The Complete Guide to PTC Onshape (CAD)

Explore standard 3d models by learning extrudes, holes, and fillets, and use these building blocks to create assemblies and drawings.

Discover how 3D CAD models define components at one-to-one scale, enable assemblies and automatic 2D drawings, and support rapid prototyping and computer aided engineering analysis such as computational fluid dynamics.

Master parametric 3d modeling in Onshape CAD by defining cross sections and paths, then using extrusions, revolves, holes, and a boolean tool for efficient designs and accurate mass calculations.

Navigate the features and parts list panel to edit feature properties and rename features. Suppress long regeneration times and use roll to here or roll to end to trace changes.

Learn 2D sketching in Onshape by selecting planes, drawing lines, rectangles, circles, and features with constraints, creating closed profiles for later extrusion.

Learn to create and constrain sketches in onshape cad, using lines, circles, arcs, splines, and text, while distinguishing construction from geometry lines and ensuring full constraints for reliable extrusion.

Extrude a closed, fully constrained sketch to create a three-dimensional solid, with defined depth, and explore solid and surface options, plus modes like new, add, remove, symmetric, up to next.

Explore the revolve feature in Onshape to create solids and surfaces from sketch profiles, set an axis, and apply options like full, one direction, symmetric, or two directions.

Practice using sketches, extrude, and revolve tools to create parts, identifying the most efficient approach among multiple methods. Consult the resources for technical drawings to guide exercise 2.1.

Create a sketch on the top plane, constrain and dimension it, then perform a 20 mm blind extrude and add a pocket with the remove tool to complete exercise 2.1a.

Demonstrate exercise 2.1b by sketching on the front plane, forming a cross-section with a circle and coincident constraints, dimensioning, and revolving the sketch to the final part.

Create a revolved component using extrude and revolve on circular sections, add construction lines to define spokes, fully constrain the sketches, and extrude symmetrically from the center plane.

demonstrates solving exercise 2.1d by creating three 40 mm diameter ribs on a 150 mm pitch circle using sketches on various planes and revolved features in Onshape.

Learn the exercise 2.1e solution using revolve and extrude remove to form an l-shaped part with 50 mm diameter and 75 mm height, including holes and a slot.

Create a constant cross-section sweep along a defined path in Onshape, using fully constrained sketches, dimensions, planes, and the option to produce solid or surface sweeps.

The loft feature lets you create a smooth transition between multiple cross-sections using guides. Define planes and sketches, order profiles, and use guides, paths, and tangent controls.

Create and manipulate planes in Onshape to enable sketches for 3d parametric modeling. Use offset planes, plane through a point, and parallel or rotated planes for loft workflows.

Practice loft and sweep techniques, work with sketches and planes, and tackle the upcoming exercises while reviewing the technical drawings and video solutions.

A sweep along a defined path on the front plane creates a cross section with outer 30 mm and inner 25 mm, and ensures symmetry.

solve exercise 2.2 in Onshape CAD by lofting a 20 mm square and a 100 mm wide rectangle offset 100 mm.

This video solution for exercise 2.2c demonstrates a corner-turn sweep in Onshape, using front and right planes, a 25 mm radius, 50 mm spacings, and a 20 mm inscribed pentagon.

Thicken a surface or sketch to add depth by setting direction values. Use the enclosed tool to turn bounded empty space into a part by selecting surrounding faces.

Use extrude and shell features along with drafts, ribs, and mirror to create hollow parts with constant wall thickness, draft angles, rib supports, and mirrored features.

Master advanced drafting and split techniques in Onshape by splitting faces with a plane, applying drafts along a neutral axis, using tangent propagation, and reapplying fillets for clean geometry.

Practice exercises 2.3a, 2.3b, and 2.3c focusing on features beyond extrudes, with shelter hints and resources, and find solutions in the next videos.

Create a hollow shell block by sketching a 240 by 120 mm top-plane box, applying a 2 mm inward shell, then add ellipse and remove a pocket to form aperture.

