SOLIDWORKS 2021
A Power Guide for Beginners and
Intermediate Users
The premium provider of learning products and solutions
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Table of Contents
Dedication ... 3
Preface ... 15
Part 1. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS and Drawing Sketches
Chapter 1. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS ... 19 - 38 Installing SOLIDWORKS ... 20Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS ... 20
Invoking a New SOLIDWORKS Documents ... 22
Invoking the Part Modeling Environment ... 22
Standard Toolbar ... 23
SOLIDWORKS Menus ... 24
SOLIDWORKS Search ... 24
CommandManager ... 24
FeatureManager Design Tree ... 28
View (Heads-Up) Toolbar ... 28
Status Bar ... 29
Task Pane ... 29
Invoking the Assembly Environment ... 30
Assembly CommandManager ... 31
Invoking the Drawing Environment ... 31
Drawing CommandManager ... 32
Annotation CommandManager ... 33
Identifying SOLIDWORKS Documents ... 34
Invoking a Shortcut Menu ... 34
Customizing the Context Toolbar ... 34
Customizing the CommandManager ... 36
Working with Mouse Gestures ... 37
Saving Documents ...38
Opening Existing Documents ... 38
Summary ... 38
Questions ... 38
Chapter 2. Drawing Sketches with SOLIDWORKS ... 39 - 100 Invoking the Part Modeling Environment ... 41
Invoking the Sketching Environment ... 42
Working with the Selection of Planes ... 44
Specifying Units ... 45
Specifying Grids and Snap Settings ... 47
Drawing a Line Entity ... 48
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Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 54
Drawing an Arc by using the Line Tool ... 55
Tutorial 2 ... 56
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 61
Drawing a Centerline ... 62
Drawing a Midpoint Line ... 62
Drawing a Rectangle ... 63
Corner Rectangle Tool ... 63
Center Rectangle Tool ... 65
3 Point Corner Rectangle Tool ... 65
3 Point Center Rectangle Tool ... 65
Parallelogram Tool ... 66
Drawing a Circle ... 66
Circle Tool ... 67
Perimeter Circle Tool ... 67
Drawing an Arc ... 67
Centerpoint Arc Tool ... 67
3 Point Arc Tool ... 68
Tangent Arc Tool ... 68
Drawing a Polygon ... 69
Drawing a Slot ... 71
Straight Slot Tool ... 71
Centerpoint Straight Slot Tool ... 72
3 Point Arc Slot Tool ... 73
Centerpoint Arc Slot Tool ... 73
Drawing an Ellipse ... 74
Drawing an Elliptical Arc ... 75
Drawing a Parabola ... 76
Drawing Conic Curves ... 77
Drawing a Spline ... 78
Spline Tool ... 78
Equation Driven Curve Tool ... 79
Style Spline Tool ... 82
Fit Spline Tool ... 83
Editing a Spline ... 85
Modifying the Tangency Direction of Arc/Spline ... 86
Tutorial 3 ... 87
Tutorial 4 ... 93
Hands-0n Test Drive 3 ... 99
Hands-0n Test Drive 4 ... 99
Summary ... 100
Questions ... 100
Chapter 3. Editing and Modifying Sketches ... 101 - 148 Trimming Sketch Entities ... 102
Extending Sketch Entities ... 105
SOLIDWORKS 2021: A Power Guide > 7
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Mirroring Sketch Entities ... 109
Mirroring Entities by using the Mirror Entities Tool ... 109
Mirroring Entities by using the Dynamic Mirror Tool ... 110
Patterning Sketch Entities ... 111
Linear Sketch Pattern ... 111
Circular Sketch Pattern ... 115
Creating a Sketch Fillet ... 118
Creating a Sketch Chamfer ... 120
Adding Text ... 121
Moving a Sketch Entity ... 122
Creating a Copy of Sketch Entities ... 123
Rotating an Entity ... 124
Scaling Sketch Entities ... 125
Stretching an Entity ... 127
Tutorial 1 ... 128
Tutorial 2 ... 135
Tutorial 3 ... 143
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 147
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 148
Summary ... 148
Questions ... 148
Chapter 4. Applying Geometric Relations and Dimensions ... 149 - 196 Working with Geometric Relations ... 149
