Design, Assemble, and Create Drawings for a Basic Box and Lid

Designing in SolidWorks opens up a world of possibilities for creating detailed models, assemblies, and technical drawings. In this blog, we will explore how to tackle an assignment focused on creating a simple box with a lid, assembling the two components, and generating a drawing. This practical task will help you get hands-on experience with essential SolidWorks tools and techniques.

By mastering these fundamental skills, you'll able to complete your assembly assignment with precision and confidence. As you progress through the steps, you’ll discover the importance of understanding tool accessibility and proper techniques for creating parts and assemblies in SolidWorks. These concepts form the foundation for more advanced designs, enabling you to approach increasingly complex projects.

If you're ever stuck or need guidance, don't hesitate to seek SolidWorks assignment help. Assistance from experienced professionals can provide valuable insights, making it easier to overcome challenges and achieve the results you want in your assignments.

Getting Ready for the Lesson

Before diving into the SolidWorks interface, it’s crucial to understand how to access the various tools required for modeling, assembling, and creating drawings. SolidWorks provides three main ways to access tools:

• Menus: Drop-down menus contain all the commands and features, allowing you to search and select tools that might not be on the toolbars.
• Toolbars: Quick-access buttons for frequently used tools, located at the top and sides of the screen.
• CommandManager: A dynamic panel that changes based on your current task, such as Sketching, Features, or Assemblies.

Each tool in SolidWorks is context-sensitive, which means it becomes available only when relevant to the current task. If a tool is not visible, ensure that the appropriate toolbar is active by right-clicking on the toolbar area and selecting the necessary options.

Now, let's move on to the actual modeling steps, starting with creating the box.

Creating a Box in SolidWorks

A box is one of the simplest objects you can design in SolidWorks, but it’s also a great starting point for learning essential modeling techniques. Here’s how to create a box from scratch:

1. Starting a New Part File

• Open SolidWorks and click on New Part.
• Set the units for your project (e.g., millimeters, inches) by selecting the appropriate unit system at the bottom right of the screen.

2. Sketching the Base of the Box

• Start a sketch on the Top Plane by selecting the plane and clicking Sketch in the CommandManager.
• Use the Rectangle tool to create a rectangle representing the base of your box. For this example, you might draw a 100mm by 100mm square.
• Constrain the rectangle using dimensions. Add a horizontal and vertical dimension to lock in the size of your box’s base.

3. Extruding the Sketch

• Exit the sketch mode and select Extruded Boss/Base from the Features tab.
• Extrude the rectangle to the desired height. For example, you could extrude the box to a height of 50mm.
• Click OK to complete the extrusion, and you now have a solid 3D box shape.

4. Hollowing Out the Box

• Use the Shell tool to hollow out the interior of the box, leaving walls of a specific thickness. Select the top face of the box and apply the shell feature, setting the wall thickness to your desired value, such as 5mm.

5. Adding Fillets and Chamfers

• To enhance the appearance and functionality of your box, you can round off edges using the Fillet tool or bevel edges with the Chamfer tool.
• For example, add a 2mm fillet to all the vertical edges of the box to give it a smoother look.

After completing these steps, you will have created a basic box model. Now, let’s move on to designing the lid.

Creating a Lid for the Box

A lid complements the box, and designing it will introduce you to additional SolidWorks tools and features. Follow these steps to create a lid that fits perfectly on top of the box:

1. Starting a New Part File

• As with the box, begin by creating a new part file for the lid.
• Ensure that the units are consistent with the box part file to avoid any scale mismatches.

2. Sketching the Lid

• Start a sketch on the Top Plane and use the Rectangle tool to draw a square that matches the top face of the box.
• Ensure the dimensions of the lid’s base match the dimensions of the box’s top face (e.g., 100mm by 100mm).

3. Extruding the Lid

• Use the Extruded Boss/Base feature to give the lid a thickness. A lid typically doesn’t need to be as tall as the box, so you might extrude it to a height of 10mm.
• Once extruded, you have a solid lid.

4. Detailing the Lid

• You can further refine the lid by adding features like Fillets to soften the edges or Cut-Extrudes to create grooves for easier handling.
• For example, use the Fillet tool to round off the corners of the lid, giving it a smooth finish.

Once you’ve completed the lid, you can move on to assembling the box and lid together.

Putting the Box and Lid Together in an Assembly

Assemblies in SolidWorks allow you to combine multiple parts into a single model. For this assignment, you will create an assembly consisting of the box and lid. Here’s how:

1. Creating a New Assembly

• Start a new assembly file by selecting New Assembly from the home screen.
• Insert the box and lid parts into the assembly by selecting them from the file explorer and positioning them in the assembly workspace.

2. Mating the Parts

• The Mate tool is essential for assembling parts in SolidWorks. Use it to align and connect the box and lid.
• Start by mating the bottom face of the lid to the top face of the box using a Coincident Mate.
• You can add a Concentric Mate to the edges of the lid and box to ensure proper alignment. This will prevent any horizontal movement between the two components.

3. Checking the Assembly

• Rotate and move the lid in the assembly to ensure it fits properly on the box. The mates should restrict unnecessary movement, simulating a real-world fit between the two components.
• If needed, adjust the mates to fine-tune the positioning of the parts.

Now that the assembly is complete, the next step is to create a detailed drawing of the box and lid.

Creating a Drawing in SolidWorks

Creating a drawing from your SolidWorks model is a critical step in documenting the design. A well-detailed drawing allows others to replicate your design or use it for manufacturing. Here’s how to create a drawing from your box and lid assembly:

1. Starting a New Drawing

• From the assembly file, select Make Drawing from Assembly under the File menu.
• Choose a template and sheet size that fits your project requirements. For this example, an A4 sheet in landscape orientation would work well.

2. Inserting Views

• Start by inserting multiple views of the box and lid assembly. Use the Standard 3 Views option to automatically insert the front, top, and right views.
• You can also add an Isometric View to provide a 3D perspective of the assembly. This view helps to visualize the overall structure.

3. Adding Dimensions

• Use the Smart Dimension tool to add necessary dimensions to the drawing. Begin by dimensioning the overall size of the box and lid in each view.
• Ensure that all critical dimensions, such as the wall thickness and lid height, are included so the design can be accurately replicated.

4. Adding Annotations

• Annotations are used to add notes and symbols to your drawing. For example, you might want to add a note indicating the material or manufacturing instructions.
• Use the Center Mark tool to mark the center of any circular features in your design.
• If your box and lid design include any custom features like grooves or handles, be sure to annotate them clearly.

5. Bill of Materials (Optional)

• For more complex assemblies, you can insert a Bill of Materials (BOM) to list all the components. While this might not be necessary for a simple box and lid assembly, it’s a useful skill to learn for future assignments.

By following these steps, you can create a fully detailed drawing of your assembly that includes all the necessary information for manufacturing or review.

Conclusion

SolidWorks assignments involving the creation of a box, lid, and assembly are excellent for building foundational skills in CAD modeling. Through this process, you become familiar with core SolidWorks tools like sketching, extruding, shelling, and mating, as well as creating detailed drawings. This hands-on experience is invaluable for students, engineers, and designers working with 3D modeling software.

Remember, mastering these basic tasks will make it easier to tackle more complex projects in the future. As you continue practicing, you’ll develop a more intuitive understanding of SolidWorks and its vast array of features.

If you are struggling with your assignments, consider seeking help from SolidWorks experts who can guide you through specific challenges and enhance your understanding of the software.