Exercise 1 SOLIDWORKS

Solid Master Model

Exercise 1: Use a solid model to drive the

Solid Master parts of an assembly, and then
Model use file management techniques
to change the names of the
individual parts while
maintaining associativity.
This lab reinforces the following
skills:
 Working with a Solid Master
Model
Units: millimeters
1 Open a part file.
Open Mouse_Master_Model.sldprt.
2 Examine the part.
This is the continuation of the part
created in Module08, Exercise 1 with
one exception: a construction surface
has been added to eliminate the need
for some sketching.

3 Show the construction surface.

Expand the Surface Bodies folder
and show the Wheel Mount Split
Surface.
Note The color of the surface body has
been changed to clearly distinguish it
from the solid geometry.

Plan the Approach The part needs to be split into three pieces: the Top Cover, the
Bottom, and the Wheel Mount. The wheel itself will be added as a
separate part in the assembly.
The split will be completed in two Split features: the first splitting the
top and bottom and the second splitting the wheel mount from the top.
To split the Top Cover from the Bottom, we will use a surface
generated from the parting line.

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SOLIDWORKS Exercise 1
Solid Master Model

4 Copy parting line.

Open a new sketch on the Right
Plane.
Expand the PL Curve feature.
Select the PL Side Profile sketch
and click Convert Entities.
Drag the endpoints of the
converted entities so they extend
beyond the body of the part.
5 Parting line surface.
Extrude a surface.
Use Mid Plane as the end condition and drag the Depth such that it
extends beyond the body of the part.

Note You do not have to use a surface to split a part. You can just use the
sketch. However, it is easier to visualize the split using a surface.
6 Split the Top Cover from the Bottom.
Because the Wheel Mount Split Surface splits the Top Cover only,
and not the Bottom, create the top-bottom split first.
Click Insert, Features, Split.
Select the parting surface and click Cut Bodies.
Select the Top and Bottom bodies from the graphics area.
Make sure Consume cut bodies is cleared.
Click OK.
7 Hide.
Hide the parting line surface you created in step 5.

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Exercise 1 SOLIDWORKS
Solid Master Model

8 Split the Top Cover into two

pieces.
Using the Wheel Mount Split
Surface, split the upper body into
two pieces.
Do not split the Bottom.

Tip It is easier to identify the bodies you want to keep by selecting them in
the graphics than to click the check boxes in the Resulting Bodies
panel of the PropertyManager.
Click OK.
9 Hide.
Hide the Wheel Mount Split Surface.
10 Rename the solid bodies. Top_Cover
In the Solid Bodies folder,
rename the bodies as shown.

Bottom
Wheel_Mount

11 Save bodies.
Right-click the Solid Bodies folder and click
Save Bodies.
Select all three bodies to be saved.
For Create Assembly, click Browse and
define the assembly file name as
Mouse_Assembly.

Click OK to complete the

PropertyManager.
If you receive messages about the units of the
derived part, click Yes to change the units.

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SOLIDWORKS Exercise 1
Solid Master Model

12 Examine the files.

The new assembly document has been opened in a separate document
window. Access it from the Window menu and examine the assembly
and components.

13 Modify each individual part.

Open each component individually and add a Shell feature using a
Thickness of 1.25mm. Use the illustration below as a guide to which
faces to remove.
Optional: Change the color of each part to aid identification.
The assembly is shown in section view here for illustration purposes.

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Exercise 1 SOLIDWORKS
Solid Master Model

14 Make a change to the master model.

Switch to the Mouse_Master_Model part.
Change to a Right view.
Hold down the Shift key and press the down arrow once.
Edit the PL Top Profile sketch.
Holding down the Ctrl key, select the three spline points as shown and
drag them all downward about 6mm.
You may also want to lengthen the tangent spline handle slightly to
keep the shape of the mouse from getting too pointed at the end.

Original Shape

Drag Points

Lengthen Spline Handle

15 Rebuild.
Exit the sketch and rebuild the part.
16 Assembly.
Switch back to the Mouse_Assembly that you created from the split
parts.
Rebuild the assembly. All the parts update.

17 Save and close the files.