Rectangle and polygon tools in Solidworks - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a product designer at a manufacturing company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to create precise 2D sketches of rectangles and polygons for a new product design using SolidWorks.

📊 Data: You have access to SolidWorks sketch environment with tools for drawing rectangles and polygons, and dimensions for the shapes needed.

🎯 Deliverable: A SolidWorks sketch file containing accurately dimensioned rectangles and polygons ready for 3D modeling.

Sample Data

Shape	Type	Width (mm)	Height (mm)	Number of Sides	Side Length (mm)
Base Plate	Rectangle	100	50
Mounting Hole	Polygon			6	10
Cover	Rectangle	120	80
Support Bracket	Polygon			5	15

1

Step 1: Open SolidWorks and create a new sketch on the Front Plane.

No formula needed; use menu: Insert > Sketch > Front Plane.

Expected Result

A new sketch environment opens on the Front Plane.

2

Step 2: Draw the Base Plate rectangle using the Rectangle tool.

Select Rectangle tool, click origin for first corner, drag and click for opposite corner. Set Width=100mm, Height=50mm using Smart Dimension tool.

Expected Result

A rectangle 100mm wide and 50mm tall is drawn starting at the origin.

3

Step 3: Draw the Cover rectangle using the Rectangle tool.

Select Rectangle tool, click a point offset from origin, drag and click for opposite corner. Set Width=120mm, Height=80mm using Smart Dimension tool.

Expected Result

A rectangle 120mm wide and 80mm tall is drawn at the specified location.

4

Step 4: Draw the Mounting Hole polygon using the Polygon tool.

Select Polygon tool, set number of sides to 6, click center point, drag to set radius so that side length equals 10mm.

Expected Result

A regular hexagon with side length 10mm is drawn at the chosen location.

5

Step 5: Draw the Support Bracket polygon using the Polygon tool.

Select Polygon tool, set number of sides to 5, click center point, drag to approximate size. Set Side Length=15mm using Smart Dimension tool.

Expected Result

A regular pentagon with side length 15mm is drawn at the chosen location.

6

Step 6: Use Smart Dimension tool to verify and adjust all dimensions for accuracy.

Click each edge or polygon side and set dimension to specified values from data.

Expected Result

All shapes have correct dimensions as per specifications.

7

Step 7: Save the sketch file with a descriptive name.

File > Save As > enter file name 'Product_Sketch_Rectangles_Polygons.sldprt'.

Expected Result

Sketch file saved and ready for 3D modeling.

Final Result

 ____________________________
|                            |
|  Base Plate 100x50 mm       |
|                            |
|   _______                  |
|  /       \  Hexagon 10mm   |
|  \_______/                 |
|                            |
|  _________                 |
| |         |  Cover 120x80  |
| |_________|                |
|                            |
|   _____                    |
|  /     \  Pentagon 15mm    |
|  \_____/                   |
|____________________________|

✓Rectangles and polygons are accurately drawn with correct dimensions.

✓Sketch is ready for further 3D modeling steps.

✓Using SolidWorks rectangle and polygon tools simplifies precise shape creation.

Bonus Challenge

Create an additional sketch with a rectangle and a polygon where the polygon is inscribed inside the rectangle.

Show Hint

Use the Polygon tool to draw the polygon centered inside the rectangle and use constraints to align centers.