SolidWorks Tutorial 7

Garden Light

Preparatory Vocational Training

and Advanced Vocational Training

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

In this tutorial we will create a garden light. It is completely built from sheet metal. In
Tutorial 4 (candlestick) you learned how to shape sheet metal in SolidWorks. In this
tutorial we will go further using these techniques. We will create several parts from sheet
metal.
The garden light is a fairly complicated product and you will learn a lot from this tutorial.
For instance, how to make a copy of a part and how to change it afterwards. How do you
solve problems that are reported back and how do you build a model from sub-
assemblies?
Below you will find the exploded view with all parts of the light. We will build the whole
product from three sub-assemblies (or welding assemblies). These are also visible in the
illustration (numbers 1, 2, and 3). The welded parts or assemblies are bolted together with
nuts and bolts.

2 1

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

With every part we create, we make sure that the origin is exactly in the center of the
model. If we do so, the Front and Right planes of all the parts will fit exactly. This will
make it a lot easier to create and assemble all of the different parts at the end.

Base Flange

Work plan

Let’s get started. First, we will create a base that will end up at the top. The first part is the
base flange. This is a simple round part with a number of holes according to the
illustration below.

How would you handle this part? We will build it from two features:
1 First, we will make a ring with a hole in the center. We will use Extruded Boss/
Base for this.
2 After that we will position the six holes with Circular Pattern.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

1 Start SolidWorks and open a new part.

2 Set the units for the part as MMGS at the bottom right of the SolidWorks screen.

3 Select the Top Plane in

the FeatureManager.
Click on the Sketch tab
in the 3
CommandManager.
Click on Circle. 2

4 Draw two circles and

make sure the center of both circles is
at the origin (the zero point of the
drawing field).

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

5 Click on Smart Dimension in the

CommandManager and give every
circle a different dimension.
After this you can change the dimension
of the circles.
Make sure the out circle has a diameter
of 280 mm and the inner one has a
diameter of 170 mm.

6 Click on the Features tab in the

CommandManager and then on
Extruded Base/Boss.
2

1
7 Set the thickness in the
PropertyManager to
3mm and click on OK. 2

8 Next, we will make

a sketch of the six
mounting holes in
the Top Plane.
1 Click on the top
plane. 1
2 Click on the
View
Orientation icon.
3 Select the option
Normal To. 2

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

9 First, draw an auxiliary line:

1 Click on the Sketch tab in the
CommandManager.
2 Open (when necessary) the extended 2
menu.
3
3 Click on Centerline. 1
10 Draw the centerline from the origin
vertically upwards.
2
Push the <Esc> key on the keyboard to end
the centerline command.

11 Click on Circle in the

CommandManager, and draw
a small circle like in the
illustration on the right.
Make sure the center of the
circle is directly above the
centerline (check the green
symbol).
12 Click on Smart Dimension in
the CommandManager and set
the dimension of Ø8 mm for the
circle.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

13 Set a dimension for the

distance between the circle
and the origin, as shown in 1
the illustration.
With the Smart Dimension
command still active, click 5
on:
1 The center of the circle.

2 The origin. 4
3 The point where you
want the dimension to be. 3
4 Change this size to 120 2
mm.
5 Click on OK.

14 Click on the arrow next 1

to the Linear Sketch
Pattern in the
CommandManager.
Click on the Circular
2
Sketch Pattern.
15 Set the following
features in the
PropertyManager: 5
1 Click on Entities to
2
Pattern. The selection
field turns blue.
2 Select the circle you
4
want to copy.
3 Change the number of
copies to 6.
4 Check that the spacing
is at a complete 360°.
5 Click on OK.
3

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

16 Click on the Features tab in the

CommandManager and next on
Extruded Cut.

1 2
17 Set the depth
of the hole to
Through All 2
(through the
entire model).
Click on OK.

18 The first part is ready now. Create a new folder for the garden light, and save this part
as: flange-bottom.SLDPRT.

Base

Work plan

The second part we will make is the base. It looks a bit like part of a hexagonal container.
See the drawing below.

