Santiago, Mikaella Ross T.

DT 312 - 3A - Drafting

WHAT IS ONSHAPE CAD

Onshape was created in 2012 by former SolidWorks executives, including John Hirschtick and John
McEleney, and launched its beta version of the cloud-based CAD software in March 2015. The company,
originally named Belmont Technology, was founded with the goal of providing a Software-as-a-Service
(SaaS) CAD solution accessible from any device with an internet connection. Onshape is a professional,
cloud-native computer-aided design (CAD) software used for 3D modeling, product development, and
collaborative engineering. It is different from traditional CAD systems because it runs entirely in an
internet browser, eliminating the need for downloads, updates, or expensive hardware. Unlike traditional
CAD systems, Onshape doesn't require software installation, file management, or IT maintenance, as it
runs entirely on cloud servers. It offers integrated tools for design, simulation, rendering, and CAM for
product development across various industries.

NAVIGATING DOCUMENTS AND WORKSPACES

Getting familiar with Onshape user interface

1. On the left side of the screen there is a list of links. These links organize your documents. The tutorials
and samples area provides videos and sample models you can use to help you build your skills.

The Public area includes tutorials as well as projects from other users.

Click on the Public link.

2. Type wind meter in the search box at the top of the screen

3. If you hover over one of the files labeled Sample, a small balloon appears indicating the file is a public
document. Locate the Wind Meter document and select it.

4. When you left click on the link there is a pause while the model is loaded into your workspace.

5. Take a moment to get familiar with the different screen areas.

6. In the upper right corner, you see your user name. If you select the down arrow next to your name, you
can manage your account – which allows you to change the password or upgrade to a paid account. You
can also view any support tickets.

If you select the down arrow next to the Question mark, you are in the Help menu area. Select Keyboard
Shortcuts.
8. A nice table of shortcuts appears.

9. Select the Arrow in the top right corner of the keyboard shortcuts window.

10. A webpage will appear that can be printed out. Simply press Ctrl+P and select the desired printer. You
can then pin this up to your cubicle wall or keep it handy for easy reference.
11. The Share button in the upper right corner will not work when you are in a public document. The icon
next to the active document name at the top of the screen indicates whether the document is public or
private.

12. The Orientation Cube located in the upper right of the display window allows you to modify your
view easily.

13. Notice that as you hover over different areas of the orientation cube it will highlight. Left click to
select the shaded area as the new view orientation.

14. If you left click on the smaller cube (Display Options cube), you will get a shortcut menu where you
can change the different display options as well as default orientations.
15. In the model browser, you see a list of parts and sub-assemblies. The Base Plate has an

icon next to it to indicate it is grounded or fixed in place. The Base Plate, belt, casing ring, and
dowel pins are parts.

16. Highlight the Dowel pin part. Right click and select Hide other parts.

17. Visibility of all the parts is turned off. The small dot towards the right is the origin
18. Right click in the display window and select Show All to restore visibility of the model.

19. In the lower left of the screen, there is a small menu icon. If you left click on the icon, you get a quick
list of all the tabs available in the model. This allows you to quickly navigate to the desired tab. Left click
on Shaft 1.

20. The Shaft 1 tab opens.

21. In the model browser, five parts are listed.

22. Select Copy Workspace… from the Document menu.
23. Enable Private to set the copy of the document to Private. You can only make changes to documents
which you own. You can own documents which are private or public.

Press OK.

24. You now have a copy of the document that you own. You may modify the copy and share it with
other users.

25. Select the Onshape logo located on the upper left of the screen. A popup will appear that says Close
Document. Left click to close the document.

26. The copy is listed under My documents. You can see the file size and that it is currently not shared.
You can also see how much space you are using in your storage area.

USING ONSHAPE
In the browser, under Default geometry, the Origin and the three planes are listed

The origin is the 0,0,0 (x =0, y=0, z=0) point in the 3D universe where you are creating the design.

The origin basically allows you to locate the geometry in relation to 3-dimensional space. If you

don’t provide a location for the lines, circles, and arcs, it could move around and the results would not be
pretty.

