NH-SWUG March 31, 2005Tips and TricksPresentation & discussion

Or, good solutions to problems that you didn t know Or, good solutions to problems that you didn t know you hadyou had

Getting even more from multibodies

How do you turn off [x] Merge bodies/features default behavior?Insert Weldment, even if you will not create structural shapes, the [ ] merge option will now be off by default.

Is there an easier way to have individual detail drawings of welded on tabs without making a weldment into an assembly or modeling extra parts?

Make a derrived part by using Insert Part, to embed the weldment part inside a new blank part file.In the derrived part, hide the bodies that should not show in the tab detail drawing. (repeat as needed)

Caveat hole callouts will not be hole wizard intelligent

Performance power ups

Fewer features always rebuilds faster, sometimes smaller file sizes.

Use mirror, linear pattern, circular pattern of 1 instance, and exploit any symmetry you can find in your part.Divide profile sketches with a center/symmetry line and use contour select for feature generation.Pattern Feature vs. Pattern Sketch?

Feature patterns rebuild faster, and make it easier to skip an element

Sketch patterns result in smaller part file sizes.

Shapely sweeps make the profile and path as simple as possible

Put the splines and arcs in the guide curves to get the desired shape.Use contour select with edges, centerlines and other items in addition to the sketch to get the desired profile.

Speeding up Large Assemblies

Hardware considerations & technique changesRAM, lots of it. Fast video, bigger CPU, fast front side bus, and SCSI drivesT100 network dedicated to SolidWorks users (no T10 Switches!)

Keep all apps at the same SP levelUse plenty of swap space (not on the network), keep your journal file local, and for goodness sakes defrag your hard drive every now and thenUse templates to store as many settings as possible

Use fully defined sketched if possibleCombine features sensibly

Resolve rebuild errorsDon t model threads, don t use text for features, and minimize unnecessary detail

Don t featurize imported geometry (leave it dumb )

Still more resource saving techniques

Use the `thread texture on a part face (rotated 90) to simulate knurl grooves, wires, and similar.

Select face, then: RMB Appearance Texture Thread

Use sheet metal to simulate ribbon cable, plastic clips Apply Jog, Hem, and Sketch Bend as needed

The lesser known shortcuts

Insert a design table to set multiple configuration specific custom file properties at one time.

column headings are $propname cells hold property valuesTable can later be deleted and properties remain setTable can be copied from one part file to another

Use Structural Steel sketches from the Toolbox pull down menu toadd new Weldment profile sizes.

Save as - C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\data\weldment profiles\ansiinch\square tube\MyNewSize.sldlfpRemember to set custom file property `Description as: TUBE, SQUARE "V_leg@Sketch1 X "V_leg@Sketch1 X "Thickness@Sketch1

RMB Move or Copy Entities, also works to position or copy sketch text easier and more precisely

SolidWorks 2005 sp1.1 and later

And did you know (or remember) ?

You can [Ctrl] and select multiple mates in an assembly to edit them at the same time.

Scroll down in the Mate Property Manager that pops-up and the Mates group box will list the mates, with the current one highlighted.

When using the mouse wheel to Zoom In/Out, the center of the Zoom effect is on the mouse cursor.

Useful for working in drawings to edit revision block and title block with just 1 smooth operation.

Trim & Extend are the same toolUse right mouse button (RMB) to switch between them2005 Trim has many more options `Trim to closest is the prior version behaviorPower Trim can be used to over-ride coincident point relations

Design Library panel turns every folder into a part pallet folder

Folders Desktop My Documents\

Misc.

Use the SW Task Scheduler to make backup copies of large projects at night.

Schedule copy of a specific list of files or folders to a removable drive or similar and set it to occur at 11pmOr to save as *.pdf, for an unattended project archive or documentation CD set

To correct multiple mate errors work backwards through the history from last to first.

`flip mate alignment Suppress more difficult cases and move on to another.

CTRL-F will search for text in all notes on a drawing

Using Component Line Font combined with colored layersGives you easier colored assembly drawingsAllows component layers to pass through to AutoCAD & help keep parts as parts.

Use a black layer `format to force sheet formats to print black on any printer and under any condition.

Avoids the inactive gray color syndrome

The shell game

What to do when shells won tUse variable thickness walls (+/- 25%) to handle disappearing faces (at fillets) that might cause it to failTest with Offset Surface command

If offset surface fails shell will also fail

Change wall thickness while it is suppressed, and it will repair & rebuild faster

Where to find more

/DesignPosts/SolidWork(ing)http://www.designsmith-services.com/designposts/viewforum.php?f=8

Eng-Tips.com (SolidWorks forum & FAQ)http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=559 SW forum threadshttp://www.eng-tips.com/faq.cfm?pid=559 SW FAQhttp://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=520 top SW related websites

Scott Baughhttp://www.scottjbaugh.com/Tips_Tricks/Tips_Tricks.htm

SolidWorks World Tips & Tricks Phil Sluder, Triaxial Designhttp://www.triaxialdesign.com/tip_tricks.html

Yahoo Groups & SWUGNhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Solidworks-SWUGNhttp://www.swugn.org

NewsgroupsComp.cad.solidworkshttp://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=solidworks

Technique samples & Tutorials

Content Central User Librarywww.3DContentCentral.com

Mike Wilsonhttp://www.mikejwilson.com/solidworks/solidworks_files.htm

SWUGN Paul Salvadorhttp://www.swugn.org/swxmodels.htm

DiMonte Grouphttp://www.dimontegroup.com/Tutorials.htm

FIRST CAD library, USFIRST & other robotic partshttp://www.firstcadlibrary.com/

Thank you

John Nolin, CSWPNH SolidWorks Users Group,http://www.SWUG-NH.org

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