This overview lists typical tool and die design tasks and the SolidWorks
solutions that help you complete them.
Tasks |
Solutions |
In SolidWorks, open a model that was created in a different CAD platform. |
Use the Import/Export
tools to import models into SolidWorks from another application. |
Check an imported model for problems (gaps, bad faces), and fix any
problems found. |
Use Import
Diagnostics (Tools toolbar) to diagnose and repair
gaps and flawed faces on imported features.
Use Check
(Tools toolbar) to examine the imported model.
Use Heal
Edges (Features toolbar) to repair short edges
on imported features.
If flaws are too severe to be corrected with the Diagnosis tool, apply
these solutions:
Move
Face (Features toolbar). Offsets, translates,
and rotates faces and features directly on solid or surface models.
Delete
Face (Surfaces toolbar). Options include:
Delete.
Deletes a face from a surface body, or deletes one or more faces from
a solid body to create surfaces.
Delete and
Patch. Deletes a face from a surface body or solid body and automatically
patches and trims the body.
Delete and
Fill. Deletes faces and generates a single face to close any gap.
Filled
Surface (Surfaces toolbar). Constructs a surface
patch with any number of sides, within a boundary defined by existing
model edges, sketches, or curves.
Replace
Face (Surfaces toolbar). Replaces faces in
a surface or solid body with new surface bodies.
Other surface
tools.
|
Import geometry from other applications as reference geometry into SolidWorks
part documents. |
Imported
Geometry imports surfaces, solids, sketches,
curves, and graphics models as reference geometry into part documents. |
Replace one imported body with another to support design changes. |
Edit
an imported body or feature in a part by right-clicking it
and selecting Edit Feature. |
Change features in an imported model into features that SolidWorks recognizes. |
Use FeatureWorks. Click Insert,
FeatureWorks and then click Recognize Features or Options.
To learn more about FeatureWorks, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the FeatureWorks
tutorial. |
Convert a 2D imported drawing into a 3D model. |
Use 2D
to 3D conversion tools. |
Insert a DXF or DWG file as a sketch in a SolidWorks part document. |
Insert,
DXF/DWG inserts a DXF or DWG file directly into the current
SolidWorks part document. You can then use the inserted sketch to modify
the part. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Create a tooling part that uses the geometry of the customer part to
define features. |
Use one of the following techniques:
Create a multibody
part by using Insert
Part (for parts created in SolidWorks) or
Imported
Geometry (for parts created in other applications)
to insert the customer part into the tooling part document. Then use Combine
with the Add,
Subtract, or Common
options to manipulate the part.
To create tooling for molded parts, use mold
design tools.
To learn more about mold design tools, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Mold
Design tutorial. |
Make the geometry of the customer part available in an assembly. |
In an assembly document, insert the customer part as a component. Then
create
parts in the context of the assembly, using the geometry of
the customer part to define the tooling part within the assembly. |
Define the overall shape of the tooling, and then split it into separate
pieces. |
Use Split
to split a part into multiple bodies. You
can save each body in a separate part document, and then form an assembly
from the new parts.
To learn more about maintaining associativity while splitting parts,
click Help, SolidWorks
Tutorials, All SolidWorks Tutorials
and complete the Molded Product Design
- Advanced tutorial. |
Use a layout to define where each component belongs in an assembly. |
In an assembly document, create an assembly layout sketch
to make sure your components are positioned properly. |
Use existing geometry in a part or assembly to define curves in a sketch
for new geometry. |
Convert
Entities projects an existing edge, loop,
face, curve, external sketch contour, set of edges, or set of curves onto
the sketch plane. Relations are created automatically that cause the new
curve to update if the original entity changes. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Create parts. |
Create sketches to add shapes (called features) to create
parts. |
Design sheet metal parts. |
Use Sheet
Metal tools to create sheet metal
parts. You can also use the Convert
to Sheet Metal command.
