[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":100},["ShallowReactive",2],{"iosk-DG7ZGPNbIgdpJLSO7ffD8Wk8mp2sawwsCCFNmI":3,"article_lobs_solidworks":10,"_apollo:default":98,"_apollo:identified":99},{"mailchimpAudience":4},{"actionUrl":5,"slug":6,"locale":7,"default":8,"__typename":9},"","lobs","en","https:\u002F\u002F3ds.us3.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002Fpost?u=ed4601044e1936748c0d2aa6b&id=e5080ff9fe&f_id=002d4de2f0","MailchimpAudience",{"posts":11},{"nodes":12,"__typename":97},[13],{"id":14,"slug":6,"title":15,"uri":16,"excerpt":17,"locale":18,"featuredImage":21,"tableOfContents":29,"content":30,"date":31,"authorJobTitle":5,"author":32,"masterings":44,"globalTags":48,"products":51,"disciplines":65,"seo":86,"__typename":96},"cG9zdDo2NDMxNw==","Lobster Trap Using Weldments","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Flobs","\u003Cp>This time I decided to make a part using the weldments feature…\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"locale":19,"__typename":20},"en_US","Locale",{"node":22,"__typename":28},{"large":23,"__typename":24,"medium_large":23,"thumbnail":25,"srcSet":26,"sizes":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bf89c970d.jpg.webp","MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bf89c970d-150x150.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bf89c970d.jpg.webp 364w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bf89c970d-300x223.jpg.webp 300w","(max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",[],"\u003Cp>This time I decided to make a part using the weldments feature and  explain how I went about it.  I made a lobster trap using only  weldments.  Even though this lobster trap is made out of wood, weldments  still can be useful as the wood used here is all a constant profile.   Through the use of weldments, a cut list can be generated which is also a  good thing to have when working with wood.  To make it, I first started  off by making a sketch of the bottom of the trap.  This was done on the  top plane and all the lines of where the planks would go were  included.  This sketch can be seen below.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>       \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"301\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e201676400c739970b-500wi.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64320\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e201676400c739970b-500wi.jpg.webp 500w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e201676400c739970b-500wi-300x181.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>       Next a 3D sketch was created for the rest of the planks in the trap.   This was done using three arches and then connecting them with equal  spaced lines.  The lines represent where the planks will go so it is  necessary to make sure that the profile of the weldment will fit without  over lapping.  This 3D sketch can be seen below.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017d12970c-500wi.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64321\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017d12970c-500wi.jpg.webp 500w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017d12970c-500wi-300x166.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>            After the whole profile is created weldments can be  added.  Under insert, click weldments and then structural members.  For  this part I used ansi inch for the standard, rectangular tubing for the  type, and 3 x 2 x 0.25 as a basis for the size of the pieces of wood.  This profile was then modified after the weldments were created by going under the drop down for the weldment in the feature manager and editing the sketch.  Groups need to be created for  clusters of lines.  The lines in each group either need to be a  continuous loop or else they need to all be parallel.  For the main part  of the lobster trap I ended up using 15 different groups.  I started  off by selecting the outside rectangle of the bottom as my first group.   More groups were created until all the sketch lines were in groups.   Groups can also be rotated or aligned by using the option at the bottom  of the feature manager.  This is what the screen looks like when placing  all the weldments.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017e17970c-500wi.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64322\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017e17970c-500wi.jpg.webp 500w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20168e9017e17970c-500wi-300x155.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>            The purple dots that show up are all the intersection  points of the structural members.  If a joint meets up a different way  than is desired, the purple dot can be selected and then the trimming  order of the groups can be changed.  This changes which member is cut  first at that joint.  Once all the members are placed as desired click  the check mark and it will look something like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bfc32970d-500wi.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64323\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bfc32970d-500wi.jpg.webp 500w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F6a00d83451706569e20163030bfc32970d-500wi-300x207.jpg.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>            The netting was created using more sketches and  weldments.  However, the desired profile for the weldments was not a  choice under the sizes.  To get around this, a random size was chosen  and then after the members were selected the profile could be changed.   This is able to be done under the drop down for the structural members  and then editing the sketch of the profile.  I made this profile a 0.125  inch diameter circle.  My sketches for the netting can be observed by  downloading my part that is attached below.  I hope this inspires you to  start your own project with weldments.  Enjoy!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ian Jutras\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Worcester Polytechnic Institute\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Mechanical Engineering 2013\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsolidworks.typepad.com\u002Ffiles\u002Flobster-trap.sldprt\"> \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsolidworks.typepad.com\u002Ffiles\u002Flobster-trap-1.sldprt\">Download Lobster trap\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>","2012-03-21T15:22:39",{"node":33,"__typename":43},{"nicename":34,"description":5,"slug":35,"name":36,"firstName":37,"lastName":38,"avatar":39,"__typename":42},"ian-matthew-jutras","ian matthew jutras","Ian Jutras","Ian","Jutras",{"url":40,"__typename":41},"https:\u002F\u002Fsecure.gravatar.com\u002Favatar\u002F2932a86aff75db0ef13a58292e4f91ceb1ac2a9a9e6c9546d8016c4e147eb9d2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"nodes":45,"edges":46,"__typename":47},[],[],"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnection",{"nodes":49,"__typename":50},[],"PostToTaxonomy_tagConnection",{"edges":52,"nodes":62,"__typename":64},[53],{"isPrimary":54,"node":55,"__typename":61},false,{"id":56,"name":57,"slug":58,"uri":59,"__typename":60},"dGVybTo1Ng==","SOLIDWORKS","solidworks","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","Taxonomy_product","PostToTaxonomy_productConnectionEdge",[63],{"id":56,"name":57,"slug":58,"uri":59,"__typename":60},"PostToTaxonomy_productConnection",{"nodes":66,"edges":81,"__typename":85},[67],{"id":68,"name":69,"slug":70,"uri":71,"parentId":72,"disciplines":73,"__typename":80},"dGVybTo2OQ==","Students","students","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fstudents\u002F","dGVybTo2Ng==",{"nodes":74,"__typename":79},[75],{"title":69,"uri":76,"parentId":77,"__typename":78},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Feducation\u002Fstudents","cG9zdDozNzgx","Discipline","Taxonomy_disciplineToDisciplineConnection","Taxonomy_discipline",[82],{"isPrimary":54,"node":83,"__typename":84},{"parentId":72,"id":68,"name":69,"slug":70,"uri":71,"__typename":80},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnectionEdge","PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnection",{"canonical":5,"title":87,"metaDesc":5,"opengraphAuthor":5,"opengraphDescription":88,"opengraphTitle":15,"opengraphUrl":89,"opengraphSiteName":90,"opengraphPublishedTime":91,"opengraphModifiedTime":92,"twitterTitle":5,"twitterDescription":5,"readingTime":93,"metaRobotsNoindex":94,"__typename":95},"Lobster Trap Using Weldments - Blog Solidworks","This time I decided to make a part using the weldments feature…","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Flobs\u002F","Blog Solidworks","2012-03-21T19:22:39+00:00","2025-12-19T10:01:32+00:00",3,"noindex","PostTypeSEO","Post","RootQueryToPostConnection",{},{},1776257564910]