Lesson 2

Basic Functionality
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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What is SolidWorks?
! SolidWorks is design automation software.

! In SolidWorks, you sketch ideas and experiment

with different designs to create 3D models.

! SolidWorks is used by students, designers,

engineers, and other professionals to produce
simple and complex parts, assemblies, and
drawings.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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The SolidWorks model is made up of:
The SolidWorks Model

! Assemblies

! Drawings
! Parts
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Drawing
Part

Assembly
Part

Drawing
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Features
! Features are
the building
blocks of the
part.

! Features are
the shapes and
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operations that
construct the
part.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Examples of Shape Features
Base feature
! First feature in
part.

! Created from a
2D sketch.

! Forms the
work piece to

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

which other
features are
added.
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Examples of Shape Features
Boss feature
! Adds material
to part.

! Created from
2D sketch.
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Boss features

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Examples of Shape Features
Cut feature
! Removes
material from
part.

! Created from a
2D sketch.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Cut features
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Examples of Shape Features
Hole feature
! Removes
material.
! Works like a
more
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

intelligent cut
feature.
! Corresponds Hole features

to process

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such as
counter-sink, thread, counter-bore.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Examples of Operation Features
Fillet feature
Fillet features

! Used to round
off sharp
edges.

! Can remove or
add material.
" Outside edge
(convex fillet)

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Fillet features
removes
material.
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 Lesson 2: Basic Functionality REPRODUCIBLE
Inside edge (concave fillet) adds material.
"
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Examples of Operation Features
Chamfer
feature
! Similar to a
fillet.

! Bevels an edge
rather than
rounding it.
Chamfer feature

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

! Can remove or
add material.
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Sketched Features
! Shape features have sketches.

! Sketched features are built from 2D profiles.

Operation Features
! Operation features do not have sketches.
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! Applied directly to the work piece by selecting

edges or faces.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create an Extruded Base Feature:
1. Select a sketch plane.

2. Sketch a 2D profile.

3. Extrude the sketch perpendicular to sketch plane.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Sketch the 2D profile Extrude the sketch Resulting base feature
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

To Create a Revolved Base Feature:
1. Select a sketch Centerline
plane.

2. Sketch a 2D
profile.

3. Sketch a
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centerline.

4. Revolve the
sketch around
the centerline.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Terminology: Document Window
Divided into two FeatureManager design tree
panels:
! Left panel contains
the FeatureManager®
design tree.
" Lists the structure of
the part, assembly or
Graphics Area
drawing.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

! Right panel contains the Graphics Area.
" Location to display, create, and modify a part, assembly or
drawing.
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Terminology: User Interface
Menu Bar

Toolbars Drawing
document
window
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Part
document
window
Status bar

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Terminology: PropertyManager
Confirmation Corner
PropertyManager

Handle
Preview
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Terminology: Basic Geometry
! Axis - An implied Axis

centerline that
runs through
every cylindrical Plane

feature.
! Plane - A flat 2D
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surface. Origin

! Origin - The
point where the
three default reference planes intersect. The

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coordinates of the origin are:
(x = 0, y = 0, z = 0).
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Terminology: Basic Geometry
! Face – The
surface or “skin” Vertex Edge
of a part. Faces
can be flat or
curved.
! Edge – The
boundary of a Edge

face. Edges can Faces

be straight or

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

curved.
! Vertex – The corner where edges meet.
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Features and Commands
Base feature
! The Base feature is the first feature that is created.

! The Base feature is the foundation of the part.

! The Base feature geometry for the box is an

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extrusion.

! The extrusion is named Extrude1.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Features and Commands
Features used to
build the box are:

! Extruded Base feature

1. Base Feature 2. Fillet Feature
! Fillet feature

! Shell feature

! Extruded Cut feature

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

3. Shell Feature 4. Cut Feature
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Features and Commands
To create the extruded base
feature for the box:
! Sketch a rectangular profile on a
2D plane.

! Extrude the sketch.

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! Extrusions are always perpendicular to the sketch

plane.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Features and Commands
Fillet feature
! The fillet feature rounds the
edges or faces of a part.

! Select the edges to be rounded.

Selecting a face rounds all the
Fillet
edges of that face.

! Specify the fillet radius.

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Features and Commands
Shell feature
! The shell feature removes
material from the selected face.

! Using the shell feature creates a

hollow box from a solid box.
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! Specify the wall thickness for the

shell feature.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Features and Commands
To create the extruded cut
feature for the box:
1. Sketch the 2D circular profile.
2. Extrude the 2D Sketch profile
perpendicular to the sketch
plane.
3. Enter Through All for the end

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

condition.
4. The cut penetrates through the
entire part.
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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Dimensions and Geometric
Relationships
! Specify dimensions and geometric relationships
between features and sketches.

! Dimensions change the size and shape of the part.

! Mathematical relationships between dimensions

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can be controlled by equations.

! Geometric relationships are the rules that control

the behavior of sketch geometry.

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! Geometric relationships help capture design intent.
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Dimensions
! Base depth = 50 mm

! Boss depth = 25 mm

Mathematical relationship:

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

! Boss depth = Base depth ÷ 2
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Geometric Relationships

Vertical
Horizontal

Parallel

Intersection
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Tangent

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Concentric Perpendicular
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Start SolidWorks
1. Click the Start button on Windows task bar.

