Drawing and Design

Dr. C.K Chan

MECH 2404
Tutorial ch04
Solidworks –Loft and pattern

Department of Mechanical Engineering

The University of Hong Kong
Tutorial Ch-04 Solidworks-loft
Table of content
1. Reference geometry ........................................................................................ 4
2. Loft feature ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Dome feature .................................................................................................. 8
4. Variable radius fillet ....................................................................................... 8
5. Scales ............................................................................................................ 10
6. Multibody ..................................................................................................... 11
6.1. Operation of multiple bodies ............................................................... 12
7. Indent ............................................................................................................ 14
7.1. Solid Tool Bodies Indent a Surface Target Body ............................... 16
7.2. Solid Tool Bodies Indent a Solid Target Body ................................... 17
7.3. Surface Tool Body Indents a Solid Target Body ................................ 19
8. Flex Overview .............................................................................................. 19
8.1. Example of Flex Bending .................................................................... 20
8.2. Example of Flex Twisting ................................................................... 22
8.3. Example of Flex Tapering ................................................................... 23
8.4. Example of Flex Stretching ................................................................. 24
9. Practice #1: Loft, fill pattern and dome (Submission required) ................... 25
9.1. Construct reference planes .................................................................. 29
9.2. Add 1st sketches on Front plane........................................................... 34
9.3. Add 2nd sketch .................................................................................... 36
9.4. Add 3rd sketch ..................................................................................... 37
9.5. Add 4th sketch ..................................................................................... 38
9.6. Add 5th sketch ..................................................................................... 40
9.7. Add 1st loft feature: Head ................................................................... 41
9.8. Add 2nd loft feature: Tail .................................................................... 43
9.9. Create fill pattern ................................................................................. 43
9.10. Create dome feature.......................................................................... 48
10. Practice #2: Flex, multiple bodies and indent (Submission not required) .. 54

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10.1. Flex ................................................................................................... 54
10.2. Multibody ......................................................................................... 57
10.3. Indent ................................................................................................ 59
11. Optional exercise (Submission not required) ............................................... 66
11.1. Use loft feature to create the Lifter .................................................. 67
11.2. Use loft feature to create the funnel ................................................. 67
11.3. Screwdriver....................................................................................... 68
11.4. Bottle ................................................................................................ 72
12. Challenge ...................................................................................................... 74
13. Assignment (require submission) ................................................................. 78
14. Appendix: Loft feature ................................................................................. 82
14.1. Profiles .............................................................................................. 83
14.2. Start/End Constraints ........................................................................ 83
14.3. Guide Curves .................................................................................... 86
14.4. Centerline Parameters....................................................................... 88
14.5. Sketch Tools ..................................................................................... 89
14.6. Thin Feature...................................................................................... 89
14.7. Options ............................................................................................. 89
14.8. Curvature Display............................................................................. 91

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1. Reference geometry
◼ Reference geometry defines the shape or form of a surface or a solid.
Reference geometry includes items such as planes, axes, coordinate systems,
and points. More details will be given in next tutorial.

◼ You can use reference geometry in the creation of several kinds of features.
For example:
a) Planes are used in lofts and sweeps.
b) An axis is used in a circular pattern.

2. Loft feature
◼ Loft surface is obtained from blending multiple profiles together.
◼ A Loft feature can be a base, boss, or cut.

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◼ All sketch entities, including guide curves and profiles, can be contained in a
single 3D sketch.
◼ For a solid loft, the first and last profiles must be model faces or faces created
by split lines, planar profiles, or surfaces.
◼ The process of creating a Simple Loft Feature is shown below:

a) Create the planes required for the profile sketches

b) Each sketch should be on a different plane.
c) Sketch a profile on the first plane and then Sketch the remaining profiles
on their corresponding planes.
d) Click Loft icon on the Features toolbar and select each profile. Examine
the preview curve and the connectors. Click OK .