We will create this part from sheet metal.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

19 Open a new part and set the units to MMGS.

20 Select the Top Plane in the
FeatureManager.
Draw a horizontal centerline at a
random point first. The length is about
250 mm.
After that, draw three lines like in the
illustration on the right.
Make sure the middle one is also in a
horizontal position.
21 Next, move the middle on
the centerline towards the
origin:
1 Click on the origin. 2
2 Hold the <Ctrl> key on
the keyboard and click
on the centerline.
3 Click on Midpoint in 1
the PropertyManager.
3
22 Make the length of the
three lines equal:
1 Click on the first
line.
2 Hold the <Ctrl> key
and select the second
one.
3 Select the third one,
still holding the 3
<Ctrl> key.
1
4 Click on Equal in the 2
PropertyManager. 4

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

23 Click on Smart Dimension

in the CommandManager.
Set the dimensions as in the
illustration on the right.

24 Click on the Sheet Metal

tab in the CommandManager.
Click on Base Flange/Tab.
Tip: When the Sheet Metal button is
not visible in the
CommandManager, right-click on one of the tabs of the CommandManager. A
list will appear and you can turn Sheet Metal on.
This is described extensively in Tutorial 4 (candlestick).
25 Set the following
features in the
PropertyManager: 4
1 The height of the
part is 20 mm. 1
2 The thickness is
1.5 mm.
3 The bending
radius is 1 mm.
2
4 Click on OK.
3

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

26 Next, we will create the

bended surface:
1 Select the edge that you
want to bend.
2 Click on Edge Flange in the 2
CommandManager.

27 Click at a random
point to set the
first plane. 5
Click on both the 2
other edges in
order to make
planes there as 1
well.
Set the length of
3
the planes to 60
mm.
Click on OK.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

28 The shape of the planes is

determined by the sketch.
The sketches have to be
altered now.
1 Click the + symbol before
the Edge Flange in the
FeatureManager.
1
2 Three sketches will
appear: click on the sketch
3
of one of the outer planes.
3 Click on Edit Sketch in
the menu that appears.

29 Now, we can change the

sketch.
Select the relation Vertical (look
at the drawing on the right).
Push the <Del> (delete) key on
your keyboard.

30 Set the dimensions with

Smart Dimension like in the
illustration.
Click on Exit Sketch in the
CommandManager.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

31 Repeat steps 28 to 30 for the

plane on the other side. The end
result will look like the image
on the right.
32 Save the file as base.SLDPRT.

Light Stand

Work Plan

The next part we will make is the light stand. We will make two varieties
(configurations).
1 One version has a hole of Ø20 as a cable transit.

2 The other version has a larger hole (Ø55) and four smaller holes (Ø4.5) for mounting
a wall socket.
The sheet metal shape is the same for both configurations, so we will start with that.
Because all planes of this part are in an angled position, we can not build it like we have
built parts previously. Therefore, we will use another method. We will draw the base
flange and SolidWorks will calculate the shape of the sheet in between.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

33 Open a new part and set

the units to MMGS.
Select the Top Plane
and draw the sketch as
in the illustration.
If you have a problem
with this, look at steps
20 to 23. You did
exactly the same thing
there (only with other
dimensions).
34 We will round the corners now. Click on
the Sketch tab and then Fillet in the
CommmandManager.

1 2
35 Change the radius
to 1 mm in the
PropertyManager.
Click on the first
corner in the sketch.

36 Click Yes in the message that appears and

then on OK.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

37 Next, click on the

second corner. The
message from
step 36 appears
again. Again, click
Yes.

38 Click on Exit
Sketch in the CommandManager.

39 Click on the Top

Plane in the
FeatureManager.

40 Click on Reference
Geometry in the
CommandManager.
Click on Plane. 1
2

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

41 Set a distance of 740 mm

in the PropertyManager.
Click on OK.
2

42 Click on Zoom to fit in

the View Toolbar.
Notice that a plane
called Plane1 is
floating above the
sketch you have just
made.

Tip: We have seen before that you can draw a sketch on every plane in SolidWorks. This
is normally one of the planes Top, Front, or Right, which are always available, but
it can also be a plane from your model.
It is also possible to make a sketch at a point, when no plane is available. In such a
case you can create a plane yourself (Plane). You can define it in every spot and
with every angle in relation to the standard planes.
This is what you have done in step 41. You have created an auxiliary plane 740 mm
above the Top Plane. Here we can draw our next sketch.

