Designing a Windmill Tower from Photo Reference in SolidWorks
Throughout this SolidWorks tutorial we'll discuss how to utilize an in-context assembly design approach. Software required: SOLIDWORKS 2014 and higher.
What you'll learn
Throughout this SolidWorks tutorial we'll discuss how to utilize an in-context assembly design approach. This uses a sketch part on top of the feature manager tree to drive all of the parts and their associated features within the assembly. By the end of this SolidWorks training, you'll find it easy to create and manage generalized modeling relationships and modifications with fast updates and less opportunity for errors. Software required: SOLIDWORKS 2014 and higher.
Table of contents
- Introducing the Assembly, Background and Model Tours 10m
- Creating Geometry Intended for Sketch Block Profiles 10m
- Forming Our First Sketch Block for the Tower Leg Profile 11m
- Executing Our Second Sketch Block 8m
- Producing Our Third Sketch Block 12m
- Creating the Tower Leg with Sketch Blocks 12m
- Adding Details to the Tower Leg 10m
- Creating the Last of Three Configurations 10m
- Defining the Height and Width of the Tower 9m
- Completing Our Defining Sketch Part 6m
- Beginning to Assemble Our Windmill Tower 11m
- Inserting the Rest of Our Tower Legs 9m
- Discussing Our Sketch Geometry 6m
- Adding More Sketch Geometry for Support 12m
- Creating the Horizontal Supports 11m
- Installing Our Horizontal Supports 12m
- Putting Our Assemblies Together 12m
- Creating the Gusset Plate as an in-context Part 11m
- Inserting Fasteners from the SolidWorks Toolbox 12m
- Implanting Square Head Nuts and Bolts 12m
- Solving Potential Problems with Fasteners 7m
- Generating the Cross Support Parts 9m
- Measuring Our Assembly for the Cross Support Parts 11m
- Creating a New Cross Support Part 11m
- Finalizing the Cross Section Supports 9m
- Inserting the New Cross Supports into Our Assembly 11m
- Completing the Cross Support Insertion 9m
- Cleaning up Our Model 11m
- Applying Our Modeling Approach 11m
About the author
Chris Scarlett is a teacher and designer with 14 years of experience in Computer Aided Design program at various schools, a regional engineering firm, and for many of his own clients. He is extremely proficient in AutoCAD, Revit Architecture and SolidWorks. Many of his students describe their experiences in his project oriented classes as being efficient, effective and productive. A leader in his department at Central Washington University in "flipping" his teaching methods, he posts his classro... more