Michael Lord

Over the past few weeks I’ve embarked on a voyage of discovery (or is that one of enlightenment!) after first delving into SolidWorks Direct Editing Tools
Having now taken what was first learned from Lars Christensen (cadcamstuff.com) (and his Dumb Solids: Make them your Friend in SolidWorks – Presentation) and throw in some trial & error!   The result is I’ve now taken an entirely different approach to what I normally would have when required to model  these couple of parts!

In the past I would have approached this simple “T” piece in a whole different way!

After first starting with a Sketch and a Revolve (Thin)

In the past I might have mirrored the sketch or the revolve but using the Direct Edit I can copy the body, move it to the Origin and Rotate! Creating a multi-body

Mirrored the Body (Select Merged result).   This also gave me the opportunity to use the “Intersect” tool.   Matt Lorono has a couple of interesting posts (to read) on the Intersect Tool (and a different use of the Intersect Tool)
Select the bodies, Select Intersect then Select the regions to exclude (Select Merged result) Creating a single body!

Different Tools to create the required part.

With this Imported Part it may have been simpler to re-model in Sheet metal (as it required re-positioning of the flange)

But using the Direct Edit – Move Face Tool select the flange, Select Translate

Move the Flange to the required location (add 30mm)

Then use the Convert to Sheet Metal tool

and we have a  Sheet Metal Part (with required change) from the Imported Model!

Direct Editing Tools – taking a different approach to creating parts!