SolidWorks Vocational/Technical Tutorial 15

Tutorial 7: Garden Light

43 Make sure that

Plane1 is still
selected. If not, click
on it in the
FeatureManager.
2
Click on View
Orientation.
Click on Normal To.
3

44 Now make exactly the same

sketch as you did before. The
only difference is that the height
is now 20 mm instead of 65 mm.
Follow steps 33 to 37 to do so.
When the sketch is done, it
should look like the illustration
on the right.
Notice that the big sketch in gray
is the first sketch you created on
the Top Plane.
45 Click on Exit Sketch in the
CommandManager to close the sketch.

46 Click on the Sheet Metal tab in the

CommandManager.
Click on Lofted-Bend.
2
1

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

47 Set the following features:

1 Thickness of the material is
1.5 mm. 6 4
2 Select Number of Bends
under Faceting Options.
3 The number of bending lines
is 2.
4 Select the upper sketch on the
right side.
5 Also select the lower sketch
on the right side. 2
6 When the preview looks OK,
click on OK.

1
5

48 The basic shape is ready now.

We need this shape once more 1
for the lampshade. That is why
we will make a copy of this file 2
at this point and use it later.
Click on the arrow next to Save
in the Toolbar and click on Save As...

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

49 Name the copy

shade.SLDPRT.
IMPORTANT: Check
the option Save as
copy and continue.
Click on Save.
A new file has just
been made
1
(shade.SLDPRT).
The name of the
model we were
working on has not
changed.
3
2
50 Next, we will make a
hole for the cable feed.
1 Select the plane to make a sketch.

2 Click on Normal To in the menu that

appears.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

51 First, draw a centerline

straight across the plane in
which we want to draw the
hole:
1 Click on Centerline in the
CommandManager.
2For the first point, click on
the middle of the lower
edge of the plane. Note that
this is not the origin. Zoom
in so you will get a close
view!
3 Next, click about 100 mm
above the lower side of the
plane. Note that we must
draw a line that is vertical on the plane (it has an angle of 90 degrees to the lower line
and NOT a vertical line!). Pay attention to the symbol that occurs during the drawing
action: it tells you if you have a vertical line in relation to the base line.
4 Push the <Esc> key.

52 Draw a circle. Make sure the center of the

circle is on the centerline.

53 Add two dimensions like in the

illustration.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

54 Create a Cut-Extrude from this sketch.

Set the depth to Through All.

55 We will now make a second

configuration of this part.
Click on the ConfigurationManager tab.

56 The current configuration is called Default. Click twice

(slowly) on that name and change it to Cable.

57 Right-click on the upper line in the

ConfigurationManager.
Click on Add Configuration...

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

58 Fill in the name of the configuration in the PropertyManager:

Socket.
Click on OK. 2

59 Return to the FeatureManager.

60 The configuration Socket is active now. In this configuration

we will suppress the cable feed hole.
1 Right-click on the feature of the hole (Cut-Extrude1) in the
FeatureManager.
2 Click on Suppress in the menu that appears.

1
61 Next, we will make a hole for the
power socket.
Start again with a sketch on the right
face, Draw a centerline and draw a
circle, like you did in steps 51 to 53.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

62 Set the dimensions as shown in the

drawing on the right.

63 Now, we have to create

four mounting holes.
First, we draw a
horizontal centerline.
1 Click on Centerline
3
in the
CommandManager.
Click on the
2
2
midpoint of the circle
to set the first point.
3 Click outside the
circle to get the
second point.
NOTE that this is not
a horizontal line.
Therefore, you can better draw it at an angle in order to avoid any unwanted
relations.
4 Push the <Esc> key to close the Centerline command.

64 Select the centerline you

have just made.
Push the <Ctrl> key and
select the lower edge of the 1
face.
Click on Parallel in the
PropertyManager.

2
3

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

65 Draw a small circle, just about

the same size and position as in
the illustration on the right.

66 Give the circle dimensions: look

at the illustration.

67 Select the small circle.

Push the <Ctrl> key and select
the vertical centerline.
Open (when necessary) the
extended menu in the 3
CommandManager.
Click on Mirror Entities.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

68 Select both circles

AND the horizontal
centerline.
Click on Mirror
Entities in the
CommandManager
4
again. Now, you will 1
have four mounting
holes. 2

69 Make a Cut-Extrude
from this sketch. Set the depth to
Through All.
70 This part is ready now, with two
configurations. Save the file as
standard.SLDPRT.

