Project Overview
Objective: Create an accurate CAD model of a physical folding knife I own by reverse-engineering key geometry and features. The goal was to recreate the knife in SolidWorks (or your CAD of choice), document manufacturing-relevant dimensions, and prepare the model for potential prototyping or visualization.
This project demonstrates measurement technique, attention to tolerance, and CAD modeling skill—useful for part reproduction, tolerance analysis, and design-for-manufacture thinking.
Process & Methodology
I followed a structured reverse-engineering workflow:
- Reference photos & measurement: High-resolution photos and caliper measurements for critical dimensions (blade length, thickness, handle contours, pivot spacing).
- 2D sketches & templates: Traced profiles and produced scaled sketches to capture the blade and handle outline before 3D modeling.
- 3D modeling: Built the knife as an assembly—blade, handle scales, pivot, and fasteners—in SolidWorks with parametric sketches so dimensions are editable.
- Feature reconstruction: Recreated chamfers, fillets, pocket cutouts, and pivot geometry to match the physical part functionally and visually.
Technical Details
- Key dimensions captured: Blade length, spine thickness, blade offset, pivot centerline, handle scale thickness, and fastener positions.
- Tolerancing approach: Set nominal manufacturing tolerances and called out tight features (pivot bore, fastener holes) for potential prototyping.
- Materials & finish notes: Documented likely materials (stainless blade, G10/wood/metal scales) and surface finish cues from photos for manufacturing considerations.
- Outputs: SolidWorks part & assembly files (.sldprt/.sldasm) and neutral STEP exports for sharing or downstream CAM work.
Results & Deliverables
The completed deliverables include:
- Parametric CAD parts and assembly (SolidWorks format)
- Neutral STEP/IGES export for compatibility
- Dimensioned drawings for the blade and handle for prototyping
- High-resolution renders and reference photos
Gallery
