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    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition
    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition
    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition
    Ebook1,672 pages12 hours

    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition

    By Sham Tickoo

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    About this ebook

    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers book is written to help the readers effectively use the modeling and assembly tools by utilizing the parametric and feature based approach of SOLIDWORKS 2023. This book provides detailed description of the tools that are commonly used in modeling and assembly. The SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers book further elaborates on the procedures of generating the drawings of a model or assembly, which are used for documentation of a model or assembly.

    Special emphasis has been laid on the introduction of concepts, which have been explained using detailed text, along with graphical examples. The examples and tutorials used in this book ensure that the users can relate the information provided in this textbook with the practical industry designs.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCADCIM Technologies
    Release dateFeb 21, 2024
    ISBN9781640571723
    SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition
    Author

    Sham Tickoo

    Prof. Sham Tickoo is professor of Manufacturing Engineering at Purdue University Northwest, USA where he has taught design, drafting, CAD and other engineering courses for over nineteen years. Before joining Purdue University, Prof. Tickoo has worked as a machinist, quality control engineer, design engineer, engineering consultant, and software developer. He has received a US patent for his invention Self Adjusting Cargo Organizer for Vehicles. Professor Tickoo also leads the team of authors at CADCIM Technologies to develop world-class teaching and learning resources for Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and related technologies.

    Read more from Sham Tickoo

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      Book preview

      SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers, 21st Edition - Sham Tickoo

      Chapter 1:Introduction to SOLIDWORKS 2023

      Introduction to SOLIDWORKS 2023

      Part Mode

      Assembly Mode

      Drawing Mode

      System Requirements

      Getting Started With SOLIDWORKS

      Menu Bar And SOLIDWORKS menus

      CommandManager

      Part Mode CommandManagers

      Assembly Mode CommandManagers

      Drawing Mode CommandManagers

      Customized CommandManager

      Toolbar

      Pop-up Toolbar

      View (Heads-Up) Toolbar

      Shortcut Bar

      Mouse Gestures

      Dimensioning Standards and Units

      Important Terms and Their Definitions

      Feature-based Modeling

      Parametric Modeling

      Bidirectional Associativity

      Windows Functionality

      SWIFT Technology

      Geometric Relations

      Blocks

      Library Feature

      Design Table

      Equations

      Collision Detection

      What’s Wrong Functionality

      SimulationXpress

      Physical Dynamics

      Physical Simulation

      Seed Feature

      FeatureManager Design Tree

      Absorbed Features

      Child Features

      Dependent Features

      Auto-Backup Option

      Selecting Hidden Entities

      Hot Keys

      Color Scheme

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Chapter 02: Sketching, Dimensioning, and Creating Base Features and Drawings