Top Plate

Work plan

The next part will be the top plate. This part looks very much the same as the flange-
bottom plate, which we made first: only dimensions are different.
For this reason, we will not make a new part. We will make a copy of the first part and
adapt it instead.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

71 Find the part flange-

bottom.SLDPRT. It should
still be open.
1 Click on the arrow next to
Open in the Toolbar.
2 Click on Browse Open
Documents.
72 Select the file flange-
bottom.SLDPRT in the menu
that appears.
73 Are you sure have already
saved the changes in this
model? Just to be sure, do it
now by clicking Save in the
Toolbar.

74 Make a copy now:

1 Click on the arrow next to 1
Save in the Toolbar.
2 Click on Save As...
2

75 Change the name

of the file to
flange-
top.SLDPRT.
Click on Save.
You have
renamed the file
now and we will
continue to work
in it. 1

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Tip: Configuration or Copy? While making the standard we used two configurations, and
now we are make a copy. Why?
A configuration is especially useful for parts that are mainly the same AND must
stay that way. The standard is a good example. Should you decide to change the
height, it must be done to both parts. A configuration is a very convenient way to do
this.
The upper and lower flanges have no relation to each other. That is why it is more
convenient to make separate files by copying the first one.
76 Click
somewhere on
the plate. You
will see the
dimensions
appear.

77 Click on the
smallest
dimension
(Ø170). A
small menu
appears.
Change the
size to 22 mm
and push the
<Enter> key.

78 Similarly,
change the size from 280 mm to
90mm.
Click somewhere beside the model
to ends the command.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

79 In the FeatureManager you will see a

red x next to the last feature: this
means an error has occurred.
Move the cursor to the feature. You
will see a short explination of the error.
In this case it says: The intended cut
does not intersect the model.
Why? By changing the size of the ring,
the size mounting holes are now
outside the perimeter of the ring and
are therefore useless.
80 Click on the +
symbol before the
hole feature (Cut-
Extrude1) in the
FeatureManager.
Click on the sketch
that appears.
In the model you 2
can see the holes
now, which are 1
clearly outside the
flange.
Tip: Sooner or later you will receive errors in SolidWorks. Every change you make will
mean that SolidWorks recalculates the entire model and looks to see if everything is
still ‘logical’. If not, an error occurs. What can go wrong? You have just seen an
example: by changing the size of the ring, the holes ‘drop out’. This is something
that SolidWorks does not understand.
Another very frequent problem involves making a sketch on a plane in a feature and
then discarding the feature afterwards. SolidWorks will not know on which plane
the sketch should be positioned. There are a number of other reasons why errors
occur, as you most likely can imagine.
When you see an error, try to solve the problem. Your first reaction may by: ‘I better
draw this part again’, but it saves you a lot of time if you become smarter at solving
problems and deleting errors.
In the FeatureManager you can always see exactly where the problem is. In step 80
you can see this too: mark with a red x and the red text. You can easily see in which
feature or sketch the error is.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

81 Change the size from

120 mm to 30 mm.
You can do this by
clicking on the
dimension and filling
in the new value OR by
dragging the blue
sphere at the end of the
ruler (set to 120 mm).
82 Also, change the hole
sizes from Ø8 to Ø6.5
mm.

83 The model has now

been changed, and the error has
disappeared from the
FeatureManager.
Save the file. Use the Save command
on the standard Toolbar.

Garden Light Base Assembly

Work plan

All parts of the base of the garden light are ready. We can now make an assembly of them.
Because all parts have their midpoints at the origin, we can use the Front and Right
planes for mating a lot of the parts. By combining these planes for all of the parts, their
positions are already determined. We only have to set the height.
84 Open a new assembly and set the units to MMGS.

85 First, we must choose the part flange-bottom. This is probably

not open at this point. Therefore, click on Browse...

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

86 Select the file flange-

bottom.SLDPRT.
Click on Open.

87 Do NOT click
randomly to place the
part, but click on OK in
the PropertyManager.
The part will be placed
exactly on the origin.

88 Click on Insert
Components in the
CommandManager to place the
next part in the assembly.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

89 Add the file

base.SLDPRT twice.
Put these parts as a
random positions in the
assembly.

90 We will add mates now.

Click on Mate in the
CommandManager.

