CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Modelling Solids
Prerequisite Knowledge To complete this exercise you will need to be familiar with the following
key commands;
 Sketch (Line, Rectangle, Smart Dimension, Text)
 Extruded Boss/Base
 Revolve
Focus of the Lesson
On completion of this exercise you will have:
Modelled Right Prisms, Cylinders, Pyramids and Cones
Inserted an Offset planes
Modelled Oblique Prisms, Cylinders, Pyramids and Cones using Loft
Edited Colour
Commands Used
RD5 DCG
Sketch (Line, Rectangle, Circle, Add Relation, Smart Dimension),
Offset Plane, Extrude Boss/Base, Revolve, Loft
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Create New
Folder
Create a new folder called ‘Solids’ in your chosen locations.
Creating Solids using
Extrude Boss/Base
Prisms and cylinders can be created by extruding their profile sketch.
Creating a Prism
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as on the standard toolbar. Save
the part as ‘Prism’ in your folder called
‘Solids’
To create a hexagonal based prism, for
example, a hexagon (Polygon) needs to be
sketched on a selected plane.
Sketch a hexagon on the Top Plane.
Add relation and dimensions as indicated.
Confirm the sketch.
Select Extrude Boss/Base from the Features
Manager.
Extrude the sketch a distance of 85mm and
confirm.
Rename the feature as ‘Hexagonal Prism’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color
and Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
All types of right prisms can be created in this manner.
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Creating a Cylinder
A right cylinder can be created in the same way as a prism.
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as on
the standard toolbar. Save the part as
‘Cylinder - extrude’ in your folder called
‘Solids’
Sketch a circle on the Top Plane with the
centre at the Origin.
Add dimension as indicated. Confirm the
sketch.
Select Extrude Boss/Base from the Features
Manager.
Extrude the sketch a distance of 80mm and confirm.
Rename the feature as ‘Cylinder’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color and
Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
Creating Solids using
Revolved Boss/Base
Creating a Cone
Cones, spheres and cylinders can be created by
revolving their profile about an axis.
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as on the
standard toolbar. Save the part as ‘Cone - revolve’ in
your folder called ‘Solids’
Sketch a right angled triangle on the Front Plane with
the right angle at the Origin.
Add dimensions as indicated. Confirm
sketch.
Select Revolve Boss/Base from the
Features Manager.
Select the vertical line as the axis. The
profile revolves 360° as the default.
Confirm to create the feature.
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Rename the feature as ‘Cone’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color
and Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
Creating a Sphere
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as on the
standard toolbar. Save the part as ‘Sphere’ in your folder
called ‘Solids’
Sketch a semicircle on the Front Plane using the Line
sketch command. Ensure that one end of the diameter os
on the Origin.
Add dimension as indicated. Confirm sketch.
Select Revolve Boss/Base from the Features Manager.
Select the diameter as the axis. The profile revolves 360° as the default.
Confirm to create the feature.
Rename the feature as ‘Sphere’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color
and Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Creating a Cone
A cylinder can be created using a revolve as well as an
extrude.
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as on the
standard toolbar. Save the part as ‘Cylinder - revolve’ in
your folder called ‘Solids’
Sketch a rectangle on the Front Plane with one vertex
at the centre at the Origin.
Add dimension as indicated. Confirm the sketch.
Select Revolve Boss/Base from the Features Manager.
Select the vertical line at the Origin as the axis. The
profile revolves 360° as the default.
Confirm to create the feature.
Rename the feature as ‘Cylinder’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color and
Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
Creating Solids using
Lofted Boss/Base
Creating a Pyramid
Lofted Boss/Base creates a feature by making transitions between
profiles. You create a loft using two or more profiles. Only the first, last,
or first and last profiles can be points.
All the basic solids can be created using the Loft feature, although it is
particularly useful for creating pyramids
Open a new part file. Select File, Save as
on the standard toolbar. Save the part as
‘Pyramid’ in your folder called ‘Solids’
To create a hexagonal based pyramid, for
example, a hexagon needs to be sketched
on a selected plane.
Sketch a hexagon on the Top Plane using
the Polygon command.
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Add relation and dimension as indicated. Confirm the sketch.
Creating an Offset Plane
The apex (Point) of the pyramid needs to be located in a second sketch
on another plane. In this example we could use the Front Plane to locate
the apex because the centre on the hexagon is at the Origin. However in
many cases we will need to create a new plane to sketch the apex.
Therefore the steps involved in creating an Offset Plane are described
below.
From the Standard Toolbar
select Insert / Reference
Geometry / Plane
We want to create a plane which is
offset 80mm from the Top Plane
(Horizontal Plane).
Select the Top Plane from the
Design Tree.
Enter a distance of 80mm for
the distance of the offset.
The direction can be reversed by
checking the box.
The default number of planes to be
inserted is 1. This can be increased
if required.
Confirm to create the plane. Rename the plane as ‘Offset plane’
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Select the ‘Offset plane’ to create the
second sketch.
View normal to this plane.
Sketch a Point coincident with he
Origin
Confirm the sketch.
Select
from the Features toolbar. Select the hexagonal base and
the point as the Profiles.
Confirm to create the feature.
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Rename the feature as ‘Pyramid’.
Apply a colour to the feature from the ‘Color
and Optics’ property manager.
Save the part.
Creating other solids
With Lofted Boss/Base
RD5 DCG
The following examples were created with Lofted Boss/Base
Fustrum of a cone (also created
with Revolved Boss/Base)
Truncated pyramid
Oblique pyramid
Oblique cone
Design & Communication Graphics
CAD as a Teaching & Learning Tool Modelling Solids
Oblique prisms
RD5 DCG
Design & Communication Graphics
All right solids
including cones