      The Sketching Environment

      Starting a New Session of SolidWorks 2023

      Task Panes

      SolidWorks Resources Task Pane

      Design Library Task Pane

      File Explorer Task Pane

      View Palette Task Pane

      Appearances, Scenes, and Decals Task Pane

      Custom Properties Task Pane

      Starting a New Document in SolidWorks 2023

      Part

      Assembly

      Drawing

      Understanding the Sketching environment

      Setting the Document Options

      Modifying the Drafting Standards

      Modifying the Linear and Angular Units

      Modifying the Snap and Grid Settings

      Learning Sketcher Terms

      Origin

      Inferencing Lines

      Select Tool

      Invert Selection Tool

      Drawing Lines

      Orientation Rollout

      Options Rollout

      Drawing Continuous Lines

      Drawing Individual Lines

      Line Cursor Parameters

      Drawing Tangent or Normal Arcs Using the Line Tool

      Drawing Construction Lines or Centerlines

      Drawing Midpoint Line

      Drawing the Lines of Infinite Length

      Drawing Circles

      Drawing Circles by Defining their Center Points

      Drawing Circles by Defining Three Points

      Drawing Construction Circles

      Drawing Arcs

      Drawing Tangent/Normal Arcs

      Drawing Centerpoint Arcs

      Drawing 3 Point Arcs

      Drawing Rectangles

      Drawing Rectangles by Specifying their Corners

      Drawing Rectangles by Specifying the Center and a Corner

      Drawing Rectangles at an Angle

      Drawing Centerpoint Rectangles at an Angle

      Drawing Parallelograms

      Drawing Polygons

      Drawing Splines

      Drawing Slots

      Creating a Straight Slot

      Creating a Centerpoint Straight Slot

      Creating a 3 Point Arc Slot

      Creating a Centerpoint Arc Slot

      Placing Sketched Points

      Drawing Ellipses

      Drawing Elliptical Arcs

      Drawing Parabolic Curves

      Drawing Conic curves

      Drawing Display Tools

      Zoom to Fit

      Zoom to Area

      Zoom In/Out

      Zoom to Selection

      Pan

      Previous View

      Redraw

      SHADED Sketch CONTOURS

      Deleting Sketched Entities

      Applying Geometric Relations to Sketches

      Applying Relations Using the Add Relations PropertyManager

      Dimensioning a Sketch

      Creating Base Features by Extruding Sketches

      Starting a New Drawing Document from the Part Document

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Tutorial 4

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Exercise 4

      Chapter 03: Editing and Modifying Sketches

      Editing Sketched Entities

      Trimming Sketched Entities

      Extending Sketched Entities

      Convert Entities

      Silhouette Entities

      Intersection Curves

      Filleting Sketched Entities

      Chamfering Sketched Entities

      Offsetting Sketched Entities

      Offsetting Edges or Face of a Model

      Mirroring Sketched Entities

      Mirroring Entities Dynamically

      Moving Sketched Entities

      Rotating Sketched Entities

      Scaling Sketched Entities

      Stretching Sketched Entities

      Copying and Pasting Sketched Entities

      Creating Patterns

      Creating Linear Sketch Patterns

      Creating Circular Sketch Patterns

      Editing Patterns

      Writing Text in the Sketching Environment

      Modifying Sketched Entities

      Modifying a Sketched Line

      Modifying a Sketched Circle

      Modifying a Sketched Arc

      Modifying a Sketched Polygon

      Modifying a Spline

      Modifying the Coordinates of a Point

      Modifying an Ellipse or an Elliptical Arc

      Modifying a Parabola

      Dynamically Modifying and Copying Sketched Entities

      Splitting Sketched Entities

      Creating Segments in Sketched Entities

      TUTORIALS

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Exercise 4

      Exercise 5

      Exercise 6

      Chapter 04: Adding Relations and Dimensions to Sketches

      Applying Geometric Relations to Sketches

      Applying Relations using the Add Relations PropertyManager

      Automatic Relations

      Design Intent

      Dimensioning a Sketch

      Horizontal/Vertical Dimensioning

      Aligned Dimensioning

      Angular Dimensioning

      Diametric Dimensioning

      Radial Dimensioning

      Linear Diametric Dimensioning

      Ordinate Dimensioning

      Baseline Dimension

      Chain Dimension

      Horizontal Ordinate Dimensioning

      Vertical Ordinate Dimensioning

      Path Length Dimension

      Auto Insert Dimension

      Concept of a Fully Defined Sketch

      Fully Defined

      Overdefined

      Underdefined

      Dangling

      No Solution Found

      Invalid Solution Found

      Sketch Dimension or Relation Status

      Deleting Overdefined Dimensions

      Displaying and Deleting Relations

      Opening an Existing File

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Chapter 05: Advanced Dimensioning Techniques and Base Feature Options

