4.3.1: Phone Holder Guide

  Learning Objectives

• Guide Students Through the process of using AutoCad to design a basic phone holder
• Familiarize students with sketch, extrude, and fillet tools

Step 0 - Getting Ready for AutoCAD

1. Download AutoCAD:

   • Visit the Autodesk website to download AutoCAD.

   • As a student, you can access it for free, but you must create and verify your student account.

   • This process may take a few days, so do not procrastinate.

   • The download process for AutoCAD can take over an hour, depending on your internet speed.

2. Starting a New Project:

   • Upon opening AutoCAD, the integrated project manager will appear.

   • Click New from the left menu to start a new project.

   • If needed, you can access the project manager again by clicking the Start menu.

3. Exploring the Workspace:

   • The Sketch menu features a toolbar organized into sections.  Each section represents a category of actions you can take.

   • For this tutorial, you’ll mostly use tools in the Home menu.

   • At the bottom of the screen, in the middle, you’ll find the command bar for entering tool commands.  (Figure 4)

   • In the bottom right, you’ll see view and snap modes.  We will change these to be more precise when modeling.

   • Next to the grid, enable snap mode to snap to the points you defined above.

     • it is recommended to use the polar snap for this guide

4. Configuring Polar Mode:

   • Open the polar menu in the bottom right and select 5, 10, 15, 20... to ensure precise angles at 5-degree increments.  (Figure 5)

   • Make sure polar mode is enabled in the bottom right and set snap tracking to apparent intersection and intersection, along with default snaps.

5. Navigating Different Views:

   • The ViewCube in the top right lets you rotate your model.

   • Click or drag the ViewCube to select which corner or face you want to view the model from.

   • You can drag the view with the middle mouse button or rotate the model by holding right-click. However, using the ViewCube is recommended for better control.

   • You can also use the pre-made views in the View menu to snap to preconfigured isometric views.

Fig 1.)  Tools used in this guide from the home menu.

Fig 2.)  Tools used in this guide from the solids menu.

Fig 3.)  Where to find the view selector.

Fig 4.)  A labeled view of the lower left hand corner of AutoCAD.

Fig 5.)  A labeled view of the lower right hand corner of AutoCAD.

---

Step 1 - Creating a Basic Side Profile

1. Start a Sketch:

   • On the sketching surface, select the Polyline tool.

2. Draw the Rectangle:

   • Sketch an 80 by 20 rectangle using the Polyline tool, as shown. (Figure 6)

   • Before entering dimensions, ensure the line you're about to draw has the correct angle, as adjusting angles later can be difficult.

3. Input Line Length:

   • Type in the exact length of the line (80 or 20) to ensure accuracy.

4. Close the Contour:

   • If you need to close the shape at any point, Press C.

   • AutoCAD will automatically connect the last point to the starting point with a line.

Note

By default, the dimensions will not appear on your sketch.  After you finish modeling, you can type DIM into the command bar to get the dimension tool.  This tool will only display dimensions.

Fig 6.)  An 80 by 20 cube sketched with the polyline tool.

---

Step 2 - Extruding Step 1

1. Select the Extrude Tool:

   • In the Home menu, locate and select the Extrude tool on the left side.

2. Choose the Contour:

   • Click on the contour you just sketched to select it.

   • Ensure that you are selecting the entire contour.

3. Confirm Selection:

   • Once the contour is selected, Press the Enter key.

4. Input Extrusion Length:

   • Type in the desired length of the extrusion.

   • Press Enter when you are satisfied with the length.

   • Alternatively, you can drag the extrusion handle to visually adjust and see the size before finalizing (Figure 7).  

Fig 7.) Step 2 mid-extrusion. 

---

Step 3 - Sketching Contours of the Phone Holder

 

1. Select the Extruded Face:

   • On the opposite side of the extrusion, click on the face to select it for sketching.

   • Ensure you are on the correct face before proceeding.

2. Start Sketching:

   • Click on the corner where you wish to begin the polyline.