2. Click Programs.

3. Click the SolidWorks folder.

4. Click the SolidWorks

application.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality REPRODUCIBLE
The SolidWorks Window
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating New Files Using Templates
1. Click New on the Standard toolbar
2. Select a
document
template:
" Part
Tutorial Tab
" Assembly
" Drawing

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Document Templates
! Document Templates control the units, grid, text,
and other settings for the model.

! The Tutorial document templates are required to

complete the exercises in the Online Tutorials.

! The templates are located in the Tutorial tab on the

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New SolidWorks Document dialog box.

! Document properties are saved in templates.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Document
Properties
! Accessed through the
Tools, Options menu.
Control settings like:
! Units: English (inches)
or Metric (millimeters)
! Grid/Snap Settings
! Colors, Material Properties and Image Quality

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

System Options
! Accessed through the
Tools, Options menu.
! Allow you to customize
your work environment.
System options control:
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! File locations
! Performance
! Spin box increments

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Multiple Views of a Document
! Drag the
horizontal
and vertical
split con-
trols to view
4 panes.

! Set the view

and display
options.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Creating a 2D
Sketch:
Sketch Tool

1. Select a sketch
plane. The default
sketch plane is
Sketch Origin
Front.
Rectangle Tool
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2. Click Sketch on
the Sketch toolbar.

3. Click Rectangle on the Sketch Tools toolbar.

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4. Move the pointer to the Sketch Origin.
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Creating a 2D
Sketch:
Sketch Tool

5. Click the left

mouse button.

6. Drag the pointer up Sketch Origin

and to the right. Rectangle Tool

7. Click the left

mouse button again.

Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

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Lesson 2: Basic Functionality

Adding Dimensions
! Dimensions specify the size of the model.

To create a dimension: Text Location

1. Click Dimension on
the Sketch Relations
toolbar. 2D Geometry
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2. Click the 2D geometry.

3. Click the text location.

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4. Enter the dimension
value.
 Lesson 3
The 40-minute Running Start
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Features and Commands
Base Feature
! The first feature that is created.
! The foundation of the part.
! The base feature geometry for the box is an
extrusion.
! The extrusion is named Extrude1.

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

! Tip: Keep the base feature simple.
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To Create an Extruded Base Feature:
1. Select a sketch plane.

2. Sketch a 2D profile.

3. Extrude the sketch perpendicular to sketch plane.

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Sketch the 2D profile Extrude the sketch Resulting base feature
REPRODUCIBLE Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start
Features Used to Build Tutor1

3. Cut Extrude

5. Shell
2. Boss Extrude

4. Fillets
1. Base Extrude
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Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Extruded Boss Feature
! Adds material to the part.
! Requires a sketch.

Extruded Cut Feature

! Removes material from the part.
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! Requires a sketch.

Fillet Feature
! Rounds the edges or faces of a part to a specified

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radius.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Shell Feature
! Removes material from the
selected face.

! Creates a hollow block from

a solid block.

! Very useful for thin-walled,

plastic parts.
Shell Feature

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

! You are required to specify a
wall thickness when using the shell feature.
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Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

View Control
Magnify or reduce the view of a model in the
graphics area.
Zoom to Fit – displays the part so that it fills the
current window.
Zoom to Area – zooms in on a portion of the view
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

that you select by dragging a bounding box.

Zoom In/Out – drag the pointer upward to zoom
in. Drag the pointer downward to zoom out.

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Zoom to Selection – the view zooms so that the
selected object fills the window.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Display Modes
Illustrate the part in various display modes.

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Wireframe Hidden Lines Visible Hidden Lines Shaded
Removed
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Right View

Bottom View
Front View
Top View

Left View
Standard Views
Isometric
View

Back View
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View Orientation
Changes the view display to correspond to
one of the standard view orientations.
Front Top

Right Left

Bottom Back

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Isometric Normal To (selected
plane or planar face)
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View Orientation
The views most
commonly used
to describe a
part are:
! Top View

! Front View

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

! Right View

! Isometric View
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Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Default Planes
! Front, Top, and Right

Correspond to the
standard principle
drawing views:
! Front = Front or Back
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view

! Top = Top or Bottom view

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! Right = Right or Left view
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Isometric View
Displays the part with height, width, and
depth equally foreshortened.
! Pictorial rather than
orthographic.

! Shows all three dimensions –

height, width, and depth.

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

! Easier to visualize than
orthographic views.
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Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Section View
! Displays the internal structure
of a model.

! Requires a section cutting

plane.
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Section Plane

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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The Status of a Sketch
! Under defined
" Additional dimensions or relations are
required.
" Under defined sketch entities are blue (by
default).

! Fully defined
" No additional dimensions or relationships
are required.
" Fully defined sketch entities are black (by
default).

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

! Over defined
" Contains conflicting dimensions or
relations, or both.
" Over defined sketch entities are red (by
default).
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Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

Geometric Relations
! Geometric relations are the rules that control the
behavior of sketch geometry.

! Geometric relations help capture design intent.

! Example: The sketched circle is

concentric with the circular edge
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

of the extruded boss feature.

