Table of Contents
Part I: Introducing Assembly Basics
Chapter 1: Understanding Assemblies
Understanding the Purpose of Assemblies
Identifying types of assemblies
Creating an alternative to multiple assemblies
Creating Assembly Templates
Putting Parts into Assemblies
Understanding External References
Referencing external files in-context
Referencing external files from a part
Summary
Chapter 2: Navigating the Assembly Interface
Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Assembly Interface
Using the CommandManager and toolbars
Introducing the assembly tools
Using the Heads-Up View toolbar
Using the Shortcut “S” toolbar
Working in the assembly FeatureManager
Working with multiple document windows
Managing open windows
Understanding the Interface for Moving and Mating
Using the Move Component interface
Using the Mate interface
Summary
Chapter 3: Visualizing Assemblies
Manipulating the View
Using arrow keys
Using the middle mouse button
Clicking the triad
Using mouse gestures
Using the Magnifying Glass
Investing in a 3D mouse device
Controlling Appearances
Removing appearances and overrides
Using the Display Pane
Using the DisplayManager
Using Display States
Using Edge and Wireframe Settings
Making the case for shaded with edge display
Using tangent edge display
Using Assembly Visualization
Tutorial: Using Assembly Visualization
Summary
Part II: Working with Assemblies
Chapter 4: Building Efficient Assemblies
Identifying the Elements of an Assembly
Understanding standard reference geometry items
Working with assembly equations
Using an assembly layout sketch
Working with virtual components
Creating assembly reference geometry
Comparing history-based and non-history-based portions of the assembly tree
Understanding parts and subassemblies
Creating folders
Organizing mates
Applying assembly features
Using component patterns and mirror components
Looking at in-context reference Update Holders
Using Smart Fasteners
Applying the Hole Series
Using SpeedPaks
Using ghosts
Sharing self-contained data
Using SpeedPaks with drawings
Using Subassemblies
Creating subassemblies from existing parts
Organizing for performance
Organizing for the Bill of Materials
Grouping subassemblies by relative motion
Organizing groups of purchased components
Depicting an assembly process
Patterning considerations
Using Folders
Creating folders in the FeatureManager
Adding items to existing folders
Reordering items in the tree
Working with Tree Display Options
Showing feature names and descriptions
Showing component and config names and descriptions
Using names other than the part filename in the assembly FeatureManager
Using Component Reference per Instance
Viewing features, mates, and dependencies
Working with Assembly Tools
Using Sensors
Using the AssemblyXpert
Tutorial: Arranging Assemblies
Tutorial: Managing the FeatureManager
Summary
Chapter 5: Getting More from Mates
Applying Mates
Mating through the Mate PropertyManager
Taking advantage of SmartMates
Mating with macros
Mating for Motion
Analyzing degree of freedom
Setting up successful motion
Working with Advanced and Mechanical Mate Types
Symmetric mate
Cam mate
Width mate
Gear mate
Rack and Pinion mate
Limit mates
Screw mate
Path mate
Linear Coupler mate
Hinge mate
Belt/Chain
Editing and Troubleshooting
Editing existing mates
Troubleshooting assembly mates
Troubleshooting warnings and errors
Examining Mate Options
Reviewing Mate Best Practices
Tutorial: Mating for Success
Summary
Chapter 6: Working with Assembly Sketches and Layouts
Looking at the Techniques
Using the assembly layout sketch
Using master model
Using the Layout Feature
Using the Layout workflow
Working with virtual components
Balancing advantages and limitations
Tutorial: Working with a Layout
Summary
Chapter 7: Using Assembly Tools
Placing Parts without Mates
Using the Move Component options
Using the For Positioning Only option
Building parts in place
Using Proximity Tools
Using Interference Detection
Working with Clearance Verification
Using Dynamic Clearance
Working with Collision Detection
Using Physical Dynamics
Using Sensors
Selecting Components
Selecting with a volume
Selecting suppressed components
Choosing hidden components
Selecting parts mated to another part
Selecting internal components
Choosing Toolbox parts
Using the Advanced Select options
Reading AssemblyXpert Results
Using Defeature
Using the Hole Alignment Tool
Working with Large Assemblies
Using special techniques to improve large assembly performance
