Welcome to my homework F2, where I was assigned to recreate an object of my choice using a CAD software.

Entering this class with no prior experience in CAD was a significant learning curve for me, and I spent a lot of time just figuring out how to navigate the application. I utilized SolidWorks 2024 for my three-dimensional car design as I had the most familiarity with this application since we utilized this software in class. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was understanding how to work with various planes and navigating the 3D space. The icons and features were overwhelming at first, but I found that watching YouTube tutorials, particularly those that provided step-by-step guidance with templates, was extremely helpful.

Another challenge I encountered was learning how to move components within the software. It took me some time to figure out that moving an entity is different from moving apart, and certain actions only apply to specific types of components. For example, I learned that using the “sweep” feature allowed me to create a 3D surface or solid by moving a profile along a path. This was especially useful when I was trying to model the car’s rounded back bumper, although combining this feature with others presented its own difficulties. In the end, I realized that starting with a 2D image helped me visualize and simplify the process. This visual reference made it feel more like freehand drawing, which significantly improved my ability to sketch the model accurately.

Additionally, gaining comfort with the extrusion feature and understanding how dimensions translate into 3D was a gradual process. At first, navigating rotations using just my mouse pad was tough, but with practice, I became more familiar with controlling and manipulating the model. One of the trickier parts was trying to mirror and duplicate components. I discovered that SolidWorks won’t let you copy and paste a sketch unless it’s been extruded into a part, and not all entities can be mirrored. For example, when I attempted to mirror the car’s side panels, I initially selected the sketch itself, which didn’t work until I extruded it.

Overall, I would say I was successful able to obtain a model that appears to be a car. I even added some sparkly paint to my design by using the solid works visualizing software. Although I faced some challenges, but with more practice and learning, I’m confident I can continue to improve.