GoEngineer Blog

Every few releases it’s always a good idea to update your SOLIDWORKS templates to the latest version you and your company are currently using. Being one of the techs on the Technical Support team, we run into the rare occurrence that a part, assembly or drawing seems to have become corrupt.

When you create a new document, import a file from another application, or create a derived part in SOLIDWORKS, the default template is used for the new document. However, sometimes if the file paths are not set up correctly, you may get the error message “The default templates are not valid. The problems can be resolved by correcting the default templates under the options dialog. Do you want to continue with a blank template?”

 

The goal of this article is to clarify any confusion and to break down the difference between drawing templates vs sheet formats in SOLIDWORKS; a question we often receive in our tech support line. 

 

PDM templates have the power to radically change how files are created. In this article, we'll demonstrate how we can use templates to create folder structures and files from existing templates inside of PDM and SOLIDWORKS, using inputs to create a semi-intelligent part number system.

Sheet Metal is a feature in SOLIDWORKS that allows users to create bend and flat patterns simultaneously. When paired with the option to save files as .dxf for easy laser cutting, SOLIDWORKS becomes the preferred choice for industry leaders. SOLIDWORKS also allows users to create templates. These are starting points for your files, saving you even more time. One of the advantages of using templates is that they allow you to preselect various settings, such as units and color selections, so you don't have to change them each time you start a new file. Sheet Metal has its own set of settings. One of which is the gauge table.

You can save all Flow Simulation project data to a template, such as boundary conditions, sources, and goals. By creating Flow Simulation templates, you can save yourself some time setting up your next Flow Simulation study on any models similar to the one that you saved your template from.

If you’ve recently uninstalled SOLIDWORKS, purchased a new laptop, or lost templates that you have been using and are unsure of how to get them back - have no fear. It’s possible to recover SOLIDWORKS templates by opening your past Part, Assembly, and Drawing files. 

In SOLIDWORKS, tables are used to annotate drawings and assemblies. Their appearance can be driven by a company standard, personal preference, or for clarifying information. A table template helps maintain consistency and avoid customizing tables for each use. Here, we will take a look at the tools available and how to use a customized table template in SOLIDWORKS.

 

The SOLIDWORKS Model Based Definition (MBD) add-in includes the capability to generate 3D PDFs of parts and assemblies created in SOLIDWORKS. 3D PDFs can be opened with the standard, free Adobe Reader program and contain 3D Views and Product Manufacturing Information (PMI).