Create a 3d model by extruding a rectangular block, adding eight top discs, applying a shell, and forming three bottom tubes with precise dimensions and placements.

Demonstrates exercise 2.3c in Onshape CAD, using mirror, extrude, and drafting tools to build a ribbed part with a 30 mm hole.

Explore fillets in Onshape, using tangent propagation to apply multiple edges, faces, or vertices; compare circular, conic, and curvature cross sections, and learn variable fillets with smooth transition.

Add chamfers to edges or faces, adjust magnitude, and use tangent propagation to neighboring edges; choose equal distance or distance and angle; best practice: fillets internal, chamfers external.

Master hole creation in Onshape, using planes and sketches to define location, with options for through or blind holes, thread definition, countersink, and counterbore for accurate 2d technical drawings.

Learn to create linear and circular patterns in cad modeling by patterning parts or features along specified directions and around rotational axes.

Explore how the measure tool in Onshape reports coordinates, distances, areas, and angles, with axis-aligned x, y, z readings and color-coded triad guidance.

Explore curve pattern in Onshape to place multiple features along a path, using a helix on a cylinder surface, with turns, pitch, and starting angle control.

tackle the fourth round of exercises by combining multiple feature tools to create components, not in a single feature, checkpoints at 2.42 c and 2.40, technical drawings in resources.

Revolve sketch to form part, then add a 22.4 mm countersunk hole and remove extrudes to create pockets with circular pattern; finish with 5 mm radius and a 45-degree chamfer.

Build an assembled ball bearing in Onshape by creating the outer race and a groove, then model the ball bearing element and pattern eight around the pitch circle.

Follow along to build the main tube and add four knuckles with a curve pattern along a sweep path, using sketches on planes and a revolved feature.

Demonstrates solving exercise 2.4d by modeling a block, extruding 25 mm, and using the linear pattern tool to place multiple through and countersink holes.

Explore how to use boolean operations in Onshape to union, subtract, and intersect parts, and apply offsets to create complex geometry.

Assign material properties to 3-D models using the standard material library to calculate mass, center of mass, volume, surface area, and moments of inertia for components and assemblies.

Create a 3D model from a technical drawing of a 3D printed aluminium front hub that attaches the wheel to the race car suspension, with portholes, a flange, and earings.

Create a race car suspension front hub in Onshape by revolved geometry, add scalloped flanges, dimension pitch circle diameter for holes, and apply circular patterns and extrude operations.

Learn to design a first 3d sheet metal phone holder in Onshape by sketching a 70x75 mm base, adding thicken and flange features, and a central slot.

Contrast two forms of parametric modeling: 3d part design and sheet metal modeling, where flat profiles are cut by laser or waterjet and folded with bend radii and bend allowance.

Learn to build sheet metal models in Onshape using the sheet metal model tool, with convert, extrude, and thicken workflows and selections for faces, edges, and up to next.

Explores three sheet metal modeling methods: convert, extrude, and thicken, and how general, material, and relief settings shape flat patterns with thickness, bend radii, and the neutral line.

Explore using the flange tool in Onshape to create flanges from edges, selecting alignment, endpoint methods (blind, to plane, or to geometry), and optional partial flanges with bend reliefs.

Explore the hem feature tool in Onshape CAD to fold sheet edges for safety and stiffness, with straight, rolled, and teardrop options, adjustable angle, radius, gap, and alignment.

Demonstrate adding tabs to flange surfaces with the Onshape tab feature, creating a slot and tab arrangement that aligns parts and holds them together for subsequent operations.

Use the make joint feature to close a gap between sheet metal surfaces by selecting two edges, choosing rip, butt, or fold with bend radii.

Explore customizing sheet metal corner reliefs using default options or the corner feature tool. Apply, modify, and scale reliefs - square, round, closed, and simple - across edges or vertices.

Explore bend reliefs for flange design in sheet metal, including inherited and extended reliefs, depth adjustments, and kerf considerations for laser or waterjet cutting, ensuring not touching flat patterns.