! In a concentric relation, selected

entities have the same center
point.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Geometric Relations
! The SolidWorks default name for
circular geometry is an Arc#.

! SolidWorks treats circles as 360° arcs.

Lesson 3: The 40-Minute Running Start

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122 SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware
 Lesson 4
Assembly Basics
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Features Used to Build Tutor2

4. Cut Extrude
2. Fillet
1. Base Extrude

3. Shell
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Sketch for Cut Feature
! Sketch is composed of two curves.
" Convert Entities creates the outside curve.
" Offset Entities creates the inside curve.

! Rather than drawing the outlines by hand, they are

“copied” from existing geometry.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! This technique is:

" Fast and easy– select the face and click the tool.
" Accurate – sketch entities are “cloned” directly from existing
geometry.

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" Intelligent – if the solid body changes shape, the sketch
updates. Automatically.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Convert Entities
! Copies one or more curves into the active sketch
by projecting them onto the sketch plane.

! Curves can be:

" Edges of faces
" Entities in other sketches

! Easy and fast

" Select the face or curve.
"

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Click the tool.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

To Create the Outside Curve:
1. Select the sketch plane.

2. Open a new sketch. Sketch Plane

3. Select the face or curves you

want to convert. In this case,
select the face.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

4. Click Convert Entities on

the Sketch toolbar.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating the Outside Curve:
5. Outside edges of face are
copied into the active sketch.

6. Sketch is fully defined – no

dimensions needed.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

To Create the Inside Curve:
1. Click Offset Entities on the
Sketch toolbar. The
PropertyManager opens.

2. Enter the distance value of 2mm.

3. Select one of the converted

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

entities.

4. The Select chain option causes the offset to go all

the way around the contour.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating the Inside Curve:
5. The system generates a preview
of the resulting offset.

6. An small arrow points toward

the cursor. If you move you
cursor to the other side of the line
, the arrow changes direction.
This indicates on which side the
offset will be created.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

7. Move the cursor so it is inside the contour. Click
the left mouse button to create the offset.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Creating the Inside Curve:
8. The resulting sketch is fully defined.

9. There is only one dimension. It

controls the offset distance.
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Tutor Assembly
The Tutor assem-
bly is comprised of
two parts:
! Tutor1 (created in
Lesson 2)

! Tutor2 (created in
this lesson)

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Assembly Basics
! An assembly contains two or more parts.

! In an assembly, parts are referred to as

components.

! Mates are relationships that align and fit

components together in an assembly.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Components and their assembly are directly

related through file linking.

! Changes in the components affect the assembly.

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! Changes in the assembly affect the components.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To create the Tutor assembly:
1. Open a new
assembly
document
template.
2. Open
Tutor1.
3. Open
Tutor2.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

4. Arrange the
windows.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics REPRODUCIBLE
Creating the Tutor assembly:

icons into the

drop the part

document.
assembly
5. Drag and
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Assembly Basics
! The first component placed into an
assembly is fixed.

! A fixed component cannot move.

! If you want to move a fixed component,

you must Float (unfix) it first.

! Tutor1 is added to the FeatureManager design

tree with the symbol (f).

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

! The symbol (f) indicates a fixed component.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Assembly Basics
! Tutor2 is added to the FeatureManager
design tree with the symbol (-).

! The symbol (-) indicates an

underdefined component.

! Tutor2 is free to move and rotate.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Manipulating
Components
Move Component – translates
(moves) the selected component
according to its available degrees
of freedom.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Manipulating
Components
Rotate Component – rotates the
selected component according to
its available degrees of freedom.
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Degrees of Freedom: There are Six
! They describe
how an object is
free to move.

! Translation
(movement)
along X, Y, and Z
axes.

! Rotation around

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

X, Y, and Z axes.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Mate Relationships
! Mates relationships align and fit together
components in an assembly.

! The Tutor assembly requires three mates to fully

define it. The three mates are:

! Coincident between the top Edges

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

back edge of Tutor1 and the

edge of the lip on Tutor2.

Tutor1

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Tutor2
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Mate Relationships
! Second Mate: Coincident mate
between the right face of Tutor1
and the right face of Tutor2.

! Third Mate: Coincident mate

between the top face of Tutor1 and
the top face of Tutor2.

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Mates and Degrees of Freedom
! The first mate
removes all but
two degrees of
freedom.

! The remaining
degrees of
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

freedom are:
" Movement along
the edge.
" Rotation around

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the edge.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Mates and Degrees of Freedom
! The second mate removes one
more degree of freedom.

! The remaining degree of

freedom is:
" Rotation around the edge.

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Mates and Degrees of Freedom
! The third mate removes last
degree of freedom.

! No remaining degrees of
freedom.

! The assembly is fully defined.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! The switchplate requires two
fasteners.

! Create the fastener.

