Introduction
38 STEPS – Interlinked Star is a complex interesting geometry model in Solidworks.
This 3D model is designed based on a dodecahedron in which each face consists of a star and supports each other
Feature
Revolve / Split Line / Dome / Loft / Circular Pattern / Cut-extrude / Shell / Body-move/copy
Step 1 Top Plane
Draw a construction pentagon and a centerline
Step 2 In the same sketch
Draw another construction pentagon.
Add equal relation to the centerline and bigger pentagon
(Light blue line)
Step 3 Front Plane
Draw two construction line and
add coincident relation on the previous pentagon
Step 4 Insert a new plane (A)
Select the pink and purple construction line in the picture
Step 5 Plane(A)
Draw a pentagon and add coincident relation to the existing sketches
Step 6 Insert a new Axis(1)
Select the top plane and blue point
Step 7 Insert a new Axis(2)
Select the blue point and plane(A)
Step 8 Insert a new Point
From Axis(1) and Axis(2)
Step 9 Insert a new Point
Add the coincident relation
Step 10 Front Plane
Draw a R 70mm arc as shown picture
Step 11 Surface revolve
Select Axis(1)
Step 12 Top Plane
Draw a Φ40mm circle as shown in the picture.
Step 13 In the same sketch
Offset entities and assign an inward distance of 3mm
Step 14 In the same sketch
Draw two splines as shown in the picture
Step 15 In the same sketch
Circular pattern;Change the number of instance to 5
Step 16 Trim Surface
Remove the purple surface
Step 17 Insert a new plane(C)
Select three point as shown in the picture
Step 18 Insert a new plane(D)
Flip offset 5mm form plane(C)
Step 19 Plane(D)
Draw a sketch as shown in the picture
Step 20 In the same sketch
Assign offset value of 3mm
Step 21 In the same sketch
Draw two splines as shown in the picture
Step 22 Circular pattern
Change the number of instance to 3
Step 23 Planar surface
Fill the selcted sketch
Step 24 Move/Copy/Body
X axis – 0 deg, Y Axis -18 deg, Z Axis 0 deg
Step 25 Sketch on the planar surface
Draw a sketch as shown in the picture
Step 26 Trim Surface
keep the purple surface
Step 27 Circular pattern
Change the number of instance to 5
Step 28 Surface Loft
Start/end face with tangency Tangency to face 3
Step 29 Circular pattern
Direction-Axis 1, Rotation-360 deg
Change the number of instance to 5
Step 30 Knit Surface
Merge the selected surface
Step 31 Thicken
Assign a thickness of 3mm
Step 32 Fillet
Assign a Fillet radius of 2.4mm
Step 33 Shell
Select the blue surface and
assign a shell thickness of 1.3mm
Step 34 Fillet
Add a Fillet radius of 0.75mm
Step 35 Body-move/copy
Assign a rotation value of 120 deg
Step 36 Circular Pattern
Change the number of instances into 5
with equal spacing 360 deg
Step 37 Combine
Select all the bodies
Step 38 Body-move/copy
Select the centre point as rotation reference
X- 0 deg, Y – 0deg, Z – 180 deg
Step 39 Combine
Select all the bodies
Congratulations, you just finished this 3D modeling tutorial !