Using special tools to improve large assembly performance
Summary
Chapter 8: Controlling Assembly Configurations and Display States
Using Display States
Controlling display states and configurations
Using display states with drawings
Using part display states in parts
Understanding Assembly Configurations
Applying configurations for performance
Using configurations for positions
Applying configurations for product variations
Using design tables for assembly configurations
Working with Modify Configurations and the Configuration Publisher
Looking at assembly configuration dos and don'ts
Tutorial: Working with Assembly Configurations
Summary
Chapter 9: Patterning and Mirroring Components
Using Local Component Patterns
Creating local pattern references
Using Mirror Components
Using Feature-Driven Component Patterns
Understanding Other Pattern Options
Tutorial: Creating Component Patterns
Summary
Chapter 10: Modeling in Context
Understanding In-Context Modeling
Working through a simple in-context example
Weighing the advantages of in-context modeling
Anticipating problems with in-context modeling
Identifying alternatives to in-context modeling
Dealing with the Practical Details of In-Context Modeling
Understanding the in-context process
Looking at in-context best practices
Using Other Types of External References
Using inserted parts
Working with split parts
Using mirror parts
Using the Layout Feature
Using the Layout workflow
Understanding virtual components
Balancing advantages and limitations
Tutorial: Working In-Context
Summary
Chapter 11: Creating Assembly Features
Creating Assembly Cuts
Using the Feature Scope
Propagating features to parts
Making Fillets and Chamfers in Assemblies
Creating Weld Beads
Working with Envelopes
Summary
Chapter 12: Using Parametric Links in Assemblies
Using Equations in an Assembly
Tracking external references
Renaming documents referenced by equations
Sharing equations
Driving equations between parts
Following best practices
Using Link Values and Global Variables in Assemblies
Working with Derived Sketches in Assemblies
Using Inserted Parts to Communicate Parametric Control
Summary
Chapter 13: Editing, Evaluating, and Troubleshooting Assemblies
Working with Mates
Listing mates in the Mates folder
Listing mates under the component
Replacing features with mates
Working with the View Mates tool
Using the View Mate Errors window
Using the MateXpert
Editing mates
Editing File Management Issues
Using Save options and Pack and Go
Replacing components
Forming and dissolving subassemblies
Evaluating Assemblies
Using the AssemblyXpert
Identifying FeatureManager symbols
Using the Isolate function
Using Reload
Summary
Part III: Creating and Using Libraries
Chapter 14: Using Toolbox
Understanding Toolbox
Comparing configurators and libraries
Taking a look at how Toolbox works
Using Toolbox
Organizing Toolbox parts in an assembly
Working recommendations
Using the Hole Wizard
Exploring the Hole Series interface
Looking at Hole Series quirks
Tutorial: Gaining Experience with the Hole Wizard and Toolbox
Summary
Chapter 15: Working with Libraries
Setting Up a Library
Building the Design Library
Using the Design Library
Exploring Other Design Library Functions
Using Annotations in the library
Using sheet metal–forming tools in the library
Using assemblies in the library
Routing
Understanding Smart Components
Using Smart Components
Getting started with a simple Smart Component
Auto-sizing Smart Components
Making Smart Components
Getting started with a simple Smart Component
Creating an auto-sizing Smart Component
Managing files with Smart Components
Editing Smart Components
Tutorial: Working with Smart Components
Summary
Part IV: Creating Assembly Drawings
Chapter 16: Creating Assembly Drawings
Combining Parts and Assemblies on the Same Drawing
Dimensioning assembly features
Assigning the document driving the custom properties
Using Multi-Page Templates
Using Views with Special Assembly Functions
Using the Alternate Position View
Creating views of an exploded assembly
Creating section views
Broken-Out Section View
Using Color in Assembly Drawing Views
Setting Up Drawings of Large Assemblies
Using detached drawings
Working with lightweight drawings
Using SpeedPak with drawings
Using draft quality views
Tutorial: Creating a Simple Assembly Drawing
Summary
Chapter 17: Working with Tables and Drawings
Driving the Bill of Materials
Examining the SolidWorks table-based BOM
Retiring the Excel-based BOM
Using Design Tables
Placing Hole Tables on Drawings