! Create the switchplate-

fastener assembly.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! The switchplate-fastener assembly
requires three mates to be fully defined. The three
mates are:

! First Mate: Concentric

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

mate between the

cylindrical face of the
fastener and the
cylindrical face of the

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switchplate. Faces
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! Second Mate: Coincident Faces
mate between the flat
circular back face of the
fastener and the flat
front face of the
switchplate.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! Third Mate: Parallel
mate between the flat Faces
cut face of the
fastener and the flat
top face of the
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

switchplate.
! The switchplate-
fastener assembly is

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fully defined.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! The cdcase-storagebox assembly requires
three mates to be fully defined. The three mates are:

! First Mate: Coincident

between the inside bottom
face of the storagebox
and the bottom face of the
cdcase.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Faces
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! Second Mate: Coincident
mate between the inside Inside back face
back face of the
storagebox and the back
face of the cdcase.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Faces

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Additional Mate Relationships for
Exercises and Projects
! Third Mate: Distance mate
between the inside left face of
the storagebox and the left
face of the cdcase.

! Distance = 1cm.
Faces
! Good job! Now, would you like
to do this 24 more times?

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

! No!
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Local Component Pattern
! A local component pattern
is a pattern of components
in an assembly.

! The local component

pattern copies the Seed
Component.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! The Seed Component in this

example is the cdcase.

! This eliminates the work of adding and mating

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each cdcase individually.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create a Local Component
Pattern:
1. Click Insert,
Component
Pattern.

2. Click Define your

own pattern.

3. Click Arrange in
straight lines.

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

4. Click Next.
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Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

Creating a Local Component Pattern:
5. Select the cdcase
as the Seed
Component.

6. Select the front

edge of the storage
box for Along Edge/
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Dim.

7. Spacing = 1cm

8. Instances = 25

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9. Click Finish.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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More to Explore: The Hole Wizard
What determines
the size of the
hole?
! The size of the
fastener

! The desired amount

of clearance

Lesson 4: Assembly Basics

" Normal
" Close
" Loose
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180 SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware
 Lesson 6
Drawing Basics
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Engineering Drawings
Drawings communicate three things about
the objects they represent:
! Shape – Views communicate the shape of an
object.

! Size – Dimensions communicate the size of an

object.

! Other information – Notes communicate non-

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

graphic information about manufacturing
processes such as drill, ream, bore, paint, plate,
grind, heat treat, remove burrs, and so forth.
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Sample Engineering Drawing
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General Drawing Rules – Views
! The general characteristics of an object will
determine what views are required to describe its
shape.

! Most objects can be described using three

properly selected views.
" Sometimes you can use fewer.
" However, sometimes more are needed.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Drawing Views
Why do we need three
views?
! The Front and Top views of
both parts are identical.

! The Right side view is

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

necessary to show the

characteristic shape.

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Drawing Views: When Three is not
Enough
! Three standard views do not fully describe the
shape of the cut-out in the angled face.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Drawing Views: When Three is too

! The Right side view is unnecessary.

Many
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Dimensions
There are two kinds of
dimensions:
! Size dimensions – how big is
the feature? Size Dimensions

! Location dimensions – where

is the feature?

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Location Dimensions
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

General Drawing Rules – Dimensions
! For flat pieces, give
the thickness
dimensions in the
edge view, and all
other dimensions in
the outline view.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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General Drawing Rules – Dimensions
! Dimension
features in
the view
where they
can be seen
true size and
shape.

! Use diameter dimensions for circles.

! Use radial dimensions for arcs.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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General Drawing Rules – Dimensions

Not This
! Omit unnecessary dimensions.

This
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Dimension Guidelines – Appearance
! Place dimensions away from the profile lines.
! Allow space between individual dimensions.
! A gap must exist between the profile lines and the
extension lines.
! The size and style of leader line, text, and arrows
should be consistent throughout the drawing.
! Display only the number of decimal places
required for manufacturing precision.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

! Neatness counts!
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Drawing Appearance – Not Good
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Drawing Appearance – Much Better
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

What is a Drawing Template?
! A Drawing Template is the foundation for drawing
information.

A drawing template specifies:

! Sheet (paper) size
! Orientation - Landscape or Portrait
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Sheet Format
" Borders
" Title block

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" Data forms and tables such as bill of materials or revision
history
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Drawing Templates Choices in
SolidWorks
! Standard SolidWorks drawing template

! Tutorial drawing template

! Custom template

! No template

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

To Create a New Drawing Using a
Document Template:
1. Click New on the Standard toolbar
2. Click the
Tutorial
tab.
Drawing Icon
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

3. Double-
Tutorial Tab
click the
drawing
icon. Preview

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Sample Drawing Template
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Edit Sheet vs. Edit Sheet Format
There are two modes in the drawing:
! Edit Sheet
" This is the mode you use to make detailed drawings
" Used 99+% of the time
" Add or modify views
" Add or modify dimensions
"
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Add or modify text notes

! Edit Sheet Format

" Change the title block size and text headings
" Change the border

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" Incorporate a company logo
" Add standard text that appears on every drawing
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Title Block
! Contains vital part and/or assembly information.

! Each company can have a unique version of a title

block.

! Typical title block information includes:

Company name Material & Finish
Part number Tolerance
Part name Drawing scale
Drawing number Sheet size

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Revision number Revision block
Sheet number Drawn By/Checked By
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

To Edit the Title Block:
1. Right-click in
the graphics
area, and
select Edit
Sheet Format
from the
shortcut
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menu.

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Editing the Title Block:
2. Zoom in on the
title block.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Editing the Title Block:
1. Double-click the note that says
<COMPANY NAME>. The
PropertyManager appears.

