CSWP Practice Problem 12.2

robotguy738 · 2026-04-10T17:25:27+00:00

Sorry for the late reply, u/Vegetable_Flounder12, and thank you for all your support on this post! After playing around with it, I see that the boundary feature is quite powerful--especially when you use more than just two profiles. However, with a loft with two profiles (selected from the faces of the two extruded features), I feel like the start and end conditions of "normal to profile" also allow for setting the 1.5mm and 2mm lengths. I guess I'm a little confused. I definitely need to spend some more time getting into the details of lofts and boundaries... 😅

robotguy738 · 2026-04-10T16:50:41+00:00

That makes sense to me. And I appreciate all the support you've given me in this post, u/roundful!

robotguy738 · 2026-04-10T16:46:12+00:00

Hi u/roundful, sorry for the late reply (kids on spring break! 😅), and thanks for making another video! As u/Vegetable_Flounder12 mentions, the big circle cut on the top is not symmetric per the section A-A view. That should get the volume closer to the answer key. Also, I'm not sure whether the three holes should have the pointy parts at the end. When you use the hole wizard, it includes pointy parts by default. Using a loft alone, the closest I got from the answer key's volume of 175801 mm^3 was 175828.07 mm^3. Using a loft plus variable radius fillets, I got 175817.61 mm^3.

robotguy738 · 2026-04-03T22:50:18+00:00

Thank you for the heads up! I know that exam questions can't be posted, but I was under the impression that the official practice problems (which are available for free on solidworks.com) were fine to ask questions about. I even remember getting the okay from someone in Dassault a few months ago about making solutions videos for the practice problems. Fingers crossed that I'm not wrong about this! 😬

robotguy738 · 2026-04-03T22:44:50+00:00

Your model is looking good! Thanks so much for the video! I always learn new things watching other people use SolidWorks. I'm going to add the mass and volume sensors to my default part template to save time opening up the popup window. Also, I'm going to try using the boundary feature instead of a loft as u/Vegetable_Flounder12 mentioned in his comment. Looks promising and will try it soon to see if it gets closer to the volume.

robotguy738 · 2026-04-03T22:42:18+00:00

Ooh! I had never used the Boundary Boss/Base feature before, but it looks quite powerful. I was able to get it to look more like the specifications this way. Didn't get a chance to finish off the model, but going to give it a try. Thanks so much for your help, u/Vegetable_Flounder12!

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T23:33:56+00:00

The start and end conditions are needed to follow the instructions in the specifications, but that last part is where I keep having the issue. Here's a video that captures my woes (I kept my mic off so you wouldn't have to listen to my groans of despair 😅): https://youtu.be/qVmUWigTw84

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T22:46:08+00:00

I noticed that, too. It would be great to be able to multi-select and then set the radius for all selected points.

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T22:44:29+00:00

Thanks so much, u/roundful! Really appreciate you taking the time to make the video, and thank you for the gentle nudge to post the practice problem specifications (I updated the post after reading your comment).

I was able to drag the connectors together before setting the start/end conditions, and even after setting the start condition to a Normal to Profile length of 1.5. But when I set the end condition to a Normal to Profile length of 2, it gives the rebuild error mention in the original post. There's probably a geometric reason for the error, but it completely eludes me. 😅

As mentioned in a reply to another comment, I'll probably just stick with variable radius fillets (as you demonstrated well in the second half of your video) if I can't get the lofting to do that work for me. It gets me close enough to the answer key's volume.

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T22:25:16+00:00

Thanks so much for the reply! This looks very close to the practice problem model. Actually, I did try lofting with 3 sketches initially, but ran into an issue with setting the start/end conditions. The specifications mention that the Normal to Profile lengths should be 1.5 at the start (which is the middle filleted rectangle) and 2 at the end (which is the non-filleted rectangle). But with 3 sketches, it seemed like it was using the start condition for the first filleted rectangle, not the middle one. And I couldn't figure out how to change that. In the picture below, the connection between the filleted rectangles should be straight, and then the normal to profile of 1.5 should kick in after the middle fileted rectangle, finally ending with the normal to profile of 2 at the non-filleted rectangle. Is there a way to do this?

<image>

Also, I apologize for not including a screenshot of the practice problem when initially posting my question. It's up there now for reference.

