Learn how to put the finishing touches on a 3D printed part. Understand how to clean and finish parts. Learn how to assemble parts into one larger part. Understand how to cure parts after printing.
Understand what to do when a 3D printing job is complete. Learn the safest ways to remove a part from the machine. Understand how to prepare the machine for future jobs.
Understand some steps you can take to ensure a successful 3D printing job. Learn ways to send a file to a 3D printer. Learn what to watch for when a print begins to make sure the part prints correctly. Learn different ways to monitor the machine while it is printing.
Understand how to prepare a 3D printer to achieve the best results. Learn how to prepare the build plate to ensure correct part adhesion. Learn how to handle and load materials into the machine.
Understand how export settings impact the quality of the 3D printed model. Learn about the different file types supported by todays 3D printers. Learn how to change file settings in SOLIDWORKS for better print results.
Learn how to prepare a model before 3D printing. Understand how to orient the part for the best printing results. Understand the implication of infill, wall thickness, shrinkage, and more on part strength and material usage.
Understand the differences between various 3D printing processes. Learn about the common 3D printing processes: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA). Learn about more advanced processes: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Understand why some 3D printers are “open” or “closed” and why some machines are larger than others.
Understand the basics of additive manufacturing. Understand the differences between subtractive and additive manufacturing processes. Learn about the costs and capabilities of various 3D printing processes.
Use minimal sketch geometry to create rib features that reinforce thin walled parts. Understand the various options for creating a Rib feature. Use simple and complex sketches to create rib features.
Hollow out solid bodies using the Shell feature. Apply different wall thicknesses to selected faces. Select multiple faces to be removed in the shelling operation. Understand how the shelling operation affects filleted and rounded edges.
Add draft to cast and molded parts. Understand the various types of draft features you can create. Perform Draft Analysis to determine which faces need draft added to them.
Evaluate the size, weight, and more of a model using the measure and mass properties tools. Understand how the material and coordinate system of a part affect its mass properties. Measure between points and circles to determine the size of a part.
Add materials to parts for calculations of mass properties, for use with SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and to modify the appearance of the part. Define the material for a part. Add a custom material to a part. Use configurations to assign different materials to a part.
Use standard mates to constrain the degrees of freedom of components relative to other components or reference geometry such as planes or axes. Learn about standard mate types such as coincident, concentric, and more. Understand how selected entities such as faces, edges, vertices, planes, or axes determines the available mate types.
Use sketch relations and dimensions to fully define a sketch. Understand the status of a sketch, either under defined, fully defined, or over defined. Evaluate a sketch to determine why it is under defined.
Use automatic sketch relations to capture design intent as you sketch a profile. Identify the icons that appear on the cursor to signify automatic sketch relations. Create a sketch profile and add automatic sketch relations as you sketch.
Use sketch relations to fully define a sketch and capture design intent. Learn about automatic sketch relations and sketch relations that you add manually. Add relations between two lines to understand common sketch relations. Add relations between circles and arcs to observe additional sketch relations.
Understand the difference between starting a sketch on a plane or planar face. Create the first 2D sketch profile on a reference plane. Create additional 2D sketch profiles on planar model faces of the part.
Understand the importance of picking the correct sketch plane for starting a part. Choose the starting feature and starting sketch plane for a part. Understand how the choice of a starting sketch plane can affect the drawing.
Create rounded or beveled edges using fillets or chamfers, respectively. Understand general filleting rules to facilitate better modeling practices. Create and understand some of the options for constant radius fillets. Create and understand some of the options for chamfer features.
Extend sketch profiles to create extruded bosses to add material and extruded cuts to remove material. Use sketch relations and dimensions to define sketch profiles. Understand some of the options for extruded features. Add material with an extruded boss and remove material with an extruded cut.