2. Enter your school name in the text

insertion box.
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Editing the Title Block:
3. Set the text justification to
Center Align .
4. Clear the Use document’s font check
box and then click the Font button to
change the size and style of the text
font.
5. Click OK to apply the changes and
close the PropertyManager.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Editing the Title Block:

centered in the
6. Position the
note so it is

space.
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Customizing the Part Name
Advanced Topic
! The name of the part or assembly shown on the
drawing changes with every new drawing.
! It is not very efficient to have to edit the sheet
format and the title block each time you make a
new drawing.
! It would be nice if the title block would
automatically be filled in with the name of the part

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

or assembly that is shown on the drawing.
! This can be done.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Editing the Part Name:
Advanced Topic
1. Click Note on the Annotation
toolbar, or click Insert, Annotations,
Note.
The PropertyManager appears.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

2. Click the Link to Property button .

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Editing the Part Name:
Advanced Topic
3. Choose SW-File Name
from the list of
properties, and click
Current document.

4. Click OK to add the

property.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Editing the Part Name:
Advanced Topic
5. In the PropertyManager, set any other
text properties such as justification, or
font.
6. Click OK to apply the changes and
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

close the PropertyManager.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Editing the Part Name:
Advanced Topic
7. Results.
Currently the title block
shows the text of the
property. However,
when the first view is
added to the drawing,
that text will change to
become the file name of the referenced part or

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

assembly.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Switching to Edit Sheet Mode:
1. Right-click in
the graphics
area, and select
Edit Sheet from
the shortcut
menu.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

2. This is the
mode you must
be in when you
make drawings.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Detailing Options
Dimensioning Standards
! Dimensioning standards determine things such as
arrowhead style and dimension text position.

! The Tutorial drawing template uses the

ISO standard.

! ISO stands for International

Organization for Standardization.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

! ISO is widely used in European
countries.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Detailing Options
Dimensioning Standards
! ANSI is widely used in the United
States.

! ANSI stands for American National

Standards Institute.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Other standards include BSI (British Standards

Institution) and DIN (Deutsche Industries-Normen).

! Customize the drawing template to use the ANSI

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standard.
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Detailing Options
Setting the dimensioning standard:
1. Click Tools,
Options.
2. Click the Document
Properties tab
3. Click Detailing.
4. Select ANSI from
the Dimensioning

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

standard list.
5. Click OK.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Detailing Options
Setting text fonts:
1. Click Tools,
Options.
2. Click the Document
Properties tab
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

3. Click Annotations
Font.
4. Select the
annotation type

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from the list.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Detailing Options
Setting text fonts continued:
5. The Choose Font
dialog box opens.

6. Make the desired

changes and click
OK.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Saving a Custom Drawing Template:
1. Click File, Save As...

2. From the Save as type:

list, click Drawing
Templates.
The system automati-
cally jumps to the
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

directory where the

templates are installed.

3. Click to create a new folder.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Saving a Custom Drawing Template:
4. Name the new folder
Custom.
5. Browse to the
Custom folder.
6. Enter ANSI-MM-
SIZEA for the file
name.
7. Click Save.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Drawing templates have the suffix *.drwdot
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Creating a Drawing – General
Procedure
1. Open the part or assembly you wish to detail.
2. Open a new drawing of the desired size.
3. Add views: usually three standard views plus any
specialized views such as detail, auxiliary, or
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

section views.
4. Insert the dimensions and arrange the dimensions
on the drawing.

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5. Add additional sheets, views and/or notes if
required.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create Three Standard Views:
1. Click Standard 3
Drawing View 2
View .
Drawing View 3
2. Select Tutor1
from the Window Drawing View 1

menu.

3. Click the graphics

area of the part
The drawing window

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

reappears with the three views of the selected
part.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Working with Drawing Views
! To select a view, click the view boundary. The view
boundary is displayed in green.

! Drawing views 2 and 3 are aligned with view 1.

! Drag Drawing View1 (Front). Drawing View 2 (Top)

and Drawing View 3 (Right) move, staying aligned
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

to Drawing View1.

! Drawing View 3 can only be dragged left or right.

! Drawing View 2 can only be dragged up or down.

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Working with Drawing Views
! Hidden line representation.
" Hidden Lines Visible is usually
used in orthographic views.
" Hidden Lines Removed is usually
used in isometric views.

! Tangent edge display.

" Right-click inside the view border.
" Select Tangent Edge, Tangent

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Edges Removed from the shortcut
menu.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Dimensioning Drawings
! The dimensions used to create the part can be
imported into the drawing.

! Dimensions can be added manually using the

Dimension tool .

Associativity
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Changing the values of imported dimensions will

change the part.

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! You cannot change the values of manually
inserted dimensions.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Import Dimensions
into the Drawing:
1. Click Model Items on the
Annotation toolbar, or click
Insert, Model Items.

2. Click the Dimensions check

box.

3. Click the Import items into all

views check box.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

4. Click OK.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Manipulating Dimensions
! Moving dimensions:
" Click the dimension text.
" Drag the dimension to the desired location.
" To move a dimension into a different view, press and hold the
Shift key while you drag it.

! Deleting dimensions:
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

" Click the dimension text, and then press the Delete key.

