SOLIDWORKS: Lesson II –
Revolutions, Fillets, & Chamfers
UCF Engineering
SolidWorks Review

Recall that in the last lesson we started
building basic parts in SolidWorks using only
extruded solids (boss/base) and extruded
cuts.

This lesson we will be learning about three
new features that are typically used for
modeling basic parts.
Revolutions

The first feature that we are going to look at
is the revolution.

Revolutions can either be used to add
material (Revolved Boss/Base) or remove
material (Revolved Cut), either way the
mechanisms are the same.
Revolutions
The basic idea is that a revolution takes a closed cross
section and revolves about some axis of revolution
to produce a solid object:
Revolutions
Although there are certainly cases where you can only
produce a particular geometry using revolutions,
oftentimes geometry can be produced by using
either revolutions or extrudes.
Revolutions

So, if there are so many different ways to build a
particular geometry…how do we decide what the
correct one is?
Although there is no right answer (there are
definitely wrong ways to model something), it is
always important to consider the one that:
– Provides the proper representation of your part
– Uses the least number of features

Revolutions
For example, say you wanted to model the
simple part that we have been looking at so
far: As 2 extrudes we would create:
Revolutions

Now, what would happen if we wanted to change
the diameter of the cut hole?

We would either need to change it in both of our
extrudes…or we would need to have set up the
proper relationships so that it would be automatically
changed for both.

The problem is to change the diameter of one
feature, we need to change 2 dimensions
Revolutions
What about if we used revolutions?
Here we draw one cross
section, and we can easily
change the primary features by
controlling only one dimension.
Revolutions Exercise
Let’s begin by opening
SOLIDWORKS and making
a NEW PART. Let’s choose
REVOLVED BOSS/BASE
from the dynamic toolbar.
Under properties manager you will be
asked to chose a plane.
Revolutions Exercise
Choose the FRONT
PLANE.
As soon as you click on it,
it will rotate the plane
so that you can view
looking into the plane.
Begin by drawing a rectangle. Once drawn ( size
doesn’t matter yet) hit escape to exit the rectangle
tool.
Revolutions Exercise
You should now see the properties manager for
REVOLVE and a green rectangle. The dashed line in
properties manager is called the axis of rotation of
which it is looking for one. So lets click the left vertical
line to see what happens.
Revolutions Exercise
So now you should see a
cylinder with the
chosen line as the axis
of rotation. Go ahead
and hit OK to accept
this cylinder.
But let’s say we want to CHANGE our sketch.
Revolutions Exercise
In the features tab,
expand the REVOLVE
selection and click
sketch.
Then RIGHT CLICK on
sketch and choose
EDIT SKETCH.
Revolutions Exercise
You will see your basic sketch
so then change the view to
normal view.
The view now allows us
to look at the front face
of our sketch.
Revolutions Exercise
In our original picture, we
saw a line(axis) outside
of our shape. We call
this a center line. The
center line button is
located on the dynamic
toolbar. Click it and
then draw a normal line
starting at the origin
parallel to your sketch
upward. Then hit
escape. Then Exit
sketch.
Revolutions Exercise
What happened? Nothing!
Because we need to tell
Solidworks to USE the
centerline as our axis for
revolve.
Whereas before we rightclicked on the sketch in
features manager to edit the
sketch. Here we simply right
click on REVOLVE and
CHOOSE EDIT FEATURE.
Revolutions Exercise
So you can see that once you
edit the feature that the
object still rotates around
the left vertical line of the
rectangle we just drew. Our
centerline is visible, but the
object does not rotate
around it.
In the properties manager, click on the axis box
highlighted in pink where you see that the
current axis is line 2. We want to change this to
the center line. So after clicking in the box, click
on the center line. Then exit the sketch.
Revolutions Exercise
We now see the changes
evident in making the
object rotate around a
center line.
NOTE: If we had drawn the center
line FIRST, Solidworks would have
automatically chosen the centerline
as the axis of revolution as it
assumes that is what we want to
do.
Fillets and Chamfers

Fillets and Chamfers are finishing features
that are used to smooth or corner sharp
edges on your part.

