Do you want to learn how to use surface modeling? Here’s our first step to get started. Surface modeling is an alternative to solid body modeling. Essentially, it’s just another tab at the top of the SOLIDWORKS User Interface. Surface modeling is an important tool to have in your box because it not only makes modeling easier, it sometimes makes modeling possible. In other words, there’s some geometry that is impossible to create without using surface features. In this week’s Video Tech Tip, we show you how to get started with surface modeling in SOLIDWORKS.

The SOLIDWORKS surface body creation process is very similar to its solid body creation. We’ll look at how to create simple extruded, revolved and planar surfaces. Surface bodies don’t have a thickness and thus can also be used as reference geometry. This technique comes in handy especially when creating complicated geometries.

Just like we normally would with a solid extrusion, we can create a sketch and click on Extruded Surface to extrude it. The Property Manager will look like the Extruded Boss feature with the notable difference of a cap end option. This option will create an additional surface that closes the open contour at the end of the extrusion.

Revolved surfaces are created the exact same way as solids. The planar surface is unique to surface features. This tool allows you to select bounding entities like edges or sketches and create a flat surface that makes up the open space.

There are always new things to learn about SOLIDWORKS. Sharpen your skills and learn new tricks with our different training courses.