Introduction to SolidWorks

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Open Solidworks Choose “Part” Open New Document

SolidWorks Interface

Click the sketch tab to start drawing Choose a “Plane” on which to draw your sketch

Notice there are different types of each Start drawing a box Lines or Rectangle Notice there are different types of each Using “Center Rectangle” you can start drawing a rectangle from the origin of the given coordinate system

Click “Smart Dimensions” to Set Values Click a line to start setting its dimension. Note: Line turns orange when hovering over it. Drag dimension marker out form the line and click out of the dimension. The “Modify” window will appear. Type in desired dimension and press the green check mark. Your new dimension will be set. Tip: You can change the units in the Modify window. When a number is typed in, a drop down list for units will appear. Repeat until all dimensions are set. When you are done sketching and setting dimensions, press the check mark near the top left of the window.

Under Features, click Extruded Boss/Base to make the rectangle a box. Type in the depth that you would like the box to be. The yellow shadow on the part gives you a preview of what it will look like. When you are done extruding, click the green check mark near the top left.

Putting Holes in your box Click the desired face. The part will change colors. Click back into the sketch tab Hover over the different faces of the box. Orange lines will appear indicating which face is being selected. Click the sketch style for circle Draw a circle anywhere on the face you chose

Set the dimensions of your circle using Smart Dimensions Click the circle to set its size. Repeat for all needed dimensions. Click an edge and then the circle to set the distance of the circle from that edge.

Under Features, click Extruded Cut to make the circle become a hole You have to tell SolidWorks what to do. Do you want the circle to become a hole that goes through the entire block? Do you want the circle to become a hole that only goes a set depth into the block? Options for the hole type become available when you click this dropdown menu When set to blind, you can set the hole to be a certain depth in this sections. Which option do you think you would choose to make the hole go through the entire block? Through All

Final part with circle cut through entire block You can see different views of your part by clicking the View Orientation button. Or you can put the view buttons on your taskbar for quick access. TIP: When you click the view that the part is currently orientated to, it re-centers the part. Click the Display Style to change the appearance of the part. Options are: Shaded with edges Shaded Hidden lines removed Hidden lines visible Wireframe

Making your Part a Drawing Click the down arrow by the new document button and choose “Make Drawing from Part/Assembly.” Choose a view to display on the drawing. Drag and drop that view on the drawing. You can move the views around the drawing for a cleaner layout. A window for sheet size options pops up. Click the first option and press OK. From the view on the drawing, you can place projections showing the other view orientations by dragging your mouse out of the view in different directions.

Add Dimensions on Your Drawing Under the Annotations table click “Model Items” Select the Source/Destination: Entire Model Select the type of dimensions you want to display. Marked for drawing Not marked for drawing Press the green check mark. Tip: You can move the dimensions around to make them more visible.

Additional SolidWorks Tips Using a Mouse can increase functionality and help you navigate through the program more easily. Check out the built in SolidWorks Resources. Do the built in tutorials in SolidWorks or the Online Training. Read through the Introducing SolidWorks PDF. There are many helpful third party resources online Watch videos on YouTube of people modeling parts Search SolidWorks forums for helpful tips Don’t be afraid to click buttons! You will learn more when you press buttons and just see what happens.