Department of Mechanical Engineering

Machine Design & CAD-II Lab (MEEN-3238)

Lab Report 1

Submitted To Engr. Adnan Rasheed

Submitted By Sarmad Hafeez

Regd. No. ME171005

Semester 6th
 Table of Contents
1. Objective: ................................................................................................................................ 1
2. Theory: .................................................................................................................................... 1
2.1. Introduction to Solid Works ............................................................................................. 1
Concepts .................................................................................................................................. 1
What Dose Feature-Based Means? ......................................................................................... 1
Parametric Design ................................................................................................................... 1
Uses of Parametric Modeling .................................................................................................. 2
Advantages of SolidWorks ..................................................................................................... 2
2.2. How to Start the Software? .............................................................................................. 2
2.3. SolidWorks Explorer ........................................................................................................ 3
2.4. SolidWorks Interface: ...................................................................................................... 4
Menu Bar................................................................................................................................. 4
Fly out Menu of Help Options ................................................................................................ 4
Command Manager ................................................................................................................. 5
Feature Manager Design Tree ................................................................................................. 5
Property Manager .................................................................................................................... 6
Configuration Manager ........................................................................................................... 6
Heads up View Toolbar .......................................................................................................... 7
Task Pane ................................................................................................................................ 7
Status Bar ................................................................................................................................ 8
2.5. Orientation Using Keyboard & Mouse Configuration: .................................................... 8
To rotate the model view: ....................................................................................................... 8
To pan: .................................................................................................................................... 9
To zoom in or out: ................................................................................................................... 9
 Lab Session 1
1. Objective:
Introduction to Solids works CAD software and its interface and to learn the utilization of different
orientation views in the interface and Solid works Explorer.

2. Theory:
2.1. Introduction to Solid Works
The solidworks CAD software is a mechanical design automation application that lets designers
quickly sketch out ideas, experiment with features and dimensions, and produce models and
detailed drawings.
Solidworks is an easy to learn design and analysis tool. Model dimensions in solidworks are
associative between parts, assemblies and drawings. It involves feature based parametric modeling
like other CAD software. It has the associative property when switching between part, drawing &
assembly model.
Concepts
 Parts are the basic building blocks in the SolidWorks software.
 Assemblies contain parts or other assemblies, called subassemblies.
 A SolidWorks model consists of 3D geometry that defines its edges, faces, and surfaces.
What Dose Feature-Based Means?
Feature based modeling means you start with simple basic features and then add more features.
Part is ‘constructed’ so that its individual features describe the way the geometry should behave –
e.g. a cut ‘knows’ its shape and location and the fact it has negative volume.
Parametric Design
Parametric is a term used to describe a dimension’s
ability to change the shape of model geometry as
soon as the dimension value is modified. In solid
works design each feature you give the part is a
parameter which can be changed.
Figure 1- Feature based drawing

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Uses of Parametric Modeling
 Parametric modelling uses the computer to design objects or systems that model
component attributes with real world behavior.
 Analysis of design concepts.
 Capability to produce flexible designs.
 3D solid models offer a vast range of ways to view the model.
 Better integration with downstream applications and reduced engineering cycle time.
 Existing design data can be reused to create new designs.
 Quick design turnaround, increasing efficiency.
Advantages of SolidWorks
 Smooth and easy design process
 Built in intelligence
 Improved collaboration
 Design intent
 Design analysis
2.2. How to Start the Software?
To start the solidworks,
Click on the solidworks icon shown on desktop.
If the icon is not present on desktop, then start the program from start menu by clicking Start then
all programs then solidworks 2013 and finally solidworks 2013 ×64 edition.
We can also use window explorer or window search to find the file solidworks.exe in the directory
C:\Program Files\SolidWorks. Double click to start the program.

Figure 2- Start SolidWorks

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2.3. SolidWorks Explorer
SolidWorks explorer is a file management tool designed to help you
perform such tasks as renaming, replacing and copying SolidWorks files.
You can show a document’s references, search for documents using
variety of criteria and list all the places where a document is used.
Renamed files are still available to those documents that reference them.
Figure 3- SolidWorks
You can open this explorer by clicking on the icon show in figure. Explorer Icon
To activate the SOLIDWORKS Explorer:
• From within the SOLIDWORKS application, click Tools > SOLIDWORKS Explorer.
• From the Windows Start menu, click All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version >
SOLIDWORKS Explorer version.
• Create a shortcut by dragging the SOLIDWORKS Explorer icon to your desktop.

Figure 4- SolidWorks Explorer

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2.4. SolidWorks Interface:

Figure 5- Interface

Menu Bar
You can access all SOLIDWORKS commands using menus. SOLIDWORKS menus use Windows
conventions, including submenus and checkmarks to indicate that an item is active. You can also
use context-sensitive shortcut menus by clicking the right mouse button.