Use the finish sheet metal model feature to display welds, holes, and rivets in an assembly, while keeping the sheet metal component unchanged for drawings and flat patterns.

Explore how to create and view flat patterns in Onshape's sheet metal model, including bends, radii, rip joints, and manufacturing drawings.

Evaluate manufacturability by selecting standard sheet thickness and maximum fold size, applying minimum internal bend radii and k factors for mild steel and aluminium.

Explore 3D sheet metal parametric models in Onshape and practice by building exercises from scratch using the provided drawings. Three exercises guide you toward solid understanding, with solutions next.

Demonstrates exercise 3.1 in onshape by sketching a top rectangle, extruding to 50 mm, converting to sheet metal with 2 mm thickness and bend radii, and adding tabs with thicken.

Create a sheet metal model by sketching a 50 by 100 rectangle, applying mil thickness, and adding inner and outer flanges, holes, and rivet holes to match the drawing.

Master the exercise 3.1c solution by building a four-part sheet metal assembly, sketching basic shapes, applying dimensions, adding flanges, hems, and tabs, and ensuring proper constraints.

Delve into assembly design by combining part models to build a product that fits together, and create assembly drawings from this basis.

Understand why assemblies matter by using a simple engine model to verify fit, avoid costly mistakes, and enable accurate mass calculations and a bill of materials.

Navigate the assembly workspace to insert parts, manage instance components and subassemblies, and view a bill of materials in flattened or structured form.

Insert parts into an assembly from current documents, other documents, or standard content, then fix a component and use mate connectors and the triad manipulator to position parts.

Explore how to constrain parts using mate types in onshape, aligning axes and connectors to control translations and rotations, with fastened, slide, and cylindrical mates demonstrated on an engine model.

Learn about bull meat, pin slot mate, parallel meat, plane mate, and tangent mate, exploring their rotation, translation, axis alignment, and how to choose correct connections in assemblies.

Learn how to group components in Onshape assemblies, apply mates for relative motion, and manage versioned parts to move a connecting rod engine assembly as a single unit.

Master organizing complex Onshape assemblies by naming parts and subassemblies, using the instance panel to highlight items, and applying cylindrical mates to connect bearings and the crankshaft.

Explore explicit make connectors to locate the piston pin when implicit locations fail, using a centrepoint fastened connection between the piston pin and the centrepoint between the balls.

Explore standard content for common fasteners in an assembly, selecting bolts, washers, and screws by ISO standards. Add 30 mm bolts in stainless steel and organize fasteners into a subassembly.

Explore visualization, interference detection, and section views in assemblies, identify clashes, refresh results, and use named positions (BDC/TDC) to animate and review motion.

Explore gear, rack-and-pinion, screw, and linear relations in assemblies. Create and verify motion with mates, calculate gear ratios, and animate to ensure correct behavior.

Explore project 4.1 and assemble the simple engine model using the provided resources to build the functioning assembly and visualize engine motion.

Demonstrate an assembly in Onshape by importing step files, creating a needle roller bearing subassembly, building the engine housing and internals, and securing parts with bolts, washers, and fasteners.

Learn to create technical drawings from 3D models in Onshape by projecting them onto a page, arranging dimensions and notes to produce clear, attractive drawings.

Explore how engineering technical drawings serve as the master, contractual documents for component specifications, detailing views, dimensions, tolerances, materials, notes, and part markings under BS 8888.

Explore how engineering drawings use standard sheet sizes, 10 mm borders from the trimmed edge (20 mm left in landscape), grid references, and scale from 1:10 to 1:1.

Learn to place a title block with metadata such as part title, part number, drawing revision, drawn by, and date, and apply standard line weights and legibility.

Explore first angle and third angle projection conventions in engineering drawings, learn how each places views around the primary view, and use a cube visualization to distinguish them.

Distinguish detailed drawings from assembly drawings and learn how single components are specified by dimensions, tolerances, and materials, while assemblies are shown with exploded views and bill of materials.

