on the compatibility of the geometry to be extended or filleted along the given radius.

You can first choose the Sketch Fillet tool from the Sketch CommandManager, and then select the entities to be filleted or select the vertex formed at the intersection of the two entities to be filleted. Alternatively, you can hold the CTRL key and select the two entities to be filleted and then invoke this tool.

When you invoke the Sketch Fillet tool, the Sketch Fillet PropertyManager will be displayed. Next, select the entities; the preview of the fillet with default radius will be displayed. You can drag the fillet preview to resize it to the required radius or set the radius in the Fillet Radius spinner and press ENTER; a fillet will be created and the Sketch Fillet PropertyManager will be displayed even after applying a fillet. This enables you to create multiple fillets in a sketch. If you create multiple fillets of different radii, then all fillets need to be dimensioned individually. To do so, select the Dimension each fillet check box. But if you need to create multiple fillets of same dimension, then it is recommended that this check box should be cleared. If the Keep constrained corners check box is selected, the dimension and geometric relations applied to the sketch will not be deleted. If you clear the Keep constrained corners check box, you will be prompted to delete the relations applied to the corners of the sketched entities to be filleted. Choose the OK button to exit the Sketch Fillet PropertyManager.

SolidWork 2013 - Modifying Tools - How To Trim And Extend

Trimming Sketched Entities

CommandManager: Sketch > Trim Entities

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Tools > Trim

Toolbar: Sketch > Trim Entities

The Trim Entities tool is used to trim the unwanted entities in a sketch. You can use this tool to trim a line, arc, ellipse, parabola, circle, spline, or centerline intersecting another line, arc, ellipse, parabola, circle, spline, or centerline. You can also extend the sketched entities using the Trim Entities tool.

To trim an entity, choose the Trim Entities button from the Sketch CommandManager; the Trim PropertyManager will be displayed.

The options in this PropertyManager to trim the sketched entities are discussed below.

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing Display Tools And Its ShortCut Key

DRAWING DISPLAY TOOLS

The drawing display tools are one of the most important tools provided in any of the solid modeling software. These tools allow you to modify the display of a drawing by zooming or panning it. In SolidWorks, some of these tools are displayed in the drawing area in the

View (Heads-Up) toolbar.

Zoom to Fit

View (Heads-Up): Zoom to Fit

SolidWorks menus: View > Modify > Zoom to Fit

You can find this tool in the View (Head-up) toolbar. Choose the Zoom to Fit tool to increase or decrease the drawing display area so that all the sketched entities or dimensions are fitted inside the current view. You can also press the “F key” to invoke this tool. Alternatively, double-click the middle mouse button in the drawing area to invoke this tool.

Zoom to Area

View (Heads-Up): Zoom to Area

SolidWorks menus: View > Modify > Zoom to Area

You can find this tool in View (Head-up) toolbar. The Zoom to Area tool is used to magnify a specified area so that the part of the drawing inside the magnified area can be viewed in the current window. The area is defined inside a window that is created by dragging the cursor. When you choose this button, the cursor is replaced by a magnifying glass cursor. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to specify the opposite corners of the window. The area enclosed inside the window will be magnified.

SolidWork 2013 - Sketching Lesson

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing And Modifying Spline

DRAWING SPLINES

CommandManager: Sketch > Spline

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Spline

Toolbar: Sketch > Spline

To draw a spline, choose the Spline tool from the Sketch CommandManager.

Then, using the left mouse button continuously, specify the points through which the spline will pass. This method of drawing splines

is similar to that of drawing continuous lines. After specifying all points of the spline, right-click to invoke the shortcut menu. If you need to exit the current spline and draw another spline, choose the End Spline option. Now, you can draw a new spline. If you need to exit the Spline tool, choose the Select option.

When you select a spline using the Select tool, handles are displayed on the points. These handles are used to edit a spline. You will learn more about these handles below .

Modifying a Spline

You can perform four types of modification on a spline.

The first is the modification of the coordinates of the selected control point.

The second modification is by using the Spline Handles.

The third type of modification is by using the Control polygons.

The fourth type of modification is the addition of a curvature control symbol.

SolidWork 2013 - Writing Text In SolidWork

WRITING TEXT IN THE SKETCHING ENVIRONMENT

CommandManager: Sketch > Text

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Text

Toolbar: Sketch > Text

You can write text in the sketching environment of SolidWorks and used it later to create join or cut features.

