Assignment 1-Blueprint Reading Recap and Introduction to SolidWorks

Topics:

1. Blueprint Reading Recap/Refresher

2. Introduction to SolidWorks
3. Submission Rules
4. Assignment 1
a. Value: 1%
b. Assignment evaluated via an online quiz:
i. MCQ
ii. MC
iii. T/F
c. Duration: 60 minutes

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1. Blueprint Reading Recap
Remember that the drawings are bases on a “language” that is universal – it is valid around the world. Of course, there
are some “dialects” – or standards – that may vary a little bit, but a drawing should be interpreted in only one way.

There are a few things a drawing conveys:

1. Shape – represented by the views of the design.

2. Size – established by the dimensions.
3. Specifications – additional information regarding the material, surface finish, heat treatment, and any additional
information needed to manufacture the part.

Since this is not a Blueprint Reading course, we will address only the main ideas here (along with some additions about
SolidWorks topics).

• Projection Angle:
o North America: 3rd Angle
o The rest of the world: First Angle

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Note: It is very important to create the views according to the projection angle - otherwise you will build the

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mirrored part. While sometimes the mirrored models are identical, in most situations this is not valid.

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• Shape - Views:

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o Number of necessary views: as needed – no more, no less. Do not add unnecessary views, and do not
omit the needed ones.
o The Front View should present the most representative view of the design.
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o Projected views must be aligned and have the same scale:
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Front View Side View

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30256789

o The view orientation must be logical (think aesthetics and logical orientation).
 o The scale must allow the information to be read if the drawing is printed on paper (although the
electronic drawings have replaced the printed ones lately). If there is not enough room, change the
sheet size or add one more sheet (see the Sheet section below)
o Additional views must be added as needed – Auxiliary, Section, Detail, Break, Broken-out Section, and so
on.
o Detail views have always a larger scale than the parent – that’s their reason of existing, after all.
o Make sure the elements you dimension are represented in true view.
Note: In some situations, dimensions are placed in Isometric views, but this is not really used in technical
drawings.
o For Isometric (Trimetric, Dimetric) views – remove the hidden lines.
o SW (and not only): Fine tune the views by removing or changing the font for Tangent lines – more about
that in the next class sessions.
• Size-Dimensions:
o There are two systems in use: Metric, and English/Imperial. In North America (US and Canada), the
Imperial system is used (although technically Canada is Metric). However, when working for a company,
there may be projects that require a specific projection angle. Failure to create the views accordingly will

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lead to a mirrored part, which typically will NOT be what you need to build (think of somebody getting

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fired for such a mistake).
o In the Imperial system, very often the dimensions are driven by fractions, and then the values are

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rounded in a decimal format. Therefore, a dimension with the value .06 means 1/16”, which would have

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 the exact value of .0625. More examples to be given in the following exercises.

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o Add all the necessary (but no more than that) dimensions to fully define the model in manufacturing
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drawings.
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o When dimensioning, think of the relationship between the features, and the way the tolerances are
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going to stack up – very important from a functional point of view.

o Dimensions must not be duplicated on the drawing. To clarify: you cannot place the same dimension
twice in the same view, or in two different views, and dimensions that over define the design are not
permitted.
o If for clarity you need to add a dimension for the second time, or a dimension that would over define the
design, that must be marked as Reference.
o Avoid dimensioning from hidden lines. Instead, add the necessary views that clearly show the features
(projected, section, auxiliary) and dimension the features there.
o Pull dimensions outside of the model outline.
o Arrange the dimensions in a visually pleasant manner and make sure they can be read clearly. If the
dimensions are not readable, the drawing is not worth much.
 o If a dimension does not have a tolerance specified (assuming it is a regular dimension), then the note in
the Title Block specifying the default tolerances will be used:

Therefore, if a dimension does not have a specified tolerance (and it is not a basic, reference or Min/Max
dimension), the number of decimal places determines the tolerance. For example, a dimension of 1.75
will have a +/-.01 inches tolerance. Decide wisely what precision you need for your dimensions, since
tight tolerances increase the cost of the design.
o Typically, the assembly drawings do not have dimensions at all, or may have just a few only (overall