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◼ You can give additional Information to the Lofts feature when neatness
counts:
a) Select the profiles in order.
b) Click corresponding points on each
profile.
c) The vertex closest to the selection
point is used.
d) Drag the connectors to improve the
connection if it is necessary.
◼ A preview curve connecting the profiles is
displayed. Review the curve in order to address adjustments.
◼ Unexpected results occur when you don’t pick corresponding points on each
profile. For example:

◼ Rebuild errors can occur if you select the profiles in the wrong order. Say
the following order is invalid.

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2 4

◼ Self interlocking is not allowed.

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3. Dome feature
◼ Dome feature allows you to create a dome shape on the planar face.

4. Variable radius fillet

◼ Soldworks can create a fillet with variable radii values. Use control points to
help define the fillet.

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Double click the word “Unassigned” to enter the fillet radius at the specific
point.

Click the purple color dot (control point) to add radius to varies locations.

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The locations of control points are adjustable under the properties panel. You
can increase the number of control point under the profile.

5. Scales
◼ You can scale a part or surface model about its centroid, the model origin, or
a coordinate system.
◼ The Scale feature scales only the geometry of the model, for use in data
export, cavities, and so on.
➢ It does not scale dimensions, sketches, or reference geometry. With
multibody parts, you can scale one or more bodies.
➢ It does not change the definitions of features created before it was added.
To temporarily restore the model to its unscaled size, you can roll back
or suppress the Scale feature.

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Original part Non-uniform scaling

6. Multibody
◼ Solidworks allow Multiple bodies in a single part but the relative positions of
the bodies are not free. It should not replace the use of assemblies.
◼ A general rule to follow is that one part (multibody or not) should represent
one part number in a Bill of Materials in an assembly.
◼ A multibody part consists of multiple solid bodies that are not dynamic. If
you need to represent dynamic motion among bodies, use an assembly. Tools
such as Move Component, Dynamic Clearance, and Collision Detection are
available only with assembly documents.
◼ How to make multibody, unclick the check box during solid feature formation.

For example,

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6.1. Operation of multiple bodies

◼ In a multibody part, you can create a body defined by the add, subtract or
common of multiple bodies.

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Common

Add

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Subtract

7. Indent
◼ The indent feature creates an offset pocket or protrusion feature on a target
body that exactly matches the contour of a selected tool body, using thickness
and clearance values to create the feature.
◼ Depending on the body type selected (solid or surface), you specify the
clearance between the target body and the tool body, and a thickness for the
indent feature. The indent feature can deform or cut material from the target
body.
◼ The indent feature shape updates if you change the shape of the original tool
body used to create the pocket.

◼ Example of Indent - Drill Packaging

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Single Tool Body Region (drill bit) and the Target body

Preview of indent with Keep selections chosen

Result of indent

◼ Example of Indent - Multi-Part Packaging

Three Tool Body Region bodies to indent the Target Body (plate).

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Select the side to indent. In this case, select Remove Selections to

indent the lower half.

Result of three-body indent

7.1. Solid Tool Bodies Indent a Surface Target Body

Surface Target Body and three solid bodies (red arrows) selected for

Tool Body Region

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Preview

Result of indent

Surface with thickening applied.

7.2. Solid Tool Bodies Indent a Solid Target Body

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The solid Target Body (transparent ribbed part) indented by the Tool

Body Region (shown by the arrows)

Indent shows the Clearance and Thickness values, which match the shell
thickness.

Result of indent

Note the shelled cavity and bosses created by the indent.

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7.3. Surface Tool Body Indents a Solid Target Body

The solid Target Body (remote control) indented by the Tool Body Region

(red extruded surface)

Preview

Result with Clearance and Thickness applied

8. Flex Overview
◼ Flex features deform complex models in an intuitive manner.
◼ You can create four types of flexes:
1. Bending
2. Twisting
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3. Tapering
4. Stretching
◼ Operation
Under Selections Group.
1. Select a solid or surface body to indent in the graphics area for Target Body
.
2. Select one or more solid or surface bodies in the graphics area for Tool Body
Region .
3. Choose the side of the model to keep by selecting Keep Selections or Remove
Selections. These options invert the side of the target body to indent.
4. Select Cut to remove the intersection area of the Target Body , whether a
solid or a surface. In this case there is no Thickness, but Clearance is still
applied.

