{"id":70,"date":"2025-10-15T00:04:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T04:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stgeorges.bc.ca\/michaelh\/?p=70"},"modified":"2025-11-08T17:45:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T22:45:30","slug":"cad-project-building-a-miniature-rowing-boat-in-cad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.stgeorges.bc.ca\/michaelh\/projects\/cad-project-building-a-miniature-rowing-boat-in-cad\/","title":{"rendered":"CAD Project – Building a Miniature Rowing Boat in onShape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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picture of the final product<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this project, I wanted to design a miniature of a rowing scull using Onshape. The goal of this assignment was to apply fundamental CAD skills like sketching, extruding, and assembling to a real world object. Rowing is a sport that requires precision, balance and symmetry, and I wanted to capture that same spirit in my CAD model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I chose to replicate a rowing scull because I really enjoy doing the sport and it has been a major part of my life. Where I\u2019ve been rowing for more than five years now and always admired the design of these boats. Additionally, I\u2019ve always wanted to 3D print a model boat to display it on my desk, and this project felt like the perfect chance to turn that into a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sketching 2D Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I began the design by first creating a part studio for the hull of the boat. Then I sketched the cross sections, also called stations (STA). And in boat designs, a station represents a specific slice along the boat\u2019s length, and it\u2019s almost like cutting the hull into thin vertical sections to see its internal shape at different points. Each cross-section shows the outline of the hull at that point, which helps to define the overall body curves from bow (the front of a rowing boat) to stern (the back of the boat).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the planes, I drew ellipses from STA_0 (the bow) to STA_90 (the stern) to present the gradual transitions in width and height. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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cross section sketches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alongside the hull, I also made sketches for other parts like the rigger, oarlocks, and oars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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sketch of the rigger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Extrusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, I used the loft and extrude tools to create a smooth 3D solid object between the sketches. I then created another sketch for the cockpit opening on the top surface and used the extrude cut tool to remove material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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hull after loft and extrude <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For other part studios, I also mainly used the extrusion tool to turn the sketch into a 3D object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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rigger after extrude<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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oarlock after extruding and applying fillets<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Assembly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once I’ve completed all individual parts in different studios, I created an assembly. I inserted the scull, rigger, oarlocks, and oars, then used fastened mates to secure all the parts to the boat. I also use the revolute mates when connecting the oarlock to the rigger to allow the oars to rotate around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also played around with the animation for a while, I wasn’t able to find any ways to animate the oars on both sides together, so instead I’ve just showcased what it looks like animating one oar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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