      Advanced Dimensioning Techniques

      Fully Defining the Sketches

      Dimensioning the True Length of an Arc

      Measuring Distances and Viewing Section Properties

      Measuring Distances

      Determining the Section Properties of Closed Sketches

      Creating Base Features by Extruding Sketches

      Creating Solid Extruded Features

      Creating Thin Extruded Features

      Creating Base Features by Revolving Sketches

      Creating Solid Revolved Features

      Creating Thin Revolved Features

      Determining the Mass Properties of Parts

      Dynamically Rotating the View of a Model

      Rotating the View Freely in 3D Space

      Rotating the View around a Selected Vertex, Edge, or Face

      Modifying the View Orientation

      Changing the Orientation Using the Reference Triad

      Restoring the Previous View

      Displaying the Drawing Area in Viewports

      Displaying the Drawing Area in Two Horizontal Viewports

      Displaying the Drawing Area in Two Vertical Viewports

      Displaying the Drawing Area in Four Viewports

      Display Modes of a Model

      Wireframe

      Hidden Lines Visible

      Hidden Lines Removed

      Shaded With Edges

      Shaded

      Additional Display Modes

      Shadows In Shaded Mode

      Perspective

      Assigning Materials and Textures to Models

      Assigning Materials to a Model

      Changing the Appearance of the Model

      Editing the Appearances

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Chapter 06: Creating Reference Geometries

      Importance of Sketching Planes

      Creating Reference Geometry

      Reference Planes

      Creating New Planes

      Creating Reference Axis

      Creating Reference Points

      Creating Reference Coordinate Systems

      Creating Center of Mass

      Creating a Bounding Box

      Advanced Boss/Base Options

      Modeling Using the Contour Selection Method

      Creating Cut Features

      Creating Extruded Cuts

      Creating Multiple Bodies in the Cut Feature

      Creating Revolved Cuts

      Concept of the Feature Scope

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Chapter 07: Advanced Modeling Tools-I

      Advanced Modeling Tools

      Creating Simple Holes

      Creating Standard Holes Using the Hole Wizard

      Creating Advanced Holes

      Creating Threads

      Adding External Cosmetic Threads

      Creating Fillets

      Selection Options

      Creating Fillets Using the FilletXpert

      Creating Chamfers

      Creating Shell Features

      Creating Wrap Features

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-evaluation test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      C08: Advanced Modeling Tools-II

      Advanced Modeling Tools

      Creating Mirror Features

      Creating Linear Pattern Features

      Creating Circular Pattern Features

      Creating Sketch Driven Patterns

      Creating Curve Driven Patterns

      Creating Table Driven Patterns

      Creating Fill Patterns

      Creating Variable Patterns

      Creating Rib Features

      Displaying the Section View of a Model

      Changing the Display States

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Tutorial 3

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Exercise 3

      Exercise 4

      C09: Editing Features

      Editing the Features of a Model

      Editing Using the Edit Feature Tool

      Editing Sketches of the Sketch-based Features

      Editing the Sketch Plane Using the Edit Sketch Plane Tool

      Editing Using the Instant3D Tool

      Editing Features and Sketches by Using the Cut, Copy, and Paste Options

      Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Features and Sketches from One Document to Another

      Copying Features using Drag and Drop

      Deleting Features

      Deleting Bodies

      Suppressing Features

      Unsuppressing the Suppressed Features

      Unsuppressing Features with Dependents

      Hiding Bodies

      Moving and Copying Bodies

      Reordering the Features

      Rolling Back the Feature

      Renaming Features

      Creating Folders in the FeatureManager Design Tree

      What’s Wrong Functionality

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-evaluation test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Chapter 10: Advanced Modeling Tools-III

      Advanced Modeling Tools

      Creating Sweep Features

      Creating Cut-Sweep Features

      Creating Loft Features

      Adding a Section to a Loft Feature

      Creating Lofted Cuts

      Creating 3D Sketches

      Creating Grid Systems

      Mirroring Sketch Entities in a 3D Sketch

      Editing 3D Sketches

      Creating Curves

      Extruding a 3D Sketch

      Creating Draft Features

      Creating Dome Features

      Creating Indents

      Creating Deform Features

      Creating Flex Features

      Creating Fastening Features

      Creating the Mounting Boss

      Creating Snap Hooks

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Chapter11: Assembly Modeling-I