   • Ensure you are on the correct face before proceeding 

3. Start Sketching:

   • Use the Polyline tool to begin sketching the contour shown in (Figure 8)

     • Start at a lower corner, and connect your line to the top horizontal surface of your previous extrusion with an angle of 30 degrees

     • Tip

       When hovering over another line or piece of geometry with the Polyline tool, your cursor may turn into an X.  This means that the endpoint of the line you are about to draw will be coincident with that line.  This means that your contour will be closed.

     • Draw a 5 millimeter horizontal line along the top of your extrusion

     • Draw a 20 millimeter long line with an angle of 30 degrees off of the horizontal starting at the end point of your previous line

     • Create a perpendicular line to the previous line and connect it coincident to the horizontal surface

       • You may want to draw a rectangle from corner to corner to ensure that your part geometry is closed

   • The orientation of your sketch can start from either end, make sure to reorient your part as needed, based on which side you start from

   • If only one dimension is changing while sketching a 2D part, this may indicate that you are sketching in the wrong view or plane

   • Press Escape to deselect and reselect the correct sketching face, or use the view cube to reorient yourself

Note

The DIM tool is used to show the dimensions.  The dimensions will not appear by default.  Some dimensions may appear oriented upside down or sideways, this is usually done automatically to orient the dimensions as efficiently as possible with the dimensions applied.

Fig 8.)  The Desired contour in AutoCad.

---

Step 4 - Using PressPull on Step 3

1. Change View:

   • In the menu in the top left corner (Figure 1, Section 1), select Realistic.

   • This will change how the geometry is presented to you.

2. Select the PressPull Tool:

   • In the Home menu, choose the PressPull tool.

3. Select the Triangular Sections:

   • Click on each triangular section from the sketch created in Step 3.

4. Drag Through the Solid Shape:

   • Drag the selected sections completely through the solid.

   • This will only create negative geometry by default, so there’s no need to worry about dragging too far (Figure 10)

Fig 9.) View mode selection menu

Fig 10.) The triangular sections mid-PressPull       Fig 11.) The part following the PressPull function

---

Step 5 - Sketching the Back of the Phone Holder

1. Select the Same Plane as Step 3:

   • Use the same plane you sketched on in Step 3 to begin a new sketch.

2. Create the Sketch:

   • Draw the sketch with the dimensions shown.  (Figure 12)

     • Start at the corner of your last diagonal extrusion, and create a parallel line that is 15 millimeters long.

       • You can verify that the line will be parallel because it will be highlighted with a thin dashed green line

     • Create a line from the previous line's endpoint to the rectangular extrusion's end.  

       • Make sure that the end of the line that you will place is concentric with the endpoint of the rectangular section.  A green square will appear to signify this on a corner

3. Ensure the Contour is Closed:

   • When finished, Press C to automatically close the contour, ensuring that it's fully enclosed for the next step.

Fig 12.)  A properly sketched step 5

---

Step 6 - Extruding the Back

1. Select the Extrude Tool:

   • In the Home menu, choose the Extrude tool.

2. Select the Sketch:

   • Click on the sketch you created in Step 5.

3. Extrude the Sketch:

   • Set the extrusion length to 50mm and Press Enter to complete the extrusion.

Fig 13.) A properly extruded contour from Step 5

---

Step 7 - Sketching the Keychain Mount Flange

1. Select the Flat Plane:

   • On the flat surface of the shape, begin a new sketch with the dimensions shown.  (Figure 14)

     • To properly set your coordinates, it may be useful to select the coordinates you are using in the home menu.  Use the view cube to select what view to apply your coordinates to.

2. Start polyline:

   • As before, we will use the Polyline Tool

   • Start your line with the first point concentric with a corner of the rectangular back

     • You will know that your point is concentric because your cursor will become a square.

   • Set the length of this line using the command bar.

3. Create curved sections:

   • To create curved lines with the polyline tool, Press "a" in the command bar

   • Press "r" to set the radius of the curved sections

     • Set this radius to be 5mm

   • press "a" again to set the angle of the curve

     • Set this radius to be 90 degrees

     • when setting an angle there are 360 total degrees

   • Click to Place the line

     • When placing the line, there are 180 total degrees, which means that you will have to place your 90 degree line at a 45 degree angle to be placed properly.

