SOLIDWORKS® tutorial 1

Axis

Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training

To be used with SOLIDWORKS® Educational Release 2018-2019

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This tutorial is developed by SOLIDWORKS Benelux and can be used by anyone for self-training purposes of the 3D
CAD-program SOLIDWORKS. Every other use of this tutorial or parts of it is prohibited. For questions,
please contact SOLIDWORKS Benelux. Contact information is printed at the last page of this tutorial.

Initiative: Kees Kloosterboer (SOLIDWORKS Benelux)

Educations advisor: Jack van den Broek
Realisation: Arnoud Breedveld (PAZ Computerworks)

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 2

Tutorial 1: axis
 Axis
This first exercise is meant as an introduction to SOLIDWORKS. First we will design and draw a simple
product: an axis with different diameters. You’ll learn how to work with the software and you will learn a
few basic principles of the software. You will find out how to add material and how to remove it after-
wards.

Work plan Before you start drawing in SOLIDWORKS, you must have a work plan: how
are you going to do it.
Most time you will produce a part in SOLIDWORKS in the same way as you
would do it in the workshop. For this assignment this means you have to go
through the following steps:
1. Create an axis of Ø30 x 80,
2. Cut the material in order to get the different diameters.
At the lathe you would have to perform several extra steps to get the de-
sired accuracy, because for instance, you cannot remove all the material in
one run. In SOLIDWORKS this is no problem, of course.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 3

Tutorial 1: axis
 1 Startup SOLIDWORKS. To
do so, find SOLIDWORKS
in the Start-menu of Win-
dows. There even may be
a shortcut at your desktop
that you can use. After
start-up, you will see an
image as printed at the
right side of this page. The
screen may look a bit dif-
ferent; this depends on the
default settings of the
software and/or the com-
puter you are using.

2 No file has been opened

yet: to do so, click on the
first button at the toolbar:
‘New’.

3 Next a new screen

appears: (see right image)

Click on ‘Part’ and then

‘OK’.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 4

Tutorial 1: axis
 4 In the left column, click on
‘Right Plane’. The plane
turns blue.

On this plane we are going

to make a drawing.

5 Click on ‘Sketch’. New

buttons appear and you
can use them to make a
drawing.

6 Click on ‘Circle’, in order to

draw a circle.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 5

Tutorial 1: axis
 7 At this point, the plane
turns towards you, so you
can have a good view on
what you are drawing. In
the middle you see some
red arrows; this is what is
called the ‘origin’ or the ze-
ro markers.
Put the cursor directly at
the origin: it should look
like the image on the right.
Click once with the left
mouse button.

8 Move the cursor away from

the origin. The radius of
the circle will appear close
to the cursor. Make sure
this radius is approximately
15. When the cursor is at
the right position, click
again to draw the circle.

9 Next we will add a dimen-

sion. Click on ’Smart
Dimension’

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 6

Tutorial 1: axis
 10 1. Click somewhere on
the circle.
2. Next move the mouse
up and click again to
add the dimension
above the circle.

11 A small menu appears au-

tomatically in which you
can change the dimension
to the desired value.
Change the dimension into
30 and click on OK (the
green ‘OK’ sign)

Tip! Would you like to change a dimension after you finished drawing? Double-
click on the dimension. The menu will re-appear and you can change the
value.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 7

Tutorial 1: axis
 12 The drawing (Sketch) is
ready now and we can use
it to make a three-
dimensional shape.
Click on ‘Features’ at the
top of the screen. The
function buttons to create
three-dimensional shapes
appear.

13 Click on ‘Extruded
Boss/Base’. With this fea-
ture you will add material.

14 By doing so, the drawing

revolves, so you get a
good look on what you are
doing. At the left of the
screen a number of fields
appear, either open or
closed.
1. Be sure the field ‘Direc-
tion 1’ is opened. If
not, click on the double
arrows next to the field
title.
2. Enter a length of 80.
3. Click OK.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 8

Tutorial 1: axis
 15 Congratulations! You’ve
created your first shape:
an axis!
In SOLIDWORKS, we call
this a ‘Feature’.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 9

Tutorial 1: axis
 Tip! Sometimes the part you have created does not fit the screen OR you want
to view it from another side. In SOLIDWORKS you only need the scroll-
wheel from your mouse.

To zoom in- or out: turn the scroll-wheel. The position of the cursor
determines at which position you are zooming.

To rotate your part: press the scroll-wheel and move your mouse.

You may need some practice to get the part in the desired position. If you
get lost completely, you can get back to the default position:
1. Click on View Orientation at the top of the screen.
2. Choose one of the default view orientations

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 10

Tutorial 1: axis
 16 Next we are going to make
a new feature, but before
you do, it is very important
to check if all other actions
are completely finished.
Watch the right upper cor-
ner of the screen. Does is
look like the image on the
right? This means that you
have not entirely finished
the last action.
Click on the red cross to
close the last command,
only then you can start a
new one!

17 Next we are going to

change the diameter.
Click on the top plane of
the axis to select is.
Be sure not to select the
edge, but the plane!
When you do this right, the
plane turns blue.