Create a drawing from model by selecting sheet size, ISO/ANSI templates in unshaped, then set language, units, decimal separator, third angle projection, add a border and zones, and manage sheets.

Populate the title block’s gray text boxes by typing and formatting fields, then click OK to apply, while respecting character limits and noting that boxes disappear on print or export.

Insert and orient standard views by linking to a 3D model, adjusting scale and orientation with the triad manipulator, and toggling view simplification for clear 2D drawings.

Master inserting projected views in Onshape using three methods to align front, right, and back views, and manage projection conventions and rotation.

Learn to insert and customize section views in CAD drawings, choosing cut lines, orientation (vertical, horizontal, angled), labeling with section letters, and applying shading, scale, and view alignment.

Insert detailed views to magnify small features by defining a center, radius, and boundary, then place, label with alphabetic prefixes or suffixes, and set scale.

Learn to use auxiliary views in Onshape to illustrate features on irregular faces, crop and dimension holes, and add callouts and leaders for clear engineering drawings.

Explore breaking views in Onshape to represent long parts by removing middle sections with cut lines, adjusting gaps, and creating space-efficient section views for clear dimensioning.

Learn to create broken out section views that blend general views with sections, control depth via up to entity or blind methods, and verify diameters and geometry across views.

Explore how to create and edit centerlines, pitch circle diameters, and center marks using six top-toolbar tools, including midpoint and line-based centerline creation, dashed circle guides, and radius notes.

Learn to use the dimension tool in Onshape to place linear, angular, radius, and diameter dimensions, manage extension lines and offsets, and apply note-style dimensions for clear, precise CAD drawings.

learn to apply dimension tolerances based on manufacturing processes, using general tolerances, forcing a new tolerance range, and geometric tolerances, while adjusting decimal precision and units settings.

Master the basics of geometric tolerances in two-dimensional engineering drawings, including datums, symbols, and applying a diameter tolerance on bearing diameters in Onshape using datum A.

Use the hole call-out tool in the 3D modeling workbench to display diameter, depth, and thread information for holes, including through holes and counter sinks, and learn multi-hole callouts.

Learn to specify surface finish on 2d engineering drawings, apply surface finish symbols to dimensions or surfaces, and navigate iso 1302 fields A–E for machining choices.

Master inserting weld symbols in Onshape assembly drawings using world symbols to define joint parameters, arrow sides, and welding method with dimensions.

Master inserting notes and tables in Onshape CAD drawings, using the note and table tools to format text and create a table with rows and columns.

Learn to insert and customize callouts in drawing views, attach them to dimensions or table properties, and control center text, fonts, and grouping for consistent placement.

Create a whole table of holes from a top view in the 3d modeling workbench, setting the origin, datum, and tolerances to dimension hole size and location.

Create an exploded view in the assembly, place balloon references and a bill of materials table, and link part numbers to bill of materials entries with quantity and notes.

Import DXFs, DWGs, and images into Onshape by uploading files, create a new drawing, and use a two-point bounding box to place and resize logos or graphs.

Export your technical drawings quickly by right-clicking the drawing tab to open export options, choosing PDF, DXF, DWG, or DWT, and verifying the export includes all sheets.

Explore this video introduction to technical drawing exercises as you pull together learned features to create accurate drawings, ensuring all part dimensions are defined using the 3D cad models.

Create a dimensioned drawing from a 3d part using third angle projection and scale 1 to 1, adding a right view, section, and an isometric view with a title block.

this video solution demonstrates creating a technical drawing from a modeled part, using one-to-one scale, front and section views plus symmetric view, with dimensions and radii on an A3 sheet.

Master the Onshape technical drawing workflow by creating a one-to-one scale A3 drawing with top, section, and projection views in third-angle projection, plus essential dimensions for exercise 5.1c.

learn to create a 2d technical drawing from a cad model in onshape, using the project two point one model, with upcoming solution videos guiding the process.

Explore 2d technical drawings in cad software as you build a race car suspension front hub solution, inserting views, adding dimensions, sections, tolerances, and finish notes.