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing Different Type Of Ellipes

DRAWING ELLIPSES

CommandManager: Sketch > Ellipse

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Ellipse

Toolbar: Sketch > Ellipse

In SolidWorks, an ellipse is drawn by specifying its centerpoint and two ellipse axes by moving the mouse. To draw an ellipse, choose the Ellipse button from the Sketch CommandManagert. Move the cursor to the point that you want to specify as the centerpoint of the ellipse. Press the left mouse button at that point and then move the cursor to specify one of the ellipse axes. You will notice that a reference circle is drawn and two values are displayed above the ellipse cursor. The first value that shows R = * is the radius of the fi rst axis or the major axis that you are defining and the second value that shows r = * is the radius of the other axis or minor axis of the ellipse. While defining the first axis, the second axis is taken equal to the first axis. That is why a reference circle is drawn and not a reference ellipse. Specify a point on the screen to define the first axis. Next, move the cursor to size the other ellipse axis. As you move the cursor, the second value above the ellipse cursor that shows r = * and the value in the Radius 2 spinner in the Ellipse PropertyManager will change dynamically. Specify a point in the drawing area to define the second axis of the ellipse.

DRAWING ELLIPTICAL ARCS

CommandManager: Sketch > Ellipse fl yout > Partial Ellipse

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Partial Ellipse

Toolbar: Sketch > Ellipse fl yout > Partial Ellipse

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing Slots And Placing Point

DRAWING SLOTS

In SolidWorks, the tools used to draw slot profile are grouped together in the Slot flyout.

To draw a slot profile, invoke the Slot PropertyManager by choosing the Slot button from the Slot flyout and select an appropriate method to draw a slot profile from the Slot Type rollout.

Creating a Straight Slot

CommandManager: Sketch > Slot flyout > Straight Slot

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Straight Slot

Toolbar: Sketch > Slot flyout > Straight Slot

To create a straight slot, choose the Straight Slot button from the Sketch CommandManager; the Slot PropertyManager will be displayed. Next, move the cursor where you want to specify the first endpoint of the straight slot. Press the left mouse button once at the first endpoint, and then move the cursor and specify the second endpoint of the straight slot; a preview of the slot will be attached to the cursor. The options in the Slot PropertyManager will not be enabled at this stage. Move the cursor and specify the width of the straight slot. The options in the Slot PropertyManager will be enabled once you draw the straight slot. You can modify the properties of the straight slot using the options available in the Slot PropertyManager.

Creating a Centerpoint Straight Slot

CommandManager: Sketch > Slot flyout > Centerpoint Straight Slot

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Centerpoint Straight Slo t

Toolbar: Sketch > Slot flyout > Centerpoint Straight Slot

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing different Rectangles And Polygon

DRAWING DIFFERENT TYPE OF RECTANGLES

In SolidWorks, the tools that are used to draw rectangles are grouped together in the Rectangle fly-out. On invoking a tool from this fly-out, the Rectangle PropertyManager will be displayed. Select an appropriate method to draw a rectangle from the Rectangle Type rollout.

Drawing Rectangles by Specifying Their Corners

CommandManager: Sketch > Rectangle flyout > Corner Rectangle

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Rectangle

Toolbar: Sketch > Rectangle flyout > Corner Rectangle

To draw a rectangle by specifying the two diagonally opposite corners, choose the Corner Rectangle button from the Rectangle Type rollout in the Rectangle PropertyManager, if it is not chosen by default. Next, move the cursor to the point that you want to specify as the first corner of the rectangle and then click the left mouse button once to specify the first corner. Now, move the cursor diagonally away from it. You will notice that the length and width of the rectangle are displayed above the rectangle cursor. The length is measured along the X-axis and the width is measured along the Y-axis. Next, specify the other corner of the rectangle using the left mouse button.

SolidWork 2013 - Drawing Circles And Arcs AND Their Related Option

DRAWING CIRCLES

In SolidWorks, there are two methods to draw circles.

The first method is by specifying the center point of a circle and then defining its radius.

The second method is drawing a circle by defining three points that lie on its periphery.

The tools for drawing a circle are grouped together in the Circle fly-out in the Sketch CommandManager.

Drawing Circles by Defining Their Center Points

CommandManager: Sketch > Circle flyout > Circle

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Circle

Toolbar: Sketch > Circle

When you invoke the Circle PropertyManager, the Circle button is chosen by default in the Circle Type rollout. This button is chosen to draw a circle by specifying its center.

Specify the center point of the circle and then move the cursor away from the point to defi ne its radius. The current radius of the circle

will be displayed above the circle cursor. This radius will change as you move the cursor. Click on the drawing area away from the center point to defi ne the radius. This radius can be modifi ed by using the Circle PropertyManager. Also, the coordinates of the center point of the circle can be modifi ed by using the Circle PropertyManager.

