SolidWorks/FreeCAD Practice: 3D Modeling from Technical Drawings | Extreme SolidWorks

SolidWorks/FreeCAD Practice: Complete 3D Modeling from Workshop Drawings

📅 Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes per drawing
📐 Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
🎯 Goal: Develop technical drawing reading skills and 3D modeling proficiency

🎯 Introduction to the Exercise Series

In this comprehensive practice series, we'll use 10 workshop technical drawings with complete dimensions for 3D modeling practice in SolidWorks or FreeCAD. This exercise is perfect for:

• 💡 Beginners wanting to practice technical drawing interpretation
• 🔄 Experienced users looking to sharpen rapid modeling skills
• 🎓 Students preparing for CAD examinations
• 🏭 Engineers maintaining and developing design skills

📐 Workshop Drawings for Practice

Here are 10 technical drawings we'll use in this exercise series. Click on each image for larger view:

Drawing 0011: Bracket with Multiple Holes

Features: Linear patterns, hole features, fillets
Difficulty: Easy

Drawing 0012: Complex Section View Part

Features: Section views, advanced dimensions
Difficulty: Medium

Drawing 0013: Bent Tube Profile

Features: Sweep features, bend radii
Difficulty: Easy

Drawing 0015: Angular Bracket

Features: Angular dimensions, R40 radius
Difficulty: Medium

Drawing 0016: Complex Assembly Part

Features: Multiple features, R8 fillets, complex geometry
Difficulty: Hard

Drawing 0017: Symmetrical Housing

Features: Symmetry, linear patterns, A20 annotation
Difficulty: Medium

Drawing 0018: Sectional Bearing Block

Features: Section views, R1 fillets, complex cuts
Difficulty: Hard

Drawing 0019: Simple Mounting Plate

Features: Basic extrusion, hole patterns
Difficulty: Easy

🔧 Step-by-Step Modeling Approach

1 Analyze the Technical Drawing

Before starting modeling, carefully analyze the drawing:

• Identify main dimensions and tolerances
• Study all views (front, top, side, isometric)
• Note all holes, cuts, fillets, and chamfers
• Understand material specifications
• Identify datum references and critical features

💡 Pro Tip: Use different colors to highlight various features on the drawing before starting modeling. This helps in planning your feature tree.

2 Create Base Sketch in SolidWorks/FreeCAD

For SolidWorks Users:

1. File → New → Part
2. Select appropriate plane (Front, Top, Right)
3. Start 2D Sketch
4. Use Line, Circle, Rectangle tools
5. Add Smart Dimensions from drawing
6. Apply geometric relations (Horizontal, Vertical, Equal)
7. Exit Sketch → Extruded Boss/Base

For FreeCAD Users:

1. Create New → Part Design
2. Create Body → Create Sketch
3. Select appropriate plane (XY, XZ, YZ)
4. Use geometry creation tools
5. Add Constraints (dimensions)
6. Apply geometric constraints
7. Pad (extrude) the sketch

3 Add Secondary Features and Details

After base extrusion, add all secondary features:

Hole Features: Use Extruded Cut or Hole Wizard

Fillets & Chamfers: Add edge treatments

4 Advanced Features and Final Touches

Add advanced features according to drawing specifications:

SolidWorks Advanced Features:
- Revolved Boss/Base for rotational parts
- Swept Boss/Base for complex paths
- Lofted Boss/Base for transitional shapes
- Mirror and Pattern features for symmetry
- Reference Geometry for complex alignments

🎯 Modeling Strategies by Difficulty

Difficulty	Recommended Approach	Time Estimate	Key Challenges
Easy	Single sketch + extrude + basic features	15-25 minutes	Basic dimension interpretation
Medium	Multiple sketches + features + patterns	30-45 minutes	Feature order, relations management
Hard	Complex sketches + advanced features + sections	45-60+ minutes	Section views, complex geometry

⚡ Advanced Modeling Techniques

Parametric Modeling

Use parameters for easier modifications:

// SolidWorks Equations Example
"D1@Sketch1" = 100mm
"D2@Sketch1" = 50mm
"fillet_radius" = 5mm
"hole_pattern_count" = 4

Design Tables & Configurations (SolidWorks)

Create different variations of the part:

• Configuration Manager → Add Configuration
• Different dimensions for each configuration
• Different materials and appearances
• Suppress/unsuppress features

Assembly Techniques

For multi-part drawings:

1. Create individual parts
2. New Assembly → Insert Components
3. Apply Mates (Coincident, Concentric, Distance)
4. Check for interference
5. Create exploded views if needed

📊 Accuracy Verification Checklist

After completing each model, verify accuracy:

Parameter	On Drawing	In Model	Verification Method
Overall Length	As specified	Measure Tool	✅ Correct / ❌ Incorrect
Hole Diameters	As specified	Measure Tool	✅ Correct / ❌ Incorrect
Fillet Radii	R values	Fillet Feature	✅ Correct / ❌ Incorrect
Material Volume	Calculate	Mass Properties	✅ Within Tolerance
Center of Mass	N/A	Mass Properties	✅ Logical Position

💡 Efficiency Tips for Professional Modeling

🔥 Pro Tip 1: Always use "Fully Defined" sketches in SolidWorks (sketch should be black, not blue) to avoid unexpected changes.

🔥 Pro Tip 2: Use geometric relations (Horizontal, Vertical, Equal, Parallel) before adding dimensions to reduce constraint complexity.

🔥 Pro Tip 3: Properly name features in the FeatureManager design tree for easier later modifications and team collaboration.

🔥 Pro Tip 4: Use Design Binder or Custom Properties to store drawing numbers, revisions, and other metadata directly in the part file.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Avoid over-defining sketches. If a sketch turns red, you have conflicting constraints or dimensions.

📁 Download Resources

Download all resources for this exercise series:

• 📐 PDF with all 10 workshop drawings
• 🎯 SolidWorks part files (.sldprt)
• 🔄 FreeCAD files (.FCStd)
• 📊 Accuracy verification checklist
• 🎥 Video tutorials for each drawing
• 📋 Modeling strategy guide

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which SolidWorks version do I need for these exercises?
A: Any version from SolidWorks 2018 onwards. Some features might vary slightly.

Q: Can I use these drawings for commercial projects?
A: Yes, all drawings are free to use for personal and commercial purposes with attribution.

Q: How do I verify my model's accuracy?
A: Use Mass Properties tool in SolidWorks or FreeCAD to check volume and surface area against calculated values.

Q: What if my model has different mass properties than expected?
A: Check for: 1) Incorrect dimensions 2) Missing features 3) Extra features 4) Wrong material density settings.

Q: Should I model exactly as drawn or optimize the design?
A: For practice, model exactly as drawn. In real projects, always consider design optimization and manufacturability.

📈 Next Steps After Mastering These Exercises

After completing these practice drawings, we recommend progressing to:

1. 💼 Assembly Drawings - how to assemble multiple parts
2. 🎨 Photorealistic Rendering - creating professional visualizations
3. 📋 Technical Documentation - creating workshop drawings from 3D models
4. 🔄 Animation & Motion Study - moving parts and mechanisms
5. 🏭 Manufacturing Preparation - CAM integration and DFM analysis
6. 🌐 Collaborative Design - working with teams using PDM systems

🎉 Congratulations!

You've successfully completed a comprehensive series of 3D modeling exercises from workshop drawings. Continue practicing with the remaining drawings and challenge yourself with increasingly complex designs!

💬 Discussion & Community

Have questions or want to share your models? Leave a comment below! Join our community of CAD professionals and enthusiasts.

Tags: #SolidWorks #FreeCAD #3DModeling #CAD #Engineering #Tutorial #TechnicalDrawing #WorkshopDrawings #PracticeExercises #MechanicalDesign

Share your results: Post screenshots of your models on social media with #ExtremeSolidWorks

10 SolidWorks Exercises So Hard They Should Be Illegal (Free Download 2025)

Stop scrolling if you think you’re “pretty good” at SolidWorks.Here are 10 parts that silently destroy 95 % of self-proclaimed “advanced” users:

• One has a loft that changes cross-section three times and follows a 3D spline nobody can get right on the first try
• One is a spoon that looks easy… until you try to make the thickness change from 6 mm to 1.5 mm without a single lump
• One is a pipe with five 90° bends that must stay perfectly Ø42.4 × 2.6 mm all the way (good luck keeping the wall thickness)
• One flange elbow will make you question your entire life choices when the section view doesn’t match

I modeled all of them in SolidWorks 2025, took screenshots of every critical step, and made fully dimensioned drawings that you can actually send to a workshop.Want to separate yourself from the crowd who can only do simple brackets?Download the pack (10 × .SLDPRT + 10 × .SLDDRW + PDF + all step-by-step images)
100 % free – no sign-up, no nonsense.Just click the big blue button at the end, unzip, and try not to rage-quit on part #4 Engineers who finished all 10 told me two things:

1. “I thought I knew SolidWorks… I was wrong.”
2. “My boss now thinks I’m a wizard.”

