In this project, we were tasked with learning new SolidWorks tools and techniques by designing a themed chess set. The goals were to build proficiency with advanced modeling features and apply them creatively to a themed set of six unique 3D components, assembled into a final chessboard.
My partner and I chose Lucky Charms marshmallows as our theme, mapping each shape to a chess piece role. We matched the unicorn as queen, the clover as king, the rainbow as rook, the horseshoe as bishop, the shooting star as knight, and the heart as pawn. The marshmallow concept gave us a unique and creative constraint, since every piece needed to look soft and rounded while still being clearly distinguishable from one another. Grounding the design in a recognizable real-world object also helped guide our modeling decisions, since we had a clear target to work towards for each piece.
We spent much time working with the different SolidWorks tools to get our desired shape and texture for each of the components. The fillet tool was central to every piece, giving them the rounded, marshmallow-like shape we were going for. Beyond that, each component introduced its own unique challenge. I learned how to use the revolved boss base feature to construct the unicorn's horn, then used the sweep boss tool to wind a decorative spiral around it, referencing SolidWorks documentation to get it right. My partner applied the split line tool to isolate and individually color each arch of the rainbow. Our other pieces drew on the mirror entity for the horseshoe's symmetry and the loft tool to build the rainbow's multi-colored arches. Working through each piece as its own mini problem pushed us to think carefully about which tool was the right fit rather than defaulting to simple ones. The assembly of our completed board posed another challenge which was ensuring the pieces fit on their bases and that the bottom of the chess board fit our selected theme.
Figure 1. This figure features the isometric view of our completed chess board with both sides completed.
Figure 2. This figure features one side of the chessboard zoomed in to see the details more clearly.
Figure 3. This figure features a close-up view of the horn of the unicorn, one of the more difficult aspects of our design.
Figure 4. This figure features a close up of the rainbow piece of our skillbuilder.
Figure 5. This figure features a close-up view of the clover hat piece of our skillbuilder.
My engineering design process for this project was learning through trial and error. By starting with individual components and experimenting with different tools, I was able to quickly test approaches and figure out how to achieve the desired marshmallow look without worrying about perfection from the start. The unicorn component was our most complicated and gave me the most trouble. I spent a lot of time trying different configurations before realizing that combining the revolved boss base with the sweep tool was the simplest and most effective solution to make the unicorn's horn. Also, through trial and error, I was able to figure out the most effective way to connect all the components into a cohesive final assembly. When I moved into the full chessboard assembly, I ran into new challenges around consistency and alignment across pieces. This process involved a lot of iteration and taught me to be ready to adapt and problem-solve. Each obstacle taught me something about the capabilities of SolidWorks as an engineering software, eventually leading me to create a successful final product that I am proud of.