91 Because all parts are

built around the origin, 1
we can use the Front and 5 2
Right planes to set the
mates.
3
You can select these
planes in the
FeatureManager, which
is shown next to the
model. 4
1 Open the
FeatureManager.
2 Select the Front Plane
from the assembly.
3 Click on the + symbol in front of part base <1>.

4 Select the Front Plane from base <1>.

SolidWorks chooses the mate Coincident automatically.

5 Click on OK.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

92 Repeat step 91, but use

the Right Plane from
the assembly and from 3
base <1>.
1

93 We will do the same

with base <2>:
1 Close the base <1>
6 3
command tree, or else 1
the list will be very
long. Click on the
minus symbol in front 2
of base <1>.
2 Open the command tree
from base <2>. Click
4
on the + symbol in the
front of base <2>.
3 Select the Front Plane
from the assembly.
4 Select the Front Plane 5
from base <2>.
The part now has to be turned around:
5 Click on anti-aligned in the PropertyManager.

6 Click on OK.

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94 Next, mate the Right

Planes:
1 Select the Right Plane 3
from the assembly. 1
2 Select the Right Plane
from base <2>.
3 Click on OK.

2
95 Next, we have to mate
the parts to place them at
the same height:
1 Click on Multiple Mate
Mode in the
PropertyManager.
2 Select the top of the 1
bottom plate.

96 Rotate the model and

zoom in.
1,2 Select an edge from the 3
bottom of base <1> and
base <2>.
3 Click on OK.

4 Click OK again to close the 1

Mate command.
2

97 These three parts are now fixed.

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98 We will add the standard to the

assembly too.
Click on Insert Components in
the CommandManager.

99 When the part

standard.SLDPRT is still open,
you can see it in the list in the
PropertyManager.
1 Click on the part called
standard.SLDPRT.
2 Put it at a random position in
the model.
If you closed the file before, find
it by using Browse...

100 From this part we have

made two configurations:
Cable and Socket. Most
likely you have used the
configuration Socket in
step 99 (the one with the
big hole and four small
holes). We have to put in
the other configuration as
3 4
well.
1 Click on Insert
Components in the
CommandManager
again.
2 Click on Browse... in 5
the PropertyManager.
3 Select the file standard.SLDPRT in the menu that appears.
4 Select the configuration Cable.
5 Click on Open.

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101 Put this part in the assembly as well.

102 Add mates in exactly the same way as you did before. Follow
steps 90 to 97. On the right you see the results.

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103 Finally,the flange-top must be added. For this you create mates
using the Front and Right planes.
104 Save the assembly as standard-complete.SLDASM.

Lamp Shade Bottom

Work plan

We will get started with the lamp shade. We will create the base plate first. As you can see
in the illustration, it looks a lot like the upper plate of the base of the light. Therefore, we
can make a copy of this part and change it.

105 Open the file flange-top. Are

you sure you have saved all
changes? Just to be sure, click
on Save in the Toolbar first.
Let’s make a copy now:
1 Click on the arrow next to
Save.
2 Click on Save As...

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106 When this message appears,

click Save as copy and open.

107 Rename the file as shade-

bottom.
IMPORTANT: make sure
the option Save As copy
and open is checked.
Click on Save.

Tip: What does the option Save as copy mean? The file flange-top is used in the
assembly that we previously made. If you would change the name of this part with
Save As... the name in the assembly would also change. In this case, we do not
want this to happen because it would mean that the flange-top in the assembly
would be replaced by the part we just named shade-bottom.
By using Save as copy the assembly stays the same. The new file has absolutely
nothing to do with it.
Tip: If this seems too complicated for you, you can also use the Windows Explorer to
copy the file and rename it. To do so, however, you have to close the file in
SolidWorks first.
Pay attention: NEVER rename a part that is used in an assembly in Windows
Explorer. The assembly will not be able to find this part again and you will get
multiple, unsolvable errors.
108 The shade-bottom part should now be open.

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109 Click on the + symbol in

front of the first feature
(Extrude1).
Right-click on Sketch1.
3
Select Edit Sketch in 1
menu.
Rotate the sketch with
Normal To.
2

110 Click on the outer circle

of the sketch and push the <Del>
(delete) key.

111 Click Yes in the message that

appears.

112 Clickon Polygon in the

CommandManager.