If the tool body is a surface, and you are cutting material, a manipulator
appears to control the cut direction. To invert the side of the material to cut,
click the manipulator in the graphics area or select Flip Cut Direction in the
PropertyManager.

Under Parameters:

1. Set the Thickness (solids only) to determine the thickness of the indent
feature.
2. Set the Clearance to determine the clearance between the target and tool
bodies. Click Reverse Direction if necessary.

8.1. Example of Flex Bending

Initial part

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➢ Move the pointer over the triad arrows to

display the drag/rotate pointer . Right-

click to rotate the triad, which changes the
direction of bend. Left-click to reposition the
triad.
➢ Move the pointer over the trim plane

manipulators to display the move pointer .

Drag the manipulators to position the trim
planes.
➢ Move the pointer over the edge of the trim

planes to display the bending pointer .

➢ Drag the trim planes to bend and modify the
flex feature.

➢ With the pointer over a trim plane, left-click

and drag a plane to perform bending as
shown.
➢ You can also set Angle and Radius
values to control the bend.
➢ The bending axis is always around the X-
axis of the triad origin. You can move and
rotate the triad origin to modify the bending.

➢ Reposition the triad to change the

direction of the bend around the triad's
X-axis.

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➢ Snapping the triad at one end of the part

or on one of the trim planes bends the
part around that location.
➢ To snap the trim planes to a specific
location, under a Trim Plane, click an
entity for Select a reference entity .
To snap the triad to a specific
coordinate system, select a coordinate
system under Triad. The trim plane or
triad are fixed in place for bending and
other flex operations.

➢ The region between the trim planes

determines the area affected by the
bend.

8.2. Example of Flex Twisting

Initial part

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➢ Position the trim planes and triad by dragging them or by

setting values in the PropertyManager.

➢ To set the amount of twist, move the pointer over a trim

plane edge to display the pointer, then drag the plane.

You can also set an Angle in the PropertyManager.

➢ Result of twist

8.3. Example of Flex Tapering

Initial part

➢ Preview of the part showing taper

➢ The taper zone is limited by the position of the trim

planes.

➢ Set the amount of taper by moving the trim planes

or triad. To adjust the taper, move the pointer over

a trim plane edge to display the pointer, then

drag the plane.

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➢ You can also set the Taper factor in the
PropertyManager.

➢ Result of taper

➢ Rotate and position the trim planes and triad

to change the axis of taper.

➢ Result of taper using the rotated axis

8.4. Example of Flex Stretching

Initial part

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➢ Stretching using the default trim
plane locations (extents of the
part)

➢ Stretching this way causes both

ends to stretch symmetrically.

➢ Repositioning the trim planes or

triad allows you to select local
regions of the model to stretch.

➢ To move the trim planes, move

the pointer over a trim plane to

display the pointer, then drag

the plane.

➢ You can also set the Stretch

distance in the
PropertyManager.

➢ Result of stretching of a local

region confined by the trim
planes.

9. Practice #1: Loft, fill pattern and dome (Submission required)

◼ File name format: Uno_P04a.sldprt.
◼ Objectives:

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Idea:

Execute loft
Construct Add sketchs on
command with
parallel planes the planes
the sketches.

Dome feature Fill pattern

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Construct //
plane Add sketches

Loft head

Loft Tail

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◼ The Loft feature is created with 4 profiles. Each profile is on a separate sketch.
We will now add the sketches one by one.

Don't draw all the

profiles on the
same sketch!!!
The four separate sketches are as follows, don’t draw them at this moment.
Start your practice from the coming sub-section.
i. A square of edge length 60mm centered at the origin.

ii. A circle of diameter 50mm at the origin, i.e. the center of the square.

iii. A circle whose circumference touch the corner of the square in (i).

