SolidWorks 2010- P10 pptx

Model a Washer 239 faces that are perpendicular to the neutral plane, and without an added draft, they will cause issues for the molding process. FIGURE 6.6 Selecting which surfaces to draft 9. Click the green check mark to create the drafted surfaces. Check the Draft of a Part Now that you have added draft to the washer, you need to ensure that it is indeed drafted properly to meet the manufacturing requirements. You can check the draft and how it is applied to your part by using the Draft Analysis tool. This tool not only verifies the draft but can show the angle changes on a face as well as determine the optimal areas for the parting lines, injection, and ejection surfaces in parts. The Draft Analysis tool uses colors to show whether faces on the part have a pos- itive draft, have a negative draft, or have the needed draft based on the draft angle specified and the neutral plane selected. Faces that have a positive draft meet the minimum angle required for the mold to be pulled in the direction specified; these faces are shown green by default. Faces shown in red are designated as having neg- ative draft and are faces that cannot be extracted with the mold being pulled in the designated direction. Often, the faces shown as having negative draft are ones that will sit on the other half of the mold, unless the surface or features is an undercut. Flipping the direction of pull will often swap the colors. Faces that are shown in yellow require more draft applied to them, or the draft angle in the Draft Analysis PropertyManager needs to be decreased. The great thing about the Draft Analysis tool is that it allows you to continue making modifications to your part while the tool is active. This gives you real-time 505434c06.indd 239 1/27/10 2:13:55 PM Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly 240 feedback while you modify the model. The colors designating positive, negative, and needed draft will remain on the part until the tool is deselected. The following steps will set your requirements for the draft of the washer, and you will leave the analysis running while you finish your part to ensure that changes you make do not affect the overall moldability. 1. Select the Mold Tools tab in the CommandManager, and click the Draft Analysis button. 2. With the Direction Of Pull field active in the Draft Analysis PropertyManager, select the face of the washer that was used as the neutral plane. Then click the Reverse Direction button to match the direction you specified when creating the draft. 3. Set the Draft Angle option in the Analysis Parameters section to 1°. This will represent the minimum draft that is required by the manu- facturer. Then click the green check mark to finish selecting options. Add Multiple Fillets Using FilletXpert With the Draft Analysis tool running, you are now going to add some radii to the edges of the washer. Running the Draft Analysis tool while you finish your model will allow you to see whether the drafted faces need to be tweaked as the fillets are added. As in an earlier chapter, you’ll use the FilletXpert to add the radii to the washer because it allows you to add the fillets without needing to select the tool after each fillet. After adding the necessary fillets, you will also be adding a cham- fer to one of the edges. Unfortunately, the Chamfer tool does not have an Xpert  You can also enable the Draft Analysis tool in the menu by selecting View ➢ Display ➢ Draft Analysis. 505434c06.indd 240 1/27/10 2:13:58 PM Model a Washer 241 option like the Fillet tool does, but that won’t slow you down this time since you only need to add one chamfer. To add radii to the washer, do the following: 1. Select Fillet in the shortcut bar. 2. Click the FilletXpert button at the top of the Fillet PropertyManager. 3. In the Radius Value field, enter the value .010, and select the top-outside edge of the washer, as in Figure 6.7. Click Apply in the FilletXpert PropertyManager. FIGURE 6.7 Adding a fillet to the washer model 4. Change Radius value to .025, and select the outer and inner edges of the lip of the washer, as in Figure 6.8. Click the green check mark to create the second set of fillets, and close the Fillet PropertyManager. FIGURE 6.8 Adding another fillet to the washer model 5. Select Chamfer in the shortcut bar, and change the value of the chamfer distance to .010. There is no need to specify the angle since the default is already set to 45°. Then select the upper-inner edge on the inner diameter of the washer, as in Figure 6.9. Click the green check mark to exit the Chamfer PropertyManager. 