Using Revision Tables
Using General Tables
Working with Tables in Models
Tutorial: Using BOMs
Tutorial: Using Hole Tables
Tutorial: Using Revision Tables
Summary
Part V: Using Specialized or Advanced Techniques
Chapter 18: Using DriveWorks Xpress
Introducing DriveWorks Xpress
Exploring DriveWorks Xpress for your products
Aligning expectations with some estimates
Building the Original Model
Automating an Example
Getting Started: Automating a Design
Activating DriveWorks Xpress
Creating a database
Capturing models
Adding features and dimensions
Creating fields for the form
Building rules
Running the example job
Working with drawings
Summary
Chapter 19: Employing Master Model Techniques
Using Pull Functions
Understanding the Insert Part feature
Understanding the Insert Into New Part feature
Using Push Functions
Working with the Split feature
Working with the Save Bodies feature
Tutorial: Working with Master Model Techniques
Summary
Chapter 20: Using Weldments
Sketching in 3D
Navigating in space
Understanding sketch relations in 3D sketches
Creating planes in space
Limiting path segments
Using dimensions in 3D sketches
Using the Weldment Tools
Using the Weldment feature
Introducing the Structural Member feature
Using the Trim/Extend feature
Using the End Cap feature
Working with the Gusset feature
Using Non-Structural Components
Using Sub-Weldments
Working with Cut Lists
Using Cut-List Properties
Excluding and reordering cut list items
Using weld beads and fillet beads in weldments and assemblies
Creating Weldment Drawings
Tutorial: Working with Weldments
Summary
Chapter 21: Using Mold Tools
Working with the Mold Tools Process
Preparing the plastic part for Mold Tools
Inserting Mold folders
Parting lines
Initiating the shut-off surfaces
Parting surface
Tooling split
Using the Core feature
Intervening Manually with Mold Tools
Passing shut-offs
Creating non-planar parting surfaces
Summary
Chapter 22: Working with Large Scale Design
Creating a Walk-Through
Creating a GridSystem
Starting the GridSystem feature
Creating the sketch
Using the GridSystem PropertyManager
Understanding the GridSystem output
Viewing the Grid Components
Transferring Data with the IFC File Type
Summary
Chapter 23: Animating with the MotionManager
Familiarizing Yourself with the MotionManager
Understanding the terminology
Driving an animation
Planning an animation
Identifying elements of the MotionManager
Using display options
Using the MotionManager interface
Formatting output
Using the Animation Wizard
Creating a rotating animation
Creating an exploded view animation
Animating an assembly
Animating the View
Driving the view with key points
Using paths to control cameras
Animating with Key Points
Getting started
Using the timebar with key points
Copying and mirroring motion
Adjusting the speed of actions
Outputting the animation
Animating with Basic Motion
Using gravity and contact
Using motors and springs
Animating a chain and a spring using motors
Summary
Part VI: Appendixes
Appendix A: Finding Help
SolidWorks Web Help
Contents
Index
Search
SolidWorks Forums
Knowledge Base
Software downloads
Release Notes
What's New
Installation and administration guides
PDMWorks Workgroup Vault Debug Guide
FLEXlm End Users Guide
Blogs
Forums
Appendix B: What's on the DVD
Windows versions
SolidWorks versions
Using the author files folder
Using the video tutorials folder
Using the TechSmith Screen Capture Codec
Accessing additional author videos
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the staff at Wiley for their dedication in editing the text of these books. It can be a difficult job making sure that a technical subject is treated properly. I'd also like to thank Charles Culp, the technical editor, for taking the time out of his schedule to make sure the material is accurate. Thanks also to Kim and Zoey, who help with the details in life allowing me to do this kind of work.
Introduction
SolidWorks is a huge, sprawling topic. There is a lot for you, the reader, to know, and for me to write about. As a result, with the 2011 edition, I have taken this book from a single volume of an immense scope to two individual volumes, each still fairly large, one covering parts and part drawings, and the other covering assemblies and assembly drawings. There is some overlap between these topics, but I have tried to divide the material evenly and in a way, that makes the most sense for the reader. Depending on your needs, you will probably find both volumes to be very useful references.