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iv. A rectangle of edge length 150mm X 5mm centered at origin, i..e. the
center of the square.

9.1. Construct reference planes

a) Open a new part.

You have two methods to add a reference planes. You can add the reference
plane once at a time with method 1 and multiple reference with method 2.

Method 1: Using CTRL key of your keyboard

b) Click the Front plane on the feature tree.

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Hold down Ctrl and drag the Front plane in the direction you want the offset
to go and wait for PropertyManager appears. Release the CTRL key and
mouse button.

Enter 25mm for Distance and 2 instances are required. Then click OK (Green
tick).
Method 2: From the menu item:
Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane > Select Front plane

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Expand the feature tree. Select the Front Plane as the first reference.

Notice: To create a reference plane, the first reference can be a default plane
or a planar face of the model, …etc. More details will be given in next
tutorial.

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Enter 25mm for Distance and 2 instances are required. Then click OK (Green
tick).
c) Add two more offset planes similarly:
➢ Plane3 is offset 40mm from Plane2.

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➢ Plane4 is offset 200mm from Front plane in reverse (Flip offset) direction.

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9.2. Add 1st sketches on Front plane
a) To Create the First Profile, Add a sketch on the Front plane. Click the Front
Plane and then click the Sketch button on the floating menu.

b) Make the planes invisible for a clearer screen.

Menu item View > Hide/Show > Planes

c) Draw a center rectangle at the origin.

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d) Set length to 60mm with the “Smart dimension tools”

e) Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard. Select two adjacent line and set
them to equal length.

f) Confirm the sketch at the confirmation corner

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9.3. Add 2nd sketch

a) Add a sketch on Plane1. Click the Plane 1 and then click the Sketch button.

b) Turn to “Normal to” view.

c) Sketch a circle at the origin and dimension it with diameter 50mm. Confirm
your sketch at the confirmation corner.
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d) Confirm sketch.

9.4. Add 3rd sketch

a) Add a sketch on Plane2. Click the Plane 2 and then click the Sketch button.

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b) Sketch a circle whose circumference is coincident with the corners of the

square. Click the origin and then click the corner of the square. Click the
confirmation corner by the end.

9.5. Add 4th sketch

a) Turn the view to isometric view.

b) We are going to copy the profile of sketch 3 onto a new sketch on Plane 3.
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Click the Plane 3 and then click the Sketch button.

c) To save time, we will now use the Convert Entities tool to project a profile of
other sketch onto our current activated sketch.
Click the sketch 3.

d) Click the Convert Entities button on the sketch ribbon. It projects the selected
sketch onto the current activated sketch along normal direction.

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9.6. Add 5th sketch

a) Add a sketch on the Plane 4.
Click the Plane 4 and then click the Sketch button.

c) Turn to “Normal to” direction.

d) Draw a center rectangle at the origin with dimension 150mm X 5mm.

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e) Confirm your sketch at the confirmation corner.

9.7. Add 1st loft feature: Head

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a) The Loft feature blends the 4 profiles to create the handle of the chisel. Click
Loft button on the Features toolbar.

b) Select each profile. Click on each sketch in the same relative location – the
right side. Follow my sequence.

3
4

2
1

Examine the preview curve. The preview curve shows how the profiles will
be connected when the loft feature is created. The sketches are listed in the

Profiles box. The Up/Down arrows are used to rearrange the order of the
profiles.

Click OK .

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9.8. Add 2nd loft feature: Tail

◼ A Second Loft Feature Creates the Bit of the Chisel: The second Loft feature
is also composed of two profiles. The 1 one is ready, sketch 5.
a) To Create the Second Loft Feature, click Loft button on the Features ribbon.

Click highlighted face at somewhere close to the bottom left corner and then
left bottom corner points the profile one. Otherwise, the loft feature may be
twisted.

Click the OK button (green tick).

9.9. Create fill pattern

◼ Our objective is to create fill pattern of holes on the inclined face of the tail.