505434c06.indd 241 1/27/10 2:14:01 PM Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly 242 6. Once you have confirmed that the additional fillet and chamfer fea- tures did not affect the draft requirements of the part, deselect the Draft Analysis button on the Mold Tools tab by clicking it once again. FIGURE 6.9 Adding a chamfer to the washer model Configure a Part Configurations in parts are extremely helpful when you want to create different versions of a part. Instead of creating multiple parts that are only variations of the original, you can include those variations in the parent part. Take the washer, for instance. You may have different sizes of the washer that are used in your company, but instead of having multiple models, you can include the dimensional variations within configurations of the original washer. You can use a part configuration for more than just dimensional variations with a part. You can use configurations to specify different materials, custom properties, suppressed or resolved features, or even appearances. This can be extremely helpful when you have whole families of parts, and it is also a great time-saver since you will not need to create multiple models. You can use configurations in a variety of ways, and there are even a few different ways to create them. We will not be able to get to each version here, but we can at least get you started exploring configurations. In the following steps, you’ll create a second configuration to the washer that will contain a larger diameter version. You will be using the Modify Configurations window in SolidWorks to create the configuration and also modify the dimensions in each version. Although there are a couple of ways to create configurations, we find this method the quickest and easiest way since it allows you to create configu- rations on the fly and it gives you a tabular view of the dimensions being modified. 1. Click the plus (+) next to the Revolve1 feature in the FeatureManager to show the child sketch. 505434c06.indd 242 1/27/10 2:14:03 PM Model a Washer 243 2. Select the sketch, and click the Edit Sketch button in the context menu. 3. While holding the Ctrl key, select the three diameter dimensions and the overall height in the sketch, as shown in Figure 6.10. FIGURE 6.10 Selecting the dimensions to configure in the sketch tIp If only one dimension needs to be configured, you can skip the step of opening the sketch. Selecting the sketch in the FeatureManager will dis- play the dimensions used in the sketch without opening it. You can then right-click one of the dimensions to configure it. 4. Right-click, and select Configure Dimension in the menu. 5. In the Modify Configurations window, select the field labeled <Creates A New Configuration>, and type Config2 (see Figure 6.11). FIGURE 6.11 Modify Configurations window 505434c06.indd 243 1/27/10 2:14:07 PM Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly 244 6. Since the new Configuration is named Config2, you might as well change the name of the original configuration that is currently named Default to Config1. Right-click the field labeled Default, and select Rename Configuration in the menu. 7. In the Rename Configuration window, type Config1, and click OK. tIp Renaming the configurations makes it easier to determine which configuration is being referenced in drawings and assemblies. In many organizations, the configuration names match the part number for the con- figuration of the part. 8. Change the values for the dimensions in the Modify Configurations window by selecting each cell and typing in the new value. Change the values to those shown in Figure 6.12. FIGURE 6.12 New values for washer configurations 9. Click OK to accept the changes. You may be prompted to rebuild the document; click Rebuild in the window to continue. The Modify Configurations window is not exclusive to configuring dimensions. You can configure features of a part and parts in an assembly using the same process. When you right-click a feature in a part and select Configure Feature, you can specify whether the specified feature is suppressed or resolved in a part. In assemblies, you can use the Modify Configurations window to specify the part configuration used in the assembly as well as specify that the part is suppressed or resolved in each assembly configuration. Switch Between Configurations When a part contains configurations, the graphics area will update depend- ing on the active configuration. As you switch between configurations in the part, the model will change to include the variations specified, whether they are dimensional variations or just a simple appearance change to the part. The FeatureManager will also display the active configuration being shown in the graphics area. Figure 6.13 shows how the name of the active configuration appears next to the part name at the very top of the tree. 505434c06.indd 244 1/27/10 2:14:08 PM Model a Washer 245 FIGURE 6.13 Name of active configuration in FeatureManager The configurations in a part can be viewed, modified, and activated in the ConfigurationManager. In Figure 6.14, you will see a tab that is available above the FeatureManager design tree to give you access to the ConfigurationManager. Clicking the tab will hide the FeatureManager design tree and show the ConfigurationManager. FIGURE 6.14 ConfigurationManager tab in FeatureManager View the FeatureManager Design Tree and ConfigurationManager at the Same Time Sometimes it is helpful to be able to view the FeatureManager design tree and the ConfigurationManager at the same time. Instead of switching back and forth between the two tabs, it is possible to show both of the panes at the same time. This allows you to continue to make modifications to your features and then switch between configurations quickly. To show them both at once, do the following: 1. Move the mouse pointer to the double line directly above the FeatureManager until the mouse pointer changes to include double lines. The double line bar is referred to as the horizontal split bar and is used to split the left pane into two windows. 