5. Making PCB holder (Pillars)

First we have to create a plane for the next sketch. You can use the previous plane, it’s better if you use another plane. For creating another plane, go to Reference Geometry in Features. Then select two lines or three points to define the plane and press the Tick button. Plane has been defined, you can start the sketch. I will give some tips to make your work easy.

1. Go to Sketch and draw center-lines.

2. Draw two circles which have the same center points. (Radius should be match for the radius of screws)

3. Use Smart Dimensions to place the center point of the circle with the help of center-lines.

4. Now you can mirror objects using centerlines. Press the Mirror Entitles button. Select objects that you want to mirror and select the line that behaves as the mirror. Left hand side panel will show the settings of mirror entitles.

5. Use Extruded Boss/ Base for making pillars. Set changes in the left handed side plane. I defined pillar height as 10mm. Then press the Tick button.

6. Creating holes

Holes are needed for passing the wire/ cables to out of the enclosure. (Power cables, input/ output cable)

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Follow these steps to create holes,

1. Select a plane and press the Sketch button.

2. Draw the shape of the hole that you want to cut.

3. Mark dimensions.

4. Press Extruded Cut in features. In settings give the cutting thickness.

5. Press the Tick button.

7. Now half of the design has been completed. We need a lid to close the enclosure and screws are needed for the connect box and lid. Therefore, we have to update the model to facilitate connecting the lid and box.

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Follow these steps for the procedure.

1. Select the plane which has opened and draw the following sketch.

2. Use Extruded Boss/ Base to extend 4 cylinders. (Press parallel arrow symbol in the left hand sided panel to shift direction to extend)

3. Considering the diameter of screws make cylindrical holes using previous techniques.

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4. Use Fillet options for making edges of the 3D model smooth. Add faces or edges in the Items to Fillet box. Fillet radius should be decided considering the structure and the dimensions of the 3D model.

5. Now we have to add threads for the holes. If you don’t have the Thread option in Features, go to Options -> Customize -> Commands -> Features -> Thread. Add it to the panel.

Click on the Thread button, then click on the edge of the cylindrical hole. You will view the property pane in the left hand side, change the settings as you need and change the thread mode as extrude thread. Now add threads for every hole.

8. Next part is designing Lid and screw nails. Making a screw nail is a simple procedure. Open a new document and build a cylinder. After that click the Thread button then click on the edge of the cylinder and change properties which you created the box, but select cut thread as the thread mode. Top and bottom side of the nail can be made by yourself as you have better knowledge about simple designing.

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Important: You also can import screw nails using a toolbox and there is another method for making standard holes. These special parts will be discussed in another session.

If you want to define the material go to the right hand side pane -> Appearance, Scene and Decals. Now you can select any proper material and add it.

9. Now design the lid in a new document using previous techniques and methods. I designed a lid that has 3mm thickness.

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.

10. Now we have come to the final step of the design, Assembling. Start a new document and select Assembling Option. Then select the Assemble option and click on Insert Component. You can browse and add components or you can directly add components which are already opened.

11. Now start to mate parts one by one. I will tell you how to mate screw nail and thread. First click mate and you will view properties pane in the left hand side. There are many types of mating methods. I use Concentric mate and Mechanical Mate(Screw) for mating screw nail and thread. You can select the edges like this.

For other mates it is possible to select faces, lines and axis, if it is valid for the mate type.

Now we have completely designed the enclosure.

By now you may have some idea about how to create a 3D model using SOLIDWORK software. This is the basic thing you should know to design a simple 3D module. In Another session I expect to do an advanced level 3D model design. Until then Stay Updated.