SolidWorks - Radius/Diameter Dimension on Revolve

This time I will share a simple tricks that can be useful when  using Smart Dimension in SolidWorks for Revolve function.

Sometimes, we wanted to specify the diameter of a certain part, while on other occasion, we want to specify the radius. Even radius can be easily obtained from diameter, by dividing by 2, on certain dimension it can't be easily achieved. Using calculator might waste a little bit of your time.

The tricks below will show you how to convert diameter to radius without even doing a calculation.

1. To start off, you need to have a center line as a center of revolution.
2. Draw a profile that you want to revolve.
3. Using Smart Dimension, place a dimension between the center line and the sketch you want to give the dimension. Placing the dimension on the same side of the sketch would give you a radius (on the image below is on the right side of the center line).
4. To convert it to diameter, simply drag your mouse to the other side of the center line before you place the dimension.
5. That simple tricks would save you a little bit of time!

Giving radius or diameter on SolidWorks. Place dimension on the same side of the sketch to give radius, place it on the other side to give diameter.

SolidWorks Tutorial - Pen Cover

This time round, the tutorial I made would be to model one part of a pen, which is its cover. The complete set of assembly however, can be downloaded from here.

I chose to make the tutorial only for one part as you can learn how to use several features in this tutorial.

Skill learned: 

Revolved Boss/Base, Revolved Cut, Fillet, Sketch Relationship

Final Product:

Tutorial:

1. Open up SolidWorks > New > Parts.
2. On the Model Tree, right click on the Front Panel, and select Sketch.
   
3. Select the arrow besides line, and select Centerline. Draw a vertical line passing through the origin. 
   
4. Select line, and draw a shape of object that looks like shown below. 
   
5. Select Smart Dimension, and give the dimensions as shown below. Note that all dimensions against the Centerline are all for diameter, instead of radius. Read here for a note of how to give diameter instead of radius on revolve. 
   
   
   
   
6. Click Insert > Boss/Base > Revolve. Or alternatively, click on the Features Ribbon, and select Revolved Boss/Base. You should see a preview as shown below. Click the green thick button (OK) to confirm.
   
7. Right click on Front Plane, and select Sketch.
8. Repeat step 3, draw a vertical Centerline passing through the origin. Draw 6 rectangular box as shown below.
   
9. Hold down Ctrl button, and select all 6 inner edge of the rectangle. On the left dialog box, select Colinear and Equal.
   
10. Give the dimension of the rectangular box as shown below. Note that the spacing of the box (1.5 mm) is the same for all. 
    
11. Click Insert > Cut > Revolve. Or alternatively, click on the Features Ribbon and select Revolved Cut. A preview should appear. Select the green thick button (OK) to confirm. 
    
12. On the Features Ribbon, select Fillet. On the left dialog box, adjust the radius to 1 mm, and select the edge shown below. 
    
13. Add fillet on the edges of the revolved rectangle, adjust the radius to 0.1 mm and select all the edges as shown below. Note that you can select the surface (highlighted on the rightmost selection) instead of selecting the edges one by one. Read here for explanation of the selection.
    
14. Congratulation! You have completed your model!

Tutorial - Nut Modelling

Tutorial: Modelling standard metric nut. The dimension shown in this tutorial would follow standard dimension for size M3 nut. For any other size of nut, please refer here.

Feature used: Extrude boss/base, Extrude cut, Revolve, Chamfer.

1. Open up SolidWorks and click New > Part

2. On the Family Tree, right click on the Top Plane and select sketch.

3. On the Sketch ribbon, select the Polygon button. On the Polygon option, enter 6 on the Number of Sides field.

4. Sketch a hexagon and give enter the dimension using Smart Dimension such that you obtain a sketch as shown below.

5. Extrude boss/base the sketch with the Mid-Plane end condition, extrusion depth of 2.4. You would get something like shown below.

6. Select the top surface of the nut, right click and select sketch.

7. Sketch a circle with the same center as the hexagon and using smart dimension, give the diameter as shown below.

8. Perform Extrude Cut with Through All end condition. Your model is shaping up!

9. On the Family Tree, select the Front Plane > right click > Sketch
10. Draw a vertical center line at the center of the coordinate and sketch that looks like below.

11. Perform Revolve Cut with the vertical center line as your center of rotation.
12. Select Chamfer, and select the two edges of the center hole. Put 0.3 on the chamfer size.

13 And your model is done! Congratulation!

Gallery - Watch

This model was amongst my first few models when I was learning CAD modeling. Was done using SolidWorks, All the components are  created by Extrude and Revolve function only.

The biggest challenge of this model is that the chain that is not exactly flat, but at some certain radius. Nevertheless, it could be done using a simple revolve cut.

If you are interested to download the raw files, you can download it here.

The hook - not that easy to model a fully functioning hook

Overall Assembly

One of the most difficult section to model back then.

The other end

Back-side of the chain