We have all referred to Mass Properties when working with solid models, especially when taking SOLIDWORKS certifications! For the most part, useful information is available at a glance: Density, Mass, Volume, Surface Area, etc. But how does someone interpret the rest of the information included in Mass Properties, particularly the numbers at the bottom? What exactly are they telling us?
If you’ve added a new license of SOLIDWORKS since July 1st, 2023, you’ve probably noticed that your SOLIDWORKS license also contains Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS. This license connects your SOLIDWORKS to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. A major benefit of the role is the ability to share SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies, and drawings with other users without sharing the physical files or downloading large and complicated external software. The only requirement is a 3DEXPERIENCE ID login.
Adding numbers to a SOLIDWORKS model can be a repetitive and time-consuming process. In some cases, this process can be made easier using SOLIDWORKS pattern tools and their Instances to Vary function. Let’s look at the setup and applications of this feature.
It is important to know what happens to SOLIDWORKS data when it is saved to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform or when it is updated for compatibility with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as per the System Option > 3DEXPERIENCE Integration.
In SOLIDWORKS, a sketch is typically your starting point for any design. You begin by adding sketch entities and defining them using two methods: Dimensions and Relations. In this guide, we will cover all SOLIDWORKS Sketch Relations, including what they look like, what is required to make them, and how they interact with your sketch entities.
SOLIDWORKS animations can be useful for showing movement in your assemblies. Sometimes, you’ll want more precise movement than you’d otherwise find by dragging your parts. As a quick refresher, let’s go over the basic steps to set up an animation.
Often, engineers need to include their company’s logo or another image in part files. However, this can be difficult if you only have vector images of your logo. Currently, SOLIDWORKS is unable to directly import .svg, .eps, and other vector image files as sketches or use them as sketch pictures or decals. An easy workaround to this is to use a third-party vector editing software to convert the vector image to a .dxf file, which SOLIDWORKS can import as sketch entities.
SOLIDWORKS offers a versatile set of options under Model Display, allowing users to personalize model visuals for parts and assemblies. Key features include setting custom colors, adjusting edge styles, and applying advanced surface attributes like transparency and texture scaling. This ensures accurate visual representation and smoother design reviews. You can also store custom appearances and optimize model sharing with integrated textures, decals, and lighting effects.
As with any Windows-based program, sometimes database files, registry keys, dlls, or many other files can get lost, deleted, or corrupted; SOLIDWORKS is not immune to these problems. Fortunately, when these problems do arise, SOLIDWORKS has a built-in repair mechanism that can rewrite the program files and registry keys back to the original install state to help get you back up and running.