Applying Geometric Relations ... 152
Applying Geometric Relation by using the Add Relation Tool ... 152
Applying Geometric Relation by using the Pop-up Toolbar ... 153
Controlling the Display of Geometric Relations ... 154
Applying Dimensions ... 155
Working with Smart Dimension Tool ... 155
Working with Horizontal Dimension and Vertical Dimension Tools ... 162
Working with Baseline Dimension Tool ... 162
Working with Chain Dimension Tool ... 163
Working with Ordinate Dimension Tool ... 163
Working with Path Length Dimension Tool ... 165
Working with Auto Insert Dimension Tool ... 166
Modifying/Editing Dimensions ... 166
Working with Different States of a Sketch ... 167
Under Defined Sketch ... 167
Fully Defined Sketch ... 167
Over Defined Sketch ... 168
Tutorial 1 ... 169
Tutorial 2 ... 179
Tutorial 3 ... 187
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 194
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Hands-0n Test Drive 3 ... 195
Summary ... 195
Questions ... 196
Part 2. Creating 3D Models/Components
Chapter 5. Creating First/Base Feature of Solid Models ... 197 - 232 Creating an Extruded Feature ... 199Creating a Revolved Feature ... 207
Navigating a 3D Model in Graphics Area ... 212
Zoom In/Out ... 212 Zoom To Fit ... 213 Zoom to Area ... 213 Zoom to Selection ... 213 Pan ... 213 Rotate ... 213
Manipulating View Orientation of a Model ... 214
Manipulating View Orientation by using the View Orientation Flyout ... 214
Manipulating View Orientation by using the Orientation Dialog box ... 216
Manipulating View Orientation by using the View Selector Cube ... 217
Manipulating View Orientation by using the Reference Triad ... 218
Changing the Display Style of a Model ... 218
Shaded With Edges ... 218
Shaded ... 218
Hidden Lines Removed ... 219
Hidden Lines Visible ... 219
Wireframe ... 219
Changing the View of a Model ... 220
Shadows In Shaded Mode ... 220
Perspective ... 220 Ambient Occlusion ... 220 Cartoon ... 220 Tutorial 1 ... 221 Tutorial 2 ... 223 Tutorial 3 ... 226
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 230
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 230
Hands-0n Test Drive 3 ... 231
Summary ... 231
Questions ... 231
Chapter 6. Creating Reference Geometries ... 233 - 268 Creating Reference Planes ... 234
Creating a Plane at an Offset Distance ... 237
Creating a Parallel Plane ... 238
SOLIDWORKS 2021: A Power Guide > 9
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Creating a Plane passing through Three Points/Vertices ... 238
Creating a Plane Normal to a Curve ... 239
Creating a Plane at the middle of two Faces/Planes ... 240
Creating a Plane Tangent to a Cylindrical Face ... 240
Creating a Plane Parallel to the Screen ... ... 241
Creating a Projected Plane onto a Non-Planar Face ... 242
Creating a Reference Axis ... 243
Creating a Reference Coordinate System ... 245
Creating a Reference Point ... 246
Creating a Bounding Box ... 249
Tutorial 1 ... 251
Tutorial 2 ... 257
Tutorial 3 ... 264
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 267
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 267
Summary ... 268
Questions ... 268
Chapter 7. Advanced Modeling - I ... 269 - 330 Using Advanced Options of the Extruded Boss/Base Tool ... 269
Using Advanced Options of the Revolved Boss/Base Tool ... 273
Creating Cut Features ... 274
Creating Extruded Cut Features ... 274
Creating Revolved Cut Features ... 275
Working with Different Types of Sketches ... 276
Closed Sketches ... 276
Open Sketches ... 276
Nested Sketches ... 277
Intersecting Sketches ... 278
Working with Contours of a Sketch ... 279
Extruding Contours by using the Selected Contours Rollout ... 279
Extruding Contours by using the Contour Select Tool ... 281
Displaying Shaded Sketch Contours ... 283