Each part is created by drawing a sketch on a plane, then creating a feature from the sketch, and then
adding on.
There are four primary feature types:

• Extrude

• Revolve

• Sweep

• Loft

For an Extrude, you place a sketch and then add height or thickness. Common objects that use
extrudes are boxes.

For a Revolve, you place a sketch and then revolve it around an axis. An axis can be an edge or line.
Common objects that use revolves are wheels and gears.
For a Sweep, you create two sketches. One sketch is the profile and one sketch is the path. The

profile travels along the path to create the 3D shape. The two sketches are usually perpendicular to
each other. The path would be on one plane, and the profile would be on a different plane. Common
objects that use sweeps are handles, ducts, and cords.

A Loft is also called a blend. A loft is created by placing two or more sketches on offset planes. Each
sketch is usually a different shape. The loft blends the sketches together to create a unique 3D feature.
Common objects that use lofts are faucets and bottles.

When you model a part, you usually create more than one feature. A part might include an extrude, a
revolve, and a loft or it might just be a single sweep. It depends on how complicated the part is. As you
work through this text, some parts will be fairly simple and other parts will be quite complex.
When you create a sketch, you draw the geometry – lines, arcs, and circles. Then you use sketch
constraints to determine how the elements interact. There are two types of sketch constraints – geometric
and dimensional. Geometric constraints are horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, parallel, concentric,
coincident, tangent, equal, midpoint, symmetric, etc.

Geometric constraints are located on the sketch ribbon. To add a sketch constraint to geometry, select the
element(s) and then select the desired constraint.

Sketches can be under-defined, fully-defined, or over-defined. Under-defined means the sketch does not
have all the information – dimensions or geometric constraints – to fully constrain or define all the
elements. Fully defined means that all the geometry has been fully designated. Over-defined means that
there is duplicate information in the sketch. When a sketch element is displayed in blue that indicates it is
not fully defined. When a sketch element is defined in black, it is fully defined.

Because the sketch is located in 3-dimensional space, the elements always need to be located in relation
to the origin in order to be fully defined. Otherwise, they are just floating in space. As dimensions and
Geometric constraints are placed, the geometry changes color.

Black represents geometry that is fully defined and blue indicates geometry that is under defined.

Some of the elements in this sketch are displayed as blue because it still isn’t indicated where it is located
in relation to the origin.
Once the two dimensions are added to indicate where the elements are located relative to the origin, the
sketch will display in black – fully defined.

The browser keeps track of the sketches and features as they are placed. You can go back and modify
sketches and features at any time. Sketches can be moved to a different plane, if desired as well.
The Onshape document consists of multiple tabs.

Right now there are three types of tabs that can be generated:

• Part Studio – where parts are defined

• Assembly – where parts are assembled

• Drawing – 2D drawings to be annotated

There is no limit to the number of tabs in any single document. So, even with a free account, you could
use a single document to store all your parts and not exceed the document limits of a free account.
FEATURE BASICS

Onshape has somewhat unique feature tools you use to create parts. Many of our tools are 'combination'
tools and serve many purposes like creating new material, adding additional material, removing material,
and also creating intersecting material. For example, the Extrude tool is used for all of the above.

FEATURE BASICS: DESKTOP

In Onshape, features are applied to 2-D sketches in a Part Studio to create 3-D parts. All Feature tools are
in the Feature tools toolbar as icons or within drop down menus. Two Feature tools, Extrude and Revolve,
are available on the Sketch tools toolbar for efficiency and may be used when a sketch is open. Each
Feature created is stored parametrically, that is, visible in the Feature list as its own entity.

Access the Feature shortcut toolbar with the S key while in the graphics area (with no open dialog):
Customize this shortcut toolbar through your Onshape account Preferences page.

The Feature tools toolbar is always accessible at the top of the workspace in a Part Studio. If you are
editing a sketch, you will see the Sketch toolbar, close the sketch to see the Feature toolbar. You can also
customize the main Feature toolbar at the top of the page.

 BASIC WORKFLOW

You can create as many features (and therefore parts) as you want, in a Part Studio.

