Simplifying Parts and Assemblies

The Simplify utility determines an internal calculation of "insignificant volume" based on the size of a part or assembly. Supported features below the insignificant volume can be suppressed to a derived configuration so you can perform analysis (using SolidWorks SimulationXpress) on the simplified part or assembly.

The following features are supported in assemblies:

• Chamfers

• Extrudes. Boss, boss-thin, cut, cut-thin. (Base extrudes and extrudes that are not Blind or Mid-Plane are not found.)

• Fillets. Simple, multi-radius, face (without the hold line parameter), variable radius. (Full round fillets are not found.)

• Holes (Simple and Hole Wizard)

• Revolves (Volume Based only)

Assembly features are not found with the Simplify utility.

To use the Simplify utility:

1. Click Simplify (Tools toolbar) or Tools, Find/Modify, Simplify.

2. On the Simplify Task Pane:

   1. Select items in Features to specify the types of features to search for.

   2. Set the Simplification factor to increase or decrease the insignificant volume factor.

   3. Select a simplification method:

      • Feature Parameter. Simplifies features by feature parameter value.

      • Volume Based. Simplifies features based on their volume in parts and assemblies.

   4. (Assemblies only) If desired, select Ignore features affecting assembly mates so those features that would cause mate failures are not suppressed.

There could be cases where the utility cannot detect that suppressing a feature will affect the mate entity because there may be no parent-child relationship between the feature that owns the mate entity and the feature to suppress.

3. Click Find Now.

The Results section displays a tree of features with insignificant volumes. The following option is available:

• Create derived configurations. Creates a derived configuration (called Simplify_<n>) of the simplified part or assembly after you click Suppress or Unsuppress. The part or assembly is simplified by suppressing the features of insignificant volume. You can rename the configuration in the Name box.

When Create derived configurations is cleared, you can add the simplified features to a different configuration you select under Configurations. You can also rename a configuration here and it updates in the FeatureManager design tree. Configurations lists only the active configuration and its derived configurations.

4. Click .