To learn more about sheet metal, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Sheet
Metal tutorial. |
Create multiple versions of parts or assemblies within a single document. |
Create different configurations
of a part in a single document. You can create configurations using any
of the following methods:
To learn more about creating configurations using design tables, click
Help, SolidWorks
Tutorials, All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Design
Tables tutorial. |
Determine the volume and mass of parts. |
Mass
Properties calculates a part's properties such
as density, mass, volume, and so on. |
Sketch spline curves to use in creating a solid or surface. |
Use 2D
splines and 3D
splines. When defining splines, you can use:
Curvature
Combs to visualize the slope and curvature of sketch elements.
Inflection
Points to show where the concavity of a spline changes.
Minimum
Radius to identify the curve with the smallest radius and display
its radial measurement.
|
Create complex geometry. |
SolidWorks tools you can use to create complex geometry include:
Boundary
Boss/Base (Features toolbar). Boundary creates
solid boss/base and cut features similar to solid extrude, loft, revolve,
and sweep features. Boundary produces very high quality, accurate features
useful for creating complex shapes for the consumer product design, medical,
aerospace, and mold markets.
Deform
(Features toolbar). Alters the shape of complex surfaces
or solid models, without concern for the sketches or feature constraints
used to create the models.
Indent
(Features toolbar). Creates an offset pocket or protrusion
feature on a target body that exactly matches the contour of a selected
tool body, using thickness and clearance values to create the feature.
Flex
(Features toolbar). Deforms complex models in an
intuitive manner by bending, twisting, tapering and stretching.
Wrap
(Features toolbar). Wraps a sketch onto a face.
Replace
Face (Surfaces toolbar). Replaces faces in
a surface or solid body with new surface bodies.
Intersection
Curve (Sketch toolbar). Opens a sketch and
creates a sketched curve at the intersection, such as between a plane
and a surface, a surface and a part, two surfaces, and so on.
Composite
Curve (Curves toolbar). Creates a curve by
combining selected curves, sketch geometry, and model edges into a single
curve.
|
Create solid geometry from a surface model. |
Use Thicken
(Features toolbar) to thicken surfaces into solids
or to create solids from enclosed volumes. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Drive a part or assembly design using a layout. |
In an assembly, create an assembly layout sketch
to make sure your components are positioned properly. |
Add parts to an assembly. |
Create
a new assembly from an existing part or assembly using Make Assembly from Part/Assembly . Then use several methods to add components to the assembly.
You can also create
a part in the context of an assembly so you can use the geometry
of other assembly components while designing the part. The new part is
saved within the assembly file as a virtual
component. You can also save the new part in a separate part
file so you can modify it independently from the assembly.
To learn more about assemblies, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Lesson
2 - Assemblies tutorial. |
Replace one component with another. |
Use Replace
Components to replace components in order to
update the assembly. |
Manipulate component location, orientation, and display states. |
Use the Move
Component and Rotate Component tools to move assembly components.
Use Display
States to set a separate display mode (Wireframe, Hidden Lines
Removed, etc.) for each component in an assembly. |
Control assembly movement and define the design intent.
For example, you can constrain a shaft to remain concentric to the cylinder
in which it moves. |
Use mate tools to add mate relations that control movement of parts:
Standard
mates set standard mate relations between components, such
as concentric, parallel, perpendicular, and so on.
Gear
mates control the rotation of one component with respect to
another component.
Lock
mates maintain the position and orientation between two components.
Rack
and pinion mates allow linear translation of one component
(the rack) to cause circular rotation in another component (the pinion),
and vice versa.
Limit
mates limit component movement to a specified range.
Width
mates center a tab within the width of a groove.
SmartMates
automatically add mates when you drag components into place.
Path
mates constrain a selected point on a component to a path.
Universal
joint mates drive the rotation of the output shaft of a universal
joint by the rotation of the input shaft about its axis.
Hinge
mates limit the movement between components to one rotational
degree of freedom.
To learn more about mates, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials, All SolidWorks
Tutorials and complete the Assembly
Mates tutorial. |
Create holes and add fasteners. |
Create holes for fasteners with the Hole Wizard tool, then use Smart Fasteners to
automatically add standard fasteners into the holes.
You can access a customizable library of standard parts using the SolidWorks Toolbox add-in. Select a
standard and the type of part you want to insert, then drag the component
into the assembly. For details, see Toolbox
Help.
