How To Draw A Dodecahedron Step By Step

How to Model a Dodecahedron in SolidWorks?

A week agone I received an email from Jose Diaz with the question how to model a Dodecahedron in SolidWorks. I didn't even know what a Dodecahedron was…

Wikipedia says the following virtually it:

"In geometry , a dodecahedron is whatever polyhedron with twelve flat faces, just usually a regular dodecahedron is meant: a Platonic solid . It is equanimous of 12 regular pentagonal faces, with three meeting at each vertex, and is represented past the Schläfli symbol {five,3}. It has 20 vertices, xxx edges and 160 diagonals." – Wikipedia

After a little research I discovered a SolidWorks model of Azrael from Grabcad. His SolidWorks model is so interesting that I've written a tutorial about information technology. Below I will show you exactly how to model a Dodecahedron with only two features in SolidWorks! I will likewise teach you how to use the Equations feature. Enjoy it and don't forget to share this tutorial with other SolidWorkers!

NOTE: This tutorial is made with SolidWorks 2010. The equation feature is changed dramatically in SolidWorks 2013. Click here for more information most the new equation feature.

How to model a Dodecahedron in SolidWorks?

Open a new role with model units set to millimeters

Go to: File > New > Part

Create a 2D sketch

Select the Top Plane in the feature tree (carte at the left side) and create a sketch past clicking on the 2D Sketch icon

The brandish changes then the Peak aeroplane faces you.

Create a Structure Circumvolve

Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Circle or click at the circle icon

Create a sketch which starts at the Origin.

Change the dimensions of the circle into 100 mm past clicking at the dimension button

Click at the Circle and change the Solid Line into a Centerline past clicking at the For Construction choice

Click OK

Draw a Polygon

Become to Tools > Sketch Entities > Polygon or click at the polygon icon

Modify the number of corners into 5 as shown in the motion-picture show

Make sure that the top point of the Polygon is connected with the construction circle

Select the meridian betoken of the polygon, hold down the Command fundamental and select the circle

Click at the Coincident relation feature to add a relation between the polygon and circumvolve SolidWorks Coincident feature

Make the sketch fully defined equally shown in the pic

At that place has to be a Ratio betwixt the dimension of the Polygon and the height of the Extrude

For a Dodecahedron this ratio is 1 : Sinus( 18)+one.

When the dimension of the circle is 100, the height of the Extrude has to be Pinnacle Extrude ten Sin(18)+1

With the Equations feature you can automate complicated relations between the size of the structure circumvolve and the acme of the Extrude.

Permit's add the Equations for this model.

Go to Tools > Equations or click at the Equations button

Become to Add together

Blazon: "Ratio"=sin(18)+1

Click OK

At present SolidWorks knows what the value of the "Ratio" is.

Add a 2d Equations

The Elevation of the Dodecahedron has to exist the Ratio x the dimension of Sketch1

Go to Add

Type: "Height"= "[email protected]" * "Ratio"

Annotation: For "[electronic mail protected]" you can click at the dimension of Sketch1 instead of writing "[email protected]"

Click OK

Now SolidWorks knows that the "Summit" of the Dodecahedron is the Dimension of Sketch1 10 the Ratio.

Click OK

Create an Extruded Boss/Base

Go to: Insert > Boss/Base > Extrude or click at the Extrude icon

The Boss-Extrude menu appears

Direction 1 is set to Bullheaded

Change D1 into ten mm

Click at the Typhoon icon

Change the Angle into 26.56505118deg

Select the Draft outward option

Click OK

SolidWorks has to know that the "Tiptop" is equal to the height (D1) of Extrude1.

Add a tertiary Equation for this model.

Go to Tools > Equations or click at the Equations button

Type: "[email protected]" = "Elevation"

Click OK

As you can see in the picture, the height of the Extrude changes into 130.9mm.

(if not click at the Rebuild button )

Create another second sketch

Select the blue surface and create a sketch by clicking on the 2nd Sketch icon

Click at the Normal To push to await perpendicular on the blueish surface

Alter the view into a Wireframe

Viewbar in SolidWorks

Click at the Hidden Line Visible box in the ViewManager

Hidden Line Visible

Create a Construction Circle

Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Circumvolve or click at the circle icon

Create a sketch which starts at the Origin.

Connect the circumvolve with a indicate of the previous polygon as shown in the flick

Click at the Circumvolve and change the Solid Line into a Centerline by clicking at the For Construction selection

Click OK

SolidWorks Construction Circle

Draw a Polygon

Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Polygon or click at the polygon icon

Change the number of corners into v as shown in the picture.

Place the new Polygon exactly between the previous polygon as shown in the pictures

Utilize structure lines when necessary.

Create an Extruded Cut

Go to: Insert > Cutting > Extrude or click at the Extrude Cut icon

The Cut-Extrude menu appears

Direction 1 is gear up to Blind

Modify D1 into 10 mm

Click at the Draft icon

Change the Bending into 26.56505118deg

Select the Flip side to cut

Click OK

SolidWorks Extruded Cut

SolidWorks has to know that the elevation of the Cutting Extrude is equal to the height (D1) of Extrude1.

Add a quaternary Equation for this model.

Go to Tools > Equations or click at the Equations push button

Type: "[email protected]" = "Height"

Click OK

As you can encounter in the picture, the pinnacle of the Extrude changes into 130.9mm.

(if not click at the Rebuild button )

Rebuilt option in SolidWorks

Well that'southward all! Yous've only created a perfect Dodecahedron and hopefully learned something near the Equations feature. And the best part is, when you modify the size of the start polygon sketch, the sizes of all the other features will automatically alter too (cheers to the Equations).

If you've, just similar José, a specific modeling question about SolidWorks, let me know and possibly I will write a tutorial most it.

Experience gratuitous to leave a comment or question beneath!

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