Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

The Introduction to SOLIDWORKS lesson guides you through the creation of a part
and a drawing. You create this part and drawing:

This lesson includes:

Creating base, boss, and cut features from sketches Adding
fillets to smooth edges
Creating a circular pattern
Adding drawing views
Adding centerlines, center marks, and dimensions to the drawing
My First Part
For your first part, you create the pressure plate shown below. A part is a 3D model
made up of features.

You begin this lesson by creating a new part.

1. Click New on the Standard toolbar.

If this is the first document you have created, the Units and Dimension
Standard dialog box appears.
a. For Units, select MMGS (millimeter, gram, second).
b. For Dimension Standard, select ANSI.
c. Click OK.
The New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box appears.

2. Click Part.

3. Click OK.
A new part window appears.

When toolbar buttons have an orange border, for example ,

you can click them in the tutorial window to flash the
corresponding button in the SOLIDWORKS window.
Sketching the Circle
The first feature in the part is a cylinder extruded from a sketched circular profile.

1. Click Extruded Boss/Base on the Features toolbar.

The Front, Top, and Right planes appear in the graphics area.

2. Move the pointer over the Top plane to highlight it, then click to select it.
The display changes so that the Top plane is facing you. A sketch opens on
the Top plane.

3. Click Circle on the Sketch toolbar.

The Circle PropertyManager opens in the left pane.

4. Move the pointer over the origin .

The pointer changes to . This indicates a coincident relation between the

center of the circle and the origin.

5. Click to place the center point on the origin.

6. Move the mouse and notice a preview of the circle dynamically follows
the pointer.

7. Click to finish the circle and click in the PropertyManager.

The size of your sketch entities does not need to be exact. For
example, this circle does not need to be 1.54in. You later add
dimensions to specify the size of sketch entities.
Adding Dimensions
Now add a diameter dimension to the circle.

1. Click Smart Dimension (Dimensions/Relations toolbar).

2. Select the circle.

Notice the preview of the diameter dimension.

3. Move the pointer to where you want the dimension and click to add the
dimension.
The Modify dialog box appears.
What if the Modify Dialog Box did not Appear?

4. In the Modify box, type 128mm, then click and click in the
graphics area.
Extruding the Base Feature
Extrude the 2D sketch to create the 3D cylinder.

1. Click Exit Sketch on the Sketch toolbar.

You exit the sketch when you are done with the 2D profile and are ready to
create the 3D cylinder.
The settings for the extrusion appear in the PropertyManager in the left panel.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1:

a. Select Blind in End Condition.
b. Set Depth to 7.
Notice the shaded preview of the extrusion.

3. Click .
The first feature is complete. Boss-Extrude1 appears in the FeatureManager
design tree in the left panel.
Saving the Part

1. Click Save on the Standard toolbar.

2. In the dialog box, type Pressure Plate for File name.

3. Click Save.
The extension .sldprt is added to the file name, and the file is saved.
Sketching the Boss
Create a sketch for the ring boss.

1. Click Extruded Boss/Base on the Features toolbar.

2. Select the top face of the part.

3. Click Top on the Standard Views toolbar.

4. Click Circle on the Sketch toolbar.

5. Move the pointer over the origin. The

pointer changes to .

The ring boss is concentric with the base cylinder because you
started both at the origin. In the completed sketch, the symbol
indicates this relationship.

6. Click to place the center of the circle.

7. Move the pointer to create the circle.

8. Click to finish the circle and click in the PropertyManager.

Dimensioning the Boss Sketch
1. Click Smart Dimension (Dimensions/Relations toolbar).
2. Select the circle.
3. Move the pointer and click to place the dimension.
4. In the Modify box, type 75, then click and click in the graphics
area.

Offsetting Entities
The sketched circle represents the outside of the ring. Next create the inside of the
ring using the Offset Entities tool.

1. Click Offset Entities on the Sketch toolbar.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Parameters:

a. Set Offset Distance to 5.
b. Select Reverse to offset the circle to the inside.

3. Select the sketched circle.

4. Click .
Extruding the Ring Boss
Now that the sketch is complete, extrude the sketch to make the ring boss.

1. Click Exit Sketch on the Sketch toolbar.

2. Click Trimetric on the Standard Views toolbar for a better view of the
model.

3. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1, set Depth to 12.

4. Click .
Sketching the Hole

1. Click Extruded Cut on the Features toolbar.

2. Select the top face of Boss-Extrude1.

3. Click Top on the Standard Views toolbar.

4. Click Circle on the Sketch toolbar.

5. Move the pointer over the origin. The

pointer changes to .

6. Click to place the center of the circle.

7. Move the pointer to create the circle.

8. Click to finish the circle and click in the PropertyManager.

Dimensioning the Hole Sketch
1. Click Smart Dimension (Dimensions/Relations toolbar).
2. Select the circle if it is not already selected.
3. Move the pointer and click to place the dimension.
4. In the Modify box, type 25, then click and click in the graphics
area.

Creating a Hole
Cut a hole through the center of the part.