4. Create straight line:

   • Press "L" to go back to the line tool

   • create a line which is 40mm long

5. Repeat finish sketch:

   • Repeat steps 2 and 3

   • When Finished Press "CL" to close the contour

Fig 14.)  A properly sketched sketch of step 7

---

Step 8 - Extruding the Keychain Mount

1. Select the Extrude Tool:

   • In the Home menu, choose the Extrude tool.

2. Select the Keychain Mount Sketch:

   • Click on the sketch you created in Step 7.

3. Extrude the Sketch:

   • Set the extrusion length to 5mm and Press Enter to complete the extrusion.

Fig 15.) Step 7 after it has been extruded 5mm

---

Step 9 - Sketching the Keychain Mount Hole

1. Select the Most Recent Extruded Section:

   • On the same face as the Keychain Mount, ensure you are selecting the most recently extruded section as the sketch plane.

2. Create the Sketch:

   • Draw the geometry as shown. (Figure 16)

     • Draw a vertical line from the back most edge of the rectangle you made before, with a length of 25 mmillimeters

     • Draw a line horizontal from the endpoint of the previous line with a length of 7.5 millimeters.  

     • At this line's endpoint, create a circle with a diameter of 10 millimeters.

Fig 16.)  Reference dimensions for the hole on the flange.

---

Step 10 - Using PressPull on the Keychain Mount Hole

1. Select the PressPull Tool:

   • In the Home menu, choose the PressPull tool.

2. Select the Circle:

   • Click on the circle you sketched in Step 9.

3. Pull Through the Body:

   • Drag the circle completely through the entire body.

   • As before, it will only create negative geometry when pulled through positive geometry, so there’s no need to worry about pulling it too far.

Fig 17.)  PressPull tool being used on the sketch from step 9

---

Step 11 - Joining Bodies

1. Navigate to the Solid Menu:

   • Move away from the Home menu and switch to the Solid menu.

2. Select the Union Tool:

   • In the Solid menu, choose the Union tool (Figure 2 Section 1)

3. Join the Bodies:

   • Select all three extruded bodies you’ve created so far, as shown. (Figure 18)

   • This will combine them into a single solid body.

Fig 18.)  The join bodies command being used on a properly dimensioned and extruded part

---

Step 12 - Adding Fillets

1. Select the Fillet Edge Tool:

   • In the Solid menu, choose the Fillet Edge tool.

2. Set the Fillet Radius:

   • Press R and then Enter.

   • Type in the desired fillet radius (2mm) and Press Enter again to confirm.

3. Select the Edges:

   • Click on all the edges you wish to fillet.

   • Ensure you select the necessary edges. (Figure 19)

   • If you are having difficulty selecting the edges, ensure that all bodies are joined and that previous sketches are deleted or hidden.

4. Recommendation for 3D Printing:

   • Filleting sharp corners is recommended for 3D-printed parts as it improves durability and makes the part easier to handle.

   • In this case, avoid filleting on one plane of the part to maintain a smooth surface for 3D printing.

Fig 19.) Preview of fillets being added to the joined part. 

Caution

Fillets can greatly improve the functionality of a part by smoothing sharp corners, but they can also significantly increase the cost of machining a part. Always consider how the part will be manufactured when applying features like fillets.

---

Step 13 - Create an engineering drawing 

Engineering drawings are a standardized part across many different engineering disciplines. Their goal is to communicate and verify an entire design on a single sheet of paper. They are for communication and record keeping, and are a key way that engineers communicate.

Follow the instructions located [here] to create an engineering drawing of your design.

---

Step 14 - Exporting as STL for 3D Printing

1. Open the Export Menu:

   • Click the dropdown menu next to the AutoCAD logo in the top left corner of the screen and select Export.

2. Choose Export Format:

   • In the export menu, select “Other Formats.”

   • By default, your file should export as an STL file.

   • If it does not, select Lithography (STL) from the bottom dropdown menu, as shown. (Figure 20)

3. Save the File:

   • Choose an easily accessible folder to save the file.

   • Click Save to complete the export.

Fig 20.) The menu to select the file format and to save