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113 Set the number of

sides to 6.
Make sure the
option Inscribed
circle is selected. 4
Click on the origin. 1
Click beside the
origin, horizontally
to the origin. The 2
distance does not
matter. 3

114 Set the size of the

inside circle with Smart
Dimension.
1 Click on Smart
Dimension in the 1
CommandManager.
5
2 Click on the inner
circle. 2
3 Set the dimension.
4
4 Change the value to
120 mm.
5 Click on OK.

115 The sketch is now done.

3
Click on Exit Sketch in
the CommandManager.

116 At this point, an error

occurs!
Why?
You have just changed the first
feature from this part (the plate). In
this part there were six mounting
holes. By changing the first feature, SolidWorks does not know in which plane the
sketch of the holes was drawn.
Click on Continue (Ignore Error).

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

117 We are going to

determine a new
plane, on which
the sketch of the
holes has to be
placed.
Click on the
2
sketch for the
holes in the
FeatureManager.
Select Edit
Sketch Plane in 1
the menu that
appears.

118 Click somewhere

on the top plane of
the model. 2
Click on OK in the
PropertyManager.

119 The error has

disappeared and the part is ready.
Save the file by using the Save button in the
Toolbar.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Shade

Work plan

We will start drawing the side wall of the shade now. The construction is identical to the
standard. This part must also be made with the Lofted-Bend command. To save us a lot
work we will use a copy of the standard and change this to fit our needs.
We have to remove a few items from that file, however such as the holes we made at the
bottom and the configurations. After that we can resize the part and open the sidewalls.

120 Open the file

shade.SLDPRT. This file is
save in step 48.

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121 We have to change a number of

dimensions in the model. 3
1 Zoom in at the top of the model.

2 Click at a random point on the

model.
3 Click on the size of 20 mm and
change it to 90 mm.

122 Zoom in at the bottom of the

model.
Click on the model again.
Click on the size of 65 mm
and change this to 60 mm.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

123 Zoom out, in order to get a clear view at the whole

model.
Click on the model.
Click on the dimension 740 mm, which indicates
the height. Change it to 200 mm.

124 We will now make the

openings in the sidewalls.
1 Select one of the sidewalls.
3
2 Click on the Sketch tab in
the CommandManager. 2
3 Open a new sketch.

125 Click
on Offset Entities in the
CommandManager.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

126 Set the distance for the offset

to 15 mm.
Click on the option Reverse 3
(when necessary), in order to
show the yellow line at the 1
inside of the plane.
Click on OK. 2

127 Fillet the corners:

1 Click on Sketch Fillet in
the CommandManager.
2 Set the radius to 5 mm in 1
the PropertyManager.
3-6 Click on the four corners of
the sketch.
4
7 3
7 Click on OK.

128 Make a Cut-Extrude from

this sketch. Set the depth to
Through All.
Repeat steps 124 to 127 in the
two other faces of the model.
This part of the shade is ready
now.
Save the file. 2
5
6

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Complete Shade Assembly

Work Plan

Although not all parts of the shade are ready yet, we are ready to make the assembly
because we can create the rest of the parts in the assembly itself more easily.
129 Open a new assembly.

Add the flange-bottom file

first. Do not put it at a 2
random position but by
clicking OK, the part will
be positioned directly at
the origin.

130 Add the part shade.SLDPRT twice. Put

these in random positions.

131 Add mates by using the Front and

Right planes. You have done this before in steps
90 to 96.
132 Save the assembly as: shade-complete.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Metal Strip

Work plan

At the top of the hood, a metal strip has to be welded in. The problem is that the size and
angled ends of the strip are very hard to calculate or determine. For this reason we will
create the strip directly in the assembly.
133 Click on the arrow underneath
Insert Component in the
CommandManager.
Click on New Part. 1
2

134 Clickon the Front

Plane in the
FeatureManager. In this
plane you will make the
first sketch of the strip.

Tip: You are modeling in-context now: you are creating a part, which will be colored
blue, while the assembly may or may not be transparent depending on your settings.
You cannot change the assembly, but you can use it to add relations.
135 Rotate the model so
you get a clear view
at the sketch.
1 Open the View
Orientation menu.
1
2 Click on Normal
To.

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136 Next draw a centerline.

1 Click on the middle of
the upper edge to set the 1
first point. Be sure to
find the midpoint, and
check the symbols for
this.
2 Click on a second point
vertically underneath the
first one. 2
3 Push the <Esc> key.

