SolidWorks Tutorials on Demand

I saw this one on another forum recently. It is more of a riddle/puzzle than a CAD model, but it could still be fun and educational.

The goal is to make the model in the image with only three features in the feature tree (in SOLIDWORKS).

Let's see what people come up with.

If you are looking to learn, or re-learn SOLIDWORKS. The best starting point is the tutorials under the help menu.

Here is my model. No feature tree is shown since that gives away the method.

And here is my model. Three sketches are used, but there are four elements in the tree

I will try again, maybe find the right solution

Interesting, I really enjoyed it!

Is there more like that ??

It is a little tricky.

I built it with four features the first time. Then I had to think how to do it differently.

It wasn't hard to fix afterwards. Just some editing of the sketches.

It is looking good though.

I guess anything that shows up in the feature tree could be considered a feature. But in this case sketches don't count if they are absorbed by another feature.

Looks like you got it, good job.

Almost any part can be turned into a "who can make it in the fewest features" contest. They are fun if thought of as a puzzle/riddle, but they can also end up teaching some bad modeling practices.

What works well for the riddle can make the part much harder to work with later.

These Model Mania parts from SOLIDWORKS World are sort of similar. The goal is to model them as quickly as possible (i.e under 5 minutes). But they can just as easily be used to see how few features can be used when not being timed.

I'll start a new discussion over in the SOLIDWORKS Group for "Puzzle/Riddle Models". Maybe some other members will have additional ideas.

Yes!!! I also managed to do it. Three steps and one solid body.