505434c06.indd 245 1/27/10 2:14:11 PM Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly 246 2. While holding the left mouse button, drag the split bar down below the rollback bar, and release the mouse button. The FeatureManager is now shown in both sections of the pane (Figure 6.15). FIGURE 6.15 FeatureManager split into two panes 3. Click the ConfigurationManager tab in the lower pane of the FeatureManager to view the available configurations. tIp Double-clicking the horizontal split bar will return it to its last position. If the FeatureManager is split, it will return to the top of the FeatureManager. If the FeatureManager is not split, double-clicking it will place the split bar at its last position. 4. In the ConfigurationManager, the available configurations will be dis- played. The active configuration will be shown in black, and the rest of the configurations will be shown in gray. To activate a configuration, double-click the configuration name, and the part will be updated in the graphics area. 505434c06.indd 246 1/27/10 2:14:14 PM Model a Washer Cover 247 Something to keep in mind when switching between configurations is that changes made to the model can impact other configurations. Depending on the option selected in the Modify Dimension window, changes to dimensions can apply to the active configuration only, to all configurations, or even to selected configurations. The same holds true to applying appearances, suppressing and resolving features, and adding new features. Model a Washer Cover The washer from the previous section will more than likely be made of a black rubber-like material that does not really add to the appearance of the overall desk lamp. The washer cover model you are about to create has no other pur- pose other than covering the washer to provide a clean look to the overall prod- uct. The cover will be made of the same brass material that will be used on the other metallic parts on the lamp. The washer cover also gives you an opportunity to explore another way to create a revolved part. Up to this point, you have been creating revolved parts with closed profile sketches to create a solid cross section. Most of the revolved features you will need to create will indeed require a closed profile, but there are times when you can create what is referred to as a thin feature. A thin feature is when a feature, such as a revolve, is created from an open profile, and the thick- ness is added at the feature level. Using a thin feature is equivalent to offsetting the sketch to the required thickness and closing the ends to create a closed profile. But instead, the sketch can be left open, and the thickness is specified in the PropertyManager, saving you the time it would take to close the sketch. The following steps should make it easier to understand the concept of using thin features as you create the model for the washer cover: 1. Open a new part template, and save the file as Washer Cover. 2. Set the number of decimal places used in length to three places in the document properties. 3. Select Revolved Boss/Base feature, and create a sketch on the front plane. 4. Create a vertical centerline originating from the sketch origin that is approximately .300 long. 5. Using the dimensions shown in Figure 6.16, create the sketch of the washer cover. O It’s a good idea to switch between configurations occasionally to see whether you have inadvertently made changes to other configurations. 505434c06.indd 247 1/27/10 2:14:14 PM Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly 248 FIGURE 6.16 Sketch of washer cover Add Sketch Fillets Up to this point, you have been adding fillets using the fillet tool on the model. This is usually the preferred method since too many fillets added at the sketch level will affect the overall speed performance of parts and assemblies. However, sometimes it is more beneficial to add fillets at the sketch level, especially for models such as the washer cover. Since the feature that will be used to create the model is a thin feature, it is better to add the fillet in the sketch to keep from having to create multiple fillets on both sides of the part. By adding the fillet in the sketch, when the thickness is added to the feature, the outside fillet on the model will change in radius depending on the thickness specified. In this sketch, you require two different radii to be specified for the fillets. But instead of using the same method for both, we want to illustrate a couple of dif- ferent ways of adding the radii. The first method requires selecting two adjacent sketch entities. After specifying the radius and selecting both entities, the sharp corner will be replaced with a radius. The second method only requires specify- ing the radius and then selecting the point where the two adjacent sketch enti- ties meet. Both methods are accepted practices, but we find the second method a lot quicker and easier, and we are sure you will see why. 1. Select the Sketch Fillet tool in the shortcut bar. 2. In the Sketch Fillet PropertyManager, set the Radius value to .050. 