Projecting Edges onto the Sketching Plane ... 284
Projecting Edges of Existing Features ... 284
Projecting Edges of a Body ... 285
Projecting Intersecting Geometries of Existing Features ... 286
Editing a Feature and its Sketch ... 287
Editing a Feature ... 287
Editing the Sketch of a Feature ... 287
Importing 2D DXF or DWG Files ... 288
Displaying Earlier State of a Model ... 288
Reordering Features of a Model ... 289
Measuring the Distance between Entities ... 289
Assigning an Appearance/Texture ... 293
Assigning a Predefined Appearance/Texture ... 293
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Applying a Material ... 298Applying a Standard Material ... 298
Applying Customized Material Properties ... 299
Calculating Mass Properties ... 301
Tutorial 1 ... 305
Tutorial 2 ... 312
Tutorial 3 ... 322
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 328
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 329
Summary ... 329
Questions ... 329
Chapter 8. Advanced Modeling - II ... 331 - 418 Creating a Sweep Feature ... 331
Creating a Sweep Cut Feature ... 347
Creating a Lofted feature ... 349
Creating a Lofted Cut Feature ... 359
Creating a Boundary Feature ... 360
Creating a Boundary Cut Feature ... 363
Creating Curves ... 364
Creating Projected Curves ... 364
Creating Helical and Spiral Curves ... 367
Creating Curves by Specifying XYZ Points ... 371
Creating Curves by Selecting Reference Points ... 373
Creating a Composite Curve ... 374
Splitting Faces of a Model ... 375
Creating 3D Sketches ... 378
Using the Line Tool in the 3D Sketching Environment ... 379
Using the Spline Tool in the 3D Sketching Environment ... 381
Tutorial 1 ... 383
Tutorial 2 ... 391
Tutorial 3 ... 402
Tutorial 4 ... 408
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 416
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 417
Summary ... 417
Questions ... 418
Chapter 9. Patterning and Mirroring ... 419 - 468 Patterning Features/Faces/Bodies ... 419
Creating a Linear Pattern ... 420
Creating a Circular Pattern ... 430
Creating a Curve Driven Pattern ... 433
Creating a Sketch Driven Pattern ... 437
SOLIDWORKS 2021: A Power Guide > 11
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Creating a Fill Pattern ... 441
Creating a Variable Pattern ... 444
Mirroring Features/Faces/Bodies ... 448
Tutorial 1 ... 450
Tutorial 2 ... 458
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 465
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 466
Hands-0n Test Drive 3 ... 467
Summary ... 467
Questions ... 468
Chapter 10. Advanced Modeling - III ... 469 - 546 Working with the Hole Wizard ... 469
Creating Advanced Holes ... 477
Adding Cosmetic Threads ... 482
Creating Threads ... 486
Creating Fillets ... 490
Creating a Constant Radius Fillet ... 491
Creating a Variable Radius Fillet ... 500
Creating a Face Fillet ... 503
Creating a Full Round Fillet ... 504
Creating Chamfers ... 506
Creating Rib Features ... 513
Creating Shell Features ... 515
Creating Wrap Features ... 517
Tutorial 1 ... 520
Tutorial 2 ... 534
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 544
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 545
Summary ... 545
Questions ... 545
Chapter 11. Working with Configurations ... 547 - 566 Creating Configurations by using the Manual Method ... 547
Creating Configurations by using the Design Table ... 552
Saving Configurations as a Separate File ... 557
Suppressing and Unsuppressing Features ... 558
Tutorial 1 ... 559
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 565
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 565
Summary ... 566
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Part 3. Working with Assemblies
Chapter 12. Working with Assemblies - I ... 567 - 652Working with Bottom-up Assembly Approach ... 568