Click Tools, Add-Ins,
and select SolidWorks Toolbox
and SolidWorks Toolbox Browser
to activate this add-in.
To learn more about SolidWorks Toolbox, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials, All SolidWorks
Tutorials and complete the Toolbox
tutorial.
Create Smart
Components that require the addition of associated components
and features such as bolts and mounting holes. When you insert the Smart
Component into an assembly, you can choose whether or not to insert the
associated components and features.
To learn more about Smart Components, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials, All SolidWorks
Tutorials and complete the Smart
Components tutorial. |
Add supplier-certified models. |
Use the 3D
ContentCentralSM
web site to save design time by accessing supplier-certified CAD models
that you can download and add to an assembly. |
Build efficient, modular assemblies using sub-assemblies. |
See Working
with Sub-assemblies for tips and links to related topics. |
Troubleshoot problems you have when moving assembly components, such
as components that collide. |
Use Interference
Detection to check a file for components that interfere
with each other. A list gives you the names of the components that interfere
and the interference volume. The volume of interference highlights in
the graphics area.
Use the Collision
Detection option when you move or rotate components to detect
if multiple components collide.
Use Clearance
Verification to check the minimum distance between selected
components.
If a problem with mates is causing problems with the assembly motion,
use MateXpert,
mate
callouts, and View
Mate Errors to identify mate problems. |
Maximize performance of large assemblies. |
Use lightweight
components, which loads only a subset of a model's data in
memory. The remaining model data is loaded on an as-needed basis. You
can also open sub-assemblies as lightweight components.
Use large
assembly mode, which maximizes system option settings for large
assemblies.
Use SpeedPak
to create a simplified representation of an assembly without losing references.
SpeedPak can significantly improve performance when you work in large
and complex assemblies and related drawings.
Simplify
assemblies and vary the assembly design
with component
configurations. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Change the color of a part, or make it transparent. |
Edit
Appearance (View toolbar) edits the appearance
of selected entities or the entire model and changes optical properties
such as transparency and shininess. |
Make an assembly component transparent. |
Change
Transparency (Assembly toolbar) makes an assembly
component 75% transparent. You can also hide components temporarily to
allow you to work with underlying components. |
Examine the curvature of a part or assembly. |
Curvature
(View toolbar) displays a part or assembly with the
surfaces rendered in different colors according to the local radius of
curvature. You can also display numerical values for curvature and radius. |
Check for small changes, wrinkles, or defects in a surface. |
Zebra
Stripes (View toolbar) simulate the reflection
of long stripes of light on a very shiny surface. They enable you to see
small changes in a surface that might be hard to see with a standard display,
and to visually determine what type of boundary (contact, tangent, or
continuous curvature) exists between surfaces. |
Create a section view of a part or assembly. |
Section
View (View toolbar) displays a view of the
model cut with a plane through the part or assembly. (You can also create
section
views in drawings.) |
Create an exploded view of an assembly. |
Use Exploded
View and drag parts in the graphics area to
create an exploded view. You can also animate the exploding and collapsing
of the assembly. |
Check how a component interacts with other components when you move
it in an assembly. |
To check how components interact in an assembly, use the Physical Dynamics option
in Collision Detection. When you drag or rotate a component, it applies
a force to any components it touches, so you see the realistic motion
of assembly components. |
Simulate the effect of motors, springs, and gravity on an assembly. |
To record and play back a simulation of movement, use Physical
Simulation. You can add simulation elements, such as springs,
motors, and gravity that move components. |
Examine an assembly for interferences between components. |
Use Interference
Detection to check a file for components that
interfere with each other. The volume of interference highlights in the
graphics area.
Use Clearance
Verification to check the minimum distance between selected
components. |
Simulate motion of components. |
To display machine movement:
To check how components interact while you are
creating an assembly, use the Physical Dynamics
option in Collision Detection. When you drag or rotate a component, it
applies a force to any components it touches, and you view the motion
of assembly components.
To record and play back a simulation of movement,
use Motion
Studies.
You can
Create animations of models, such as a rotating
or exploding model with the Assembly
Motion level of Motion Studies.