1. Click Exit Sketch (Sketch toolbar).

2. Click Trimetric (Standard Views toolbar).

3. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1, select Through All for

End Condition.

4. Click .

You can use the Hole Wizard to add customized holes to the model.
Learn how to create Hole Wizard holes.
Skip the Hole Wizard lesson and work on fillets.
Adding Fillets
Add a fillet feature to round off the edges of the part.

1. Click Fillet on the Features toolbar.

2. Click Trimetric on the Standard Views toolbar for a better view of the
model.

3. In the PropertyManager:

a. Under Fillet Type, select Constant Size Fillet .

b. Under Fillet Parameters, set Radius to 2.

4. Select the top face of the ring boss and the outside face of the base.

5. Click .
Sketching the Tall Cylinder Extrusion
Sketch a circle for the tall cylinder extrusion.

1. Click Extruded Boss/Base on the Features toolbar.

2. Select the top face of the base cylinder.

3. Click Top on the Standard Views toolbar.

4. Expand the Line flyout menu on the Sketch CommandManager and click
Centerline .

The centerline acts as a construction line for the next circle. It

keeps the center of the circle vertical with respect to the origin.

5. Move the pointer over the origin until the pointer changes to and click
to start the centerline.

6. Move the mouse above the start of the centerline.

The pointer changes to to indicate the centerline is vertical.

7. When the line is about 45 mm long, click again to end it, and then press
Esc.
Completing the Tall Cylinder Extrusion

1. Click Circle on the Sketch toolbar.

2. Move the pointer over the endpoint of the line (not the endpoint by the origin).

The pointer changes to .

3. Click to start the circle.

4. Move the pointer to define the circle and click to finish.

5. Click in the PropertyManager.

Dimensioning the Tall Cylinder Sketch
Dimensioning the Tall Cylinder Sketch

1. Click Smart Dimension (Dimensions/Relations toolbar).

2. Select the circle if it is not already selected.

3. Move the pointer and click to place the dimension.

4. In the Modify box, enter 27 for the circle dimension, click , and
click in the graphics area.

5. Select the vertical centerline.

6. Move the pointer and click to place the dimension.

7. In the Modify box, type 35 to position the circle, click , and click
in the graphics area.
Adding the Tall Cylinder Extrusion
Now that the sketch is done, make the extrusion for the tall cylinder boss.

1. Click Exit Sketch on the Sketch toolbar.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1, set Depth to 30.

3. If the circle's area is not highlighted in yellow, select the circle to define the
Selected Contours.

4. Click .

5. Click Trimetric on the Standard Views toolbar for a better view of the
model.
Sketching the Tall Cylinder Hole
Make a sketch for a hole through the tall cylinder extrusion.

1. Click Extruded Cut on the Features toolbar.

2. Select the top face of the tall cylinder extrusion.

3. Click Circle on the Sketch toolbar.

4. Move the pointer to the edge of the tall cylinder and leave it there until the
center point of the tall cylinder appears as shown.

5. Move the pointer over the new center point.

6. Click to place the center of the circle.

7. Move the pointer and click to finish the circle.

8. Click .
Dimensioning the Tall Cylinder Hole Sketch
Add a dimension to control the diameter of the circle.

1. Click Smart Dimension (Dimensions/Relations toolbar).

2. Select the circle if it is not already selected.
3. Move the pointer and click to place the dimension.
4. In the Modify box, type 15, click , and click in the graphics area.

Adding the Tall Cylinder Hole

Create a hole in the tall cylinder that cuts through the entire part.

1. Click Exit Sketch on the Sketch toolbar.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1, select Through All for

End Condition.

3. Click .
Adding Fillets to the Tall Cylinder

1. Click Hidden Lines Visible on the View toolbar.

2. Click Fillet on the Features toolbar.

The radius is already set to 2mm to match the last fillet you added to the
model.

3. Select four items for the fillet as shown:

The top face of the tall cylinder extrusion.
One edge on each side of the tall cylinder where it intersects the ring
extrusion.
The edge of the hole that cuts through the tall cylinder on the bottom of the
first extrusion.

4. Click .

5. Click Shaded with Edges on the View toolbar.

Creating a Circular Pattern
Create six tall cylinder extrusions with cuts and fillets evenly spaced about the
central axis of the part using the Circular Pattern tool.

1. Click View > Hide /Show > Temporary Axes.

This shows all of the system-generated axes in the part. You select one as the
central axis of the pattern.

2. On the Features toolbar, expand the Linear Pattern flyout toolbar and click
Circular Pattern .

3. In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1:

a. Select the temporary axis in the center of the part for
Pattern Axis.

b. Select Equal
spacing to pattern the number of instances uniformly around the axis
within 360°.
c. Set Number of
Instances to 6.

4. Click in Features to Pattern .

5. In the flyout FeatureManager design tree in the graphics area, select the last
three features (Fillet2, Cut-Extrude2, and Boss-Extrude3).

6. Click .
Adding the Last Fillet
The last feature is a fillet that runs around the inside and outside edges of the
patterned items.