Working with Top-down Assembly Approach ... 568
Creating an Assembly by using Bottom-up Approach ... 568
Inserting Components in the Assembly Environment ... 570
Inserting Components by using the Insert Components Tool ... 572
Working with Degrees of Freedom ... 574
Applying Relations or Mates ... 574
Applying Standard Mates ... 574
Applying Advanced Mates ... 581
Applying Mechanical Mates ... 589
Hiding Faces while Applying a Mate ... 596
Moving and Rotating Individual Components ... 596
Moving a Component by using the Move Component Tool ... 597
Rotating a Component by using the Rotate Component Tool ... 600
Working with SmartMates ... 601
Tutorial 1 ... 602
Tutorial 2 ... 616
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 638
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 643
Summary ... 651
Questions ... 651
Chapter 13. Working with Assemblies - II ... 653 - 718 Creating an Assembly by using the Top-down Approach ... 654
Creating Flexible Components ... 661
Editing Assembly Components ... 662
Editing Assembly Components within the Assembly Environment ... 662
Editing Assembly Components in the Part Modeling Environment ... 663
Editing Mates ... 664
Patterning Assembly Components ... 665
Creating a Linear Component Pattern ... 665
Creating a Circular Component Pattern ... 668
Creating a Pattern Driven Component Pattern ... 669
Creating a Chain Component Pattern ... 672
Mirroring Components of an Assembly ... 678
Creating Assembly Features ... 680
Suppressing or Unsuppressing Components ... 681
Inserting Parts having Multiple Configurations ... 681
Creating and Dissolving Sub-Assemblies ... 682
Publishing Envelopes ... 683
Creating an Exploded View ... 686
Creating a Regular Exploded Step ... 687
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Collapsing an Exploded View ... 692
Animating an Exploded View ... 693
Editing an Exploded View ... 693
Adding Explode Lines ... 694
Creating Exploded Lines by using Explode Line Sketch ... 694
Creating Exploded Lines by using Insert/Edit Smart Explode Lines ... 695
Detecting Interference in an Assembly ... 697
Creating Bill of Material (BOM) of an Assembly ... 698
Tutorial 1 ... 699
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 713
Hands-0n Test Drive 2 ... 714
Summary ... 717
Questions ... 718
Part 4. Creating Drawings
Chapter 14. Working with Drawings ... 719 - 790 Invoking the Drawing Environment ... 720Creating the Base View of a Model ... 723
Invoking Drawing Environment from the Part or the Assembly Environment ... 727
Creating a Model View ... 728
Creating Projected Views ... 729
Creating 3 Standard Views ... 731
Working with Angle of Projection ... 731
Defining the Angle of Projection ... 733
Editing the Sheet Format ... 734
Creating other Drawing Views ... 735
Creating a Section View ... 735
Creating an Auxiliary View ... 742
Creating a Detail View ... 742
Creating a Removed Section View ... 744
Creating a Broken-out Section View ... 745
Creating a Break View ... 746
Creating a Crop View ... 748
Creating an Alternate Position View ... 749
Applying Dimensions ... 750
Applying Reference Dimensions ... 750
Applying Driving Dimensions ... 750
Modifying the Driving Dimension ... 753
Modifying Dimension Properties ... 753
Controlling the Default Dimension/Arrow Style ... 765
Adding Notes ... 766
Adding a Surface Finish Symbol ... 767
Adding a Weld Symbol ... 768
Adding a Hole Callout ... 769
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Adding Centerlines ... 771Creating the Bill of Material (BOM) ... 772
Adding Balloons ... 775
Adding Balloons Automatically ... 775
Adding Balloons Manually ... 777
Detailing Mode ... 778
Tutorial 1 ... 779
Hands-0n Test Drive 1 ... 789
Summary ... 789
Questions ... 790
