Book Image

Learn SOLIDWORKS - Second Edition

By : Tayseer Almattar
Book Image

Learn SOLIDWORKS - Second Edition

By: Tayseer Almattar

Overview of this book

SOLIDWORKS is the leading choice for 3D engineering and product design applications across industries such as aviation, automobile, and consumer product design. This book helps you to get up and running with SOLIDWORKS and understand each new concept and tool with the help of easy-to-follow exercises. You'll begin with the basics, exploring the software interface and finding out how to work with drawing files. The book then guides you through topics such as sketching, building complex 3D models, generating dynamic and static assemblies, and generating 2D engineering drawings to prepare you to take on any design project. You'll also work with practical exercises to get hands-on experience with creating sketches, 3D part models, assemblies, and drawings. To reinforce your understanding of SOLIDWORKS, the book is supplemented by downloadable files that will help you to understand the concepts and exercises more easily. Finally, you'll also work on projects for 3D modeling objects inspired by everyday life. By the end of this SOLIDWORKS book, you'll have gained the skills you need to create professional 3D mechanical models using SOLIDWORKS and be able to prepare effectively for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) exams.
Table of Contents (26 chapters)
1
Section 1 – Getting Started
4
Section 2 – 2D Sketching
7
Section 3 – Basic Mechanical Core Features – Associate Level
10
Section 4 – Basic Evaluations and Assemblies – Associate Level
13
Section 5 – 2D Engineering Drawings Foundation
18
Section 6 – Advanced Mechanical Core Features – Professional Level
21
Section 7 – Advanced Assemblies – Professional Level

Understanding and applying the draft feature

Drafting refers to changing sharp steps in parts into chamfered ones. Drafting primarily comes from the casting and plastic injection molding industry to make it easier to release parts out of molds. As SOLIDWORKS professionals, we will be expected to apply drafts to a variety of applications where necessary. In this section, we will explore what drafting is and how to use the draft feature.

What are drafts?

Drafts are commonly applied to parts that are made with injection molding. It is a slight tilt between two different surfaces at different levels. In practice, drafts help make parts fit better with the mold and make the parts easier to remove from the mold compared to without it. Also, drafts help increase the success rate of the mold taking effect.

The following diagrams highlight the effect of the draft feature. The first diagram shows the model at hand, as well as the Cross-section area we are applying to show the effect...