Solidworks 2006-2007

The simplest way for a beginner is to make a SEPARATE solid that is the size of the desired cut (not the key, but the cut) and then subtract it from the shaft.

Create a new plane equal to the depth of your keyway.(ctrl click and drag from an existing plane). Then double click the new plane now enter the dimention.

draw the keyway on the new plane and cut/extrude upwards.

That, of course, works to make a space that will hold a key. I try, whenever possible, to make keyways as though I had used a keyway cutter; that is, after all, what is normally done in a real shop.

in the end view of the shaft sketch a rectangle the width of the keyway and high enough to clear the shaft. Specify the distance from the center of the shaft and constrain the rectangle to the centerline of the shaft. Now complete the extruded cut, either "through all" or to the necessary depth.

what type of key?

1.Insert a reference plane where you want the keyway to start

2. Draw the sketch of the keyway you want.

3. Cut-extrude to the length you need.

If your key is more complex, i am sure you can manage...

Am i missing something in your question? This looks too simple. Btw, mine is SW2005.

How can you make this on a milling machine?

Wouldn't it be better to create a plane ofset from the axis and then draw the keyway with radii at each end

There are many ways to 'skin a cat' (apologies to Del)

Nice, but how do you get the radius on both ends?

Simple.

"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.

If you teach him to fish, you feed him for life"

An old saying you may understand and appreciate perhaps ?

Thank you.

You are going in again aud use the bottom surface of the key to draw a sketch with 2 semicircles at both ends and make an extruded cut to the outside.

In this case I find it better using the method of generating a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft at the distance of the bottom surface and make only one the sketch of the finishes shape of the key way.

Likely it is a matter of preference. Both come equally to the same result.

Another question, how does one generate a shere is SW? Thanks for your reply.

youtube training videos

As chrisg288 says, there are many training videos on YouTube. There are also many exercises in the SW tutorials. However, i dare say that the Sphere (if that is what you meant) is not among them. i do this by revolving a semicircle about its diameter.

I can't see why SW doesn't include some 3d primitives on a separate toolbar. Conversely, you can make your own, by recording macros and assigning to a user toolbar. That way, making spheres or extruded hex shapes would be just a matter of adjusting a couple of primary dimensions.

Chris

You are right, that would be the correct way. Knowing SolidWorks, i am sure there are elegant ways to do all these things. i must now confess that my real use of SW is to create concept designs, which i simulate dynamically on Visual Nastran 4D. So, i am really a layman in CAD. The concepts are fleshed out by the expert CAD designers at my clients' places, and then i rerun the simulations on the final model.

So, i really shouldn't have been telling the OP how to do these things ... sort of the blind leading the semi-blind...

knowledge is knowledge, no matter its source.

Just because you are a light user does not invalidate what you know, and to someone who needs it, and the timing is right, your knowledge becomes gold. that is the nature of value.

It is always a good idea to be humble about what one knows, and those in need will take the best of it anyway, and those who are not, won't anyway.

don't stop. nobody knows everything, we all learn, every day, or we are dead.

all else is semantics.

cheers,

Chris

Thanks, you made my day

i create concept models any whichway, and probably not quite the correct conventional way. Since i trust the CAD experts at my clients' places to do it the right way, it all goes well. The simulation tells them how things move, what are the forces, velocities and accelerations, they get a pretty good idea of how the product should work, so they have an advantage when they get into the nitty gritty of component design, tolerancing etc.

Still, i think i should have used a standard disclaimer that i am a lay CAD user....

I grew up at the bottom of the food chain, with 4 older brothers and an overbearing father, and felt that my contribution was of no value. People can still push that button with me, and set me off.

I don't always give off the right messages to people, and some others seem to ooze humility from their pores, while still giving good information.

Somehow, i think there must be a good personality algorithm that permits people to speak, and learn, and give value, without being berated for contributing. Other people need to know when to speak less, as they are diluting the value for others..

somewhere there must be a happy medium. I think it is more about a personality of humility, and the disclaimer is non-verbal...mostly.

thank you too.

Chris

Thank you kvsridhar for your answer. Yours is an answer.

What Chris says was totally unusable and worthless. Sorry Chris. Don't you think I know these sites too and have googled for it? If your link would have provided an answer then it would be worthwhile, but this crap? you might as well not answer at all.

One thing I abhor is the superior attitude some "regulars" have at CR4. Here comes a guest, I give him something worthless just to show him how inferior he is. That is how I feel about such 'answers'. I do not intend to be ruthless, but things like this keep me from joining.

I should have answered to the message of Chris, but I started here as I do appreciate you answer kvsridhar. If I could vote it would be a GA.

Thanks chrisg288. Very nice.

i get some mail from Solidworks regularly. Quite interesting and useful, most of them. One example here...

http://mkt.solidworks.com/emarketing_enu/start.swe?SWECmd=GotoView&SWEView=eMarketing+HTML+Smart+Script+Player+View&SWERF=1

If you make a hole on the end of the key with the milling machine and a bit then you can mill the key getting radius on both ends.