This book is primarily meant as an encyclopedic desk reference for SolidWorks Standard users who want a more thorough understanding of the software and process than can be found in other available documentation. As such, it is not necessarily intended to be a guide for beginners, although it has elements that beginners would find useful. Nor is it necessarily intended as a classroom guide, but I have seen people use it for that as well.
Beginners will find the step-by-step tutorials useful. However, because you are only a beginner for a short period of time, the book is intended to be most useful when you reach an intermediate level, as it takes a more conceptual approach to explaining functionality. I try to help you make the decisions about how to apply the tools to your tasks rather than demonstrating simple tasks that you will never need to do again. You will not learn to model a teapot in this book, because in your work, knowing how to model a teapot will probably not help you. However, you will learn how to make decisions that should enable you to model just about anything you want, including teapots.
To keep the size of the book manageable, I have tried to avoid topics found only in SolidWorks Professional or Premium, although I do talk about these topics when they are relevant.
While the book does point out limitations, bugs, and conceptual errors in the software, and from time to time ventures into the realm of opinion, in every case this is meant to give you a more thorough understanding of the software, and how it is applied in the context of everyday design or engineering practice.
The overall goal of this book is not to fill your head with facts, but to help you think like the software, so that you can use the tool as an intuitive extension of your own process. As your modeling projects become more complex, you will need to have more troubleshooting and work-around skills available to you. Along with best practice recommendations, these are the most compelling reasons to use this book.
Thank you for your interest.
About This Book
You will find enough information here that this book will grow with your SolidWorks needs. I have written tutorials for most of the chapters with newer users in mind, because for them, it is most helpful to see how things are done in SolidWorks step by step. The longer narrative examples give more in-depth information about features and functions, as well as the results of various settings and options.
This book includes many details that come from practical usage and is focused on the needs of professional users, not on student learners. My approach is to teach concepts rather than how to push buttons.
How This Book Is Organized
This book is divided into six parts.
Part I: Introducing Assembly Basics
This part explores basic concepts and terminology used in SolidWorks. You need to read this section if you are a new SolidWorks user, especially if you are new to 3D modeling or parametric history-based design.
Part II: Working with Assemblies
This part takes a deeper look at creating parametric relations to automate changes.
Part III: Creating and Using Libraries
This part examines the functionality within the 2D drawing side of the software. Whether you are creating views, making tables, or customizing annotations, you will find these chapters useful.
Part IV: Creating Assembly Drawings
This part examines several types of advanced techniques, such as surface modeling and multi-body modeling. This is information you won't find in other SolidWorks books, and is explained here by someone who uses the functionality daily.
Part V: Using Specialized or Advanced Techniques
Specialized functionality, such as sheet metal and plastics, requires detailed information. This part includes the topics that are key to unlocking all the power available in SolidWorks.
Part VI: Appendixes
The Appendixes in this book contain additional information, such as the contents of the DVD and other sources of help.
Icons Used in This Book
This book uses a set of icons to point out certain details in the text. While they are relatively self-explanatory, here is what each of these icons indicates:
Caution
The Caution icon warns you of potential problems before you make a mistake.
Cross-Reference
The Cross-Reference icon points out where you can find additional information about a topic elsewhere in the book.
New Feature
The New Feature icon highlights features and functions that are new to SolidWorks 2011.
Note
The Note icon highlights useful information that you should take into consideration, or an important point that requires special attention.
On the DVD
This icon points you toward related material on the book's DVD.
Tip
Each Tip provides you with additional advice that makes the software quicker or easier to use.
The SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible is unique in its use of the following two icons:
Best Practice
The Best Practice icon points out recommended settings or techniques that are safe in most situations.
Performance
Each Performance icon elaborates on how certain settings, features, or techniques affect rebuild speed or file size.