137 Draw a rectangle: 2

1 Zoom in as far as
you can to see the
two top edges
because the planes
are at a certain
3
angle to the horizon
(you are looking at
the top side of the sheet metal now).
2 Click at the upper line to set the first corner of the rectangle.

3 Click at a second point as indicated in the drawing to get the second corner.

138 Set the dimensions by using Smart

Dimension as shown in the
illustration.

139 Next, we will make the

rectangle symmetrical to
the centerline.
1 Select the left vertical
side of the rectangle.
2 Push the <Ctrl> key and
select the centerline.
3 Hold the <Ctrl> key and 1 3
select the key and select
the right side of the
2
rectangle.
4 Click on Symmetric in 4
the PropertyManager.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

140 Click on the Features tab in the

FeatureManager.
Click on Extruded Boss/Base.
2

1
141 To make the extrusion set
the following features: 2
1 Select Up to Body for 6
Direction 1.
2 Click on one side of the
shade.
1
3 Check Direction 2 in the
PropertyManager to
expand the sketch in two 5
directions.
3
4 Select Up to Body for
Direction 2 also.
5 Click on the other side of
4
the shade.
6 When it looks OK to you,
click on OK.
142 Select the upper side of the
strip.
Open the extended menu from
the CommandManager when
needed.
Click on Circle.

143 Draw a circle, with its

midpoint at the origin.
Set the size of the circle with Smart
Dimension. The diameter has to be
Ø6.
Make a Cut-Extrude from this
circle and set the depth to Through
All.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

144 Click on Edit Component in the

CommandManager to switch off
this function.
You are no longer working in-
context. The assembly turns back to
normal again (it is no longer
transparent).
Tip: The strip is ready now and is directly fixed at the correct position. You may have
noticed that modeling in-context is fast and very easy to do.
There is another important advantage. When you change items later - for example,
the size of the shade - the size of the strip will change automatically too.
We did not save the strip and did not name it. SolidWorks does this automatically
and saves the part within the assembly.

Threaded M6 Rod

Work plan

On top of the strip we need a piece of M6 threaded rod, which is welded to the strip. We
will select this from the Toolbox, and put it through the hole in the strip.
145 To add the rod:

1 Open the Design Library. 1 2

2 Click on Toolbox.

3 Click on DIN.

4 Click on Bolts and

Screws. 3
5 Click on Studs.

6 Select the Stud bolt - DIN 4

976-1, and drag it to the
model.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

146 Release the stud bolt in the hole of the strip.

147 Set the diameter to M6 in the

PropertyManager.
Set the length to 60 mm. 3
Click on OK.
Push the <Esc> key to end the
command. 1

148 Next, add a mate: it has to

be between the bottom of
the stud bolt and the
bottom of the strip.
149 The assembly of the shade
is now ready.
Save the assembly.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Hood

Work plan

We need one more part: the roof of the shade. Because this is a pointed sheet metal part,
we cannot create it in the same way. We can, however, use a third method to create sheet
metal by using a solid part.
150 Open a new part and set the units to
MMGS.
Select the Top Plane and create a
sketch, similar to the one on the right.
You have done this before in steps 20
to 23.
Pay attention: the upper horizontal line
is not a centerline now, but a normal
edge.
Close the sketch by clicking on Exit Sketch in the CommandManager.
151 Add an auxiliary plane at a height
of 40 mm above the Top Plane.
You have done this before in
steps 39 to 41.

152 Make a sketch on Plane1.

1 Select Plane1.
2 Click on Point.

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153 Set one point directly on the origin of

the sketch.
Click on Exit Sketch in the
CommandManager. 2

154 Select the Sketch1 in the

FeatureManager.
3
Hold the <Ctrl> key and select
Sketch2.
Click on the Features tab in the 4
CommandManager.
Click on Lofted Boss/Base.

1
2

155 Clickon OK in the

PropertyManager.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

156 We have a solid part

now. We will make
this hollow.
Rotate the model
around until you see
it like in the
illustration.
Click on Shell in the
CommandManager.

157 Set the thickness to

1.5 mm.
Select the back 4 2
plane.
1
Select the bottom
plane.
Click on OK.
3
158 We will change this
part into a sheet metal part.
1 Click on the Sheet Metal
tab in the
CommandManager.
2 Click on Insert Bends.

