Includes a DVD! • With video tutorials, example parts and drawings, and more DVD Included! • Review SolidWorks basics, starting with creating simple parts and drawings • Build intelligence into your parts and discover Instant 3D • Make part drawings with templates or create custom formats • Delve into annotations, tolerances, layers, line fonts, and colors • Master multi-body modeling and surfacing, and SolidWorks sheet metal tools • Integrate imported geometry and use SolidWorks Direct Edit tools Work with a guide to complete the SolidWorks interface www.wiley.com/compbooks Alter native and imported data regardless of the design intent What’s on the DVD? The DVD includes helpful video tutorials, as well as many examples of parts and drawings. You’ll also find before-and-after files that follow the tutorials in the book. System Requirements: See the DVD appendix for details and complete system requirements. Matt Lombard is a mechanical engineer and an independent SolidWorks consultant. Because of the popularity of his SolidWorks blog (dezignstuff) and his sessions at SolidWorks World, he has built a reputation as the go-to resource for everything SolidWorks. ® SolidWorks fans have long sought more information on creating parts in SolidWorks, and now you have it. This new book by well-known SolidWorks guru Matt Lombard covers parts design from the basics through advanced techniques—with the greater detail you’ve requested and also including topics not widely covered elsewhere. Pair this book on your shelf with Matt’s new SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible and you’ll have the best SolidWorks reference set out there! SolidWorks 2011 Parts Want more detail on SolidWorks parts? Here it is. Learn how to use advanced tools with the best techniques Shelving Category: COMPUTERS/CAD-CAM Reader Level: Beginning to Advanced $49.99 USA $59.99 Canada Lombard Matt Lombard SolidWorks 2011 Parts ® Get the in-depth detail you’ve been seeking Learn best practices and advanced techniques Create plastic and sheet metal parts The book you need to succeed! SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible ® Matt Lombard SolidWorks® 2011 Parts Bible Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46256 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada ISBN: 978-1-118-00275-9 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax 201-7486008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (877) 762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002. Library of Congress Control Number: 2011924892 Trademarks: Wiley and related trade dress are registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. About the Author Matt Lombard is an independent engineering consultant specializing in plastic parts and complex shapes. He also writes a blog on SolidWorks, which you can find at www.dezignstuff.com/blog. Matt lives in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he enjoys reading the classics and fishing. Credits Senior Acquisitions Editor Stephanie McComb Senior Project Coordinator Kristie Rees Project Editor Jade L. Williams Graphics and Production Specialists Ana Carillo Andrea Hornberger Jennifer Mayberry Jill A. Proll Technical Editor Charles Culp Copy Editor Marylouise Wiack Editorial Director Robyn Siesky Editorial Manager Rosemarie Graham Business Manager Amy Knies Senior Marketing Manager Sandy Smith Quality Control Technicians Lindsay Amones Rebecca Denoncour John Greenough Melanie Hoffman Susan Moritz Dwight Ramsey Robert Springer Proofreading Christine Sabooni Indexing Broccoli Information Mgt. Vice President and Executive Group Publisher Richard Swadley Media Development Project Manager Laura Moss Vice President and Executive Publisher Barry Pruett Media Development Assistant Project Manager Jenny Swisher Media Development Associate Producer Joshua Frank Part I: Introducing SolidWorks Basics 1 Chapter 1: Introducing SolidWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Installing SolidWorks for the First Time ...............................................................................3 Starting SolidWorks for the First Time ..................................................................................5 Examining the SolidWorks license agreement .............................................................5 Viewing the Welcome to SolidWorks screen ...............................................................5 Using Quick Tips ........................................................................................................6 Creating a new document............................................................................................7 Exploring SolidWorks documentation ........................................................................8 Accessing tutorials .............................................................................................9 Keeping up with what’s new ..............................................................................9 Moving from 2D to 3D ......................................................................................9 Exploring SolidWorks Help ...............................................................................9 Checking out the Tip of the Day ......................................................................10 Switching from hardcopy documentation..................................................................10 Identifying SolidWorks Documents ....................................................................................10 Saving your setup ......................................................................................................11 Using templates .........................................................................................................12 Having multiple document templates available ................................................12 Sharing templates ............................................................................................16 Understanding Feature-Based Modeling ..............................................................................16 Understanding History-Based Modeling ..............................................................................18 Sketching with Parametrics .................................................................................................21 Understanding Design Intent ..............................................................................................25 Editing Design Intent ..........................................................................................................26 Choosing sketch relations..........................................................................................26 Selecting display/delete relations ...............................................................................26 Using suppressed sketch relations .............................................................................27 Working with Associativity .................................................................................................27 Tutorial: Creating a Part Template ......................................................................................28 Tutorial: Using Parametrics in Sketches ..............................................................................30 Summary ............................................................................................................................35 v Contents Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Interface................................................................39 Using the CommandManager and toolbars ................................................................39 Exploring the CommandManager ....................................................................39 Using toolbars .................................................................................................43 Using Tool tips ................................................................................................48 Managing toolbars ...........................................................................................48 Customizing your workflow ............................................................................51 Controlling menus ....................................................................................................53 Changing cursors ......................................................................................................55 Working with models in the FeatureManager and PropertyManager windows ..........55 Using the FeatureManager ...............................................................................55 Using the PropertyManager .............................................................................57 Introducing the DisplayManager......................................................................58 Getting around the Task pane ...................................................................................59 Getting familiar with the Status bar ...........................................................................60 Assigning tags ..................................................................................................60 Making use of Quick Tips................................................................................60 Using SolidWorks Search ..........................................................................................61 Searching for files ............................................................................................62 Searching for help ...........................................................................................63 Using the 2D Command Line Emulator ....................................................................63 Making the Interface Work for You .....................................................................................64 Customizing colors ...................................................................................................64 Exploring default selection colors ....................................................................65 Selecting background options wisely ...............................................................65 Customizing strategies...............................................................................................66 Considering hotkey approaches .......................................................................67 Organizing hotkeys .........................................................................................67 Using mouse gestures ......................................................................................68 Using the keyboard .........................................................................................69 Minimizing icons .............................................................................................70 Contemplating device approaches ...................................................................70 Using touch and multi-touch support..............................................................70 Accessing macros.............................................................................................71 Saving custom interface settings ......................................................................72 Working with multiple document windows ..............................................................73 Managing windows..........................................................................................73 Changing windows ..........................................................................................75 Getting to Know the Interface .............................................................................................76 Copying the existing settings .....................................................................................76 Applying default settings to interface items ...............................................................76 Customizing the CommandManager .........................................................................77 Customizing menus ..................................................................................................80 vi Contents Changing interface colors ..........................................................................................81 Adding hotkeys .........................................................................................................81 Combining macros with hotkeys ...............................................................................82 Summary ............................................................................................................................83 Chapter 3: Working with Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Opening a Sketch................................................................................................................86 Identifying Sketch Entities ..................................................................................................86 Using the Sketch toolbar ...........................................................................................87 Using the Dimensions/Relations toolbar ..................................................................109 Inferencing in Sketch ........................................................................................................111 Exploring Sketch Settings .................................................................................................113 Using Sketch Blocks ..........................................................................................................114 Working with Reference Geometry ...................................................................................115 Creating planes .......................................................................................................116 Working with axes ..................................................................................................117 Using Coordinate Systems .......................................................................................118 Using points as reference geometry .........................................................................119 Tutorial: Learning to Use Sketch Relations ........................................................................120 Tutorial: Using Blocks and Belts ........................................................................................122 Tutorial: Creating Reference Geometry .............................................................................125 Summary ..........................................................................................................................129 Chapter 4: Creating Simple Parts and Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Discovering Design Intent .................................................................................................131 Using symmetry ......................................................................................................132 Determining primary or functional features .............................................................132 Predicting change ....................................................................................................132 Determining the manufacturing method .................................................................132 Identifying secondary operations .............................................................................133 Creating multiple versions.......................................................................................133 Creating a Simple Part.......................................................................................................133 Deciding where to start ...........................................................................................134 Building in symmetry ..............................................................................................136 Making it solid ........................................................................................................137 Using Instant 3D .....................................................................................................143 Making the first extrude feature ..............................................................................144 Controlling relative size or direct dimensions ................................................146 Creating the offset .........................................................................................146 Using sketch techniques ................................................................................147 Using the Hole Wizard ..................................................................................149 Cutting a slot .................................................................................................151 Creating fillets and chamfers .........................................................................153 Tutorial: Making a Simple Drawing...................................................................................156 Summary ..........................................................................................................................161 vii Contents Chapter 5: Using Visualization Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Manipulating the View ......................................................................................................163 Using arrow keys.....................................................................................................164 Using the middle mouse button ..............................................................................164 Using mouse gestures ..............................................................................................165 Using the View toolbar ............................................................................................165 Adding scrollbars and splitters ................................................................................166 Using the Magnifying Glass .....................................................................................167 Clicking the Triad axes ............................................................................................167 Using the View Tools ........................................................................................................168 Zebra Stripes ...........................................................................................................171 View Orientation .....................................................................................................172 The Standard Views toolbar ....................................................................................173 Annotation views ....................................................................................................174 Using the DisplayManager ................................................................................................174 Applying appearances .............................................................................................175 Differentiating appearances and materials ......................................................176 Understanding appearances ...........................................................................177 Understanding overrides ...............................................................................178 Using appearances with Display States ..........................................................179 Removing appearances ..................................................................................180 Using decals ............................................................................................................181 Using scenes, lights, and cameras ............................................................................183 Controlling scenes .........................................................................................183 Turning on the lights .....................................................................................185 Working with cameras ..................................................................................186 Using RealView .............................................................................................189 Exploring the Display Pane ...............................................................................................190 Applying Color Automatically to Features .........................................................................190 Using Edge Display Settings ..............................................................................................191 Tutorial: Applying Visualization Techniques .....................................................................191 Summary ..........................................................................................................................196 Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts 197 Chapter 6: Getting More from Your Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Editing Sketch Relations ...................................................................................................199 Using Display/Delete Relations ................................................................................200 Using SketchXpert...................................................................................................202 Working with Sketch Entities ...........................................................................................202 Moving entities........................................................................................................202 Rotating entities ......................................................................................................203 Copying entities ......................................................................................................204 viii Contents Scaling entities ........................................................................................................204 Modifying sketch.....................................................................................................204 Copying and pasting sketch entities ........................................................................205 Dragging entities .....................................................................................................206 Creating a derived sketch ........................................................................................206 Using Sketch Pictures........................................................................................................206 Using three views ....................................................................................................207 Compensating for perspective .................................................................................208 Estimating sharp edges ............................................................................................208 Using Auto Trace ....................................................................................................209 Using Sketch Text .............................................................................................................210 Using Colors and Line Styles with Sketches ......................................................................211 Working in Color Display mode..............................................................................211 Assigning line color .................................................................................................211 Using the Edit Sketch Or Curve Color tool..............................................................211 Assigning line thickness and line style .....................................................................212 Using Other Sketch Tools .................................................................................................212 Working with RapidSketch .....................................................................................212 Adding Sensors .......................................................................................................213 Using metadata for sketches ....................................................................................214 Creating construction geometry ..............................................................................214 Sketching in 3D ................................................................................................................214 Navigating in space .................................................................................................215 Exploring sketch relations in 3D sketches ...............................................................216 Using planes in space ..............................................................................................217 Using planar path segments.....................................................................................218 Defining dimensions ...............................................................................................218 Using 3D sketch summary ......................................................................................219 Tutorial: Editing and Copying...........................................................................................219 Tutorial: Controlling Pictures, Text, Colors, and Styles .....................................................223 Tutorial: Using Metadata ...................................................................................................226 Tutorial: Sketching Calculator...........................................................................................227 Summary ..........................................................................................................................230 Chapter 7: Modeling with Primary Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Identifying When to Use Which Tool................................................................................231 Using the Extrude feature ........................................................................................232 Creating a solid feature ..................................................................................232 Creating a thin feature ...................................................................................232 Exploring sketch types ..................................................................................233 Understanding the workflow .........................................................................237 Understanding Instant 3D .......................................................................................237 Creating extrudes with Instant 3D .................................................................237 Editing geometry with Instant 3D ..................................................................239 ix Contents Working with the Revolve feature ...........................................................................240 Understanding end conditions.......................................................................240 Workflow ......................................................................................................241 Using contour selection .................................................................................241 Introducing loft and boundary ................................................................................241 Comparing the Loft and Boundary features ...................................................243 Using entities in a loft ....................................................................................244 Comparing lofts and splines ..........................................................................244 Understanding the need for surfaces ..............................................................245 Exploring loft end constraints........................................................................246 Displaying isoparameter U-V lines .................................................................247 Using guide curves ........................................................................................247 Using centerline lofts .....................................................................................249 Using the