1. Click View > Hide /Show > Temporary Axes to turn off the system axes.

2. Click Fillet on the Features toolbar.

3. Select two edges as shown. You need to select one edge on the inside of
the ring and one edge on the outside of the ring.

4. Click to add a 2mm fillet.

5. Click Save on the Standard toolbar. The

part is complete.
My First Drawing
For your first drawing, you create the drawing shown below. The drawing contains
many views, centerlines, center marks, and dimensions.

If pressure_plate.sldprt is not open from the My First Part lesson,

click here to open it, or browse to drive
letter:\Users\Public\Public Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS
version\samples\tutorial\introtosw\pressure_plate.sldprt.
Creating a New Drawing

1. Click Options on the Standard toolbar.

2. On the System Options tab, select Drawings > Display Style.

3. Under Tangent edges, select Removed to hide transition edges between

rounded or filleted faces, then click OK.

4. Click File > Make Drawing from Part/Assembly .

5. In the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box, click the

Templates tab, select Drawing, and click OK.

6. In the Sheet Format/Size dialog box:

a. Clear Only show standard formats to see all format options.
b. Select A (ANSI) Landscape.
c. Click OK.
SOLIDWORKS creates a drawing using the A (ANSI) Landscape sheet format.

7. Click Tools > Options > Document Properties > Detailing.

8. Under Auto insert on view creation, clear Center marks-holes - part and
click OK.
You manually add center marks later on.

9. On the View Palette tab of the Task Pane:

 a. Clear Auto-start projected view.
b. Drag the Top view into the drawing area.

10. In the PropertyManager:

a. Under Display Style, click Hidden Lines Removed .

b. Under Scale, select Use custom scale and set the scale to
1:2.

c. Click .
Creating a Section View
Create a section view through the center of the part.

1. Click Section View on the Drawing toolbar.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Cutting Line, click Vertical

and select Auto-start section view.

3. Move the pointer above the center point of the plate and click to start the
section line.

4. Move the pointer to the right to place the view and click to finish.

5. Under Cutting Line, click Flip direction to reverse the direction of the
section view.

6. Click .
Creating a Detail View

1. Click Detail View on the Drawing toolbar.

2. Move the pointer over the section view and click to place the center of the
detail circle.

3. Move the pointer to define the detail circle and click to finish.

4. Move the pointer to place the detail view and click to add the view.

5. Click .

6. Click Save on the Standard toolbar.

7. Click Save All if prompted to save referenced models to also save the part.

8. Accept the default file name and click Save.

Creating an Isometric View
Create a shaded isometric view.

1. Click ModelView on the Drawing toolbar.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Part/Assembly to Insert, click

pressure_plate.

3. Click Next .

4. Under Orientation, click *Isometric .

5. Under Display Style, click Shaded .

6. Under Scale, select Use custom scale and set the scale to 1:2.

7. Move the pointer to place the view.

8. Click .

If the view is not in the correct location on the drawing sheet,

you can drag the view. Move your pointer over the view until the
pointer includes , then drag the view.
Adding Center Marks
Add center marks to the top view of the model.

1. Click Center Mark on the Annotation toolbar.

2. In the Top view, click the outside edge of one of the tall bosses in the
pattern as shown.

3. Click in the graphics area to propagate the center marks to all the other
holes in the pattern.

4. Click .
Adding Centerlines

1. Click Centerline on the Annotation toolbar.

2. In the section view, select the two edges of the top hole.

A centerline appears between the two edges.

3. Repeat for other holes in the section and detail views to add three more
centerlines.

4. Click .
Placing Dimensions
Place some dimensions on the drawing.

1. Click Options on the Standard toolbar.

2. On the Document Properties tab, select Units and in Unit system, select
MMGS, then click OK.

3. Click Smart Dimension on the Annotation toolbar.

4. Move the pointer to the edge of the outer circle of the ring (top view) and
click.

5. Move the pointer to place the dimension and click. The

diameter dimension 128 appears.

Under Tolerance/Precision, make sure Unit Precision is set

to None, so that decimal places do not appear on the
dimension.

6. Add three other diameter dimensions as shown:

a. Select the edge of each circle.
b. Move the pointer to place the dimensions and click.
Placing Detail Dimensions

1. Move to the detail view and select the left edge of the plate.

2. Select the right edge of the plate.

3. Move the pointer to place the dimension and click. The

length dimension 37 appears.

4. Place the two other dimensions on the detail view.

Modifying the Text of Dimensions

1. Select the cylinder boss diameter (27) dimension.

2. In the PropertyManager, under Dimension Text, click in front of

<MOD-DIAM>.

3. Type 6x.
The dimension now indicates that there are six cylinders of the same size in
the drawing.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the cylinder boss hole diameter (15)
dimension.

5. Select the center hole diameter (25) dimension.

6. In the PropertyManager, under Dimension Text, click after <DIM>.

7. Type a space and THRU.

The dimension now indicates a through all cut.

8. Click .
This completes the drawing.
 9. Click Save on the Standard toolbar.

Congratulations! You have completed this tutorial. Return to the

tutorials overview page.