Introduction: How to Design a Ball Bearing With SelfCAD
Learn how to design a ball bearing with SelfCAD
Step 1:
How to Design a Ball Bearing with SelfCAD
Welcome to this tutorial on designing a ball bearing using SelfCAD. Ball bearings are essential components in various mechanical systems, enabling smooth rotation and reducing friction between moving parts. With SelfCAD, a powerful and user-friendly 3D modeling software, you can create intricate designs with ease, making it an ideal tool for engineering projects like designing ball bearings.
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of designing a simple ball bearing from scratch using SelfCAD. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced designer, you'll find SelfCAD intuitive and versatile for your 3D modeling needs.
To access the interactive tutorial to this article, check out https://www.selfcad.com/tutorials/71582s3lm4u2b1r3z50w6x356c4tzy11z471
Once you’ve launched the editor;
From the Drawing category on the Toolbar choose 3D Sketch
From the Tool panel choose Rectangle. Set Symmetry to true
Set Snap to Grid Vertices to true
Click on highlighted point to draw rectangle
Click on highlighted point to draw rectangle
Click on highlighted point to draw rectangle
From the Tool panel choose circle
Set Symmetry to false
Click on highlighted point to draw Circle
Click on highlighted point to draw Circle
Click ‘x’ to close 3D Sketch panel
Click to activate Edge Selection
Click on highlighted region to select it
Click Delete button to delete selected object
From the Tools category on the Toolbar choose Revolve. Set Segments to 50
Click to finalize Revolve
Click Rotate on the Toolbar. Set x to 90
Click ‘x’ to close Transformation panel
Click Move on the Toolbar. Set x to 0. Set y to 0. Set z to 0
Click ‘x’ to close Transformation panel
From the 3D Shapes category on the Toolbar choose Sphere. Set Radius to 70, Position x to 145, Position y to 5
Click to finalize Sphere
From the Tools category on the Toolbar choose Copy offsets
Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount of copies to 5. Click Copy button to create copies
Click ‘x’ to close copy offsets panel
From the Edit Menu on the Top Toolbar choose Group
Click on revolved mesh 1 to select it
Click Color picker button to change color of selected object
Click silver button
Click OK button to confirm color change
From the right panel choose Materials
Set Material type to Physical material
Set Metalness to 0.7
Click to finalize Materials
Click Inverse selection button to inverse selection
Click Delete button to delete selected object
As you continue honing your design skills, remember that SelfCAD offers a wealth of resources to support your learning journey. To deepen your understanding and explore more advanced features, consider checking out the interactive tutorials (https://www.selfcad.com/tutorials) available on the SelfCAD website. The tutorials page provides a treasure trove of guides, tips, and tricks that cater to designers of all levels.
More structured learning experience can also be accessed at the SelfCAD Academy (https://www.selfcad.com/academy/curriculum/), https://www.youtube.com/@3dmodeling101, and 3D Modeling 101 series (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL74nFNT8yS9DcE1UlUUdiR1wFGv9DDfTB). This comprehensive resource offers in-depth courses taught by industry experts, allowing you to master the intricacies of SelfCAD at your own pace.