SelectionManager...........................................................................249 Choosing loft options ....................................................................................250 Workflow ......................................................................................................251 Controlling Sweep features......................................................................................251 Using a simple sweep ....................................................................................251 Using a sweep with guide curves ...................................................................252 Using a Pierce relation ...................................................................................252 Using a cut sweep with a solid profile............................................................254 Workflow ......................................................................................................255 Understanding Fillet Types ...............................................................................................256 Creating a constant radius fillet ...............................................................................257 Selecting entities to fillet ................................................................................257 Using tangent propagation.............................................................................259 Dealing with a large number of fillets ............................................................260 Making multiple fillet sizes ............................................................................262 Rounding corners ..........................................................................................263 Using the Keep edge/Keep surface toggle .......................................................263 Using the Keep Feature option ......................................................................264 Creating variable radius fillets .................................................................................265 Applying the values .......................................................................................265 Using straight versus smooth transitions........................................................267 Recognizing other uses for the variable radius fillet .......................................268 Using face fillets ......................................................................................................268 Using continuous curvature face fillets ..........................................................270 Using face fillets with the Help Point .............................................................271 Applying a single hold line fillet ....................................................................273 Using a double hold line fillet ........................................................................274 Using a constant width fillet ..........................................................................276 Applying a full round fillet ......................................................................................276 Building a setback fillet ...........................................................................................277 Using Chamfers ................................................................................................................280 Tutorial: Bracket Casting ...................................................................................................281 Summary ..........................................................................................................................286 x Contents Chapter 8: Selecting Secondary Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Creating Curve Features....................................................................................................287 Working with Helix curve features ..........................................................................288 Using the Tapered Helix panel ......................................................................288 Using the Variable Pitch helix ........................................................................289 Workflow ......................................................................................................290 Using the Spiral .............................................................................................290 Creating projected curves ........................................................................................290 Using Sketch On Faces ..................................................................................290 Using Sketch Onto Sketch .............................................................................291 Using the Curve Through XYZ Points feature ..........................................................292 Using the Curve Through Reference Points feature..................................................293 Putting together a composite curve .........................................................................293 Using Split lines ......................................................................................................294 Using the equation driven curve..............................................................................294 Selecting a Specialty Feature .............................................................................................295 Using Scale ..............................................................................................................295 Using the Dome feature ...........................................................................................296 Using the Wrap feature ...........................................................................................298 Using Scribe ..................................................................................................298 Using Emboss ................................................................................................299 Using Deboss.................................................................................................300 Using the Flex feature .............................................................................................301 Applying the Deform feature ...................................................................................303 Looking at Point deform ................................................................................304 Looking at Curve to curve deform .................................................................305 Looking at Surface push deform ....................................................................305 Using the Indent feature ..........................................................................................305 Tutorial: Creating a Wire-Formed Part ..............................................................................307 Summary ..........................................................................................................................310 Chapter 9: Patterning and Mirroring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 Patterning in a Sketch .......................................................................................................311 Debunking more sketch myths................................................................................313 Patterning a sketch ..................................................................................................314 Using the Linear Sketch Pattern .....................................................................315 Using the Circular Sketch Pattern ..................................................................315 Mirroring in a Sketch ........................................................................................................316 Using Mirror Entities ...............................................................................................316 Using Dynamic Mirror ............................................................................................318 Using Symmetry sketch relation ..............................................................................318 Using Mirroring in 3D sketches ...............................................................................319 Exploring the Geometry Pattern Option ............................................................................319 Patterning Bodies ..............................................................................................................320 Patterning Faces ................................................................................................................321 Patterning Fillets ...............................................................................................................323 xi Contents Understanding Pattern Types ............................................................................................323 Using the Linear Pattern ..........................................................................................323 Using the Circular Pattern .......................................................................................325 Using the Curve Driven Pattern ...............................................................................326 Using the Sketch Driven Pattern ..............................................................................329 Using the Table Driven