{"id":3467,"date":"2018-02-01T15:28:03","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T08:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrosystems-des.com\/solidworks\/?p=3467"},"modified":"2018-02-01T15:28:03","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T08:28:03","slug":"getting-lucky-with-solidworks-creating-a-skew-pair-of-dice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrosystems-des.com\/solidworks\/getting-lucky-with-solidworks-creating-a-skew-pair-of-dice\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Lucky with SOLIDWORKS: Creating a Skew Pair of Dice"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Ever wondered how to skew the odds in your favor? Well, we can try to make some dice that are skewed using SOLIDWORKS so that we can win at craps.<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But the funny thing is, as biased as these bones look,\u00a0NumberPhile<\/u><\/a>\u00a0explains that they are perfectly fair given that you have both handed versions. Drat. Ah well, this looks like a fun thing to model, so let\u2019s do it anyway!<\/p>\n

The first thing we need to know is what this shape is. That way we can devise a plan of attack to model this strange shape easily. The name of the shape is a trigonal trapezohedron, and it has more symmetries than one might think.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The first thing we can note about it is that it all of the faces are planar and identical in shape and area, that is, each side is a similar rhombus. With this, we can assume that mirroring and patterning is valid in the first place. It has a rotational degree of symmetry (as denoted by the blue axis). We can, therefore, use a circular pattern as part of a modeling solution. We can also see that some edges are colored differently than others. Edges of matching color means that they have the same length. Notice that all the green edges come together at a point, making a green tripod, and the same is true for the other side. Notice that the green tripods don\u2019t line up with each other perfectly, as would be the case of a perfect mirror. We can deduce that the mirrored sides have a rotation about the blue axis to rotationally offset them. One more thing to notice about this shape is the red and purple \u201cbelt\u201d around the solid. This will check if we got the shape right when we are finished. With those observations done, let\u2019s get to modeling!<\/p>\n

The plan is to use surfacing to enclose a volume and then use the Intersect tool to create a solid. The problem is how to get the surface lined up so that the enclosed volume is a trigonal trapezohedron. In this guide, I will give you my solution.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Planar Surface<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve already discussed the types of patterns we plan to use, but we haven\u2019t discussed what the seed should be. As previously mentioned, all of the sides are planar so we can use the planar surface feature. The only thing now is what\u00a0boundaries<\/em>\u00a0should the surface have. For this, an arbitrarily large square on the Top plane will do. Keep the origin at the lower left corner and make it about 10 inches. (I am aiming to make my solid about 3 inches long, so this amount of surface should be plenty.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Step 2: Making the Axis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now it is time to make the axis as represented by the blue line. In order to achieve this, we will create a center line on a 2D sketch. This sketch will live on a plane that bisects this square. To make the plane, we will boot up a new Reference Plane and select the following:<\/p>\n