As a rule of thumb, these types of finishing
techniques should always be the last features
that you apply to your model
Fillets and Chamfers
Fillets and Chamfers are
PART BASED features
whereas EXTRUDE
and REVOLVE are
SKETCH BASED
features.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Click on fillet. You should see that it is
asking you to select an EDGE. Lets
click the top face.
You should see a yellow wire frame and if you don’t, select FULL PREVIEW
from the properties manager.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
As you can see, you get a
preview of what it is going
to do. Click on the inside
hole edge. You should see
the yellow wire frame there
as well. Click, EXIT
SKETCH. You get a nice
rounded edge.
Chamfers as well
give you nice part
features. Click
Chamfer, then select
the bottom edge of
your part.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
There are 2 different ways
to define a Chamfer.
You can define by
using an ANGLE or a
specific DISTANCE.
Lets do a chamfer on the inside
hole too. Choose distance-distance
then check the equal distance box.
Then Click OK.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
You should now see the
part with beveled
outside and inside
edges.
Fillets and Chamfers

As you can see, adding fillets and chamfers to
models is a very straightforward process.

Oftentimes applying these types of features will
reveal problems with your modeling practice
(because of poor edge mating, tolerances, etc).

This is why we try to always place these features on
the model last.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Lets use what we have learned to model the following
part:
What is the BEST way to model this
part with the LEAST amount of
features?
Extrudes? Revolve?
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Let’s save our current part. Then exit out.
Click NEW, choose Part, then OK. Now
careful inspection of our design we see
that we are possibly NOT using meters
as a unit. Let’s change the units to
millimeters.
Start by right clicking on the “PART” name in
the feature manager and choose
DOCUMENT PROPERTIES.
A window will open and you should see the
DOCUMENT PROPERTIES tab. In the left
pane, find UNITS.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
You should notice that after
you click UNITS that we
are in the MKS system of
measurement using
meters, kilograms, and
seconds. Let’s change
that to the MMGS system
to that we can design our
part in millimeters. Click
OK at the bottom to
finish.
NOTE: If you design a part using
meters originally and it is 1 x 1 x 1
meters, then change the units to
millimeters the dimensions WILL
CHANGE to 1000x1000x1000 mm.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Let’s start by choosing the
REVOLVE boss/base,
then choose the front
planar surface.
Once again, the part will rotate
around to give you a front view.
Let’s begin by just drawing the
“general shape”. Click on the LINE
button at the top.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Using the line drawing feature,
sketch out the basic shape
which appears to be a stair
step design as shown. Try
to sketch within the ballpark
of the length you are
suppose to model.
Also, apply a centerline
upwards from the origin.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Click on the centerline, then under property
manager check the box that says INFINITE
LENGTH.
One problem is that
our sketch is not
fully defined and
our centerline can
be moved around.
We need to fix the
centerline on to the
origin. Click the
centerline, then
press CTRL, then
click the origin. In
property manager
add the relation,
Coincident.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
You should notice your centerline is black meaning it is fully
defined. Now let’s define the bottom part of our sketch. Click the
bottom left corner, press CTRL, click on the origin, then in
property manager choose “horizontal” and they will line up.
We are now ready to dimension our sketch. Choose SMART DIMENSION.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Dimension each of the heights as
shown in our original sketch.
We then start to dimension the widths.
Now it may seem tedious to dimension
each individual width, divide by 2 , and
try to consider the distance from the
centerline. The fact is that you don’t
have to do all of that.
Solidworks knows you are revolving
around the centerline and will be using
a diameter. So click on the top right
vertical line and drag your dimension to
the left of the centerline. You will see
that is automatically sets your position
for you.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Set the diameter to 60.
You may notice some
overlap with the far left
vertical line and that is
because we have yet to
dimension it to the
centerline. Dimension
that line with a diameter
of 20 as shown.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Complete the rest of the
dimensioning. Keep in
mind you dimension the
vertical lines to the
centerline, then move
past to make a diameter
setting. Once finished
you will see you are
FULLY DEFINED at the
bottom.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Exit the sketch and notice
that it automatically
revolves the sketch for
you around the
centerline.
Click OK in property
manager and the final
part will be shown.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
If you click on the feature,
you should notice it
automatically draws the
diameters in for you.
You can click to drag
them out to see them
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Now we are ready to apply the fillets.
Notice that all fillets are to have a
radius of 6, which is a global setting
unless otherwise noted, which we
see is noted as 8 for the top face.
Choose FILLET on the toolbar and set your
radius to 8.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
All we need to do is click on
the top edge. Then click
on OK in properties
manager to finish the fillet.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Now for the inside fillets of radius 6. These can be
done together by clicking BOTH inside surfaces.
Choose OK in property manager to finish.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Lastly we need to Chamfer. Click chamfer.
In our original drawing they wanted 6x6 chamfers,
which are distance-distance parameters. Since they
are equal make sure EQUAL distance is checked
then set the distance to 6.
Fillets and Chamfers Exercise
Select the top 2 edges,
then EXIT SKETCH to
view the finished part.