More About My Car Key Fob CAD Project

I chose to build my car key fob for this assignment because I enjoy learning more about cars- especially my own. Pictured above is the key fob SolidWorks part itself- without any buttons, key rings, or the ignition insert. This part was the most challenging part for me to build, since it tested my knowledge of CAD significantly. Completing it required implementing various features within SolidWorks, such as cuts, chamfers, and revolves or extrudes. The inside of the key fob was hollowed out using the Shell feature for simplicity. Click below to see the image enlarged.

In addition to properly mating and joining the different parts together in SolidWorks, I also had to generate 3D drawings of each part, with proper dimensions, callouts, tolerances, and ordnances. Here is the most difficult drawing I made, which is of the ignition insert. This one was difficult simply because it required much more labelling of dimensions than my other parts. Click below to see the image enlarged.

 After successfully building and creating drawings for the various parts, I then combined each body using different kinds of mates (coincident mates, concentric mates, tangential mates, etc.) into one assembly. Unfortunately, the buttons on the top face didn't import quite as well due to the sketches being poorly drawn in SolidWorks. The trunk button in particular was difficult due to the intricacy required in sketching it, and then mating it in between the lock and unlock buttons. Click below to see the image enlarged.

The final step for completing this project was to dismantle the assembly and create an exploded view of each part. This is standard for CAD & Designer engineers as it allows for easy formation of a Bill of Materials- which I also had to create as a drawing. This project could've been made more realistic by not hollowing out the inside of the key fob, and by improving the button sketches. Overall, though, this project was fun and challenging for me, and I learned a lot. Click below to see the image enlarged.