Your move.

Enjoy

Final result – complete technical drawing: Main view, section A-A showing variable wall thickness (20 mm → 40 mm), all radii (R4, R30, R65, R50), overall dimensions and isometric view of the finished part.

Bearing housing end cap (separate part): Start with a simple revolved boss/base from the provided sketch (Ø95 outer, Ø58 inner bore, Ø52 seat, Ø36 shaft bore, 8 mm wall thickness). Add 2.5 mm fillets on all edges and a 2×45° chamfer on the shaft exit.

Tensioning lever arm (separate part): Model using extruded base (50 mm height), extruded boss for the Ø60 mm rounded head, swept boss for the curved arm profile, M6 tapped hole + Ø12 counterbore, two Ø12 through holes and R10/R25 fillets. Final part is mirrored for left/right versions.

Adjustable pipe clamp bracket: Base extrusion from rectangular sketch, two Ø20 circular bosses, Ø10 through holes, 18° angled slot (extruded cut), Ø30 central bore, R20 and R40 fillets on edges, plus small R1 chamfers. All features fully defined for easy modification.

Main curved roller support bracket (the hardest part): Created using Lofted Boss/Base between two sketches (30×20 mm rectangle → 40×40 mm rectangle) with a 3D spline guide curve (R30 + R65 + R50). Central Ø50 mm swept cut along the same path for the roller tube. Finished with R4 fillets on all outer edges and variable wall thickness shown in section A-A.

Machined base block: Rectangular extruded base 200×100×90 mm, large central pocket with 45° and 150° angled faces (extruded cut), Ø12 through hole, curved slot created with swept cut, Ø25 counterbore + Ø12 hole on top face and several fillets/chamfers.

Curved sliding block (Modeling Practice 67): Extruded base 100×75×65 mm, large R20 and R25 rounded top surface using Swept Boss or Boundary Boss, tapered sides with 5 mm wall thickness, R15 fillet on front edge and 5 mm chamfers on bottom edges. Great exercise for advanced surfacing or multi-contour sweeps.

Bent tubular frame (Ø42.4×2.6 mm pipe): Created using Sweep Boss/Base along 3D sketch containing five straight segments and four 90° bends with R60 radius. All bends fully defined in the 3D sketch, table lists exact segment lengths and bend angles – perfect exercise for 3D sketch + sweep + weldment structural members.

Spoon with organic shape and variable thickness: Created using Lofted Boss/Base with five section profiles (from R10 circular bowl to thin 6 mm handle), guide curves for smooth transition, R40/R20/R10 fillets along the edges and variable wall thickness shown in sections. Excellent practice for complex lofts and surface blending.

 90° flanged elbow with complex internal flow path: Built using Revolved Boss/Base for both flanges, Lofted Boss/Base with two circular profiles and guide curves for the smooth R36 bend, Ø18 through bore, four Ø14 bolt holes on each flange (PCD 58 mm), R1 & R2 fillets and 5 mm wall thickness. Section A-A shows exact internal geometry.

BONUS

At the end. It would be ideal if you log in to the blog, comment and say what kind of drawings you want for practice.

As a reward for spending quality time reading this post, a reward follows. And that is the link to download all the drawings in this post in maximum resolution. Link to download the drawing.

You can find more drawings for practice on this post. Post.

On this channel you can find many free CAD modeling tutorials. Channel

SolidWorks vs FreeCAD 2025 – Who Actually Wins?

FreeCAD 2025–2026: The Only FREE CAD That Finally Destroyed the Subscription Trap

No more $5,000–$12,000 per year.
One open-source tool now does 90 % of what SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA and Onshape do — for exactly zero dollars.

