SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [102]
5. Place a dimension from the center of the bottom circle to the construction line, and place the dimension on the far side of the construction line from the circle. This creates a diameter dimension.
6. Place a dimension for the middle circle in the same way as the bottom circle, but this time, make the dimension value about 75 percent of the first diameter.
Figure 6.31
Naming dimensions
7. Complete the sketch as shown in Figure 6.32, with all the dimensions and sketch relations.
Figure 6.32
The finished sketch
8. Make changes to the sketch to see which changes it will allow and which it will not. Double-click dimensions and use the wheel in the middle of the Modify dialog box to apply changes smoothly. Try changing each dimension.
Summary
Many tools that are available in sketches are not commonly covered in the most popular sources of information, including official training manuals. The difference between a good CAD tool and a great communication tool can be minor functions that just make life a little easier, or the presentation or editing of data a little better. When you explore the capabilities of SolidWorks, it usually rewards you with functionality that is not immediately obvious.
Chapter 7: Modeling with Primary Features
In This Chapter
Recognizing the right tool for the job
Filleting types
Creating a chamfer
Bracket casting tutorial
The most frustrating part of a complex modeling job is to be able to envision a result, but not be able to create it because you do not have the tools to get it done. Worse yet is to actually have the tools but either not understand how to use them or not even realize that you have them. Getting the job done is so much more satisfying when you use the right tools and get the job done right — not just so that it looks right, but so that it really is right.
SolidWorks offers so many tools that it is sometimes difficult to select the best one, especially if it is for a function that you do not use frequently.
This chapter helps you identify which features to use in which situations, and in some cases, which features to avoid. It also helps you evaluate which feature is best to use for a particular job. With some features, it is clear when to use them, but for others, it is not. This chapter guides you through the decision-making process.
I have split the list of SolidWorks features into two groups: primary features and secondary features. Primary features are, of course, the ones you use most frequently, and secondary features are used less frequently. Of course, my definition of primary and secondary may be different from yours, and this subject is too big for a single chapter.
Identifying When to Use Which Tool
I am always trying to think of alternate ways of doing things. It is important to have a backup plan, or sometimes multiple backup plans, in case a feature doesn't perform exactly the way you want it to. You may find that the more complex features are not as well behaved as the simple features. You may be able to get away with only doing blind extrudes and cuts with simple chamfers and fillets for the rest of your career, but, even if you could, would you really want to?
As an exercise, I often try to see how many different ways a particular shape might be modeled, and how each modeling method relates to manufacturing methods, costs, editability, efficiency, and so on. You may also want to try this approach for fun or for education.
As SolidWorks grows more and more complex, and the feature count increases with every release, understanding how the features work and how to select the best tool for the job becomes ever more important. If you are only familiar with the standard half-dozen or so features that most users use, your options are limited. Sometimes simple features truly are the correct ones to use, but using them because they are the only things you know is not always the best choice.
Using the Extrude feature
Extruded features can