159 Click on the middle

plane of the model.
When making a flat 3
drawing this plane will
hold its position.
Set the bending radius to 2
1 mm. 1
Click on OK.

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160 A few features have

been added to the
FeatureManager
now, which indicates
clearly that you are
dealing with a sheet
metal part.
One half of the roof is
ready now.
Save this as:
hood.SLDPRT.

161 Next, we will make an

assembly of the roof.
Open a new assembly. Add the
part hood.SLDPRT twice.
Make mates to set the parts to
the right position.
Use the method we have used
before in this tutorial: make
mates between the Front and
Right planes. You can set the
height by mating the Top
Planes.
Check steps 90 to 95 on how to make these mates.
162 We have to make a
mounting hole in the roof
to fix it.
Select the Top Plane in 3
the assembly.
In the Sketch tab, select
2
circle.

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163 Draw a circle with a midpoint on the origin.

Set a dimension at the circle with Smart
Dimension.
Change it to 6.5 mm.

164 Click on Assembly

Features in the
CommandManager.
Click on Extruded Cut.
1
2

165 Set the depth of the

hole to Through All in
the 3
PropertyManager.
Change the direction
of the hole when
necessary in order to 1
go through the model. 2
Click on OK.

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 Tutorial 7: Garden Light

Tip: Until now we have only added parts together in an assembly, but in the last step we
have made a hole in the assembly. This is called an assembly feature.
We did nothing other than what we would have done to create this part for real:
 First weld the pieces together (= make an assembly).
After that, drill a hole through the top.


While making a work plan to create a part in SolidWorks, think about how you
would make the part for real.
166 The hood is ready now. Save it as hood-complete.SLDASM.

Garden Light Assembly

167 All parts are now ready, and we have created three sub-assemblies:
 standard-complete
 shade-complete
 hood-complete
The three can be assembled to get the end product.
Open a new assembly.
168 Select the file standard-
complete subassembly in the
PropertyManager.
Click on OK.

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Tutorial 7: Garden Light

169 Add the two other subassemblies

now. Put them at a random
position.

170 Add mates now.

Again use the Front and Right planes to put the parts above each
other. You have done this before in steps 90 to 96.

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171 To put the shade onto

the standard, first select
the top plane of the
standard.

172 Rotate the model and

select the bottom plane
of the shade. 2

173 We will now put the

roof on the shade.
1 Select an edge at
the bottom side of
the roof (be sure to 2
select the outside
of the wall). 1
2 Select the
corresponding
bottom plane of the
roof.
3 Click on OK.

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174 The garden light is ready now.

Save it as: gardenlight.SLDASM.

And now ...

There are a couple of features that we have not used in this tutorial.
You could try this yourself:
1 We did not weld the subassemblies. We did this in Tutorial 3
(Magnetic Block).
2 We did not create a 2D drawing from the several sheet metal parts.
We have done this before in Tutorial 4 (Candlestick).
3 We have not bolted together the three parts with nuts and bolts.
You could do this by using the parts from the Toolbox. We did this
before in Tutorial 3 (Magnetic Block) and Tutorial 5 (Tic-Tac-
Toe). For mounting the shade to the standard, use the following
parts 6 times. All parts can be found in the Toolbox using the DIN
menu.
1 Washer (Washer grade A- DIN 125 part1).

2 Hex Bolt (Hex screw grade AB - DIN EN 24017) M6x20.

3 Curved spring washer (Washer curved spring - DIN128).

4 Nut (Hex nut grade C - DIN EN 24034) M6.

Use a wing nut to fix the roof. (Wing nut- DIN 315).

What are the main features you have learned in this tutorial?

In this tutorial you have learned a lot:

 You have seen three ways to create a part from sheet metal.
1 Starting with a base flange and adding planes to it. We did this while creating the
base of the standard.
2 Starting from a loft: use two sketches and shape the sheet metal in between them.
This is what we did to create the standard and the shade.
3 Starting from a solid part. This was what we did while creating the roof.

 You have seen how to continue with a copy of an existing part.

 You have seen how to build a bigger product from subassemblies and assemblies.
 You have seen how convenient it is to use the origin as a reference point. You can
simply add mates by using the Front and Right planes.
 You have seen how to change sketches.
 You have seen how to resolve errors.
 You have created a part in-context in a assembly.
 Finally you have used an assembly feature.

58 SolidWorks Vocational/Technical Tutorial