Extrude, Planes, and Rotating Parts - Day 1 of 100 OnShape Journey

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to guide you through the basics of using OnShape, focusing on extruding, creating planes, and rotating parts. These skills are essential for anyone looking to enhance their engineering design capabilities using CAD software. Whether you’re a student or a self-taught individual, this step-by-step guide will help you get started on your OnShape journey.

Step 1: Create a New Document

• Open OnShape and log into your account.
• Click on the “Create” button in the upper left corner.
• Select “Document” from the dropdown menu.
• Name your document and click “OK” to start.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Workspace

• Familiarize yourself with the OnShape interface, including the toolbar, feature panel, and workspace.
• Adjust your view by using the view cube in the top right corner to orient your model.

Step 3: Creating a Sketch

• Click on the “Sketch” icon from the toolbar.
• Select a plane (Top, Front, or Right) to sketch on.
• Use the sketch tools (line, rectangle, circle) to create your desired shape.

Step 4: Dimensioning Your Sketch

• Use the dimension tool to add dimensions to your sketch elements.
• Click on the line or shape, then place the dimension to specify the size.
• Ensure all dimensions are fully constrained to maintain the shape.

Step 5: Extruding Your Sketch

• Once your sketch is complete, exit the sketch mode by clicking the checkmark.
• Select the “Extrude” tool from the toolbar.
• Click on your sketch and specify the extrusion distance (e.g., 10 mm).
• Choose whether to extrude as a new part or add to an existing one and click “OK”.

Step 6: Creating Additional Planes

• To add complexity to your design, create new planes.
• Click on the “Plane” tool in the toolbar.
• Select a reference (existing plane or face) and specify the offset distance or angle.
• Click “OK” to create the new plane.

Step 7: Rotating Parts

• Select the part you want to rotate.
• Click on the “Transform” tool, then choose “Rotate”.
• Specify the axis of rotation and the angle of rotation.
• Click “OK” to apply the transformation.

Practical Tips

• Ensure that your sketches are fully constrained to avoid unexpected results during extrusion.
• Regularly save your work to prevent data loss.
• Use the view cube to easily switch between different views for better perspective.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Forgetting to dimension your sketches can lead to scaling issues.
• Not checking the extrusion direction may result in unwanted geometry.
• Failing to use planes correctly can complicate your design process.

Conclusion

You have now learned the fundamental steps to create sketches, extrude them, create new planes, and rotate parts in OnShape. These skills are foundational for more advanced designs and projects. As you continue on your OnShape journey, practice these techniques and explore additional features to enhance your engineering capabilities. For further learning, consider watching the next videos in the series to expand your knowledge.