Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Lab Module
1. Summary
As we have discussed in this course, there are several different crystal structures, only a small fraction of
which are covered in this class. One challenge in analyzing such structures is in visualization; many
concepts including symmetry, interstitial space, diffusivity and close-packed planes/directions all depend
on our ability to see and assemble 3D ordered structures. Typically, our approach in materials science
involves drawing ball-stick models, or building models in the lab. In mechanical engineering, 3D
visualization is crucial for several aspects of design, and modeling software is available to conceive and
present our ideas. Accordingly, the purpose of this is to combine the above two objectives, by leveraging
Mechanical Engineering-based modeling skills in SolidWorks to improve knowledge of materials science
concepts. We ask each student to do this part of the lab as individuals rather than in a group, as these are
skills that would creatively add to any CO-OP portfolio. Follow the included steps, and if you have extra
time, try and create these models in more than one way. Solidworks is a powerful tool, and there is
usually more than one method to accomplish any task. The Materials Science topic for this lab is
creating metal crystal structures and this will include BCC, FCC, and interstitials. Absolutely no prior
knowledge of SolidWorks is required to complete this lab module.
2. Tasks
2.1. Create the BCC Crystal Structure
Follow the directions listed on the Creating a BCC Crystal Structure Guide included in the Lab
Materials.
2.2. Create the FCC Crystal Structures
With what you know now, create the FCC Crystal Structure.
2.3. Insert an interstitial atom (Mind the gap!)
Smaller interstitial atoms can be driven into the gaps within these metallic structures (such as carbon
atoms diffusing into iron structures to make steel). Lets investigate how much space there really is. Save
your BCC and FCC crystal structures as new files. Insert a single interstitial atom into the tetragonal
interstitial of each structure. Generate additional files and instead insert the interstitial atom into the
octahedral interstitial. Make these atoms as large as they can be without overlapping the metal atoms.
2.4.
a.
b.
c.
2.5. Generate an .stl file that can be used to 3-D print your structures
Follow the directions on How to 3-D print your structure. Note: You can send your file to Snell Library for
printing.
Page 4 Some images and a brief description of your final .stl code geometry.
Note: Everybody has to turn in his/her own Solid Works report. The due date and the turn-in
location is the same as for the Lab 1 Group Report. Only one copy of the Solid Works Report is
required.
about two thirds of the way down, then locate your Unit Cell you just created. Click it and then place
it towards the center of your screen.
b. Adding Atoms
First off change the view to wireframe, as this Unit Cell is nothing but a guide. You only want to
change the unit cell to wireframe so right click it in the assembly tree, go to Component
Display<Wireframe. Now under the Assembly tab of the CommandManager select Insert
Component<Browse and then find the atom you wish to add. Immediately it will become your
cursor. Place the atom anywhere as we will be mating it later.
c. Mating the Atom
Solidworks allows you to define the position of an atom based off another relative location. This
feature is known as mating. What you will need to do for this is the most simplistic form of mating,
coincident. This simply means making sure two points are in the same exact location. To do this make
sure nothing is selected on the screen, and under the Assembly Tab of the CommandManager select
Mate. When the mate menu appears chose the type to be Coincident. You will then go along creating
eight mates by selecting a corner and the origin of the atom you wish to move in the assembly tree.
When placing the center atom, simply chose the origin of the atom and the point you created before
which can be found in the assembly tree if you expand your unit cell.
3.6. Create Slice Planes
To create slice planes all you need to do is select Section View, from the menu bar floating at the top
of the workplace window. You can then create different views by adding slice planes and sliding
them over. It is up to you to figure out what views you want to show. But play around with it and see
how the atom looks from different angles. Save each creation separately.
3.7. Right click on the unit cell in the assembly tree and select suppress. Make sure to re-save this
assembly with a different name, just in case you want to go back and edit the original.
3.8. We need to trim the assembly down to a single unit cell. Select insert > assembly feature > cut >
extrude.
Select a plane and cut the around the unit cell, as shown below. You may need to extrude from the
mid-plane to achieve a clean cut.
3.9. Make one final cut in a plane perpendicular to step 8. Save the BCC unit cell as a .sldprt file, make to
check the save all components option.
3
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
4. Creating an Atom
4.1. Create New File
Load Solidworks 2012, select File<New<Part
4
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
The work area should be loaded now, and the next step is to create an arc which can later be revolved
into a 3D sphere. Begin by defining your sketch plane, select Front Plane, which is located in a pane
on the left side of the screen. Next select Insert<Boss/Base<Revolve.
5
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
Select Line from the CommandManager. The next two clicks will be the beginning and ending points
of the line. Seeing as the goal is to close off the arc, make those two points the beginning and end of
the arc.
4.5. Dimensioning
Select Smart Dimension from the CommandManager Pane. Next select the arc, and click to drag
your newly added dimension to any location on the screen. Immediately after, the modify dialogue
box will appear, displaying your current radial dimension. When finished the Dimensioning Pane will
appear on the right side of the screen, giving you a second opportunity to make adjustments, feel free
to click the Green Checkmark at the top to clear it away. Finally click Exit Sketch in the
CommandManager.
4.6. Revolution
6
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
Immediately after closing out the sketch pane, the left pane should change to the Revolve Menu. The
pane will be almost entirely filled out, only requesting for the Axis of Revolution. This will be the
line which was drawn to close the arc. Select the box to the right of the Axis of Revolution, and it will
highlight blue, and then click the line. The box should then populate itself. Solidworks will show you
an example of what the sphere will look like, select the Green Checkmark when satisfied.
4.7. Save
Select File<Save your atom to a place where you can find it later.
7
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
8
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
5.4. Extrude
Once exiting the sketch menu, the right panel will immediately change to the Boss-Extrude menu.
You will also see the rectangle which was just drawn made 3D with a default extrusion value. Change
that value in the Depth Box to that of the lattice parameter and then click the Green Checkmark to
accept the extrusion.
9
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module
the assembly level becomes as easy as making two points coincident. To do this see the Reference
Geometry Page in your packet, or see the Creating a BCC Crystal Structure Guide.
5.6. Save your unit cell
Remember to constantly save your work File<Save.
10
ME2341 Laboratory One Solid Works Module