1. In a Part Studio, with an existing sketch or part, click to select the Feature tool you want. That
tool's dialog opens, for example:

When a Feature dialog opens, two fields are active: the first (blue) field requiring selection in the graphics
area with a mouse click, and the first (white) text field requiring keyboard input. Use the Tab key to move
focus from one field to the next, sequentially, starting with the first active text field. You can also use the
arrow keys to expand a dropdown menu, and the Enter key to accept a selection in the menu. Use the
Enter key again to accept the input and close the dialog.

2. Using the dialog, and by selecting entities in the workspace (sketches, part faces, or surfaces)
fill out the required parameters.

3. When you are done filling out the parameters, visualize changes using the Preview slider.

4. Accept the feature by clicking Accept checkmark icon.

You can cancel a feature at any time by clicking Red X icon indicating cancellation of a feature or by
pressing the Escape key.

Each Feature tool requires different information to complete the feature. For more specific information on
what is required for each tool.

DIALOG BREAKDOWN
In addition to using a mouse to navigate through the dialog, you can:

 Use the mouse to resize or move the dialog.

 Use the Tab key to move from one field to another.
 Use arrow keys to navigate a dropdown menu (Blind, above) and the Enter key to select from the
menu.
 Use the spacebar to check/uncheck options (Draft and Second end position, above).
 Click the Accept checkmark icon to commit the feature (or press Enter).
 Click Red X icon indicating cancellation of a feature to cancel the feature and close the dialog.
 Title - The title is red if you have not completely filled out the dialog, or if the information
entered has resulted in an error. This prevents you from committing a broken feature.

If you have specified all of the information, correctly, needed to complete the feature, then the title is
black. This indicates that you may commit the feature successfully.

 Blue text and underline - Blue text with a blue underline indicates a selected item. Click to
select an item from a horizontal list.
  Blue highlight - A highlighted field indicates that a selection from the graphics area is required.
Click in the field, then click in the graphics area to make one or more selections. Click on the x in
the right of the field to remove a selection.

To clear multiple field selections at once, right-click on the field and select Clear all from the context
menu.

 Drop down menus - Click to open a drop down menu, then click to select an option.

 Opposite direction - When applicable, click the icon to toggle the direction of the feature.

 Input field - Click to input a value. You have the ability to specify a unit of measurement by
adding it to the value, or you are able to set default units for all of your documents.
 Check boxes - Check boxes indicate an optional specification that can be applied to the feature.
Click to check or uncheck a box to use optional specifications.

 Preview slider bar - The Preview slider is an opacity control that lets you adjust the display
opacity of the feature along a scale of 0% (before the feature is applied) to 100% (after the feature
is applied).

When you edit a feature, by default Onshape displays the model rolled back to its state when that
feature was created, hiding all later features. The Final button displays the final result while you
are still editing the feature. If you are editing the last feature, there is no Final button in the
dialog, since you are already seeing the final result.
If you have permission to copy a document, but not edit the document, you are still able to open
the document, view it, and also open Feature dialogs within the document. Without Edit
permission, however, you will not be able to make any changes to the document, unless you first
make a copy, and all dialog fields are grayed out and inactive:
  Contextual Help - Click on the Help menu icon in the lower right of any dialog to open the
Help documentation to the related topic.

REORDERING PARAMETERS

Some feature dialogs accept the selection of multiple entities (called array parameters) whose selection
order is critical in order to create certain geometry. For example, when selecting profiles to use in a Loft
feature, the order in which you select the sketches defines the direction of the loft. Onshape allows the
reordering of these entities directly in the dialog.

For example, if you have selected three profiles for a loft and then want to add a fourth, but the fourth
profile invalidates the geometry. The first time you create the loft, the dialog has three profiles and the
model is valid:
When you want to add the fourth profile, and you just select it, it is added to the bottom of the list of
profiles. If it doesn't occur in an order that makes sense, an error occurs. However, you can click the
opposing arrows (circled in blue above) at the top of the Profiles field to activate the reorder mechanism
(circled in blue below):

Click and drag the reorder icon to reorder the selected profile to the correct position in the dialog:

Drop to place the profile in the desired position:

REMOVING MISSING REFERENCES

If an entity that a feature refers to is deleted, Onshape displays the missing references in red in the feature
dialog. In the example below, the sketches for the extrude were deleted.

