This article provides clear, step-by-step answers to frequently asked questions about calculating areas, volumes, and other properties in SolidWorks, DraftSight, and AutoCAD. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, these practical tips will help you optimize your workflow and achieve accurate results in your designs.
How to Find Area of a Sketch in SolidWorks?
To find the area of a sketch in SolidWorks, follow these steps:
- Click Tools > Inquiry > Get Area (or type
GetArea
in the command line). - Select the Entity option to evaluate regular geometric areas like circles, ellipses, arcs, or polyline contours.
- In the graphics area, select a drawing entity. The area and perimeter measurements will display.
How to Find Area and Volume in SolidWorks?
To find area and volume in SolidWorks:
- Open the FeatureManager Design Tree and select the desired body or component.
- Go to the Evaluate tab in the CommandManager and click Mass Properties.
- The Mass Properties dialog box will display the calculated area and volume for the selected body.
How to Find the Surface Area of a Shape?
The total surface area is the sum of all areas covering the outside of a 3D object. To calculate:
- Add the areas of the base, top, and lateral surfaces (sides).
- Use appropriate formulas for the object’s geometry.
- Measurements are in square units.
How to Find the Cross-Sectional Area in SolidWorks?
To find the cross-sectional area:
- Click Cross Section in the toolset.
- Drag the plane along the axis to the desired location.
- Release the Cross Section tool to display the area.
How to Find Area in DraftSight?
To measure area in DraftSight:
- Click Measure on the Tools toolbar or go to Tools > Evaluate > Measure.
- Select the planar surface or object to display the model’s projected surface area.
Can You Find the Volume of a Part in SolidWorks?
Yes, you can calculate the volume of a part:
- Navigate to the Evaluate tab in the CommandManager.
- Select Mass Properties.
- The dialog box will show the calculated volume of the part or body.
What Is the Surface Area of a Shape?
Surface area is the amount of space covering the outside of a 3D shape. It is measured in square units and varies depending on the geometry of the object.
How to Find the Surface Area of Different Shapes?
To find surface area for various shapes:
- Use appropriate formulas for the object’s geometry (e.g., spheres, cylinders, cubes).
- Add the areas of all surfaces of the object.
What Is Cross-Sectional Area?
Cross-sectional area is the area obtained when a plane cuts through an object perpendicular to its axis of symmetry. It is a two-dimensional projection of the object’s internal structure.
How to Find the Centroid of a Sketch in SolidWorks?
To find the centroid:
- Open the sketch in SolidWorks.
- Use Tools > Mass Properties.
- The centroid coordinates will be displayed in the Mass Properties dialog box.
What Is Projected Surface Area?
Projected surface area is the two-dimensional area of a 3D object projected onto a plane. It is commonly used in engineering applications like wind pressure and stress calculations.
How to Find Area Units in AutoCAD?
To find area units in AutoCAD:
- In the Properties ribbon, check the displayed area (e.g., sq/mm).
- To convert units, click the calculator icon next to the area value.
- Use the Units Conversion tool to change the measurement to the desired units (e.g., sq/m).
How to Show Area in AutoCAD?
To show area in AutoCAD:
- Type
Area:
followed by a space in the text area. - Right-click and choose Insert Field.
- In the Field dialog box, select Objects from the Field Category drop-down menu.
- Choose Object from Field Names and click the Select Objects button.
How to Find the Area of Multiple Objects in AutoCAD?
To calculate the area of multiple objects:
- Use the Measure > Area tool.
- Select all the objects whose combined area you want to calculate.
- AutoCAD will display the total area in the command line.
How to Calculate the Area of a Projection?
For circular projections, use the formula:
[ A = \pi r^2 ]
For example, if the diameter is 20 feet, the radius is 10 feet, and the projected area is approximately 314 square feet.
How to Find the Projected Area of a Cylinder?
To find the total projected area of a cylinder:
[ A = 2\pi r (r + h) ]
This includes the areas of the two circular bases and the curved surface.
What Is a Projected View in SolidWorks?
A projected view in SolidWorks is created by folding off an existing view in one of eight possible directions. The view orientation depends on whether First Angle or Third Angle projection is selected in the drawing sheet properties.
How to Find the Volume of a Part in SolidWorks 2021?
To calculate volume in SolidWorks 2021:
- Right-click in the graphics area and select Volume Select from the context toolbar.
- Go to Tools > Component Selection > Volume Select.
- The volume will be displayed in the Mass Properties dialog box.
How to Find Internal Volume?
To calculate internal volume:
- Multiply the height, width, and depth together.
- Ensure all dimensions are in the same unit.
- The result is in cubic units (e.g., cubic inches or cubic feet).
How Does SolidWorks Calculate Internal Volume?
To calculate internal volume in SolidWorks:
- Open the part.
- Use the Intersect tool from the Features toolbar.
- In the PropertyManager, select Create Internal Regions and click Intersect.
- The calculated internal volume will be displayed.