Tips & Tricks
SolidWorks Defeature: How to Increase the Performance of Imported Parts
One tool that I think gets overlooked for it abilities is the Defeature tool, which was introduced in SolidWorks 2011 and has the ability to remove details from part or assembly files. Where I find this tool especially useful is
... ContinuedClean Up Your SolidWorks Drawings With Auto Arrange Dimensions
One of my favorite enhancements to drawings over the past couple of years has got to be Auto Arrange Dimensions. This might be as close as you get to an ‘easy’ button in drawings…
... ContinuedIncluding Reference Axes in Library Features
Have you ever tried to create a library feature in SolidWorks, but ran into an issue when trying to include a reference axis as part of the feature? Here's how we get that reference geometry included. Create your library feature
... ContinuedMaking Holes at an Angle: The Easy Way
Have you ever needed to make a hole that pierces material at a certain point, but at a compound angle? This can be a little challenging, but there is a method that I use which people seem to like. Instead
... ContinuedSketches That Enforce Proportion
Sometimes a sketched feature is not intended to produce a particular dimension, so much as to create a chosen proportion. The most obvious way to enforce proportionality between any two dimensions in SolidWorks is to write an equation. Equations are
... ContinuedLearn something new in our 22-minute webinars
Have you ever wanted to learn about new features in SolidWorks, but just didn't have the time? We're all busy these days, and devoting an hour ot more to a screencast or webinar isn't always possible. So the brain trust
... ContinuedSolidWorks Configuration Publisher: Taking File Configuration to the Next Level
If you have a part or assembly file and it has configurable properties SolidWorks has many possibilities to be able to create those different versions of your file. You can start simple with a few simple configurations, from there you
... ContinuedViewing options in SolidWorks: zoom to fit no more!
When using Standard Views in SolidWorks models and assembles, the resulting view of the model is normally Zoom to fit. So, if you are zoomed in on to see a particular feature of a very long part, when you change
... ContinuedThe Importance of Material Properties in Analysis with SolidWorks Simulation
Have you ever considered the importance of Material Properties to your Finite Element solution? What about the accuracy of the data provided by material vendors? As Designers and Engineers, we are used to dealing with tolerances….What will happen to the Finite Element solution if one material property varies?
... ContinuedHide vs. Suppressed in SolidWorks Assemblies
Hiding and Suppressing parts in SolidWorks assemblies can have similar looking results, but both operations behave quite differently from each other. At the time this article is written, SolidWorks 2012 has several capabilities of both Hide and Suppress, and even
... ContinuedMining for Gems in SolidWorks Part Templates
This months tip, #2-Mining for Gems in Part Templates, stems from a recent visit to a company newer to SolidWorks. As we were going through establishing some standard part templates, particularly for Sheet Metal, the question came up on how,
... ContinuedIn drawings, how are breaks in projected Break views aligned with parent view’s breaks?
Break views are common practice for some industries where long components do not fit well on standard sheet sizes at a useful scale. SolidWorks has a function to break views in the Break tool in the Drawing toolbar. However, what if there is a projected view of that component which must also have a break?
... ContinuedTips for Using Enterprise PDM’s Label Function
Remember that kid that was always picked last to be on the kickball team? I think SolidWorks Enterprise’s Label function was that kid. What good is it? I have seen it used three different ways…
... ContinuedSolidWorks “Freeze” Saves You Time
New in Solidworks 2012 is a tool that allows you to take charge of your models and give you time back in your busy schedule. How many of us work with import bodies, large data sets, or complex models? We
... ContinuedSolidWorks Indent: One Tool with Unlimited Uses
One of the SolidWorks tools that I think gets overlooked for the unlimited number of possible uses is the Indent feature. Below are 3 different examples of how I have found that the tool can be used on an everyday
... Continued