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dimensions, or some distances between important elements). Exception from this is when

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manufacturing operations are performed on the assembly (e.g., machining done on a weldment).
o For dimensions that need a specific tolerance, add the desired tolerance to them. This will “override”

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the default tolerance stated in the Title Block:

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o Make sure there is a gap between the extension line of the dimension and the attachment point, so
there is a separation between the model contour and the extension lines. This will ensure that the
model contour can be visualized clearly.
o For fillets and chamfers, if they have no dimension, use the size specified in the note in the Title Block.
o The dimensioning scheme (the way you dimension the model) is very important for the functionality of
your design. This can have a huge impact on the way the product can (or not) be assembled and
function properly.
• Specifications:
o Material must be assigned for part models. How would anybody be able to manufacture something if
the material is missing?
o Other notes and/or may be needed – for heat treatment, surface finish, and any other necessary
information.
• Sheet:
o Choose the proper size for the sheet. Typically, our exercises have been created to fit on an A-Size or B-
Size sheet, but in real life you will need to use a sheet size that is appropriate for the design. The main
 factor is the complexity of the design – not the overall size.
Note: When the world will move away from 2D drawings, the sheet size will become irrelevant.
o If one sheet is not enough to show all the views, do NOT create another drawing. Instead add one or
more sheets in the same drawing.
o In all CAD applications, sheets can be added, renamed, deleted, and the scale of the sheet can be
changed (this takes effect if the views follow the sheet scale).
• Drawings and models:
o In all 3D applications the model (3D) and the drawing are two separate files (exceptions apply – for
example an NX file can be a model, a drawing, or a model and drawing).
o Unlike in AutoCAD, a drawing needs to “look” at a model to create the views. Imagine this as the
drawing pointing cameras at the model and displaying the pictures. If the model “disappears” (deleted,
renamed, moved) then the cameras are pointing at nothing.
• Title Block:
o In virtually all the CAD applications, a few of the fields in the Title Block will be populated with
properties extracted from the drawing or model properties. Do NOT edit the sheet to type the text in
the Title Block.

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o The File Properties can be accessed either by selecting the File pull-down menu -> Properties or by

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clicking the File Properties icon (in the model, the list of properties will be different):

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o Make sure your initials and the date appear under the Drawn and Date fields in the Title Block (we will
cover this in our exercise by populating the Drawing File Properties as needed). Note the field is very
short, therefore the full name cannot be really used. The properties are named DrawnBy and
 DrawnDate:

o The material field will display the material file property defined at the part model level:

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The TITLE is populated from model and drawing properties.

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We will analyze a few drawings and see what is wrong with them. This brief review should help you create the proper
drawings that would convey complete and correct information about the design. Remember that for companies that are
still using drawings, usually this is the defining information of the design. Drawings that are incomplete, unclear or
contain conflicting information will be rejected.

Note: Over the past few years a transition to PMI (Product and Manufacturing Information) has started. The complete
manufacturing information is now defined directly in the model – including dimensions, GD&T, specifications, BOM, and
so on. Major companies do not use drawings anymore.
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Corrected drawing:
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2. Introduction to SolidWorks

Design Intent Definition (valid for all CAD applications – and not only)
Design intent is a concept which defines the way we create the model to control its behavior when we make
changes. A model that incorporates the design intent methodology will be “flexible” (easy to modify and
maintain) and it will convey the design concept to everybody using the model.
i. SolidWorks User interface

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ii. Mouse Gestures
In order to perform the design, you will need to be able to control your environment using a mouse or other
devices. When using a mouse, the image can be manipulated this way:

LMB RMB

RMB

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a. Zoom:

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Use the wheel, press, and hold simultaneously Shift + MMB, use Shift + Z (zoom in) or just Z for zoom

