SolidWorks Tutorial 1

Axis

Preparatory Vocational Training

and Advanced Vocational Training

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

The first exercise provides an introduction to SolidWorks software. First, we will design
and draw a simple part: an axis with different diameters. You will learn how to work with
the software and learn its basic principles. You will find out how to add and remove
material.

How to do it
Before you start drawing in SolidWorks, you must have a work plan of how to proceed.
In most instances, you will produce a part in SolidWorks in the same way as you would
create it in a workshop. Therefore, for this assignment you have to go through the
following steps:
1 Create an axis of Ø30 x 80.

2 Cut the material in order to create the different diameters.

At the turning machine, you would have to perform several extra steps to achieve the
desired accuracy. For example, you would not be able to remove all the material in a
single turn. In SolidWorks, this is not the case.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

1 Start up SolidWorks. Do this

by locating SolidWorks in the
Windows Start menu. There
may even be a shortcut on
your desktop that you can use.
After startup, you will see an
image like the one at the right
side of the page. This screen
may look a bit different; this
depends on the default settings
of the software and/or the
computer you are using.

2 No file has been opened yet. To create a file, click on the first button on the toolbar:
NEW.

3 Next, you will see a new

screen (see right image).
Click on Part and then OK.

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

4 Set the units for the part as MMGS at the bottom right of the SolidWorks screen.

5 In the left column, click on the

Right Plane. The plane turns
blue:
We will make a drawing in this
plane.

6 Click on Sketch. New

functions and
possibilities appear, and
you can use them to
make a drawing.

7 Click on Circle, in order to draw a circle.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

8 At this point, a new sketch

is created and the plane
turns towards you, so you
can have a good view on
what you are drawing. In
the middle you see a point
with red arrows; this is
what is called the origin or
the zero marker.
Put the cursor directly at
the origin: it should look
like the image on the right.
Click once with the left
mouse button.
Tip: A new sketch can also be created by clicking the Sketch icon .
9 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.
10 Next, we will add a dimension. Click on Smart
Dimension.

11 Click on any point of the circle.

Next, move the mouse and click again to add the dimension
above the circle or at the position you want it to be. 2
12 A small menu automatically appears through which you can
change the dimension to the desired value. 1
Change the dimension to 30 mm and click OK (the green
‘OK’ icon).
2

1
Tip: Would you like to change a dimension after you have finished drawing? Double-
click on the dimension. The menu will reappear and you can change the dimension.

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

13 The drawing (Sketch) is now

ready, and we can use it to make
a three-dimensional shape.
Click on Features tab at the top
of the screen. The function
buttons needed to create three-
dimensional shapes appear.

14 Click on Extruded Boss/Base. You will

add material with this feature.

15 When using this tool, the

sketch rotates so you get a
good look at what you are
doing. A number of fields
appears at the left of the
screen, either open or closed.
Be sure the field Direction 1
is opened. If not, click on the 2
double arrows next to the field
title.
1 Fill in a length of 80 mm.
2 Click on OK.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

16 Congratulations! Your first

part is ready: an axis!
A shape like this is called a
Feature in SolidWorks.

Tip: Sometimes the part you have created does not fit within the screen OR you may
want to view it from another side. In SolidWorks, you only need the scroll-wheel
from your mouse to change the view
 To zoom in or out: rotate the scroll-wheel. The position of the cursor determines the
position at which you are zooming.
 To rotate your part: click 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, just click on View Orientation at the top of the screen.

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

17 Next, we are going to make a new

feature, but you need to make sure other
actions have completely finished.
Does the right upper corner of the screen
look like the image on the right? This
means the last action has not entirely
finished.
Click on the red cross to cancel the last
command. The other option will accept
and close the current sketch or feature.
Only then can you start a new one!
18 Next, we are going to change
the diameter.
Click on the end plane of the
axis to select it.
Be sure not to select the edge
instead of the plane!
When you do this right, the
plane turns blue.

19 Click on Sketch tab to show the sketch commands.

20 Click on Circle.

Tip: If you cannot get a clear view of what you are doing, zoom in or rotate your part.
Remember:
 To zoom in or out: rotate the scroll-wheel. The position of the cursor determines the
position at which you are zooming.
 To rotate your part: click the scroll-wheel and move your mouse.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

21 Point the cursor at the

center of the circle.
The cursor changed
like in the right image.
Click only when the
cursor has the right
shape or you will not
select the right item.

Tip: Did you choose the wrong item or do you want to abort a command? Push the
<Esc> key on your keyboard. You can also click the right mouse button and choose
Select in the menu that appears.