! Flipping the arrows:

" Click the dimension text.
" A green dot appears on the dimension

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arrows.
" Click the dot to flip the arrows in or out.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Finish the Drawing
! Position the
views.

! Arrange the
dimensions
by dragging
them.

! Set hidden
line removal
and tangent

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

edge
display.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Associativity
! Changing a dimension on the
drawing changes the model
" Double-click the dimension text.
" Enter a new value.
" Rebuild.

! Open the part. The part reflects

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

the new value.

! Open the assembly. The

assembly also reflects the new

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value.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Multi-sheet Drawings
Drawings can contain more than one sheet.
! The first drawing sheet contains Tutor1.

! The second drawing sheet contains the Tutor

assembly.

! Use the B-size landscape (11” x 17”) drawing

Sheet Format.

! Add 3 standard views.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

! Add an Isometric view of the assembly. The
Isometric view is a named view.
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Three View Drawing of Assembly
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Named Views
! A named view shows the part or assembly in a
specific orientation.

! Examples of named views are:

" Standard Views such as Front, Top or Isometric view.
" User-defined view orientations that were created in the part or
assembly.
" The current view in a part or assembly.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

To Insert a Named View:
1. Click Named View , or click Insert, Drawing
View, Named View.

2. Click inside the border of an existing

view.
Important: Do not click directly on
one of the parts in the assembly.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Doing so will create a named view of

that specific part.

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Inserting a Named View:
3. A list of named views appears in
the PropertyManager.
Select the desired view, in this
case, Isometric, from the list.

4. Place the view in the desired

location on the drawing.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

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Isometric View Added to Drawing
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Specialized Views
Detail View – used to show
enlarged view of something.

1. Click , or click Insert,

Drawing View, Detail.
2. Sketch a circle in the
“source” view.
3. Position the view on
drawing.

Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

4. Edit the label to change scale.
5. Import dimensions or drag them into view.
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Lesson 6: Drawing Basics

Specialized Views
Section View – used to show internal
aspects of object.

1. Click , or click Insert

Drawing View, Section.

2. Sketch line in the “source”

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

view.

3. Position the view on drawing.

4. Section view is automatically crosshatched.

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5. Double-click section line to reverse arrows.
 Lesson 9
Revolve and Sweep Features
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Revolve Feature Overview
! A Revolve feature is created by rotating a 2D
profile sketch around a centerline.

! The profile sketch must contain the centerline.

! The profile sketch cannot cross the centerline.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Good Good No Good
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

To Create a Revolve Feature:
1. Select a sketch plane. Centerline

2. Sketch a 2D profile.

3. Sketch a centerline.
" The centerline must be in the sketch
with the profile. It cannot be in a
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

separate sketch.
" The profile must not cross the
centerline.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating a Revolve Feature:
4. Click Revolved Boss/Base .

5. Specify the angle of rotation and

click OK.
" The default angle is 360°, which is right
99+% of the time.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

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Creating a Revolve Feature:
6. The sketch is revolved around
the centerline creating the
feature.
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Sketching Arcs – 3 Point Arc
! A 3 Point Arc creates an arc through three points –
the start, end and midpoint.

To Create a 3 Point Arc:

1. Click 3 Pt Arc on the Sketch Tools toolbar.
2. Point to the arc start location and
click the left mouse button.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

3. Move the pointer to the arc to the end
location.
4. Click the left mouse button again.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Creating a 3 Point Arc:
5. Drag the arc midpoint to
establish the radius and
direction (convex vs.
concave).

6. Click the left mouse button a

third time.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Sketching Arcs – Tangent Arc
! The Tangent Arc tool
creates an arc that has a Not tangent
smooth transition to an
existing sketch entity.

! Saves the work of sketching an Tangent

arc and then manually adding
a geometric relation to make it
tangent.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Not tangent
! Start point of the arc must
connect to an existing sketch
entity.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

To Create a Tangent Arc:
1. Click Tangent Arc on the Arc is tangent
Sketch Tools toolbar. to existing line

2. Point to the arc start

location, and click the left
mouse button.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Arc is tangent
3. Drag to create the arc.
to existing arc
" The arc angle and radius values
are displayed on the pointer
when creating arcs.

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4. Click the left mouse button.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Pointer Feedback
! As you sketch, the pointer provides feedback and
information about alignment to sketch entities and
model geometry.

Horizontal Midpoint

Vertical Intersection

Parallel End or Vertex

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Perpendicular On

Tangent
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Inferencing
! Dotted lines appear when you
sketch, showing alignment Orange

with other geometry.

! This alignment information is

Blue
called inferencing.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Inference lines are two different colors: orange

and blue.
" Orange inference lines capture and add a geometric relation
such as Tangent.

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" Blue lines show alignment and serve as an aid to sketching,
but do not actually capture and add a geometric relation.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Ellipse Sketch Tool
! Used to create the sweep section for the handle of
the candlestick.

! An Ellipse has two axes:

" Major axis, labeled A at the right.
" Minor axis labeled B at the right.

! Sketching an ellipse is a two-

step operation, similar to sketching a 3 Point Arc.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

To Sketch an Ellipse:
1. Click Tools, Sketch Entity, Ellipse.
" Tip: You can use Tools, Customize to add the Ellipse tool
to the Sketch Tools toolbar.

