Rectangle and polygon tools in Solidworks - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Rectangle and polygon tools

Goal

Understand how to use rectangle and polygon tools in SolidWorks to create precise shapes for design projects.

Sample Data

Shape	Tool Used	Dimensions	Number of Sides	Area (mm²)
Rectangle A	Corner Rectangle	50 x 30	4	1500
Rectangle B	Center Rectangle	40 x 20	4	800
Polygon A	Polygon Tool	Radius 25	6	324.76
Polygon B	Polygon Tool	Radius 15	5	172.05
Polygon C	Polygon Tool	Radius 10	8	192.39

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total number of shapes created. Formula: =COUNT(Shape). Result: 5
• KPI Card: Average area of polygons. Formula: =AVERAGE(Area WHERE Tool Used = 'Polygon Tool'). Result: 229.73 mm²
• Bar Chart: Area by Shape. X-axis: Shape, Y-axis: Area (mm²). Shows area sizes for all shapes.
• Table: Detailed shape data showing Shape, Tool Used, Dimensions, Number of Sides, and Area.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
|      KPI: Total      |   KPI: Avg Polygon    |
|      Shapes = 5      |   Area = 229.73 mm²  |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Bar Chart: Area by Shape                      |
|  Rectangle A |■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 1500 |
|  Rectangle B |■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 800                  |
|  Polygon A   |■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 324.76                   |
|  Polygon B   |■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 172.05                         |
|  Polygon C   |■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 192.39                         |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                          Table: Shape Details                      |
| Shape      | Tool Used       | Dimensions | Sides | Area (mm²)    |
|------------|-----------------|------------|-------|--------------|
| Rectangle A| Corner Rectangle| 50 x 30    | 4     | 1500         |
| Rectangle B| Center Rectangle| 40 x 20    | 4     | 800          |
| Polygon A  | Polygon Tool    | Radius 25  | 6     | 324.76       |
| Polygon B  | Polygon Tool    | Radius 15  | 5     | 172.05       |
| Polygon C  | Polygon Tool    | Radius 10  | 8     | 192.39       |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Use a filter to select the tool type: Corner Rectangle, Center Rectangle, or Polygon Tool. When a tool type is selected, the bar chart and table update to show only shapes created with that tool. The KPI cards update to reflect counts and averages for the filtered shapes.

Self Check

If you add a filter to show only shapes created with the Polygon Tool, which components update and what changes occur?

• The KPI card for total shapes updates to 3.
• The KPI card for average polygon area updates to 229.73 mm².
• The bar chart shows only Polygon A, Polygon B, and Polygon C with their respective areas.
• The table shows only the three polygon shapes with their details.

Key Result

Dashboard showing shapes created with rectangle and polygon tools in SolidWorks, including counts, areas, and details.

Practice

1. Which tool in SolidWorks allows you to quickly create a four-sided shape by specifying two corner points?

easy

A. Circle tool

B. Corner Rectangle tool

C. Polygon tool

D. Center Rectangle tool

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand rectangle tools

   The Corner Rectangle tool creates a rectangle by defining two opposite corners.

2. Step 2: Compare with other tools

   The Center Rectangle tool starts from the center point, Polygon tool creates multi-sided shapes, Circle tool creates circles.

3. Final Answer:

   Corner Rectangle tool -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Two corner points define Corner Rectangle [OK]

Hint: Two points define Corner Rectangle, center point for Center Rectangle [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Center Rectangle with Corner Rectangle
• Thinking Polygon tool creates rectangles
• Selecting Circle tool for rectangles

2. Which of the following is the correct sequence to create a polygon in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Select Polygon tool, set number of sides, click center, drag to size

B. Select Polygon tool, drag to size, then set number of sides

C. Select Rectangle tool, set number of sides, click center

D. Select Polygon tool, click two corners, then set number of sides

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall polygon creation steps

   In SolidWorks, you first select the Polygon tool, then specify the number of sides before drawing.

2. Step 2: Understand drawing process

   After setting sides, you click the center point and drag outward to size the polygon.

3. Final Answer:

   Select Polygon tool, set number of sides, click center, drag to size -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Set sides before drawing polygon [OK]

Hint: Set polygon sides before drawing shape [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to set sides after drawing
• Using Rectangle tool for polygons
• Clicking corners instead of center for polygons

3. What will be the result if you use the Center Rectangle tool and drag from the center point to a corner point 50mm away horizontally and 30mm vertically?

medium

A. An error because vertical and horizontal distances differ

B. A rectangle 50mm wide and 30mm tall starting at the center point

C. A square with sides 50mm

D. A rectangle 100mm wide and 60mm tall centered at the start point

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Center Rectangle dimensions

   The Center Rectangle tool uses the center as midpoint, so dragging 50mm right and 30mm up means full width is 2*50=100mm and height is 2*30=60mm.

2. Step 2: Calculate final size

   Width = 100mm, Height = 60mm, rectangle centered at start point.

3. Final Answer:

   A rectangle 100mm wide and 60mm tall centered at the start point -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Center Rectangle doubles drag distances [OK]

Hint: Center Rectangle doubles drag distances for width and height [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming width and height equal drag distances
• Confusing rectangle center with corner
• Expecting error for unequal drag distances

4. You tried to create a polygon but the shape does not appear after clicking the center and dragging. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You did not set the number of sides before drawing

B. You used the Rectangle tool instead of Polygon tool

C. You clicked the corner instead of the center point

D. You dragged too far making the polygon too large

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify polygon drawing requirements

   Polygons require setting the number of sides before drawing; otherwise, no shape appears.

2. Step 2: Analyze other options

   Using Rectangle tool or clicking wrong points would create different shapes or errors, dragging far does not prevent drawing.

3. Final Answer:

   You did not set the number of sides before drawing -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Number of sides must be set first [OK]

Hint: Always set polygon sides before drawing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong tool for polygons
• Clicking corners instead of center
• Thinking drag distance causes no shape

5. You want to create a hexagon inscribed inside a circle of radius 40mm using the Polygon tool. Which steps will correctly produce this shape?

hard

A. Select Polygon tool, set sides to 8, click center, drag to 40mm radius

B. Select Polygon tool, set sides to 6, click center, drag to 80mm radius

C. Select Polygon tool, set sides to 6, click center, drag to 40mm radius

D. Select Rectangle tool, set sides to 6, click center, drag to 40mm radius

Solution

1. Step 1: Set polygon sides correctly

   A hexagon has 6 sides, so set sides to 6 in the Polygon tool.

2. Step 2: Draw polygon inscribed in circle

   Click the center point and drag to the circle radius (40mm) to inscribe the hexagon inside the circle.

3. Final Answer:

   Select Polygon tool, set sides to 6, click center, drag to 40mm radius -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Hexagon = 6 sides, drag to circle radius [OK]

Hint: Set sides to 6 and drag to circle radius for hexagon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting wrong number of sides
• Dragging to double radius
• Using Rectangle tool for polygons