Learn the basics of SOLIDWORKS design, and build a SOLIDWORKS feature-based, parametric, solid model using sketches and features. Create a new sketch. Sketch geometry like lines and circles. Add relations and dimensions. Revolve and extrude sketches to create features. Shell to create a thin walled model. Test the design with dimensional changes.
Set the options of a sweep feature to control the orientation and twist of the profile along the path. Use curvature combs to evaluate the curvature of paths and guide curves. Control the twist of the profile along the path of a sweep.
Create a variable pitch helix that you use as the path for a sweep feature. Learn about the options you have to define the shape of the variable pitch helix. Create a variable pitch helix. Position the profile and path sketches properly for a sweep feature. Create a plane normal to a curve at a point.
Use the Property Tab Builder stand-alone utility to build a customized user interface, or ‘tab’, and add file properties. Create Custom or Configuration Properties. Choose from seven different types of controls. Take data from external sources such as text or Excel files.
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.
Wrap a flat sketch around a cylindrical or conical surface. A wrap feature can be an embossing type, which adds material, a debossing type, which removes material, or a scribing type, which splits the faces. Locate the sketch plane for a wrap feature. Define the length of a sketch using an equation. Remove material using the deboss option of the wrap feature.
Create a curve through a series of X, Y, and Z points that you type into a dialog box or import from an ASCII text file. Create a curve by typing X, Y, and Z coordinates for the curve\'s through points. Import a set of X, Y, and Z points for a curve\'s through points. Convert a curve into sketch entities.
Interrogate a part using rollback to understand how it was created. Change the sequence of features and edit features, sketches, and sketch planes. Roll forward through an existing part. Reorder a feature in the FeatureManager design tree. Understand parent/child relationships. Edit sketches and features.
Learn about the sweep options that control the orientation and twist of the sweep profile along the sweep path. Set the orientation/twist options to control the sweep profile. Understand the difference between "follow path" and "keep normal constant." Use curvature combs to observe the twist in the sweep profile.
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.
When the internal cut features of a model are of most importance in a design, one approach is to create solid features that represent the negative space of a part. Once the negative space is complete, the Combine command can be used to subtract the volume from another solid body. Use solid geometry representing the interior space of a manifold to create the negative space of the part. Create a separate solid body surrounding the geometry as the main body of the manifold. Combine the solid bodies in the part using a subtract operation.
