3D modeling is the process of developing mathematical representation of any surface of an object in three dimensions via specialized software. 3D modelling is used in many different fields. In video games, movies, engineering structure, commercial advertising etc.

In video games, movies, engineering structure, commercial advertising etc. Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Mud box, Cinema 4D, Modo, Solidwork and AutoCAD are popular 3D modelling software that are mostly used. Autodesk Maya and Autodesk Mud box are basically used in the film industry for making 3D characters and 3D environments.

For engineering purposes like making enclosures for electronic products, Solidwork and AutoCAD software are used. In this session I expect to give a basic idea about creating an Enclosure for electronic products using Solidwork 2018 software.

After opening the Solidwork you will see the interface of the application, then go to Files in the menu bar then select New. Now you can start a new 3D designing project.

There are three options that you can select called Part, Assembly, Drawing. In Part option you can design 3D models, in Assembly option you can assemble 3D parts that you have designed or you have and in the Drawing option you can draw an 2D engineering drawing of a 3D object. In this session, the Part option and Assembly option will be discussed. Now let’s see how to design a simple rectangular shaped enclosure.

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Important

Whenever you are going to create a 3D model you should have a free hand sketch of design and dimensions of the important parts. Wire connecting holes, PCB holders and the other connecting parts are really important parts in 3D modelling. Therefore, before starting the design designer should pay much attention to these parts.

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Select part option, then Save the document. First of all, you should be familiar with the Solidwork interface for the drawing.

1. Feature Manager Tree

This menu includes most of the details about the 3D design; sketches, planes, origins, mates etc. You may be not familiar with these words, but it’s okay those things will be discussed in the enclosure design. In the FeatureManager tree you can change settings by Right clicking and selecting the option that you want to change. Also you can remove things that you don’t need; for example, unwanted mates, sketches and planes.

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2. Motion study

Motion study option is used to create motions of the 3D objects such as gear wheels and sliding doors.

3. Default command Manager

Here many options are available. For our design we use only Features and Sketch options. Feature option is used after drawing the 2D sketch, to build 3D shapes, holes and build other things. Sketch is used for drawing 2D sketches.

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4. Main menu toolbar

Basically file saving, new file opening, existing file opening and other options are available in the menu. There is a shortcut menu bar toolbar for main options. You can activate it by clicking the pin, located in the right hand side of the main menu toolbar.

1. Welcome to SOLIDWORK – Opens the welcome dialog.

2. New – Creates a new document.

3. Open – Opens an existing document.

4. Save – Saves the active document.

5. Print – Display the print dialog box.

6. Undo – Reverse the last action.

7. Select – Select the sketch entities, edges, vertices, components and so on.

8. Rebuild – rebuild features that have changed.

9. File properties – shows the summary information of the active documents.

10. Options - Changes option for SOLIDWORK setting.

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5.Heads-up view toolbar

This toolbar consists of visual options such as 3D viewing, Zooming and etc.

1. Zoom to Fit - Zoom to all visible items.

2. Zoom to Area - Zoom to the area you select with the bounding box.

3. Previous View - Display the previous view.

4. Section View - Display cutaway of a part or assembly using one or more cross section planes.

5. Dynamic annotation Views - Toggle annotation dynamic view.

6. View orientation - Changes the current view orientation or number of viewpoints.

7. Display Style - Changes the display style for the active view.

8. Hide all types - Control visibility of all types.

9. Edit Appearance - Edit the appearance of the entities in the model.

10. Apply Scene - Apply specific scenes for your model.

11. View setting - Toggle various view settings such as RealView, shadows, Ambient Occlusion and perspective.

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6.Units

This panel is used to change the unit type.

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Now you may have rough idea about the interface of SOLIDWORK interface. Then let’s start to build 3D the object from where we stopped.

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1. Selecting a plane

You will view three major planes called Front plane, Top plane, Right plane. Click on the plane type which is included in the Feature Manager tree to draw a sketch. When you are pressing plane you will view four options. Select the first option which helps to draw the 2D sketch. Planes also have two faces, you can change face click on the plane type and select 4th option.

2. Drawing the sketch

Before drawing the sketch you should change the unit for the dimensions. I select MMGS (mm, g, s) unit type. Press the Sketch button in the Default Command Manager select any kind of shape that you want to draw. As I design rectangular shaped enclosures. I select rectangle (It also includes a few more options. I select the center rectangle) and draw it on the plane. For mark dimensions select Smart Dimension and click on the edges of the rectangle. Now you will view the Modify box, change the dimension and press Enter. If you want to change it again double click on it and change value. After finishing marking dimensions press the Tick symbol in Feature Manager tree for finishing the work. (Note: You will see Tick symbol in other places; for completing the task press it)

3.Creating a cuboid

Now click on the Feature button in the Default Command Manager. Then select Extruded Boss/Base for creating cuboid. In the left hand side panel, you can set the settings of the cuboid as you need. I changed the height of the box to 50mm. Now press the Tick to complete it.

For zooming in and zooming out the object use the mouse wheel and press the mouse wheel to rotate the object as you want.

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4. Making a hollow

For making a hollow press Shell.

Now you will view the left handed side panel change the value (thickness of the box is defined in here). I have taken it as 5mm. Select the face and press the Tick button.