Let’s be brutally honest for a second.

Five years ago FreeCAD was “almost good”. Today, in late 2025 and going into 2026, FreeCAD is the real deal. The topological naming nightmare is dead. Assemblies finally work. The sheet-metal workbench is better than half of the paid tools. And thousands of real companies are quietly switching and saving six-figure sums every year.

How a 23-Year-Old Open-Source Project Beat Billion-Dollar Corporations

It all started in 2001 when one German developer (Jürgen Riegel) got his hands on the freshly open-sourced OpenCascade kernel. Together with Werner Mayer they began building something crazy — a completely free professional CAD system.

For almost two decades it was a passion project. Then version 1.0 dropped and everything changed overnight.

What You Can Actually Build With FreeCAD Right Now (2025–2026)

• Full parametric feature-based parts (better than Fusion 360 in many ways)
• Real multi-body assemblies with proper constraints
• Professional sheet-metal unfolding & flat patterns
• FEM structural, thermal and modal analysis (CalculiX)
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This 40 kg hydraulic block was designed, simulated and machined using only FreeCAD — zero paid software.

Who’s Getting Rich Using FreeCAD in 2025?

Real companies. Real money saved.

• 7-person CNC shops in Serbia saving €50k+ per year
• Italian furniture makers who replaced SolidWorks completely
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• University labs doing cutting-edge research
• Startups that would be dead if they had to pay for CATIA

“We ditched SolidWorks in 2024. One year later we saved $68,000 and our engineers actually prefer FreeCAD now.”
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AutoCAD Sheet Metal Tutorial 0144: Free Modeling Guide + DWG Download [Beginners]

AutoCAD Sheet Metal Tutorial 0144: Free Modeling Guide [Beginners]

Published: November 9, 2025 | Updated: | Original Upload: February 2, 2021

15,576+ views • 111 likes – Join thousands learning CAD with this proven tutorial!

Download the free DWG exercise files below the video to practice along!

This tutorial is perfect for:

• AutoCAD beginners diving into 3D sheet metal design
• Mechanical engineering students and hobbyists
• Professionals needing quick sheet metal workflows
• Anyone exploring free CAD modeling tools

What You'll Learn in This Tutorial

This free AutoCAD tutorial (0144) covers essential sheet metal modeling techniques. From basic sketching to advanced features, you'll create professional-grade designs ready for manufacturing:

1. Sheet Metal Workspace Setup – Switching to the right tools and units
2. Base Flange Sketching – Drawing the foundation profile
3. Bend Features – Adding angles, radii, and reliefs
4. Edge Flanges & Hems – Building edges and strengthening features
5. Jogs and Corners – Handling transitions and seams
6. Unfold & Flat Pattern – Generating manufacturing-ready drawings
7. Exporting DWG Files – Saving for fabrication or further edits

Ideal for AutoCAD 2021 or later – no prior sheet metal experience needed!

Download Exercise Files (FREE)

Click the button below to download the sample DWG files (base model + flat pattern) and follow the tutorial hands-on:

📥 DOWNLOAD DWG FILES (Google Drive)

🔒 No signup required • Direct download • Compatible with AutoCAD 2020+

Video Outline (Key Sections)

While timestamps aren't listed, here's a quick breakdown based on the tutorial flow:

• 0:00 - 1:00 Intro to Sheet Metal Tools
• 1:00 - 4:00 Creating the Base Sketch
• 4:00 - 8:00 Adding Bends and Flanges
• 8:00 - 12:00 Refining with Reliefs and Jogs
• 12:00 - End Unfolding, Rendering, and Tips

🚀 Level Up Your CAD Skills?

Subscribe to the Ivan Oblak YouTube Channel and hit the bell 🔔 for more free tutorials!

New content weekly – from AutoCAD to SolidWorks and beyond.

Next Steps for You

Build on this tutorial with these resources:

• SolidWorks Chair Modeling Tutorial
• FreeCAD Sheet Metal Tutorial (Open-Source Alternative)
• Playlist: AutoCAD Sheet Metal Series

Got Questions?

Comment below the video or on the blog – I reply within 24 hours! For collaborations or custom requests, email: ivan.oblak@gmail.com

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By Ivan Oblak - Extreme SolidWorks | Free CAD Tutorials | YouTube • Blog