Click the X next to a missing reference to remove it, or right-click the field and select Clear missing
references from the context menu to removing all missing references.

COMMENTING ON A FEATURE

Place comments on a particular feature for later reference or for other collaborators. You are also able to
indicate that you want to receive email notifications of other users' comments on the feature.

1.Right-click on the feature in the Feature list and select Add comment.

2.Type a comment, optionally indicate that you wish to receive email notifications of others'
comments.
3.Click Add to add the comment or Cancel to close the Comments panel without adding a comment.

If another user has share permissions on the document and has selected Receive comment email
notifications, an email is sent to that email address with the text of your comment in it.

Click on the comments icon at the top to open the comments panel:

When the comments panel is open, any Features that have been commented on, will have an icon next to
them in the Features list.

FEATURE BASICS ON IOS & ANDRIOD

When creating Features in Onshape, you use the Feature tools in the Feature toolbar.
Feature tools create, modify, or manipulate 2D and 3D geometry to create new parts, modify existing
ones, or generate construction tools for later use. Features are stored parametrically, visible in the Feature
list as its own entity.

The Feature toolbar is always accessible at the top of the graphics area in a Part Studio. If you are editing
a sketch, there are two Feature tools available in the Feature toolbar, for efficiency; Extrude and Revolve.
Close the sketch to see and use the other Feature tools.

BASIC WORKFLOW

You have the ability to create as many features (and therefore parts) as you want, in a Part Studio.

1. In a Part Studio, with an existing sketch or part, tap to select the Feature tool you want. That
tool's dialog opens:
 2. Using the dialog, and by selecting entities in the workspace (sketches, part faces, or surfaces)
fill out the required parameters.

3. When you are done filling out the parameters, visualize changes using the Preview slider.

4. Accept the feature by tapping the checkmark.

You have the ability to cancel a feature at any time by tapping the x.

Each Feature tool requires different information to complete the feature. For more specific information on
what is required for each tool, see Feature tools.

How do I migrate my data to Onshape from SOLIDWORKS?

Expert Advice for Getting Started:

 Transfer your Most Important Data When You Need it.

Choose your first Onshape project and import necessary data. Additionally, transfer your
common and purchased parts into Onshape.
 Learn the Basics of Onshape Through our Onboarding Program.
Register for either self-guided or instructor-led Onshape bootcamp to learn how to successfully
organize and build your Onshape Documents.
 Accelerate Your Product Development with our Tech-Tips
Read our tech tips, such as 10 Essential Onshape Tips, to enhance your skills within
Onshape.Explore Partner Products to Assist Cloud AdoptionCADSharp have created Monarch
and SolidTranslate to handle both large scale migrations, and feature-to-feature conversions
VIEW AND NAVIGATION

Onshape provides the following default input device navigation settings:

CAMERA AND RENDER OPTIONS
The small cube, Camera and render options, offers these viewing options:
Camera and render option defaults

 Perspective view / Highlight boundary edges - These options are disabled by default. To set
their default to enabled:
1. Left click to enable the option.
2. Right-click and select Set as default.

3. To set the option's default back to disabled:

Left click to disable the option.

Right-click and select Set as default.

 Shaded edges / Hidden edges / Tangent edges - Right-click on any disabled sub-option and
click Set as default. This simultaneously enables that option and sets it as the default:
Zooming

The mouse wheel direction for zoom is configurable in user account preferences.

To zoom:

 Zoom to fit (shortcut: f, double-click scroll wheel) - Select this command or use the shortcut key
to zoom the entire Part Studio, Assembly or Drawing into view.
 Zoom to window (shortcut: w) - Select this command, then click+drag a box around the area you
want to zoom to in a Part Studio, Assembly or Drawing. The shortcut key toggles the feature on
and off.
 Zoom to selection - Select this command to zoom to the selected entities.

Tangent Edges

Tangent edges are edges formed between a curve and linear edge; for example, from fillets or smooth
edges.