When you abort a command, you can start another one or throw away an entity if you
want. Click on the entity in the sketch and push the <Del> (delete) key on your
keyboard. (Pay attention: do NOT use the <Back-space> button!).
22 Move the cursor away from the center 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.
23 Click on Smart Dimension.

24 You have just drawn a circle. Next, click on it.

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

25 Move the cursor away from the circle and determine a

position to enter the dimension.
Pay attention: do NOT click on another element
because SolidWorks will then calculate the distance 2
between the circle and that element!
1
26 A menu appears with which you can change the
dimension. Change it to 25 mm and click on OK.
2

1
27 Click on the Features tab to show the functions for adding or removing material.

28 Click on Extruded Cut. You can remove material with this command.

29 Next, enter the

following features:
1 A depth of 55 mm.

2 Mark Flip side to

cut to make sure
the material on the
outside of the
circle, not the
inside, is removed.
3 Click on OK.

30 The first cut is made!

We will make the
second cut exactly the
same way. We will now
speed up the steps to do
so.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

31 Before making the next cut, make sure

no command or sketch is active.
Check the right upper corner. When a red
cross like in the right image is visible,
click on it to cancel the last command.
The other option will accept and close
the current sketch or feature.

32 Select the end of the

axis. Be sure to select the
plane and not the edge.

33 Click on the Sketch tab first

(to show the right functions)
and then click on Circle.
2

34 Click on the center of the axis. Notice the shape of the cursor!

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

35 Click somewhere outside the material to draw a circle.

36 Next, enter a
dimension for the
circle:
1 Click on Smart
Dimension. 3
2 Click on the circle.
1
3 Click above the part
(do not click
another element) to
position the
dimension.

37 Change the dimension to 20 mm and click OK.

2

1
38 Click on Features to show the right
functions and next click on Extruded
Cut to remove material.

1 2

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Tutorial 1: Axis

39 Next, enter the following

features:
3
1 Set the depth at 40 mm
by dragging the arrows
in the part. As soon as
you start dragging a ruler
appears. Release the
mouse button as soon as
the dimension reads 40. 1
2 Mark Flip side to cut. 2
3 Click on OK.

Tip: At this point in the tutorial, you have learned two ways to set the depth of an
extrusion:
You can enter the dimension in the field at the left of the screen, as you did in steps
1
15 and 29.
2 You can drag the arrow in the part, as you did in the last step.

Choose for yourself the way you think is best.

40 The second cut is made!

Finish the part!

You need to make two other cuts in exactly the same way, only the dimensions are
different now:
 The third cut has a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 30 mm.
 The fourth cut has a diameter of 12 mm and a length of 10 mm.
Follow the same steps as you did before:
1 Check to make sure no command 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.

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

41 We now notice that the

dimensions of the third cut
are wrong! It says Ø18x30,
but it needs to be Ø16x25.
How do we adjust this? In
SolidWorks you will find
this very easy to do!
Click in the part on the
third cut.
The part dimensions will
appear:
Ø18 and 30.
42 First, we adjust the
dimension of Ø18.
Click on this dimension
once.

43 Next, a small menu appears

in which you can change the
dimension.
Enter 16 and push the
<Enter> key on your
keyboard.
The part changes
immediately to its new
dimension.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

44 You can change the

length of 30 mm in the
same way, but we will
now show you how you
can also change this
dimension by dragging it.
At the left hand side of
the dimension you will
notice a small blue
sphere. Click on it in
order to drag it.

45 You will notice that the

ruler 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 ruler? If you are randomly dragging you will never get an exact
dimension of 25 mm.

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

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 Tutorial 1: Axis

46 We have now
changed the length
AND the diameter
of the third cut.
Fantastic! The first
part is now
completely finished!
Click on Save in the
toolbar and name
the part
axis.SLDPRT.

What are the most important items you have learned so far?
This first exercise is an introduction to SolidWorks. You have learned a few things that
you must remember very well:
 Extruding means your 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: create a three-dimensional shape.

 Before you can start a new feature, be sure no other command is active and no sketch is
still open.
 You can easily adjust all dimensions. You will learn how to make more complicated
adjustments, in one of the tutorials that follow.

Is there another way to create this part?

Sure! You can create most parts with SolidWorks in several ways. There is no ‘good’ or
‘bad’ way to do so. It’s a matter of preference.
In this exercise, we have created the part like you would on a turning machine in the
workshop. This is often a good guideline for building a part.

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Tutorial 1: Axis

You could have also drawn the contour of the part and revolved it afterwards. In an
exercise that follows, you will learn how to use this method in detail.

16 SolidWorks Vocational/Technical Tutorial