A few things to keep in mind:

• The easiest way to start an assembly is to open the first part file and use the "Make Assembly from Part" command under the File menu. This will start a new assembly. To accept the default, fixed position for the first part, just click the green check mark at the top of the Insert Component property manager that comes up.
• To add coincident mates between pairs of faces:
• Enter Mate mode with Insert | Mate or the Mate (paperclip) icon on the toolbar
• Make sure that the Mate Selections input area is active (pink), and click on the two faces to be mated
• The model pieces should move together to show the mate. If they're mated the wrong way (the wrong side of one face is touching the other), change the mate alignment using the icons at the bottom of the Standard Mates section of the Mate property manager
• Make sure that each part has enough mates to keep it in place. You shouldn't be able to move the parts with the mouse once they're fully mated.
• Typically you will need three mates per part to keep it in place.
• When you're done, make sure no parts are intersecting one another using the Interference Detection tool:
• Go to Tools | Interference Detection
• Make sure your assembly is selected under Selected Components
• Click the Calculate button
• The Results should indicate No Interferences
• If interferences are detected, check your mates to ensure that parts aren't overlapping

Here are the exercises:

• Modeling exercise 5.1 (eDrawing, PDF)
• Modeling exercise 5.2 (eDrawing, PDF)
  
• Modeling exercise 5.3 (eDrawing, PDF)
  

Note that the PDFs have more than one page each. Also, the eDrawings file for Exercise 5.2 contains an animation that shows how the pieces fit together. To play it, make sure that you're in "Complete" UI mode (View | UI Mode), then click the Animations tab on the left, and click Play in the Animations side panel.

This set of modeling exercises will test your use of reference planes, the pattern feature, and the mirror feature.

Exercise 3.2 is a simplified Japanese shoji screen. This model should give you an opportunity to use the Linear Pattern (Insert | Pattern/Mirror menu) feature to duplicate the thin internal frame elements, which are called kumiko. Each "pane" of rice paper should end up being exactly the same size. Note that the rice paper itself isn't included on the orthographic drawings; to (optionally) add it, just do a single large, thin (0.01mm) extrusion behind the kumiko on one side of the screen (refer to the eDrawings file). For an optional extra challenge, construct the model such that each of the parts in the multi-colored image is a separate body. You will need to use the "Merge Result" checkbox as well as possibly a Combine feature to accomplish this.

• Exercise 3.1 (PDF , eDrawing)
• Exercise 3.2 (PDF , eDrawing)
• Exercise 3.3 (PDF , eDrawing)
• Exercise 3.4: Revise Exercise 2.4 , but this time use a Circular Pattern feature to create the ring of columns.

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)
  

The assignment for this week is to complete the following four 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.