Shell feature for hollow parts in Solidworks - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

The Shell feature in SolidWorks helps you create hollow parts by removing material from the inside of a solid model. This is useful when you want to make parts lighter or create a cavity inside a solid object without redesigning the whole model.

When you need to reduce the weight of a solid part by hollowing it out.

When designing a plastic casing that requires a uniform wall thickness.

When creating a container or box with a hollow inside.

When you want to add a consistent thickness to walls of a solid model.

When you need to prepare a part for manufacturing processes like injection molding.

Steps

Step 1: Open your solid part model

- SolidWorks main window

The solid model appears on the screen ready for editing

Step 2: Click the Shell tool

- Features tab on the CommandManager

Shell PropertyManager opens on the left side of the screen

Step 3: Enter the desired wall thickness

- Thickness input box in the Shell PropertyManager

The preview updates showing the hollowed part with the specified wall thickness

💡 Choose a thickness that matches your design and manufacturing needs

Step 4: Select faces to remove

- Graphics area by clicking on the faces of the solid model

Selected faces highlight and will be removed to create openings in the hollow part

Step 5: Click OK

- Shell PropertyManager

The part updates to show the hollowed model with the specified wall thickness and openings

Before vs After

Before

A solid cube with dimensions 100mm x 100mm x 100mm

After

A hollow cube with 2mm thick walls and one face removed creating an open box

Settings Reference

Thickness

📍 Shell PropertyManager

Sets the uniform wall thickness of the hollowed part

Default: 1 mm

Faces to Remove

📍 Graphics area during Shell feature

Defines which faces will be removed to create openings in the hollow part

Default: None

Reverse Direction

📍 Shell PropertyManager

Changes the direction of shelling if the default does not hollow the part as expected

Default: Unchecked

Common Mistakes

Entering a wall thickness larger than the smallest dimension of the part

This causes the shell operation to fail because the walls cannot be thicker than the part itself

Choose a wall thickness smaller than the smallest dimension of the solid model

Not selecting any faces to remove when the design requires openings

The part will be hollow but completely enclosed, which may not be the intended design

Select the faces that need to be open to create the desired hollow shape

Summary

The Shell feature hollows out solid parts by removing material inside and leaving uniform walls.

You must specify wall thickness and optionally select faces to remove for openings.

Wall thickness must be smaller than the part dimensions to avoid errors.

Practice

1.

What is the main purpose of the Shell feature in SolidWorks?

easy

A. To hollow out a solid part by removing internal material

B. To add extra thickness to a solid part

C. To combine two solid parts into one

D. To create a new solid part from a sketch

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Shell feature function

   The Shell feature removes internal material from a solid part, leaving a hollow shell with specified wall thickness.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the Shell feature purpose

   Only To hollow out a solid part by removing internal material correctly describes hollowing out a solid part by removing inside material.

3. Final Answer:

   To hollow out a solid part by removing internal material -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Shell feature = hollow part creation [OK]

Hint: Shell feature hollows parts by removing inside material [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Shell with adding thickness
• Thinking Shell combines parts
• Assuming Shell creates new solids from sketches

2.

Which of the following is the correct way to specify wall thickness when using the Shell feature?

easy

A. Enter the thickness value in the Shell property manager before selecting faces to remove

B. Draw a sketch of the thickness and extrude it

C. Use the Fillet tool to set thickness

D. Apply a material color to indicate thickness

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how wall thickness is set in Shell feature

   Wall thickness is entered as a numeric value in the Shell property manager before removing faces.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Options B, C, and D do not relate to setting wall thickness in Shell feature.

3. Final Answer:

   Enter the thickness value in the Shell property manager before selecting faces to remove -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Wall thickness input = Enter the thickness value in the Shell property manager before selecting faces to remove [OK]

Hint: Set thickness in Shell property manager before removing faces [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to set thickness via sketches
• Using unrelated tools like Fillet
• Confusing color with thickness

3.

Given a solid cube of 100mm edge length, you apply a Shell feature with 5mm wall thickness and remove the top face. What is the height of the hollow part after shelling?

medium

A. 90 mm

B. 100 mm

C. 95 mm

D. 85 mm

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shelling effect on height

   Shell removes 5mm thickness from all internal faces except the removed top face, so height reduces by wall thickness at bottom only.

2. Step 2: Calculate hollow height

   Original height 100mm minus 5mm wall thickness at bottom = 95mm hollow height.

3. Final Answer:

   95 mm -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Height after shell = 100 - 5 = 95 mm [OK]

Hint: Subtract wall thickness only where faces remain [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Subtracting thickness twice
• Ignoring removed face effect
• Assuming hollow height equals original height

4.

You applied a Shell feature with 3mm thickness but the shell did not create a hollow part. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. The part is already hollow

B. You forgot to select faces to remove

C. The material color is not set

D. The wall thickness is larger than half the smallest part dimension

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify shell failure cause

   If wall thickness is too large (more than half the smallest dimension), shelling cannot hollow the part.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Not selecting faces or material color does not prevent shelling; part being hollow is unrelated to failure.

3. Final Answer:

   The wall thickness is larger than half the smallest part dimension -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Thickness > half dimension causes shell failure [OK]

Hint: Wall thickness must be less than half smallest dimension [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring size limits for thickness
• Assuming color affects shell
• Thinking shell needs face removal always

5.

You have a solid cylinder 50mm diameter and 100mm height. You want to create a hollow cylinder with 4mm wall thickness and an open top using the Shell feature. Which steps should you follow?

hard

A. Apply Shell with 4mm thickness without removing any face

B. Apply Shell with 4mm thickness, then select the top face to remove

C. Create a new sketch of a hollow cylinder and extrude it

D. Use Fillet tool to hollow the cylinder

Solution

1. Step 1: Set wall thickness in Shell feature

   Enter 4mm as wall thickness in the Shell property manager.

2. Step 2: Remove the top face to create an opening

   Select the top face of the cylinder to remove it, making the cylinder hollow with an open top.

3. Final Answer:

   Apply Shell with 4mm thickness, then select the top face to remove -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Shell + remove top face = hollow open cylinder [OK]

Hint: Remove faces to create openings after setting thickness [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not removing the top face for opening
• Using sketches instead of Shell
• Trying to hollow with Fillet tool