screen shot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach.
SolidWorks is a parasolid-based solid modeler, and utilizes a parametric feature-based approach to create models and assemblies.
Parameters refer to constraints whose values determine the shape or geometry of the model or assembly. Parameters can be either numeric parameters, such as line lengths or circle diameters, or geometric parameters, such as tangent, parallel, concentric, horizontal or vertical, etc. Numeric parameters can be associated with each other through the use of relations, which allows them to capture design intent.
Design intent is how the creator of the part wants it to respond to changes and updates. For example, you would want the hole at the top of a beverage can to stay at the top surface, regardless of the height or size of the can. SolidWorks allows you to specify that the hole is a feature on the top surface, and will then honor your design intent no matter what the height you later gave to the can.
Features refer to the building blocks of the part. They are the shapes and operations that construct the part. Shape-based features typically begin with a 2D or 3D sketch of shapes such as bosses, holes, slots, etc. This shape is then extruded or cut to add or remove material from the part. Operation-based features are not sketch-based, and include features such fillets, chamfers, shells, applying draft to the faces of a part, etc.
screen shot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach.
Building a model in SolidWorks usually starts with a 2D sketch (although 3D sketches are available for power users). The sketch consists of geometry such as points, lines, arcs, conics (except the hyperbola), and splines. Dimensions are added to the sketch to define the size and location of the geometry.
Relations are used to define attributes such as tangency, parallelism, perpendicularity, and concentricity. The parametric nature of SolidWorks means that the dimensions and relations drive the geometry, not the other way around. The dimensions in the sketch can be controlled independently, or by relationships to other parameters inside or outside of the sketch.
SolidWorks pioneered the ability of a user to roll back through the history of the part in order to make changes, add additional features, or change the sequence in which operations are performed.Later feature-based solid modeling software has copied this idea.
In an assembly, the analog to sketch relations are mates. Just as sketch relations define conditions such as tangency, parallelism, and concentricity with respect to sketch geometry, assembly mates define equivalent relations with respect to the individual parts or components, allowing the easy construction of assemblies. SolidWorks also includes additional advanced mating features such as gear and cam follower mates, which allow modeled gear assemblies to accurately reproduce the rotational movement of an actual gear train.
Finally, drawings can be created either from parts or assemblies. Views are automatically generated from the solid model, and notes, dimensions and tolerances can then be easily added to the drawing as needed. The drawing module includes most paper sizes and standards (ANSI, ISO, DIN, GOST, JIS, BSI and GB).
In SOLIDWORKS, propagating changes from one file is a smart strategy to control design flow. But the reality is that picking the source for where these changes occur can be a bit tricky. This workflow is referred to as master modeling, where a single target, such as a sketch, can be modified to control multiple parts at the same time. The advantage of having this source is to speed up the design changes where a layout can be constructed to be the foundation for quick editing.
Creating the sketch & master part file
In this example, we’ll create different shapes that fit through a block. The sketch for the centerpiece contains the rectangular outline along with the shape profiles inside. In the part, we can reference this single sketch to allow it to be reused in multiple part files.
Reusing the master part file
In order the create the shapes as separate pieces, we’ll need to have a way to link them to the master source sketch. To do so, start a new part using the Insert Part command.
Placing files into a new assembly
To avoid using mates, the trick is to insert each component at its exact location where they were created by placing each component at the same origin.
Editing the master part file
Once the parts are inserted inside the SOLIDWORKS assembly, feel free to open and edit the original master model, and, from changing any element on the sketch, the parts will automatically update as well as the assembly.
Five design features in Solidworks that every design engineer should know
Designing in Solidworks starts with a 2-dimensional sketch. From a 2D sketch one can create 3-dimensional objects using built-in tools called “features.” Features are simply different ways of converting 2D outlines into 3D objects. Two of the most common tools (methods) for doing this are extrusions (the “extrude” feature) and revolutions (the “revolve” feature).
1) Extrusions: The Extrude feature takes a 2D sketch in the x-y plane and gives it thickness or depth by developing it linearly in the z-axis. For example, a sketch of a circle would be extruded into a cylinder. A sketch of a square would be extruded into a rectangular block (or a cube in the event the thickness were made to be the same as the x and y dimensions).