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a) Click the inclined face of the tail and then click the sketch button.

f) Turn to “Normal to” direction.

b) Draw a center line from the middle point of the side edge to the opposite side
edge as shown below.

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c) Then draw a center circle with 8mm at the middle point of the center line.

d) Make a simple extrusion of height 10mm and draft 30deg.

Activate the angle entry by clicking the “Draft” button.

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e) Click the OK button.

f) Make sure that the newly created feature is highlighted on the feature tree. If
not click it.

g) Click the fill pattern button on the feature ribbon.

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h) Use the inclined face as the fill boundary. Try to preview different patterns
and different parameters. Use the following parameters by the end. The
number of items to be created may not be the same as the number “101”
shown below.

Click OK.

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9.10. Create dome feature

a) Click Insert > Features > Dome

b) Click the front face of the head and set the dome distance to 40mm.

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c) Click OK.

d) You can control the dome shape by using sketch points.

e) Delete the dome feature. Click the dome feature under the feature tree and
click the delete floating menu.

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f) Insert a reference plane. Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane.

g) Click the front face of the head as the first reference. Offset forward by 20mm.

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Click OK.

h) Add a new sketch on the newly created plane. Click the plane and then click
the “sketch” button on the floating menu.

i) Turn to “Normal to” direction.

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j) Draw points by free hand as shown below and confirm the sketch at the
confirmation corner.

k) Highlight the newly create sketch and the dome button. Click Insert >
Features > Dome

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l) Click the front face of the head as the Face to dome. Depends on the location
of the points, Solidworks may not be able to create this feature. In this case,
you can test different locations of the points to observe the limitations of
Solidworks on dealing with such feature.

Click OK button and we get.

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10. Practice #2: Flex, multiple bodies and indent (Submission not
required)
a) Use the resultant model of practice and continue.
b) Objective: Create flex feature, create multiple body in a part and deform the
second body with indent feature.

10.1. Flex
a) Click the flex item.

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Select the body to be deformed.

b) Set trim Plane 2 to 150mm away from the origin.

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c) Set degree to 45 deg. You may try other radius of the blending instead of
214.71 with your keyboard.

d) Click OK.

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10.2. Multibody
a) Add a sketch on Plane2. Click the Plane 2 and then click the Sketch button.

b) Turn to “Normal to” direction.

c) Sketch a center rectangle of 160X160 at the origin as shown below.

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d) Create extrude feature of 5mm thick. Unclick check box “Merge result”.

e) Click OK.
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f) Check whether we have two bodies or not, if not go back to previous

step to unclick the “Merge result” check box by editing the feature.

10.3. Indent
a) The indent feature can be used to work out the CAD model of
transparent cover of a packing. The depressed shapes come from the
shape of product.

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b) Suppose I want to create a packing plastic sheet for the object from
the rectangular body created in last section. The shape is like the
one showing below:

Instead of working out the complicated geometry again, we may sue

the indent feature to finish it in one step.
c) Click the indent feature menu item.

d) Select the target body. Set the thickness of indent portion to 0.5mm.

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e) Select the head as the tool body region. If you failure to preview the
result, it means that Solidworks cannot create the indent feature due
to computation problem of the dome shape. You may try to reduce
the parameter from 0.5mm to 0.1mm or even more. This parameter
control the space between the tool body and the indented feature.
You may check it out using the section view later. Depends on the
shape of the head, Solidworks may not be able to create the indent.
If it fail to do so, download the file “try_indent.sldprt” and create
the indent feature instead.

Or try the “try_indent.sldprt” file.

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f) Click OK.

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Or

g) Hide the Flex1 feature body and have a look to the deformation of
the plate.

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Or

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h) Use section view to examine the indent feature.

i) Use the right plane for cutting.

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Or

11. Optional exercise (Submission not required)

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11.1. Use loft feature to create the Lifter
All dimensions in
inch

Cast iron
Idea:

11.2. Use loft feature to create the funnel

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1mm wall
thickness

Idea:

11.3. Screwdriver

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All dimensions
in inch

Idea:

Revolve Extrude Loft Tip

Handle Shaft

Guidelines:
1) Use a revolved feature to create the handle as the first feature. Use inch as
the unit. Start the sketch on the Right plane.