18 Click on Sketch to show

the sketch-commands.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 11

Tutorial 1: axis
 19 Click on ‘Circle’

Tip! If you cannot get a clear view on what you are doing, zoom in or rotate your
part. Remember:
• To zoom in- or out: turn the scroll-wheel. The position of the cursor de-
termines at which position you are zooming.
• To rotate: press the scroll-wheel and move your mouse.

20 Point the cursor at the cen-

tre of the circle.
If you move the cursor
over the center of the cir-
cle (without clicking) the
cursor changes like in the
right image.
Click only when the cursor
has the right shape, or else
you will fail to select the
right item.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 12

Tutorial 1: axis
 Tip! Did you chose a wrong item anyway or do you want to abort a command,
press the <Esc> on your keyboard. You can also click the right mouse but-
ton and chose ‘Select’ in the menu that appears.

When the command is aborted you can start another one or throw away an
element if you want to do so: Click on the element in de sketch, and press
<Delete> at your keyboard. (Pay attention: do NOT use the <Backspace>-
but-
ton!).

21 Move the cursor away from

the centre and click at any
point to draw the circle.
The dimension does not
matter yet.
Pay attention: do NOT
click on another element
like the outer circle of the
plane.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 13

Tutorial 1: axis
 22 Click on Smart Dimensions.

23 You have just drawn a cir-

cle. Next click on it.

24 Move the cursor away from

the circle and determine a
position to put down the
dimension.
Pay attention: do NOT
click on another element,
because SOLIDWORKS will
than calculate the distance
between the circle and that
element instead of display-
ing the diameter of the cir-
cle!

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 14

Tutorial 1: axis
 25 A menu appears in which
you can change the dimen-
sion. Change it to 25 and
click on OK.

26 Click on Features to show

the functions to add or re-
move material.

27 Click on Extruded Cut. With

this command we can re-
move material.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 15

Tutorial 1: axis
 28 In the PropertyManager set
the following:
1. A depth of 55
2. Mark ‘Flip side to cut’.
This makes sure, that
the material on the
outside of the circle
and not at the inside
of the circle is re-
moved.
3. Click OK.

29 The first cut is made!

We will make the second
cut in exactly the same
way. We will speed up
through the steps now.

30 Before you start a next

feature check if there is
there is another command
or sketch active.
Check the right upper cor-
ner of the drawing field.
When a red cross like in
the right image is visible,
click on it to close the last
command.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 16

Tutorial 1: axis
 31 Select the end of the axis.
Be sure to select the plane
and not the edge!

32 Click on ‘Sketch’ first (to

show the right functions)
and after that click on Cir-
cle.

33 Click on the centre of the

axis. Notice the shape of
the cursor!

34 Click somewhere outside

the material to draw a cir-
cle.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 17

Tutorial 1: axis
 35 Next add a dimension to
the circle:
1. Click on ‘Smart
Dimensions’.
2. Click on the circle (it
turns blue, remem-
ber?)
3. Click above the part
(do not click on an-
other element) to
position the dimension.

36 Change the dimension to

20 and click OK.

37 Click on ‘Features’ to show

the right functions and
next on ‘Extruded Cut’ to
remove material.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 18

Tutorial 1: axis
 38 Next set the following:
1. Set the depth on 40 by
dragging the arrow in
the part. As soon as
you start dragging a
ruler appears. Release
the mouse button as
soon as the dimension
reads 40.
2. Mark ‘Flip side to cut’
3. Click on OK.

Tip! Until now you have seen two ways to set the depth of an extrusion:
1. You can enter the dimension in the field at the left of the screen. You
did so at step 14 and 28.
2. You can drag the arrow in the part, as you did in the last step.
Choose for yourself what you think of as the best way.

39 The second cut is made!

Finish the model! Two other cuts have to be made at exactly the same way. Only the dimen-
sions are different now:
• The third cut has a diameter of 18 and a length of 30.
• The fourth cut has a diameter of 12 and a length of 10.
Follow the same steps as we did before:
1. Check if no commando is active.
2. Select the plane of the axis.
3. Draw a circle and set the right diameter
4. Make an Extruded Cut to remove material.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 19

Tutorial 1: axis
 40 We now see that the di-
mensions of the third cut
are wrong! It says Ø18x30,
but it should be: Ø16x25.
How do we adjust this? In
SOLIDWORKS you will find
it’s very easy to do!
Click in the part on the
third cut.
In the part the dimensions
will appear: Ø18 and 30.
NOTE: make sure that the
command Instant3D is
turned on in the Com-
mandManager, otherwise
things might work a bit dif-
ferent.

41 First we adjust the dimen-

sion of Ø18.
Click on this dimension
once.

42 A small menu appears in

which you can change the
dimension.
Enter: 16 and press <En-
ter> at your keyboard.
The part changes immedi-
ately to its new dimension.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 20

Tutorial 1: axis
 43 You can also change the
length of 30 in the same
way, but we will show you
now that you can also
change this by dragging it.