3. Select the bottom line of the sketch and the angled line that is con- nected to it, as in Figure 6.17. 505434c06.indd 248 1/27/10 2:14:15 PM [...]... really as exciting as you probably expected, but that is because the SolidWorks environment does not show the full material appearance by default To be able to view your parts in RealView, you must have one of the many supported video cards You can check to see whether your video card supports RealView graphics on the SolidWorks website: www .solidworks. com/sw/videocardtesting.html Change the Appearance of... Pressing R on your keyboard will display a thumbnail for the most recent documents opened in SolidWorks Selecting one of the thumbnails will open that document in the graphics area 2 Click the downward-pointing arrow next to the New button on the menu bar, and select Make Assembly From Part/Assembly 3 In the New SolidWorks Document window, select the assembly template, and click OK 4 In the Begin Assembly... Part/Assembly To Insert section of the Insert Component PropertyManager, select the washer cover The washer cover will be present only in the Open Documents field if the model is currently opened in SolidWorks If you closed the model for the washer cover after creating it, you will need to select the Browse button in the Part/Assembly To Insert section and select the model in the Open window 3 In... (see Figure 6.21) Once the washer cover is placed, there is no need to exit any command F i g u r e   6 2 1  ​ Inserting washer cover into assembly There may be times in the future while you are using SolidWorks that you will need to insert multiple components into your assembly Instead of selecting the Insert Components tool each time you need to add a model, you can keep the PropertyManager open Selecting... washer and washer cover concentric, and there is a mate for that Next, when the washer and washer cover are installed, the inside-top face of the washer cover will be touching the top face of the washer In SolidWorks, this can be 255 256 Chapter 6 • Creating a Subassembly done with a coincident mate The next few steps will show you how to apply these mates to the washer cover to complete the subassembly... the magnifying glass, click and release the left mouse button 12 To exit the section view, deselect the Section View button on the Heads-up View toolbar by clicking the button once again As you work in SolidWorks, you may discover that the two most common mates you will apply to assemblies are the concentric and coincident mates That is because these two mates match the most common ways parts are put... the Revolve command 2 When prompted to automatically close the sketch, click No W AR N I N G  ​ is important that you do not select to automatically It close the sketch when prompted If you select Yes, SolidWorks will attempt to create a closed profile resulting in a model that does not meet the design intent of the part 3 In the Revolve PropertyManager, the check box in the header of the Thin Feature... the Configure Dimensions command, create a new configuration in the washer cover, and increase the diameters by the same amount as what was added to the washer Configurations are a very powerful tool in SolidWorks, and it would be beneficial to gain more experience creating them In later chapters, you will be learning how to create configurations in assemblies You can always go back to the Washer Sub-Assembly... predefined views, you will not be able to anticipate which views you will need to use To create the assembly drawing with the needed views, do the following: 1 Select New in the menu bar 2 In the New SolidWorks Documents window, select the template named FDC Size B – No Views, and click OK to create a new drawing In the graphics area, the new drawing will be displayed, and the Model View PropertyManager . will contain a larger diameter version. You will be using the Modify Configurations window in SolidWorks to create the configuration and also modify the dimensions in each version. Although. important that you do not select to automatically close the sketch when prompted. If you select Yes, SolidWorks will attempt to create a closed profile resulting in a model that does not meet the. Subassembly 252 tIp Pressing R on your keyboard will display a thumbnail for the most recent documents opened in SolidWorks. Selecting one of the thumbnails will open that document in the graphics area. 2. Click