Add
more physics and realism to your animation with either the Physical
Simulation or SolidWorks
Motion (available in SolidWorks Premium).
You can add Simulation
Elements that
move components, such as springs, motors, and gravity, to control and
automate motion.
To learn more motion studies, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorial, All SolidWorks Tutorials
and complete the Assembly Motion tutorial. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Make drawings from a part or assembly. |
Use Make
Drawing from Part/Assembly (Standard toolbar)
to create a drawing directly from a part or assembly.
To learn more about drawings, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Lesson
3 - Drawings and Advanced Drawings
tutorials. |
Insert a DXF or DWG file as a sketch in a SolidWorks drawing document. |
Use Insert,
DXF/DWG to insert a DXF or
DWG file directly into the current SolidWorks drawing document. |
Add views. |
SolidWorks offers tools to create various drawing views:
Add detail
views, section
views, and broken
out sections to a drawing.
Use Alternate
Position Views to superimpose one drawing view precisely on
another. Alternate position views are often used to show the range of
motion of an assembly. |
Add dimensions and annotations from part and assembly documents. |
Model
Items (Annotation toolbar) inserts dimensions
and annotations from part and assembly documents into the drawing document. |
Add annotations and balloons to views. |
Add Center
Marks , Centerlines
, Geometric Tolerance Symbols
, Notes ,
Surface
Finish Symbols , and other annotations.
Use Options ,
Document Properties, Drafting
Standard to specify defaults for center marks, centerlines,
balloons, and dimensions to be inserted automatically on view creation.
Use the AutoBalloon tool
to automatically insert balloons in a drawing. |
Add a bill of materials and other tables. |
Use the Bill
of Materials tool to add a bill of materials to a drawing.
You can create
bills of materials in assembly files. After you save the assembly,
you can insert the BOM into a referenced drawing.
You can also add hole
tables, revision
tables, and weldment
cut lists. |
Tasks |
Solutions |
Manage product data and control revisions. |
Use one of the following product data management (PDM) add-ins:
Click
Tools, Add-Ins,
and select SolidWorks Workgroup PDM
to activate this add-in.
To learn more about SolidWorks Workgroup
PDM, click Help, SolidWorks
Tutorials, All SolidWorks Tutorials
and complete the SolidWorks Workgroup
PDM tutorial.
Click Tools,
Add-Ins, and select SolidWorks
Enterprise PDM to activate this add-in.
To learn more about SolidWorks Enterprise
PDM, when you are logged in to a local file vault, click Help,
SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Help. |
Share documents with other users when collaborating on the design of
a model. |
The multi-user
environment provides read/write access control and tracking
for two or more users working with the same files concurrently. |
Get the newest version of a document. |
Reload
the document to get the latest version. |
Replace one component with another in an assembly. |
Use the Replace
Components tool to replace components in order
to update the assembly. |
Store documents in a common place. |
Use the Save tool
to save
the assembly document and all referenced component documents. |
Copy a document to use it in a new design. |
Use the Save
As command to create a copy of a document with a different
name that you can use in other designs. |
Change the location where parts and sub-assemblies of an assembly are
stored. |
Edit
part location to save parts or sub-assemblies of an assembly
to a new location or file name. |
Rename a SolidWorks document (part, assembly, or drawing) without losing
its references to other SolidWorks documents. |
Use the SolidWorks Explorer file management tool to perform such tasks
as renaming, replacing, and copying SolidWorks files. To activate SolidWorks
Explorer, from within the SolidWorks application, click Tools,
SolidWorks Explorer. |
Send part, assembly, and drawing documents to others for review. |
Publish an SolidWorks
eDrawings file from SolidWorks, and then send it to others
who can use the free SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer to view the file.
To learn more about eDrawings, click Help,
SolidWorks Tutorials,
All SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the SolidWorks
eDrawings tutorial. |
Find 3D models of common components. |
Visit 3D ContentCentral®
to access 3D models from component suppliers and individuals in all major
CAD formats. |
Obtain a rapid prototype. |
Through the Print3D
web portal, you can contact rapid part and prototype vendors to request
price quotes and place orders for the current part document. |