To select the visual treatment of tangent lines, select from the following three view modes:

 Visible - Tangent edges are shown as solid lines. This is the default.
 Phantom - Tangent edges are displayed as dashed lines; also known as Font in some systems.
 Removed - Tangent edges are visually removed from view.
Customizing Parts, Faces, Features, and Sketches: Appearance

Using the context menu for a specific part (or group of selected parts), feature, or sketch, you are able to
customize not only the color of the entity, but also assign materials (and thereby, a density) as well. When
you need to control the tessellation (granularity of rendering of parts) for speed or accuracy, use this
Appearance dialog.

In a Part Studio, you have the ability to customize the color of a part as a whole, as well as individual
faces, features, and sketches. You can also assign materials (and thereby, a density) to parts, faces,
features, and sketches.

Default colors

Onshape has a predetermined color palette and rotation of color assignments as parts are created. (You are
also able to assign custom colors to parts, explained below.)

As parts are created, they are rendered in a sequence of eight colors, shown below, from left to right, with
the sequence starting over on the 9th part:
When a part is deleted, the color sequence remains intact with existing parts retaining their color:

View parts and surfaces sectioned with Section view

Section view allows for the selection of one or many planes, Mate connectors, cylindrical faces, conical
faces, or planar faces to use for sectioning. Section view can be turned on through the view cube, or by
selecting Section view in the context menu.

Once the manipulator is visible, it can be moved via the ball (open circle at its center) and snapped to any
inference point on the part, surface, or assembly. Sectioned items are viewable in both Part Studios and
Assemblies:
Keyboard shortcuts for view

 Front view = Shift 1

 Back view = Shift 2
 Left view = Shift 3
 Right view = Shift 4
 Top view = Shift 5
 Bottom view = Shift 6
 Isometric view = Shift 7
 Section view = Shift X
 Named view = Shift V

Zoom to selection

Use Zoom to selection to change the view to a close-up of the selected entities.

View in high quality

shift+r

Toggle to select/deselect the highest available quality tessellation view for the currently active Part Studio
or Assembly. Be aware that this may result in a slight degradation of performance. When you turn this
option on, the blue notifications are displayed as shown below:

Highlight boundary edges

Onshape displays holes and disconnects in a model, including laminar edges of surfaces, that may be in
need of repair when you select Highlight boundary edges. This feature is especially helpful when
importing parts that require repairing surfaces.

Select Highlight boundary edges in the Camera and render options menu. Edges that may require repair
are highlighted in solid red lines when the edges are visible and dashed red lines when the edges are
hidden:

3D Rotate Lock: iOS and Android

3D Rotate Lock, when active, locks the user's ability to 3D rotate the graphics area. This is particularly
useful when attempting to select and drag an entity.

It is located directly above the View Cube in both Part Studios and Assemblies.

To activate the 3D Rotate Lock, tap the button. To deactivate, tap the button again or commit a feature.

3D Rotate Lock activates by default in certain situations:

 Part Studio - If a sketch is open and an entity is selected, the 3D Rotate Lock turns on by default.
This allows for the selection to be dragged without the view rotating. Unlock by tapping the
button.
 Assembly - If an instance, Mate connector, or entity is selected, the 3D Rotate Lock turns on by
default. This allows for the selection to be dragged without the view rotating. Unlock by tapping
the button.

View Cube: iOS and Android

The View cube is located in the upper right corner of the graphics area. When selected, a list of different
viewing options appears. Select one to change the view of your graphics area or the view settings of your
part(s). This is an easy and quick way to get a well-oriented view of your part(s) without having to 2D/3D
rotate or zoom.

Steps
Options explained
 Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Right, and Left - Select any of these options for a front-facing view of
the respective plane.
 Isometric, Dimetric, Trimetric - Select any of these for the respective angled view.
 Zoom to fit - Select to resize the graphics area to fit the screen. This could result in the view
zooming in or out.
 Perspective View - Toggle perspective view on and off. Perspective view shows the relative
distance from the point of view to the model, and creates a vanishing point as the point of view
(or imaginary camera) approaches the model. The images below show a front view of the same
part without perspective view and with perspective view, respectively.