Phillip from our class this semester did some investigating and came up with a way to change your default units for new documents in SolidWorks. The technique does require you to alter your default document templates, but it's not so difficult. Here's Phillip's description of how to accomplish this:

Below is a step by step process to make units come up as "Inches" (as opposed to metric) in Solidworks.

1. Open Solidworks
2. Go to FILE > NEW
3. Select PART
4. Go to TOOLS > OPTIONS
5. Go to DOCUMENT PROPERTIES
6. Adjust Units
7. Go to FILE > SAVE AS
8. On drop-down menu, select "Save as Type:" PART TEMPLATE (.prtdot)
9. Replace existing PART file
10. Click SAVE

From there on out, you will be able to open a new Part file and have the units be inches by default.

Thanks Phillip! 

The assignment for this week is to complete the following three modeling exercises. We will work on the first exercise in class, and perhaps discuss the others. Use the provided orthographic drawings and dimensions to create SolidWorks parts of each of the three exercise models. You may also wish to refer to the eDrawings files of the models, which you can view in the eDrawings viewer installed along with SolidWorks.

There are multiple ways to complete each of these exercise models, but the only tools that should be necessary are:

• Sketches on planes and faces
• Extruded boss/base feature
• Extruded cut feature

After you have completed each exercise, you may wish to enhance the appearance of your parts using the Fillet feature and colors.

The required files are available here:

• Exercise 2.1 (PDF, eDrawing)
• Exercise 2.2 (PDF, eDrawing)
• Exercise 2.3 (PDF, eDrawing)
• Exercise 2.4 (PDF, eDrawing)

Note that all units are in millimeters for 2.1-2.3, and feet/inches for 2.4. To change the default units for your current part document, go to Tools | Options | Document Properties | Units and select the MMGS or IPS radio button.

Since this is one of your first modeling assignments, don't get too frustrated if you experience difficulty. All I want for this assignment is for each student to make a good effort at the exercises, and we'll address the inevitable questions and areas of trouble next week during class.

Due: Feb 9

Modeling Exercise 1: 2D Sketches

This is a simple exercise designed to get you used to doing basic operations in SolidWorks and using the 2D sketch tools. These exercises build on the material we will cover in the first class.

• Based on the PDF below, create one SolidWorks part document for each of the exercises, 1.1-1.4.
  
• In each part document, create a single Sketch on the Top plane.
  
• Use the 2D sketch tools to draw the appropriate lines, arcs, and circles to replicate those in the original drawings. Use sketch relations to line up points appropriately; for example, use a Midpoint relation to ensure that a point lies exactly in the middle of a line.
• Use the Reference Geometry toggle to switch indicated sketch elements (shown as dotted lines) to reference geometry.
• Use the Smart Dimension tool to insert the necessary dimensions for the sketch to be fully defined.
• The original drawings use implied relations; that is, if something looks like it's midway between two points, assume that it is.
• Don't be too concerned if you can't get everything exactly right. This is the first exercise, and we'll spend all the time necessary to go over it in class.
• Bonus karma if you can tell me what the geometry in Exercise 1.4 represents.

Files

• Exercise 1 (1.1-1.4) (PDF)
  

Due

February 2, 2008 

In addition to Exercise 1, I'd like each of you to work through one of the initial tutorials that is built in to SolidWorks. This should only take about 30 minutes.

Access the tutorial by starting SolidWorks and going to Help | SolidWorks Tutorials. Then select and work through Lesson 1 - Parts.

This exercise is simply meant to get everyone warmed up for next week's lecture on basic 3D modeling. There is nothing to turn in for this assignment. 

I will be teaching a brief, four-session SolidWorks workshop through the City College of San Francisco Center for Applied Competitive Technologies. This is more of a workshop than a full course, intended to introduce SolidWorks to industrial designers. We will cover basic modeling, surface modeling, visualization, and rapid prototyping techniques. Note that since the workshop is only 12 hours total (compared to several times that for my regular SFSU course), participants should expect more of a survey/overview than an intensive training experience.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 pm from Jan 29 through Feb 19 at the CCSF Evans campus. The cost is $150. Refer to this PDF and/or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional information.