At the left hand of the di-

mensions you will notice a
small blue sphere. Click on
it in order to drag it.

44 You will notice that the rul-

er appears and you can
drag it to a dimension of
25.

Tip! Watch where the cursor is while dragging:

- Is the cursor next to the rules, you are dragging in a random way and
you will never get an exact dimension of 25 mm.

- Is the cursor pointing at the ruler, you can make an accurate change.
Zoom in if your ruler is not accurate enough.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 21

Tutorial 1: axis
 45 We have now changed the
length AND the diameter of
the third cut.
Fantastic! The first part is
finished now!
Click on ‘Save’ in the
toolbar and name the part
axis.sldprt.

What are the most im- This first exercise was to get to know SOLIDWORKS. You have learned a
portant items you have few things you must remember very well:
learned so far?
• Extruding means you can add or remove material.
1. Use Extruded Boss/Base to add material.
2. Use Extruded Cut to remove material.
• To make a shape or part you almost always do this in two steps:
1. Draw a sketch: create a two-dimensional drawing in a plane.
2. Make a feature: you create a three-dimensional shape.
• Before you want to start a new feature, be sure no other command is
active and no sketch is still open.
• You can easily adjust all dimensions. How to make more complicated ad-
justments, we will show you in one of the next tutorials.

Is there another way to Sure! Most parts you create with SOLIDWORKS can be created in several
create this part? ways. You cannot say there is a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ way to do so.
In this exercise we have used the way you would make this part on a lathe
in the workshop. This is often a good guideline for building a part.
In this case for instance you could have also drawn the contour of the part
and rotate it afterwards. In a next exercise we will look into this method in

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 22

Tutorial 1: axis
 detail.

Would you like to rotate In step 4 of this tutorial we chose to make the first sketch on the Right
the coordinate system plane. That couses the axis to be modeled horizontal. Usually this is just fi-
of the axis? ne, but sometimes in the end it turns out that that wasn’t the best choice.
For example if you would like to use the model in a CNC-program. Then the
axis should be oriented vertically. With the next steps you can change the
orientation afterwards.

1. Click on View
Orientation
2. In the menu that ap-
pears, click on the two
arrows to see more op-
tions.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 23

Tutorial 1: axis
 1. Pinpoint the menu, so
you can give multiple
commands.
2. Click on ‘Right’, the top
of the axis will rotate
towards you.
3. Click on Update Stand-
ard Views.
4. Click on Top.
5. SOLIDWORKS will ask
for a confirmation:
click ‘Yes’.
Now you have changed the
position of the axis in the
space. If you click on Iso
again, the axis will stand
up right.

SOLIDWORKS for Prepatory and Advanced Vocational Training, 2018-2019 24

Tutorial 1: axis
SOLIDWORKS works in education
You cannot imagine the modern technical world of need to install new hardware can be postponed
today without 3D CAD. Whether your profession is in thanks to the fact that SOLIDWORKS has relatively
the Mechanical-, Electrical-, and Industrial Design- or low hardware demands. The installation and man-
Automotive industry: 3D CAD is THE tool of the de- agement of SOLIDWORKS in a network is very sim-
signer or engineer from today. ple, amongst others because of the use of network
SOLIDWORKS is the most used 3D CAD design licenses. And if a problem occurs after all, a qualified
software. Thanks to the unique combination of fea- helpdesk is available, which will help you to get back
tures: easy-to-use, widely applicable and with an ex- on the right track again.
cellent support. In the annual updates more and more
customer wishes are implemented, which leads to an Certification
annual increase of the functionality, but also to opti- When you control SOLIDWORKS sufficiently you can
mization of functions already available in the soft- join the CSWA-test. CSWA stands for Certified
ware. SOLIDWORKS Associate. After passing this exam,
you will receive a certificate which can be used to
Education prove that you are in control of SOLIDWORKS. This
A great number of educational institutes, in a variety can be very useful when applying for a job or intern-
from Technical Vocational Training to Universities al- ship.
ready have chosen for SOLIDWORKS. Why? After finishing this series of tutorials, you will know
enough to join the CSWA-test.
For a tutor the choice for SOLIDWORKS is a choice
for user-friendly software, easy to learn for pupils and Finally
students. SOLIDWORKS fits into the system of a SOLIDWORKS has committed itself for an extended
problem-initiated training or a competence-related period to educational institutes and schools. By sup-
training. Tutorials are available for the different levels porting teachers where possible, making tutorials
of training, like a series of tutorials for Technical Vo- available, adapting the software annually to the latest
cational level in which the scholar is lead through the version and by supplying the Student Kit. The choice
software step-by-step. Also the higher levels, in for SOLIDWORKS is a choice for the future. The fu-
which complex designing - for instance double curved ture of education, which ensures itself of a wide sup-
planes - is needed, can work with SOLIDWORKS. All port and a future of scholars and students, who want
tutorials are in English and free-downloadable from to have the best opportunities after their technical
www.SOLIDWORKS.com. training.

For a scholar or a student, learning to work with Contact

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Tutorial 1: axis