SolidWorks Tips and Tricks
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Combine Bodies

You can use the Combine Bodies command to combine multiple solid bodies into a singled-bodied part. In this example, you will create a snowboard. Using a top view and a side view, you will create two separate extrudes. The Combine option will then remove all the material except for where the two extrudes intersect in the middle to produce your final part. You can have a lot of fun with and get very creative.

First of all, open SolidWorks and start a new part document. Start a sketch on the Top Plane.

Using the Spline command, I sketched the main shape of my snowboard, as shown below. My sketch is roughly 500mm x 90mm. This is a great way to get familiar with the Spline command. Once you have your shape looking pretty good, exit the sketch.

Next, click on the Features tab in the CommandManager and pick Extruded Boss/Base, or pull down the "Insert" menu and pick Boss/Base - Extrude. Extrude your sketch a blind distance of about 90mm, as shown below. Click the OK button to create the extruded feature.

Then, start a sketch on the Right Plane. Using the Spline command, I sketched the side profile of my snowboard, as shown below. Once you have your side profile looking like mine, exit the sketch. Note that the exact shape is not crucial in this example. Just get it looking close to what I have.

Next, click on the Features tab in the CommandManager and pick Extruded Boss/Base, or pull down the "Insert" menu and pick Boss/Base - Extrude. Set Direction 1 to Mid Plane with a Depth of 120.00mm. Uncheck the Merge result check box. This is what will keep your two extrusions as separate solid bodies for the next command. Set Thin Feature to Mid-Plane with a Thickness of 5.00mm, as shown below.

Click the OK button to create the extruded feature.

Now for the fun stuff! Pull down the "Insert" menu and pick Features - Combine. In the Combine PropertyManager, under Operation Type, click Common. Under Bodies to Combine, pick the two solid bodies in the graphics area. You can click Show Preview to preview the feature. Click the OK button.

That's it! Below is my snowboard. I think I might add some decal graphics to make it official.

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