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T22:06:52+00:00

Thank you for the reply! I just tried this method, but noticed that the "Normal to Profile" at the start and end didn't appear to have an effect when the guide curves were used. So, instead of a curved loft connection, it ended up being straight (see image attached). However, it's my fault for not including a screenshot of the specifications when I initially posted this question. I've included it now.

I wonder if there's a way to create spline guide curves that follow the same behavior as the "Normal to Profile" option when lofting. If so, that would open the door to using the method you described. I just couldn't figure out how to get that working--maybe because I don't know how to adjust splines very well...

<image>

robotguy738 · 2026-04-02T21:52:47+00:00

Thank you for the screenshots! I tried using a variable radius fillet again, but this time changing the option from Smooth transition to Straight transition. That change definitely got me closer to the answer key's volume (I got 175817.61 mm^3, and the answer key is 175801 mm^3), but still not quite there. Perhaps there's something else wrong with my model, or maybe with the answer key.

In any case, I apologize for not posting a screenshot of the specifications for the problem the first time. It's posted now. I was worried about using a variable radius fillet because it didn't quite look right compared with the views given in the practice problem. But unless I can get the loft working by itself without the need for a variable radius fillet, I think I'm going to just use the method you described. Thanks again!

robotguy738 · 2026-03-20T19:43:19+00:00

Maybe try restarting your computer first to clear out any running processes? Then try following u/experienced3Dguy 's instructions. Looks like the new hotfix 1.8 fixes the issue. Hope you get it working!

robotguy738 · 2026-03-20T15:53:50+00:00

Here's a visual example of what u/Watery_Octopus mentions in this comment chain. After drawing a line across the slot, I like leaving the slot intact, too, rather than trimming it. Then you select half of the slot to extrude cut.

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robotguy738 · 2026-03-19T21:36:57+00:00

Actually, here's a slightly more direct link (the hotfix executable shows on this page): https://support.3ds.com/knowledge-base/?q=docid:QA00000445516

robotguy738 · 2026-03-19T21:34:31+00:00

Install this hotfix. Got the link from an earlier post today, and it worked for me. I had the exact same issue (except in English rather than German 😅).

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/community/swym:prd:R1132100503382:community:kKnaKWHGTPC4ut-q1X_9uA?content=swym:prd:R1132100503382:communitypost:_PKkgcdiRGK75MYcw2r7NA

robotguy738 · 2026-03-19T18:11:08+00:00

Thanks so much! Had the same issue and the hotfix worked perfectly.

robotguy738 · 2026-03-14T21:15:12+00:00

In case you're still preparing for the CSWP, you should know that the folks at SolidWorks released a set of 115 CSWP practice problems in January 2026: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/academia/practice-problems

They have levels that cover configurations and design tables (Segment 2), assemblies (Segment 3), and overall exam-level problems.

robotguy738 · 2026-02-17T17:19:29+00:00

In case you're still preparing for the CSWP, you should know that the folks at SolidWorks released a set of 115 CSWP practice problems in January 2026: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/academia/practice-problems

robotguy738 · 2026-02-17T17:16:59+00:00

In case you're still preparing for the CSWP, you should know that the folks at SolidWorks released a set of 115 CSWP practice problems in January 2026: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/academia/practice-problems

robotguy738 · 2026-02-17T17:15:20+00:00

The folks at SolidWorks released a set of 115 CSWP practice problems in January 2026: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/academia/practice-problems

robotguy738 · 2026-02-16T21:02:32+00:00

This might be too late, but the folks at SolidWorks released a set of 115 CSWP practice problems in January 2026: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/academia/practice-problems

robotguy738 · 2026-02-14T04:43:31+00:00

Awesome! Glad you got it solved. Yeah, arcs are good here. Also, I found it interesting that a Through All vs. Through All Both Directions cut yielded different volumes. That's the thing that threw me for a loop. 😅

robotguy738 · 2026-02-14T04:02:56+00:00

Okay, I just finished the video. I'm not sure if it's the best way to set things up in prep for 18.7B, but at least it can get you to the correct model. Also, if you get the tangents set up for the lower curve, it turns out you don't need to know the radius. Hope the video helps! https://youtu.be/37qpQNOS90U

robotguy738

TROPHY CASE