Surfacing With SolidWorks
This is a short course on 3D modeling in SolidWorks using surfaces.
Surfaces have many advantages for modeling objects aimed at the general consumer market (bottles [plastic, or glass for perfumes and beverages], phones, watches, hand tools, power tools, etc.).
The course will be divided into several parts.
We will try to cover from the basics, to the more complex use of surfaces.
Stay tuned for the different parts of the course.
Enjoy!
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Step 1: About Surfaces... Little intro.
Many people categorize 3D modelers into two types: Those who Model with Solids, and those who Model with Surfaces.
When analyzing this we have noticed that we start using solids most of the time, and as time goes by, we use more and more surfaces.
It is as if as you use solids you become aware of their limitations, and then you look for the magic world of surfaces.
As far as we are concerned, we use both capabilities of SolidWorks, especially when evaluating the model we know with which method we do the job more efficiently.
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Step 2: What is a Surface?...
Keep in mind that the "digital world" is mainly a creation of mathematics, trying to simulate physical reality, and present it on a "flat" screen (ironic isn't it?).
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Step 3: They exist, or Not??
In the real world there are neither points, nor lines, nor surfaces. Quantum physics and modern physics destroy Euclid's geometry.
The theory of relativity teaches us that nothing is straight, everything is curved (even light).
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Step 4: The Nothingness...
Well, too deep!...let's leave it at that!
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Step 5: "Limiting" (infinite) Surfaces
Ok, now we are getting down to what is practical.
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Step 6: One Big Secret!...
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Step 7: Surface Palette...(Lots of tools!)
Not only are there many tools for surface modeling, but with each release of SolidWorks those same tools are greatly improved.
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Step 8: Planar, the most basic...
Well, let's get to know the main tools and commands for modeling with surfaces in SW. We will start with the most basic ones.
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Step 9: Extruded Surface...(Linearity)
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Step 10: Revolved, quite useful...
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Step 11: Swept. Very versatile...
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Step 12: Lofted. The workhorse for a long time...
In SolidWorks versions up to 2008, Lofted Surface was the only command available to perform complex surface operations.
If you study the models made by the SolidWorks gurus and masters of those times, you will notice the intensive use of Loft.
In 2008 Boundary Surface was released, an incredible improvement of Loft, and today, the most used tool for surface modeling.
But we will meet it later.
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Step 13: Stay tuned...next part coming soon...