Pattern................................................................................330 Using the Fill Pattern...............................................................................................331 Using Cosmetic Patterns to Create an Appearance.............................................................332 Mirroring 3D Solids ..........................................................................................................333 Mirroring bodies .....................................................................................................333 Mirroring features ...................................................................................................334 Mirroring entire parts ..............................................................................................334 Tutorial: Creating a Circular Pattern .................................................................................336 Tutorial: Mirroring Features ..............................................................................................337 Tutorial: Applying a Cosmetic Pattern...............................................................................339 Summary ..........................................................................................................................341 Chapter 10: Using Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343 Understanding Equations ..................................................................................................343 Creating equations ..................................................................................................344 Naming dimensions.......................................................................................345 Building the equation ....................................................................................346 Using comments ............................................................................................348 Using driven dimensions .........................................................................................349 Using equation tricks ..............................................................................................351 IIF .................................................................................................................351 SWITCH .......................................................................................................352 Using Link Values .............................................................................................................352 Using Global Variables ......................................................................................................354 Using Expressions .............................................................................................................356 Controlling Suppression States of Features........................................................................356 Linking to External Equations ...........................................................................................357 Tutorial: Using Equations .................................................................................................358 Summary ..........................................................................................................................359 Chapter 11: Working with Part Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 Controlling Items with Configurations ..............................................................................362 Finding configurations ............................................................................................362 Deleting configs .............................................................................................363 Sorting configs...............................................................................................364 Activating configurations.........................................................................................365 Creating configurations ...........................................................................................367 Creating a new config ....................................................................................367 Using Configuration properties and options ..................................................367 Using Advanced options ................................................................................368 xii Contents Using the Modify dialog box..........................................................................369 Using Negative dimensions............................................................................369 Using the Modify Configurations dialog box ...........................................................370 Using Table Views .........................................................................................371 Adding custom properties with the Modify Configurations dialog box ..........372 Using custom property managers ............................................................................372 Using derived configurations ...................................................................................374 Understanding how file size affects speed ................................................................375 Controlling dimensions ...........................................................................................375 Controlling suppression ..........................................................................................376 Controlling custom properties.................................................................................378 Controlling sketch relations ....................................................................................379 Controlling sketch planes ........................................................................................379 Controlling configurations of inserted parts ............................................................380 Using Library features .............................................................................................381 Identifying unconfigurable items .............................................................................382 Using Design Tables ..........................................................................................................382 Identifying what can be driven by a design table .....................................................383 Creating a Simple Design Table.........................................................................................384 Editing design table settings ....................................................................................389 Linked design table .......................................................................................390 Edit control ...................................................................................................390 Options .........................................................................................................390 Editing the design table ...........................................................................................391 Using the Configuration Publisher ....................................................................................391 Tutorial: Working with Configurations and Design Tables ................................................393 Summary ..........................................................................................................................398 Chapter 12: Editing, Evaluating, and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399 Using Rollback ..................................................................................................................399 Using the Rollback bar ............................................................................................400 Understanding consumed features .................................................................400 Examining the parent-child relationship ........................................................401 Rolling back features with multiple parents ...................................................402 Viewing consumed features in their original order.........................................403 Using other Rollback techniques .............................................................................404 Reordering Features ..........................................................................................................404 Reordering Folders............................................................................................................406 Using the Flyout and Detachable FeatureManagers ...........................................................406 Summarizing Part Modeling Best Practice .........................................................................408 Using Evaluation Techniques ............................................................................................411 Using Verification on rebuild ..................................................................................412 Using the Check tool ...............................................................................................412 Evaluating geometry with reflective techniques .......................................................413 Using Zebra Stripes .......................................................................................413 Using RealView .............................................................................................415 xiii