2. Position the pointer at the center of the ellipse.

3. Click the left mouse

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

button, and then move the

pointer horizontally to
define the major axis.

4. Click the left mouse button

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a second time.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Sketching an Ellipse:
5. Move the pointer vertically to
define the minor axis.

6. Click the left mouse button a

third time. This completes
sketching the ellipse.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Fully Defining an Ellipse
Requires 4 pieces of information:
! Location of the center:
" Either dimension the center or locate
it with a geometric relation such as
Coincident.

! Length of the major axis.

! Length of the minor axis.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Orientation of the major axis.

" Even though the ellipse at the right is
dimensioned, and its center is
located coincident to the origin, it is

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free to rotate until the orientation of
the major axis is defined.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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More About Ellipses
! The major axis does not have to be
horizontal.
! You can dimension half the major and/
or minor axis.
" It is like dimensioning the radius of a circle
instead of the diameter.

! You do not have to use a

geometric relation to orient the

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

major axis.
" A dimension works fine.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Trimming Sketch Geometry
! The Trim tool is used to delete a sketch
segment.

! The segment is deleted up to its intersection with

another sketch entity.

! The entire sketch segment is deleted if it does not

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

intersect any other sketch entity.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Trim a Sketch Entity:
1. Click Trim on the
Sketch Tools toolbar.
2. Position the pointer
over the sketch
segment.
3. The segment that will
be trimmed is high-

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

lighted in red.
4. Click the left mouse
button to delete the
segment.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Sweep Overview
! The Sweep feature is created Section
by moving a 2D profile along
a path.

! A Sweep feature is used to

Path
create the handle on the
candlestick.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! The Sweep feature requires

two sketches:
" Sweep Path

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" Sweep Section
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Sweep Overview – Rules
! The sweep path is a set of sketched curves
contained in a sketch, a curve, or a set of model
edges.

! The sweep section must be a closed contour.

! The start point of the path must lie on the plane of

the sweep section.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

! The section, path or the resulting solid cannot be
self-intersecting.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Sweep Overview – Tips
! Make the sweep path first. Then make the section.

! Create small cross sections away from other part

geometry.

! Then move the sweep section into position by

adding a Coincident or Pierce relation to the end
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

of the sweep path.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create the Sweep Path:
1. Open a sketch on
the Front plane.

2. Sketch the Sweep

path using the Line
and Tangent Arc
sketch tools.

3. Dimension as

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

shown.

4. Close the sketch.

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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

To Create the Sweep Section:
1. Open a sketch on the Right plane.

2. Sketch the Sweep section using

the Ellipse sketch tool.

3. Add a Horizontal relation

between the center of the ellipse
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

and one end of the major axis.

Horizontal
4. Dimension the major and minor
axes of the ellipse.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating the Sweep Section:
5. Add a Coincident relation
between the center of the
ellipse and the endpoint Coincident
of the path.

6. Close the sketch.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

To Sweep the Handle:
1. Click Sweep on the Features
toolbar.

2. Select the Sweep path sketch.

3. Select the Sweep section sketch.

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

4. Click OK.

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Sweeping the Handle – Results
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Extruded Cut with Draft Angle
! Creates the opening for a candle in the top of the
candlestick.
! Same process as extruding a boss except it
removes material instead of adding it.
! Draft tapers the shape.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Draft is important in molded,

cast, or forged parts.
" Example: Ice cube tray – without
draft it would be very hard to get
the ice cubes out of the tray.

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" Find other examples.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create the Cut:
1. Open a sketch on the top face of the
candlestick.

2. Sketch a circular profile

Concentric to the circular face.

Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

3. Dimension the circle.
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Creating the Cut:
4. Click Extruded Cut on the Features toolbar.

5. End Conditions:
" Type = Blind
" Depth = 25mm
" Draft = On
" Angle = 15°
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

6. Click OK.

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Extruding the Cut– Results
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Fillet Feature
! Fillets are used to smooth the edges of the
candlestick.

Selection Filters
! Help in selecting the correct geometry.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Click to turn on Selection Filter toolbar.

! Use the Edge selection filter .

! Pointer changes appearance when filter is

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active.
REPRODUCIBLE Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features
Filleting the Edges – Results

Fillets
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware 413
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Lesson 9: Revolve and Sweep Features

Best Practice – Keep it Simple
! Do not use a sweep feature
when a revolve or extrude will
work.

! Sweeping a circle along a

circular path appears to give the Revolve

same result as a revolve feature.

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! However, the revolve feature:

" Is mathematically less complex
" Is easier to sketch – one sketch vs. two Sweep

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Lesson 10
Loft Features
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Loft Feature Overview
! Blends multiple profiles together.

! A Loft feature can be a base, boss, or cut.

To Create a Simple Loft Feature:

1. Create the planes required for the profile sketches
Each sketch should be on a different plane.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Creating a Simple Loft Feature:
2. Sketch a profile on the
first plane.
3. Sketch the remaining
profiles on their
corresponding planes.
4. Click Loft on the
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

Features toolbar.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating a Simple Loft Feature:
5. Select each profile.

6. Examine the preview

curve.

7. Click OK .

Preview curve

Lesson 10: Loft Features

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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Additional Information About Lofts:
! Neatness counts!
" Select the profiles in order.
" Click corresponding points on each profile.
" The vertex closest to the selection point is used.