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2) Create the shaft as the second feature. It is a simple extruded feature of a

circular profile.

All
dimensions

3) The overall length of the blade (shaft and tip together) is 7 inches. The tip is
2 inches long and will be created by loft feature.

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4) Create the sketch for the end of the tip first. This is a rectangle of 0.5” X
0.1” centered at the shaft axis.
5) The middle — or second profile — is sketched using a 0.10” offset outwards
from the sketch in step (4).
6) The third profile is the circular face on the end of the shaft. Use convert
entities tool to finish it.
7) When you want to blend a loft feature into an existing feature such as the
shaft, it is desirable to have the face blend smoothly. Look at the illustrations
at the bottom. In the right one, the tip was lofted with tangency matching to
the shaft. The left example was not.

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8) In the Start/End Constraints box of the PropertyManager, there are some
tangency options. End constraint applies to the last profile, which in this case,
is the face on the end of the shaft. (Note: If you picked the face of the shaft
as the first profile, you would use the Start constraint option.)
9) The option “Curvature To Face” will make the lofted feature tangent to the
sides of the shaft.

Design you own pattern to the handle similar to the following example.

11.4. Bottle

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All dimensions
in mm

Design a cork (separate body: unclick

the merge option during operation) for
the bottom and a brand name/logo on
the body of the bottom similar the
following figure.
Tips: Pay attention to the wall thickness,
it should be constant through the bottle.
Add fillet before shelling.

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12. Challenge (submission not required)
12.1. Wheel
Create the following wheel of radius 300mm and 100 width. Unspecified
dimensions can be defined by yourself.

The spokes are made from loft feature of three sketches.

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1st sketch:

2nd sketch:

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3rd sketch:

And finally have a cutout as shown below.

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12.2. Mount
All dimensions are in mm. Tips: Use loft feature, beware the vertices of
connection.

12.3. Arm
All dimensions are in mm. Tips: Use reference plane.

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13. Assignment (require submission)

Create the following model with Chrome Stainless Steel together with a
photorealistic figure.

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Use variable
fillet for the
whole edge!

Refer to next page for more information.

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Characteristics of nut wrench:

▪ Except the nut cut, the body of the wrench is symmetric which has four
variable size fillets running from end to end.
▪ Curved faces are connected tangentially. Make use of Start/End
Constraints setting for loft feature to ensure the tangential connection.

Tips:
▪ Use reference plane.
▪ Use loft feature with guided curve to create the model. Notice that you will
get failure message here. There are two possible solutions (you can develop
more solution yourself, say using two guide curve instead of one).
1) You may use the grey curve as the “Centerline Parameter” instead of
guide curves under the loft feature property.

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2) You may modify the guide curve such that it touches the boundary
of both section profiles line exactly.

Length
constrained by
two R100

Or

In both solutions, there are pros and cons. Try both and examine the
effect of different settings under loft feature. Make your own decision
on which solution used for your submission.
▪ Use variable size fillet. Refer to section 4 for more details. For the variable
size fillet, try different possibility, say apply it to multiple edge at once or
apply it to each edge separately. Check the outcome and make a good
decision. Ensure that the edges are connected tangentially. You may set the
end constrains of a loft feature to force the type of connectivity between
it and adjacent feature.

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The dimension unit for model is mm. Submit the Solidworks files together with
the image and practice in separate files and follow file name formats.
Uno_Wk04.sldprt
Uno_Wk04.jpg
where Uno is your university number.
Zero marks will be given if you don’t follow the above submission requirement
or you failure to submit the practice.
Deadline of submission: (25 Oct, 2023)

Marking criteria:
Notice: You don’t need to label the dimensions on the screen. They are used for
model construction only (used inside the sketches only)
Marking criteria:
a) Wrong dimension (-ve)
b) Wrong feature (-ve)
c) Under/over defined sketches (-ve)
d) Concise features structure (+ve)
e) Skill: Demonstrate the usage of loft feature and variable size fillet.
Readability (Reasonable sketch complexity) (+ve/-ve)

14. Appendix: Loft feature

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14.1. Profiles

Profile Determines the profiles used to create a loft. Select

sketch profiles, faces, or edges to connect. Lofts are
created based on the order of profile selection.

