SolidWorks Lesson Template for Teachers to Contribute
Cover Sheet for Exemplary Lessons/Units Project
Faculty Member Name:_Jeff Toomey_____________________________ Date:
9/21/06__
School District: ___Northern New Mexico College___________________________
Teacher’s School email address:
__jtoomey@nnmc.edu__________________________
Title of Lesson/Unit: ___Volume Calculations of Parts using SolidWorks_____
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) STEM Concepts Addressed:
__Geometry (Volume Calculations)_______________________________________
Length of instruction period: _50 min.__
How many periods needed to implement lesson unit: _3 50 min periods
Grade Level(s) for use: ____7-13___________________________________________
Objectives:
Demonstrate calculation of volumes of simple geometric shapes
Calculate volumes of machine parts using calculator
Acquire volumes of machine parts using Solidworks’ Mass Properties
Reinforce and practice basic modeling skills developed in Lesson 2
Materials:
Volume formula sheet
Calculator
Dimensioned machine part drawings
Procedures:
Start by reviewing volume formula calculations, including volume of a box (rectilinear
prism), sphere, cylinder, wedge, cone, etc. Handout a sheet with volume formulas and a
sheet with some sample problems to solve in class.
Move on to calculating volumes of 3 fairly simple machine parts. This gives
students a better understanding of how volumes of machine parts are determined.
Create the 3 models using SolidWorks. Students should be able to complete the 3
machine parts with competencies acquired in Lesson 2: Basic Functionality from the
SolidWorks STEM Teacher Guide. After the model completion, the student should be
able to use the Mass Properties tool to ascertain part volume. Student can compare
software obtained volumes with those calculated by the student.
Once students have the volume calculation process in hand, then one could go on to
discuss material density, mass and calculations thereof.
Assessment:
Develop several simple models that students calculate the volume of. Then have students
create the solid models and determine volumes using the Mass Property function.
Students can compare hand calculations with those performed with Solidworks.
Resources Used:
_________________________________________________________
Copyrighted Materials:
___________________________________________________
 What materials did you employ from published sources?
Volume Calculations of Parts using Solidworks
Objectives:
Demonstrate calculation of volumes of simple geometric shapes
Calculate volumes of machine parts using calculator
Acquire volumes of machine parts using Solidworks’ Mass Properties
Reinforce and practice basic modeling skills developed in Lesson 2
Materials:
Volume formula sheet
Calculator
Dimensioned machine part drawings
Procedure:
Start by reviewing volume formula calculations, including volume of a box
(rectilinear prism), sphere, cylinder, wedge, cone, etc. Handout a sheet with volume
formulas and a sheet with some sample problems to solve in class.
Move on to calculating volumes of 3 fairly simple machine parts. This gives
students a better understanding of how volumes of machine parts are determined.
Create the 3 models using SolidWorks. Students should be able to complete the 3
machine parts with competencies acquired in Lesson 2: Basic Functionality from the
SolidWorks STEM Teacher Guide. After the model completion, the student should be
able to use the Mass Properties tool to ascertain part volume. Student can compare
software obtained volumes with those calculated by the student.
Once students have the volume calculation process in hand, then one could go on to
discuss material density, mass and calculations thereof.
Assessment:
Develop several simple models that students calculate the volume of. Then have
students create the solid models and determine volumes using the Mass Property
function. Students can compare hand calculations with those performed with Solidworks.
Volume Formulas
Cube = a3
Rectangular prism = a b c
Irregular prism = b h
Cylinder= b h =  r2 h
Pyramid = (1/3) b h
Cone = (1/3) b h = 1/3 r2 h
Sphere = (4/3) r3
Ellipsoid = (4/3)  r1 r2 r3
Calculate the following:
Calculate the volume of the following parts:
Example:
Volume Calculation:
Volume Rectangular Prism = L x W x H = 3.00”x2.00”x.5” = 3.00 cu. in.
Volume of Cylinder (hole) = R2 x H = 3.14x.252x.50 = .09 2 Holes = .18 cu in
Total volume of part = Volume of Prism- Volume of 2 holes = 3.00-.18 = 2.82 cu in
Using the SolidWorks Mass Property tool, the volume equals 2.80 cu in.
Attached find the drawings of 3 parts. Determine the volumes of each part first by
calculating the volume, then by using the Mass Property tool.