! A preview curve connecting

the profiles is displayed.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! Review the curve in order to

address adjustments.

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Neatness Counts!
Unexpected results occur when you don’t pick corresponding
points on each profile.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Neatness Counts!
Rebuild errors can occur if you select the
profiles in the wrong order.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create an Offset Plane:
1. Hold down Ctrl and drag the Front
plane in the direction you want the
offset to go.
Note: Ctrl-drag is a common Windows technique
for copying objects.

2. The Plane PropertyManager appears.

3. Enter 25mm for Distance.

4. Click OK .

Lesson 10: Loft Features

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Creating an Offset Plane – Results
436 SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Setting up the Planes
Additional offset planes are required.

! Plane2 is offset 25mm

from Plane1.

! Plane3 is offset 40mm

from Plane2.

! Verify the positions of the

planes.
" Click View, Planes.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

" Double-click the planes to see
their offset dimensions.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Sketch the Profiles
! The Loft feature is created with 4 profiles.

! Each profile is on a separate plane.

To Create the First

Profile:
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

1. Open a sketch on the Front

plane.

2. Sketch a square.

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3. Exit the sketch.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Best Practice
There is a better way to sketch a centered square:
1. Sketch a rectangle.
2. Sketch a centerline from
corner to corner.
3. Relate the centerline to the
origin with a Midpoint
relation. This keeps the
rectangle centered.
4. Add an Equal relation to one horizontal and one

Lesson 10: Loft Features

vertical line. This makes the rectangle a square.
5. Dimension one side of the square.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Sketch the Remaining Profiles:
1. Open a sketch on Plane1.

2. Sketch a circle and dimension it.

3. Exit the sketch.

4. Open sketch on Plane2.

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

5. Sketch a circle whose

circumference is coincident with
the corners of the square.

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6. Exit the sketch.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Copy a Sketch:
1. Select Sketch3 in the FeatureManager design
tree or graphics area.
2. Click Edit, Copy or click Copy
on the Standard toolbar.

3. Select Plane3 in the

FeatureManager design tree or
graphics area.
4. Click Edit, Paste or click Paste Sketch4

Lesson 10: Loft Features

on the Standard toolbar .
A new sketch, Sketch4, is created on Plane3.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

More About Copying Sketches
! External relations are deleted.
! For example, when you copied Sketch3, the
geometric relations locating the center and
defining the circumference were deleted.
! Therefore, Sketch4 is underdefined.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

! To fully define Sketch4, add a Coradial relation

between the copied circle and the original.
! If you sketch a profile on the wrong plane, move it
to the correct plane using Edit Sketch Plane. Do

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not copy it.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Move a Sketch to a Different
Plane:
1. Right-click the sketch in the
FeatureManager design tree.

2. Select Edit Sketch Plane from the

shortcut menu.

3. Select a different plane.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

4. Click OK .
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Loft Feature
The Loft feature blends the 4
profiles to create the handle of
the chisel.
1. Click Loft on the Features toolbar.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Creating the Loft Feature:
2. Select each profile.
Click on each sketch in the
same relative location –
the right side.

3. Examine the preview

curve.
The preview curve shows
how the profiles will be
connected when the loft Preview curve

Lesson 10: Loft Features

feature is created.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Creating the Loft Feature:
4. The sketches are listed in the Profiles
box.

The Up/Down arrows are used to

rearrange the order of the profiles.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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REPRODUCIBLE Lesson 10: Loft Features
Creating the Loft Feature:
.
5. Click OK
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

A Second Loft Feature Creates the
Bit of the Chisel:
! The second Loft feature is composed of two
profiles: Sketch5 and Sketch6.

To Create Sketch5:
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

1. Select the square face.

2. Open a sketch.

3. Click Convert Entities .

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4. Exit the sketch.
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create Sketch6:
1. Offset Plane4 behind
the Front plane.
Hold down Ctrl and drag
the Front plane in the
direction you want the
offset to go.

2. The Plane Property-

Manager appears.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

3. Enter 200mm for Distance.

4. Click OK .
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

To Create Sketch6:
5. Open a sketch on Plane4.

6. Sketch a narrow rectangle.

7. Dimension the rectangle.

8. Exit the sketch.

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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To Create the Second Loft Feature:
1. Click Loft on the Features toolbar.
2. Select Sketch5 in
the lower right corner
of the square. Sketch6
3. Select Sketch6 in
the lower right corner
Preview
of the rectangle.
Sketch5
4. Examine the preview
curve.

Lesson 10: Loft Features

5. Click OK.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features REPRODUCIBLE
Finished Chisel
452 SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware
SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

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Tips and Tricks
Remember best practices:
! Only two dimensions are
required for the narrow
rectangle.

! Use a centerline and a

Midpoint relation to center
the rectangle.

! This technique eliminates two dimensions and it

Lesson 10: Loft Features

captures the design intent.
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Lesson 10: Loft Features

Tips and Tricks
! You do not need
Sketch5 (the
sketch with the
converted edges of
the square face).

! Loft can use the face

SolidWorks Teacher Guide and Student Courseware

as a profile.

! Select the face near

the corner.

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