For each profile, select the point from which you want
the path of the loft to travel.

Move Up Adjusts the order of the profiles. Select a Profile and

and Move adjust the profile order.
Down
If the loft preview shows an undesirable loft, re-select or
reorder the sketches to connect different points on the
profiles.

14.2. Start/End Constraints

Start Applies a constraint to control tangency to the start and

constraint end profiles. Select one of the following:
and End
Default (Available with three profiles minimum). Approximates
constraint a parabola scribed between the first and last profiles.
The tangency from this parabola drives the loft
surface, which results in a more predictable and
natural loft surface when matching conditions are not
specified.

None No tangency constraint (zero curvature) is applied.

Direction Applies a tangency constraint based on a selected

Vector entity used as a direction vector. Select a Direction

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Vector , then set the Draft angle and Start or End

Tangent Length.

Normal to Applies a tangency constraint normal to the start or

Profile end profile. Set the Draft angle and Start or End
Tangent Length.

Tangency (Available when attaching a loft to existing geometry).

to Face Makes the adjacent faces tangent at the selected start
or end profile.

Curvature (Available when attaching a loft to existing geometry).

to Face Applies a smooth, visually appealing curvature
continuous loft at the selected start or end profile.

Preview of loft with no start or end constraints applied

Loft with Curvature to Face applied

Next Face Toggles the loft between available faces.

(Available
with
Tangency to
Face or
Curvature to
Face selected
for Start or
End
constraint)
Direction Applies a tangency constraint based on a selected entity
Vector used as a direction vector. The loft is tangent to the
(Available selected linear edge or axis, or to the normal of a selected

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with face or plane. You can also select a pair of vertices to set
Direction the direction vector.
Vector
selected for
Start or End
constraint)

Draft angle Applies a draft angle to the start or end profile. If

(Available necessary, click Reverse Direction . You also apply a
with draft angle along guide curves.
Direction
Vector or
Normal to
Profile
selected for
Start or End
constraint)

Start and Controls the amount of influence on the loft. The effect of
End Tangent tangent length is limited up to the next section. If
Length (Not necessary, click Reverse Tangent Direction .
available
with None
selected for
Start or End
constraint)

Apply to all Displays one handle that controls all the constraints for the
entire profile. Clear this option to display multiple handles
that permit individual segment control. Drag the handles to
modify the tangent length.

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Apply to All cleared

Apply to All selected
Multiple handles per profile
One handle per profile controls control the weight of the
the constraints for that entire constraints at individual segments
profile. within each profile.

14.3. Guide Curves

Guide curves Controls the influence of guide curves on the loft.

influence
Example: Two profiles and one guide curve

Select one of the following:

To Extends the guide curve influence to the next
next guide curve only.
guide

To Extends the guide curve influence to the next

next sharp only. A sharp is a hard corner of the
sharp profile. Any two contiguous sketch entities that
do not have a common tangent or an equal
curvature relation with respect to each other
define a sharp.

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To Extends the guide curve influence only to the

next next edge.
edge

Global Extends the guide curve influence to the entire

loft.

Guide Curves Select guide curves to control the loft.

Move Up and Move Adjusts the order of the guide curves. Select a
Down Guide Curve and adjust the profile order.

Guide tangency Controls the tangency where the loft meets the
type guide curves. Select one of the following:

None No tangency constraint is applied.

Normal to Applies a tangency constraint normal to the

Profile plane of the guide curve. Set the Draft
angle.

Direction Applies a tangency constraint based on a

Vector selected entity used as a direction vector.
Select a Direction Vector , then set the
Draft angle.