These icons point out and describe techniques and settings that are either recommended or not recommended for specific reasons. Best practice is usually considered very conservative usage, where the stability of the parametrics and performance (another way of saying rebuild speed) are the ultimate goals. These two aspects of SolidWorks models are usually weighed against modeling speed (how long it takes you to create the model).
You should take Best Practice and Performance recommendations seriously, but as guidelines rather than as rules. When it comes right down to it, the only hard and fast rule about SolidWorks is that there are no hard and fast rules. In fact, I believe that the only reason to have rules in the first place is so that you know when you can break them. Parametric stability and modeling speed are not always the ultimate goals and are often overridden when work-around techniques are used simply to accomplish a geometric goal.
Because not everyone models with the same goals in mind, a single set of rules can never apply for everyone. You must take the best practice suggestions and apply them to your situation using your own judgment.
Because I actually use the software in my work, I viewed it from a practical standpoint while writing this book. I approached the software objectively as a tool, recognizing that complex tools are good at some things and not so good at others. Knowing the strengths and limitations of the software is helpful to you. Pointing out negatives in this context should not be construed as criticizing the SolidWorks software, but rather as preparing you for real-world use of the software. Any tool this complex is going to have imperfections. I hope that some of my enthusiasm for the software also shows through and is to some extent contagious.
Terminology
An important concept referred to frequently in SolidWorks is design intent. As a practical matter, I use the phrase design for change to further distinguish design intent from other design goals.
You will need to be familiar with some special terminology before continuing. In many cases, I use a SolidWorks vernacular or slang when the official terminology is either not descriptive enough or has multiple meanings. For example, the word shortcut can mean several things in the SolidWorks interface; it is used to describe right mouse button (RMB) menus as well as hotkeys. As a result, I have chosen not to use the word shortcut and instead substitute the words RMB and hotkey.
I frequently use RMB to refer to right mouse button menus, or other data that you access by clicking the right mouse button on an item. The word tree refers to the list of features in the FeatureManager.
Differences are frequently found between the names of features on toolbars and the names in the tool tips, menus, or PropertyManager titles. In these cases, the differences are usually minor, and either name may be used.
Most functions in SolidWorks can work with either the object-action or the action-object scenarios. These are also called pre-select and select, respectively. The Fillet feature shows no difference between using pre-selection and selection, although for some fillet options such as face fillet, pre-select is not enabled. Most features allow pre-selection, and some functions, such as inserting a design table, require pre-selection. Although you cannot identify a single rule that covers all situations, most functions accept both.
Frequently in this book, I have suggested enhancement requests that the reader may want to make. This is because SolidWorks development is driven to a large extent by customer requests, and if a large number of users converge on a few issues, then those issues are more likely to be fixed or changed. Again, the enhancement request suggestions are not made to criticize the software, but to make it better. I hope that you will join me in submitting enhancement requests.
SolidWorks is an extremely powerful modeling tool, very likely with the best combination of power and accessibility on the MCAD market today. This book is meant to help you take advantage of its power in your work and even hobbyist applications. If I could impart only a single thought to you, it would be that with a little curiosity and some imagination, you could begin to access the power of SolidWorks for geometry creation and virtual product prototyping. You should start with the assumption that there is a way to do what you are imagining, and that you should be open to using different techniques.
Because I wrote this book to help you look beyond simply asking what different buttons do, I hope that it will help you develop an intuition for thinking like the software. Jeff Ray, CEO of the SolidWorks Corporation, has said that the goal is to make the software as “intuitive as a light switch.” While most people will agree that they have some work left to achieve that particular goal, I believe that approaching the interface intuitively, rather than attempting to remember it all by rote, is the best method. Good luck to you.
Contacting the Author
If you want to contact me, to ask a question about the book's content or to make a suggestion for improving future editions, the best ways to do this are through e-mail (matt@dezignstuff.com
) or my blog (http://dezignstuff.com/blog). On the blog, you can leave comments and read other things I have written about the SolidWorks software, CAD, and engineering or computer topics in general. If you want to contact me for commercial help with a modeling project, my e-mail address is the best place to start that type of conversation. I always look forward to hearing what real users think about the material.
Thank you very much for buying and reading this book. I hope the ideas and information within its pages help you accomplish your professional goals.