2) Revolutions: solidworks tips for design engineersThe Revolve feature takes a 2D sketch in the x-y plane and gives it thickness or depth by rotating it about one of the two sketch axes (i.e. the x or y axis). A commonly known item that demonstrates the utility of the revolve feature is a pawn from the game of chess. An otherwise extremely intricate piece to design, the revolve feature allows the designer to develop a 2D profile which is rotated about the vertical axis for 360 degrees and easily completes the part.
Although extrusions and revolutions are some of the most common features used to design parts in Solidworks, they are nowhere near the only available options. Here are three more features that help round out a basic inventory of design tools:
3) Sweeps: The designer can create parts using multiple sketches on perpendicular planes. One sketch will act as the profile and the other will act as the path. The profile sketch is dragged along the path to create the 3 dimensional object. The sweep feature is very effective for things like handles or pipes.solidworks tips for design engineers
4) Surfaces and Lofts: Surfaces typically work similar to sweeps in that they utilize profile and path sketches but they also introduce guide curves. Guide curves act as a second path of sorts in the event that the surface is not going to be symmetric about the path. Surfaces are great for things like handles or nozzles. Additionally, surfaces are hollow by default (the designer simply applies a thickness to the shape which is different than most solid parts). Lofts are typically used to connect different pieces into a single part by using mathematical equations that blend the curves between parts according to the designer’s inputs.
5) Sheet Metal: Sheet metal drawings are the most effective way to design parts that are actually manufactured by sheet metal forming (adding flanges and bends to a flat “sheet” of metal)
In truth, even these five features are only the beginning. There are a great many other tools to design and refine the design of various parts such as patterns (linear and circular are very common), holes, and a built-in toolbox for off-the-shelf (OTS) components. When determining which tools and/or features to use in your design, it is often useful to think about how the part will be fabricated once you are finished with the design. Some processes are subtractive (such as CNC), while others, like sheet metal work, manipulate a flat surface in different ways. Sometimes it is easy to buy components from manufacturers that make their Solidworks files available on the web. Sometimes parts are combined via fasteners and in other instances they might be welded together. Solidworks has powerful design tools for all of these decisions and more.
When we look at modeling methodology, we want to look at several different items before we actually start to create a model.
Manufacturing – How is the part going to be manufactured, is it a molded part that needs draft, or is this going to be a sheet metal part and are you adding in the right clearances for your tooling to punch and form the part? These are just some of the many different items you are going to need to consider.
Features – There are generally several different ways to create a part, so you need to think about those features and what is going to be the most efficient as you work with the model during the development and life of the model.
Assemblies and Drawings – You also need to think about how your parts need to and are going to interact with the other files in the assembly. Also you want to think about the dimensions in your sketches and are those going to be imported into your drawings, so are you dimensioning to the proper points and are those going to carry over into your drawing the way you want.
Designing in Solidworks starts with a 2-dimensional sketch. From a 2D sketch one can create 3-dimensional objects using built-in tools called “features.” Features are simply different ways of converting 2D outlines into 3D objects. Two of the most common tools (methods) for doing this are extrusions (the “extrude” feature) and revolutions (the “revolve” feature).
If we want to draw 1/4 of Solidworks Sketch and Mirror the Sketch some of the items to remember:
Fully define the sketch before Mirroring.
Use Double Distance dimensions by Dimensioning between a Center Line and another sketch entity, this will help with your 2D drawings.
If you are going to have to make changes to the sketch and add or delete lines then using sketch Mirror may not be the best choice.
There are more Sketch Relations when you mirror sketch entities.
Often, more time is spent on editing our design than was spent in creating it. While actual figures may vary, a conservative estimate would be that 15 percent of the total design time is spent on the original design, while the rest is spent on making changes. I have always found that creating a simple first sketch\feature, which captures the overall shape or key element of a model, lends itself best to later edits. Often these first sketches consist of a simple profile.
The starting point for modeling performance is the part template. At minimum, the part template should capture the units that we will use for our projects, but templates can also define what materials we will work with. We can even have templates that contain a basic layout sketch or feature, which all our parts are derived from. Well-defined templates can enforce standardization and reduce design time. Templates can also help also reduce the learning curve for new employees by clearly defining company standards.
now Solidworks is becoming more and more popular in the mold industry.
More and more mold companies prefer SOLIDWORKS as a design tool.
solidworks is a very excellent CAD software.