Figure 6-Menu Bar

Fly out Menu of Help Options

Figure 7- Help Option

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Command Manager
The Command Manager is a context-sensitive toolbar that dynamically updates based on the active
document type. When you click a tab below the Command Manager, it updates to show the related
tools. Each document type, such as part, assembly, or drawing, has different tabs defined for its
tasks. The content of the tabs is customizable, similar to toolbars. For example, if you click the
Features tab, tools related to features appear. You can also add or delete tools to customize the
Command Manager. Tooltips display when you hover over each icon.

Figure 8- Command Manager

Feature Manager Design Tree
Displays the structure of the part, assembly, or drawing. Select an item from the Feature Manager
Design tree to edit the underlying sketch, edit the feature, and suppress and unsuppressed the
feature or component, for example.

Figure 9- Feature Manager Design Tree

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Property Manager
Provides settings for many functions such as sketches, fillet features, and assembly mates.

Figure 10-Property Manager

Configuration Manager
Let’s you create, select, and view multiple configurations of parts and assemblies in a document.
Configurations are variations of a part or assembly within a single document. For example, you
can use configurations of a bolt to specify different lengths and diameters.

Figure 11- Configuration Manager

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Heads up View Toolbar
This bar contains all the tools to manipulate view of design.

Figure 3- Heads up View Toolbar

Task Pane
The task pane provides access to SOLIDWORKS resources, libraries of reusable design elements,
views to drag onto drawing sheets, and other useful items and information. The Task Pane appears
when you open the SOLIDWORKS software. It contains the following tabs:

SOLIDWORKS Groups of commands for SOLIDWORKS Tools, Online Resources,

Resources and Subscription Services, plus a link to the Welcome dialog box.

Design Library Access the Design Library, Toolbox, 3D Content Central,

and SOLIDWORKS Content for a wide variety of standard parts,
library features, and other reusable content.

File Explorer Duplicate of File Explorer on your computer, plus an Open in

SOLIDWORKS folder. If SOLIDWORKS PDM is added in, the tab

changes to .

View Palette Images of standard views, annotation views, section views, and flat
patterns (sheet metal parts) to drag onto a drawing sheet.

Appearances, Scenes, Library of appearances, scenes, and decals.

and Decals

Custom Properties In a customized interface that you create using the Property Tab
Builder, enter custom properties in SOLIDWORKS files.

Collaborative Access the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to store your data on the cloud
Sharing and to collaborate with other colleagues using a central location for
your files.

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 Available if the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Connector for
SOLIDWORKS is installed.

3DSwym Use 3DSwym to connect with members of your communities to

Communities collaborate, ask and answer questions, and share information.
Available if the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Connector for
SOLIDWORKS is installed.

SOLIDWORKS Browse the SOLIDWORKS Discussion Forum from within the Task
Forum Pane.

3D PMI Compare Use 3D PMI Compare to compare DimXpert annotations, reference

dimensions, and other annotations between two part documents.

Search Results of search operations.

Status Bar
This bar is present in the bottom of solidworks interface and it provides information about the
functions you are performing.
To display or hide the status bar: Click View > User Interface > Status Bar.
2.5. Orientation Using Keyboard & Mouse Configuration:
To rotate the model view:
Do one of the following;
Device Procedure
Mouse (left button) Click Rotate View (View toolbar) or View > Modify > Rotate then
drag the pointer.

Mouse (middle button) Drag with the middle mouse button.

Keyboard Press the arrow keys. Hold down Shift to rotate in 90° increments.

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To pan:
Do one of the following:
Device Procedure
Mouse (left button) Click Pan (View toolbar) or View > Modify > Pan, then drag the
pointer.

Mouse (middle Hold down Ctrl and drag. (In an active drawing, you do not need to hold
button) down Ctrl.)

Keyboard Hold down Ctrl and press the arrow keys.

To zoom in or out:
Do one of the following:
Device Procedure
Mouse (left Click Zoom In/Out (View toolbar) or View > Modify > Zoom In/Out.
button)
Drag the pointer up to zoom in and down to zoom out.
Mouse (middle Hold down Shift and drag with the middle mouse button.
button)
Mouse Wheel To zoom to the position of the pointer:
Spin the wheel forward and back. While spinning the wheel, keep the pointer
on the area where you want to zoom.
To zoom to the center of the screen:
Click View > Modify > Zoom About Screen Center then spin the wheel
forward and back.
To change the direction of the mouse wheel for zooming in and out,
select Reverse mouse wheel zoom direction in View Rotation/Zoom
Options.
Keyboard Press Z to zoom out or Shift + Z to zoom in.

Reg. No. Lab Performance (10) Lab Report (10) Viva Voce (10) Signature

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