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out. Right click in an empty area of the graphics window, and select Zoom, or select Zoom from the
Modify submenu of the View toolbar and press and hold the MMB while moving the pointer up or
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b. Pan: Press and hold Ctrl + MMB or select Pan from the Modify submenu of the View toolbar.
c. Rotate: Press and hold MMB, right click in the graphics area and select Rotate, or select Rotate from the
Modify submenu of the View toolbar.
iii. SolidWorks Files and Their Relationships

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File Relationships
In SolidWorks (and all the other 3D CAD applications), files are related, and their relationship must be kept “alive” for the
information to be updated. Without a PDM (Product Data Management) or a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management)
system, the users must rely on file storage in the OS (Operating System), along with manual handling of permissions,
renaming and other operations. In a managed environment (PDM – Product Data Management, or PLM -Product
Lifecycle Management), the system ensures that data integrity is maintained (among many other things).
Important: When working in a Windows environment (we will do that in the first two weeks of the course),
the drawings will find the models based on their names and location (folder). If a model is renamed or moved
via the Windows Explorer (without “informing the drawing”), then the drawing will not be able to find the
model anymore. There are safe ways to rename the models when needed – we will discuss them during the
course. The drawings can be “informed” about the change by:

• Renaming the model while the drawing is open. This will give you the opportunity to “inform” the
drawing about the rename.
• When prompted, navigate, and find the renamed or moved model.

• Relationship: Drawing file – Model (Part or Assembly) file: Views

The drawing views are like a collection of cameras that look at a model - part or assembly, from various
angles. Therefore, the drawing must be able to find the model, otherwise the views will be empty. Since the
views are like “video feeds”, every time you change the model, the drawing views will update.

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Additional Resources
• College students also have access to LinkedIn Learning via the college account. This site has numerous very
good tutorials.
• Various manuals are available – some of them can be borrowed from the college library.
• Tutoring is also available (at no extra cost) from the college.

3. Submission Rules
As per the Course Outline, there are 18 assignments (1 online quiz and 17 other exercises) and three tests. The grading
will be done based on the following:

a. The creation of the model using efficient methods as required. Please note that typically there are many
ways to build a solid model, sometimes a few solutions are equally good, and other times some solutions
are good, some not. Inefficient models may look like the required outcome, but they are difficult to
maintain, and prone to errors. The model is usually worth 70-80% of the grade.
b. The completeness of the drawing – when applicable. This includes having all the required information

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(views, dimensions, annotations) on the drawing, and your initials and date filled out in the Title Block

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(via File Properties). Typically, the drawing is worth 20-30% of the grade. Drawings that do not open

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properly will not receive any portion of the grade.

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c. The presentation of the model and drawing: Before saving for submission, you will have to properly
display both the model(s) and the drawing(s). Use Zoom to Fit for the model or Zoom to Sheet/Fit for
the drawing. O
d. You will typically have a due date typically three days from the date of the lab, or from the second lab for
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subjects that are covered over two labs (or as stated by your professor) to submit the files (until 11:59
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PM.
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e. Failure to submit on time will result in a grade of zero (0) for that assignment – no extension will be
granted except for documented situations. Please take these assignments seriously, since while they are
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worth only 25% of the final grade, they prepare you for the tests.
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f. Do not “borrow” the materials from other students. In SW, each feature is “stamped” with the ID of the
user that created it – therefore the author can be verified:
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Note that this would fall under the Academic Honesty area, which typically leads to an unpleasant
meeting with the Department Chair.
g. Tests cannot be re-taken.
 4. Assignment 1
The knowledge gained in this lab will be evaluated via an on-line quiz:

To access the quiz, from eCentennial go to your course (MT 153-00x). From the Assignments tab select Quizzes:

Subsequent assignments

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Assignment 1 (quiz)

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Details:
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• Duration: 60 minutes
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• Open book
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There are 25 questions – Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers, and True/False.

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Once you start the quiz, it will end after 60 minutes (with a grace period of 5 minutes).