Drawing Circles by Defining Three Points

CommandManager: Sketch > Circle flyout > Perimeter Circle

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Perimeter Circle

Toolbar: Sketch > Circle flyout > Perimeter Circle

SolidWork 2013 - Sketching Enviroment And How to Sketch A Line and it's Different option

THE SKETCHING ENVIRONMENT

Most of the products designed by using SolidWorks are a combination of sketched, placed, and derived features. The placed and derived features are created without drawing a sketch, but the sketched features require a sketch to be drawn first. Generally, the base feature of any design is a sketched feature and is created using the sketch. Therefore, while creating any design, the first and foremost requirement is to draw a sketch for the base feature.

In general terms, a sketch is defined as the basic contour for a feature.

STARTING A NEW DOCUMENT IN SolidWorks 2013

To start a new document in SolidWorks 2013, select the New Document option from the Getting Started rollout of the SolidWorks Resources task pane; the New SolidWorks Document dialog box will be displayed. You can also invoke this dialog box by choosing

the New button from the Menu Bar.

UNDERSTANDING THE SKETCHING ENVIRONMENT

Whenever you start a new part document, by default, you are in the part modeling environment. But you need to start the design by fi rst creating the sketch of the base feature in the sketching environment. To invoke the sketching environment, choose the Sketch tab from the CommandManager. Next, choose the Sketch button from the Sketch CommandManager tab.

(OR)

In SolidWorks, when you are in the sketching environment, press the S key to invoke the shortcut bar that contains the tools for sketching.

When you choose the Sketch tool from the Sketch CommandManager tab, the Edit Sketch PropertyManager is displayed on the left in the drawing area and you are prompted to select the plane on which the sketch will be created.

Also, the three default planes (Front Plane, Right Plane, and Top Plane) are temporarily displayed on the screen.

You can select a plane to draw the sketch of the base feature depending on the requirement of the design. The selected plane will automatically be oriented normal to the view, so that you can easily create the sketch. Also, the CommandManager will display various sketching tools to draw the sketch.

DRAWING LINES

CommandManager: Sketch > Line

SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Line

Toolbar: Sketch > Line

SolidWork 2013 - Important Terms And Hot Key For Better Use

IMPORTANT TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

Before you proceed further in SolidWorks, it is very important to understand the following terms as they have been widely used in the solidwork posts.

Feature-based Modeling

A feature is defi ned as the smallest building block that can be modifi ed individually. In SolidWorks, the solid models are created by integrating a number of these building blocks.

Parametric Modeling

The parametric nature of a software package is defi ned as its ability to use the standard properties or parameters in defi ning the shape and size of a geometry. The main function of this property is to drive the selected geometry to a new size or shape without considering its original dimensions.

Bidirectional Associativity

As mentioned earlier, SolidWorks has different modes such as Part, Assembly, and Drawing. There exists bidirectional associativity among all these modes. This associativity ensures that any modifi cation made in the model in any one of these modes of SolidWorks is automatically reflected in the other modes immediately.

SolidWork 2013 - Different Menus And ToolBar

MENU BAR AND SolidWorks MENUS

SolidWork 2013 - Introduction And How To Start It

Introduction to SolidWorks 2013

INTRODUCTION TO SolidWorks 2013

Welcome to the world of Computer Aided Designing (CAD) with SolidWorks. SolidWorks, developed by the SolidWorks Corporation, USA, is a feature-based, parametric solid-modeling mechanical design and automation software. SolidWorks is the first CAD package to use the Microsoft Windows graphic user interface. The use of the drag and drop (DD) functionality of Windows makes this CAD package extremely easy to learn.

The Windows graphic user interface makes it possible for the mechanical design engineers to innovate their ideas and implement them in the form of virtual prototypes or solid models, large assemblies, subassemblies, and detailing and drafting.

There are  number of software provided by the SolidWorks Corporation, which can be used as Add-Ins with SolidWorks. Some of the software that can be used on SolidWorks’s work platform are listed below:

SolidWorks Animator, PhotoWorks, FeatureWorks, COSMOS/Works, COSMOS/Motion, COSMOS/Flow, eDrawings, CAMWorks, Toolbox,  Mold Base, SolidWorks Piping.

As mentioned earlier, SolidWorks is a parametric, featu re-based, and easy-to-use mechanical design automation software. It enables you to convert the basic 2D sketch into a solid model by using simple but highly effective modeling tools. SolidWorks does not restrict you to 3D solid output, but it extends to the bidirectional associative generative drafting. It also enables you to create the virtual prototype of a sheet metal component and the fl at pattern of the component. This helps you in the complete process planning for designing and creating a press tool. SolidWorks helps you to extract the core and the cavity of a model that has to be molded or cast. With SolidWorks, you can also create complex parametric shapes in the form of surfaces.

Some of the important modes of SolidWorks are discussed below.