SolidWorks Guidance

Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Parametric Modelling
using
SolidWorks
What is Parametric Modelling and Design Intent?
Planning how to Model/ Build Objects and Products
How to Sketch Properly
How to use SolidWorks
Introductory Points to be Rembered
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Parametric Modelling & Design Intent

Solidworks_2003.lnk Autodesk Inventor 7.lnk Pro_Engineer 2001.lnk PTC ProDESKTOP 2001.lnk Solid_Edge_Assembly.lnk proewildfire.lnk

SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/DESKTOP,

SolidEdge etc. are all Parametric Modelling Software programs
sharing common modelling features, techniques and capabilities.
Learning SolidWorks requires YOU to think in terms of parts and
components interacting together, and how these interactions change.
Components may be holes, chamfers. How can these change within a
part?
How can parts change with respect to finished products?
The biggest challenge is to think parametrically,
i.e.:
How could this change, and what would
change with it?
and then to create parametric relationships, so
everything updates automatically.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Cover Plate
> Correct Parametric Design

The four fasteners are dimensioned

in from the edges. No matter what
the size of the cover plate, the
fasteners will be in the required
place.

Use as much precision as

is called for. Do not round
dimensions.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Cover Plate
> Incorrect Parametric Design

Result !!

As a Result:
THINK about what is
dimensioned to what. Think into
the future and how a part may
have to change to suit an other
part!
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Plan how to model objects and products.

What goes where?
When drawing an object e.g. A Stool, What is drawn first?, where is it drawn?
How is a stool manufactured in Industry, in real-life?
The top of the stool can be designed and produced firstly, then the legs can be
made to suit.
Well we must place the top of the stool on a Plane (work surface) and work
from there.
What are Planes?
Planes are flat surfaces of infinite area. There are three principle Planes: the
Top, Right and Front Planes. We can
draw out the object on one of these
flat planes and extrude/ build from
there.
What Planes to use?
(Top, Right, Front)
What position would the stool rest in
real-life? Would the top of the stool be
horizontal on the Top Plane or on its
side to the Front or to the Right?
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

.plan how to model objects and products.

Answer?
Correct - The Top Plane!

Take Note:
Objects, especially cylindrical
objects are centered on the Plane
that they are drawn on, i.e. in the
center or Centered on the Origin.

This is because other Components, (e.g. legs of a

stool) and features can be concentric around the
origin, and/ or symmetrical between planes.
This is not only the case within parts but also can
be the KEY to efficient assembling of parts.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

.plan how to model objects and products.

Thus, the legs of the stool can be revolved around the origin or central
axis.

Rendered and Normal

viewing as in real-life.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 1.

Once the correct Plane is chosen, it is of paramount importance
that the sketch of the feature and component is
1. Accurate
2. Correctly positioned
3. Dimensioned fully
- thus having a fully defined sketch.
Why do I have to fully define sketches?
Sketches have to be fully defined, otherwise the resulting features and
components will be floating, incorrectly related and undefined in space.
Not only do the profiles and outlines have to be fully dimensioned, but they also
have to be dimensioned from the origin.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 2.

Case 1.: Outer profile dimensioned, however geometry still

blue and under-defined. Circle can be dragged and moved.

Case 2.: Fully-defined sketch geometry. Sketch geometry is

coloured black. Cannot be dragged or moved.

Case 3.: Ideal Situation fully-defined. Sketch geometry is

concident with origin.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Fig. 10a.
How to Sketch Properly 3. Fig. 10b.
Dimensions Vs Relations

The IDEAL situation is to use as little dimensioning as

possible. Relations such as:
HORIZONTAL MIDPOINT
VERTICAL
CONCENTRIC
COINCIDENT
COLINEAR are used to define
PERPENDICULAR sketch geometry and
PARALLEL allow for parametric
EQUAL design.
MERGE Fig. 10a. All sides of square dimensioned
TANGENT Fig. 10b. One side Dimensioned. Equal
PIERCE relation used on all sides.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 4.

Points Vs Lines

When adding relations, it is important to realise, that a line

has a Point at each end. Relations and Dimensions can be
used to define either points or profiles in sketch geometry.
Consider the following incomplete
sketch geometry :-
Both dimensions and relations are used
defining the points AND the lines in the
sketch geometry.
In order to view or change the properties
and relations of a line or point, simply
click once on the point or line.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 5.

Properties are shown in the
Property Manager on the
left of the SolidWorks
program.
We can see, that the line
selected (coloured green) has
a Horizontal Relation.
Nothing more and is Fully
Defined.
The Selected Point (green) has many relations
that you may not have even considered!!!
The point is Coincident with the origin.
The point is vertical with the point above it.
The point has a distance (50) relation to the point
above it.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 6.

~ Adding Relations
Relations can be added in two ways:
1. Using the Add Relation toolbar icon.
Click the icon. The Property Manager appears allowing you
select points and profiles. When the appropriate points are
selected available relations are shown and can be added.
Reading the Property Manager from
the Top down,
The Selected Entities are displayed.
The Existing Relations are displayed
The available Relations that can be
added in are also displayed.
The two selected points can be
Merged or made Horizontal.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Sketch Properly 7.

~ Adding Relations
2. Using the Ctrl (control) key, click on the appropriate points and
profiles, and they can be selected together. Selected Entities,
Existing Relations, and Available Relations automatically appear
in the Property Manager.
In the Property Manager, similar options
are available for viewing,
adding or deleting relations. If you
want to delete a relation, simply
right click on the existing relation
and select delete.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

How to Use SolidWorks

~The FeatureManager/ Design Tree
Everything that is sketched and modelled in
SolidWorks is contained within the FeatureManager/
Design Tree. From here properties can be easily and
quickly obtained and changed.
Right Click to get and change Properties
The indicates that there is a sketch consumed
and being used by that particular feature. Click on
the to open and see the underlying sketches.

Again right click on the sketch to obtain the

properties and/ or change them.
Double click on the sketch or the feature to display
the information and dimensions on the graphics area.
SolidWorks Guidance
Lesson 1
www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/solidworks

Points to be Rembered
How could this change, and what would change with it?

Design correctly using Parametric thinking.

Choose the correct Sketch Plane (Top, Left, Front)
Center and Reference from the Origin.
Fully Define Sketches Turn Blue Profiles to Black
Use Relations Rather than Dimensions
Know how to get and change properties of entities.