Tangency (Available when a guide curve lies on the

to Face edge of existing geometry). Adds side
tangency between adjacent faces that lie

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along the path of a guide curve, creating a
smoother transition between adjacent faces.

For best results, the profiles should

also be tangent to the tangency faces
at the point where each profile meets
the guide curve. The ideal tolerance is
2 degrees or less. You can use profiles
with connection points up to 30
degrees off tangency before the loft
fails.
Direction Vector Applies a tangency constraint based on a selected
(Available with entity used as a direction vector. The loft is
Direction Vector tangent to the selected linear edge or axis, or to
selected for Guide the normal of a selected face or plane.
tangency type).

Draft angle Applies a draft angle to the loft along the guide
(Available with curve, whenever geometrically possible. If
Direction Vector or necessary, click Reverse Direction .
Normal to Profile
selected for Start
or End constraint).

14.4. Centerline Parameters

Centerline Guides the loft shape using a centerline. Select a sketch

in the graphics area.

Centerlines can co-exist with guide curves.

Number of Adds sections between the profile and around the

Sections centerline. Move the slider to adjust the number of
sections.

Show Displays the loft sections. Click the arrows to display the
Sections sections. You can also enter a section number and click

Show Sections to jump to that section.

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14.5. Sketch Tools

Use the SelectionManager to help select sketch entities.

Drag Enables drag mode. When editing the loft feature, you can
Sketch drag any 3D sketch segments, points, or planes from the 3D
sketch from which contours have been defined for the loft.
The 3D sketch updates as you drag. You can also edit the 3D
sketch to dimension the contours using dimensioning tools.
The loft preview updates when the drag ends or when you
edit the 3D sketch dimensions. To exit drag mode, click Drag
Sketch again or another selection list in the

Undo Undoes the previous sketch drag and returns the preview to
sketch its previous state. You can undo multiple drags and
drag dimension edits.

14.6. Thin Feature

Select to create a thin feature loft.

Thin Sets the type of thin feature loft. Select one of the following:
feature
One- Creates the thin feature in one direction from the profiles using
type Direction the Thickness value. If necessary, click Reverse Direction
.

Mid-Plane Creates the thin feature in both directions from the profiles,
applying the same Thickness value in both directions.

Two- Creates the thin feature in both directions from the profiles. Set
Direction individual values for Thickness and Thickness .

14.7. Options

Merge Causes the corresponding surfaces in the resulting loft to be

tangent tangent if the corresponding lofting segments are tangent.
faces Faces that can be represented as a plane, cylinder, or cone are

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maintained. Other adjacent faces are merged, and the sections
are approximated. Sketch arcs may be converted to splines.

Sketch profile with preview

Loft without using Merge

tangent faces option

Loft using Merge tangent

faces option

Close Creates a closed body along the loft direction. This connects the
loft last sketch and the first sketch automatically.

Loft with Close loft cleared

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Loft with Close loft selected

Show Displays shaded previews of the loft. Clear this option to view
preview the path and the guide curves only. You can also right-click and
toggle between Transparent Preview and Opaque Preview on
the shortcut menu.

Transparent Preview

Opaque Preview

Merge Merges all the loft elements. Clear this option to not merge all
result the loft elements.

14.8. Curvature Display

Mesh preview Applies a preview mesh on the selected faces to better

visualize the surfaces.

Mesh density Available when you select Mesh preview.

Adjusts the number of lines of the mesh.

Zebra stripes Displays zebra stripes, to make it easier to see surface

wrinkles or defects.

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Curvature Activates the display of curvature combs.
combs Select at least one of these options:

Direction 1 Toggle the display of curvature combs along

Direction 1.

Direction 2 Toggle the display of curvature combs along

Direction 2.

For either direction, select Edit Color to modify the comb color.

Scale Available when you select Curvature combs.

Adjusts the size of the curvature combs.

Density Available when you select Curvature combs.

Adjusts the number of lines of the curvature combs display.

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