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MANUAL NO. 4
INTRODUCTION TO SOLIDWORKS:
SolidWorks is a parametric and feature-based software that allows you to create 3D parts, assemblies,
and 2D drawings. The design process in SolidWorks is shown below. If you are a new user of this
software, then the time you spend on learning this software will be a wise investment. If you had used
previous versions of SolidWorks, you will be able to learn the new enhancements. I welcome you to
learn SolidWorks using this book as it provides stepby-step examples to learn various tools and
techniques.

ENVIRONMENT IN SOLIDWORKS:
SolidWorks offers various types of
environments to perform different types of
operations. For Example, SolidWorks provides
you with the Part Environment to design a
part, Assembly environment to perform
assemblies, similarly there are many other
environments to perform advance operations
such as, manufacturing process, process
diagrams, drawings, and so on. However, in
this book we cover basic environments like
Part, Assembly, Drawing, Sheet Metal, and
Surfacing. A brief introduction to these
environments is given next.

PART ENVIRONMENT:
The Part environment provides you the tools to create parametric solid models. You can start
a document in this environment by clicking the new icon and then double-clicking on the Part
button from the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box, as shown.

SOLIDWORKS USER INTERFACE:

While starting SolidWorks for the first time, the
SolidWorks screen with Welcome - SolidWorks 2018
dialog box by default get displayed, as shown. To enter
in the Part environment, click on the Part button from
the Welcome - SolidWorks 2018 dialog box displayed
by default, as shown.
  SWEPT BOSS/BASE TOOL
The Swept Boss/Base tool is used to create a sweep-based features by sweeping/extruding an
open or close profile, along a path. This tool allows you to create a solid, & surface feature for
the same.

Steps to use this tool:

 Draw the sketch on the Top plane

 create a plane, perpendicular at one end of the recently drawn sketch and draw another
sketch over it

 Select the Swept Boss/Base tool from the Features Comm and Manager to display
Sweep Property Manager

 Select the profile sketch first and then select the path sketch to display preview of sweep
feature
 Click on the OK button of the Property Manager to display the sweep feature created
Sweep Feature with Guide Curve

 Draw the profile, path and guide curve sketches one by one
 Note that path sketch and guide curve sketch should be coincident with profile sketch
and both
sketches should be also created one by one.
 Activate the Swept Boss/Base tool and select the profile sketch and then select the path
sketch
 Next, click on the Guide Curves rollout of the PropertyManager and then click on the
guide curve
to display preview of sweep along guide curve

 LOFTED BOSE/BASE TOOL

This tool is used to create a solid model by connecting two or more sketches created on
different planes.

The steps to create a lofted feature are explained below:

  Draw three different sketches on 3 different planes.
 Select the Lofted Boss/Base tool from the Features CommandManager to display Loft
PropertyManager.
 Click on the sketch entities or constraints of all sketches one by one to display the lofted
feature with green colored handles of the connector.
 Note that the lofted feature will be created according to the order in which you select
the sketch entities or constraints.
 You can change the shape of lofted feature by dragging the green colored handles of the
connector attached with it.

 LOFTED CUT TOOL

The use of Lofted Cut tool is almost same as that of the Lofted Boss/Base tool. The only
difference is this tool is used to remove material from a solid model.
The steps to create a lofted cut feature are:

 Create sketch on two planes or two faces of any solid model.

 Next click on the Lofted Cut tool to activate it and display the Cut-Loft PropertyManager
and preview of lofted feature.
 Next click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the Lofted Cut
feature.
  BOUNDRY BOSE/BASE TOOL
This tool is used to create feature by adding material in two directions. This tool is mostly used
in creating complex or curved bodies. You need to create two profiles between which you can
add material. You can specify sketch curves, faces, edges, or other sketch entities to control the
shape of a boundary feature.

 Draw the sketch on Top Plane.

 Next create another sketch of two entities on Front Plane.
 Now select the Boundary Boss/Base tool from Features CommandManager to activate it
and display the Boundary PropertyManager.
 Click on the profile sketch, as shown. Click in the Curves selection box and then click on
the path sketch.
 Click on the OK button of the message box to select it and display preview of boundary
boss/base feature.
 Similarly select another sketch entity.
 Next, you can select the required option for all drop-down attached with control points.
Note: The use of Loft and Boundary tools is almost same. But the only difference is the
availability of drop-down attached with control points using this tool.

 Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display boundary boss/base
feature.
 Note that you can also create boundary boss/base feature by creating single path sketch.
  BOUNDRY CUT TOOL
This tool is used in removing material between two profiles in two directions. This tool is also
mostly used in creating complex or curved bodies. You need to create two profiles between
which you can remove material. You can specify sketch curves, faces, edges, or other sketch
entities to control the shape of a boundary feature.

 Draw the sketch on different faces of model.

 Now select the Boundary Cut tool from Features CommandManager to activate it and
display the Boundary-Cut PropertyManager.
 Select the two sketches one by one to display preview of Boundary Cut feature.
 Select the Normal To Profile option from the drop-downs attached with the control
points to display boundary cut feature normal to the profile.
 Similarly, you can use other options available in the drop-downs.
 Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display boundary cut
feature.
  PROBLEM

Steps
1) Start SolidWorks 2022 by clicking SOLIDWORKS 2022 icon on your desktop.
2) Click on the New ( ) button from the Menu Bar to display the New SOLIDWORKS
Document dialog box.
3) Double click on the Part button of the dialog box to enter in the Sketching Environment.
4) Click on the Sketch tab to display Sketch CommandManager and tools used in creating
sketch.
5) Click on the Sketch button from the Sketch CommandManager and then select the Front
plane.
6) Using the Line and Fillet tool from the Sketch CommandManager, draw the sketch and
apply dimensions.
7) Now click on the Exit Sketch button from the Sketch CommandManager to exit from the
sketch environment.
8) Click on the Plane tool (Features > Reference Geometry > Plane) to activate it.
9) Next create a reference plane as discussed .
10) Now draw the sketch of two circle entities on recently created reference plane.
11) Select the Swept Boss/Base tool from the Features CommandManager to activate it and
display the Sweep PropertyManager.
12) Next select the circles entities as profile and other sketch as path to display preview of
Sweep feature.
13) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display Sweep feature.
14) Click on the Sketch button from the Sketch CommandManager to activate it.
15) Select the flat surface of top end of the sweep feature to make it a sketching plane.
16) Press the Ctrl + 8 key to make the sketching plane parallel to the screen.
17) Now draw the sketch of a circle and a rectangle entity and apply dimensions.
18) Now using the Extruded Boss/Base tool and extrude the recently drawn sketch up to 20.

19) Select the Fillet tool from the Features CommandManager to activate it and display the
Fillet PropertyManager.
20) Now, Select the Hole Wizard tool from the Features CommandManager to activate it and
display the Hole Specification PropertyManager.
21) Click on the Position tab and click on the top planar face of the previously created
Extruded Boss/Base feature of model.
22) Move the cursor over right sided round corner to make its center point visible.
23) Click on the displayed center point to define position for hole.
24) Next, click on the Type tab of the PropertyManager and select required options for the
hole feature.
25) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the Hole feature
created.
26) Click on the Linear Pattern tool from Features CommandManager to activate it and
display the Linear Pattern PropertyManager.
27) Click on top horizontal line and then right vertical line to define both as Direction 1 &
Direction 1.
28) Next, select the previously created Hole feature and enter required details in the
PropertyManager to display preview of Pattern feature.
29) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the Pattern feature
created.

30) Click on the Plane tool (Features > Reference Geometry > Plane) to activate it and display
the Plane PropertyManager.
31) Click on two planar face of the model to create or display preview of mid plane between
both.
32) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the Pattern feature
created.
33) Select the Mirror tool from Features CommandManager to activate it and display the
Mirror PropertyManager

.
34) Click on the recently created plane and then select all features to mirror and display
preview of all Mirrored features.
35) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the Mirrored
feature created.

36) Select the Fillet tool from Features CommandManager to activate it and display the Fillet
PropertyManager.
37) Click on two circular edges of the model and enter 5 as radius of fillet to display preview
of Fillet feature.
38) Click on the OK button of the PropertyManager to exit it and display the model with
Fillet feature.
To change appearance of the model created, follow the steps:
1) Click on the Appearances, Scenes, and Decals button on the right of the display screen,
as shown.
2) Next click on the required folder and then required option displayed under it to display
model with new appearances.
3) Click on the Save (Ctrl+S) button from the Menu Bar to display the Save As dialog box.
4) Next browse to the folder of chapter 8 and enter name Ch08-exam02 in the File name
edit box.
5) Click on the Save button from the dialog box to save the file.
6) Now enter the Close button from the upper right corner to close it.

COMMENTS
 We have learned to use Swept Boss tool to make curved bodies.
 We have learned to sweep a profile feature along a guide curve.
 We learned to make sketches with Lofted Cut tool.
 We learned the difference and the usage of boundary and tool and lofted cut
tool.