      Assembly Modeling

      Types of Assembly Design Approach

      Creating Bottom-Up Assemblies

      Placing Components in the Assembly Document

      Assembling Components

      Creating Top-down Assemblies

      Creating Components in the Top-down Assembly

      Moving Individual Components

      Moving Individual Components by Dragging

      Moving Individual Components Using the Move Component Tool

      Rotating Individual Components

      Rotating Individual Components by Dragging

      Rotating Individual Components Using the Rotate Component Tool

      Moving and Rotating Individual Components Using the Triad

      Assembly Visualization

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercises

      Exercise 1

      Exercise 2

      Chapter 12: Assembly Modeling-II

      Advanced Assembly Mates

      Applying the Profile Center Mate

      Applying the Symmetric Mate

      Applying the Width Mate

      Applying the Path Mate

      Applying the Distance Mate

      Applying the Angle Mate

      Applying the Linear/Linear Coupler Mate

      Mechanical Mates

      Applying the Cam Mate

      Applying the Slot Mate

      Applying the Hinge Mate

      Applying the Gear Mate

      Applying the Rack Pinion Mate

      Applying the Screw Mate

      Applying the Universal Joint Mate

      Creating Sub-assemblies

      Bottom-up Sub-assembly Design Approach

      Top-down Sub-assembly Design Approach

      Inserting a New Sub-assembly

      Deleting Components and Sub-assemblies

      Editing Assembly Mates

      Replacing Mated Entities

      Editing Components

      Editing Sub-assemblies

      Dissolving Sub-assemblies

      Replacing Components

      Creating Patterns of Components in an Assembly

      Pattern Driven Component Pattern

      Local Pattern

      Copying and Mirroring Components

      Adding Custom Properties in Assembly or Sub-assembly

      Copying a Component Along With Mates

      copying MULTIPLE Components

      Magnetic Mates

      Simplifying Assemblies using The Visibility Options

      Hiding Components

      Hiding Faces Temporarily

      Suppressing and Unsuppressing the Components

      Changing the Transparency Conditions

      Changing the Display States

      Checking Interferences in an Assembly

      Checking the Hole Alignment

      Creating Assemblies for Mechanism

      Analyzing Collisions Using the Collision Detection Tool

      Creating Exploded State of an Assembly

      Regular step (translate and rotate)

      Radial step

      Creating the Explode Line Sketch

      Creating Smart Explode Lines

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercise

      Exercise 1

      Chapter 13: Working with Drawing Views-I

      The Drawing Mode

      Starting a Drawing Document

      Types of Views

      Model View

      Projected View

      Section View

      Aligned Section View

      Removed Section View

      Auxiliary View

      Detail View

      Break View

      Broken-out Section View

      Crop View

      Alternate Position View

      Generating Standard Drawing Views

      Generating Model Views

      Using the View Palette to Place the Drawing Views

      Generating the Three Standard Views

      Generating Standard Views Using the Relative View Tool

      Generating Standard Views Using the Predefined View Tool

      Generating Derived Views

      Generating Projected Views

      Generating Section Views

      Generating Broken-out Section Views

      Generating Removed Section Views

      Generating Auxiliary Views

      Generating Detail Views

      Generating Crop Views

      Generating Broken Views

      Generating Alternate Position Views

      Generating Drawing Views of the Exploded State of an Assembly

      Working with Interactive Drafting in SOLIDWORKS

      Editing and Modifying Drawing Views

      Changing the View Orientation

      Changing the Scale of Drawing Views

      Deleting Drawing Views

      Rotating Drawing Views

      Manipulating the Drawing Views

      Modifying the Hatch Pattern in Section

      Properties Rollout

      Layer Rollout

      Options Rollout

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-Evaluation Test

      Review Questions

      Exercise

      Exercise 1

      Chapter 14: Working with Drawing Views-II

      Adding Annotations to Drawing Views

      Generating Annotations Using the Model Items Tool

      Adding Reference Annotations

      Aligning the Dimensions

      Editing Annotations

      Adding the Bill of Materials (Bom) to a Drawing

      Table Template Rollout

      Table Position Rollout

      BOM Type Rollout

      Configurations Rollout

      Part Configuration Grouping Rollout

      Keep Missing Item/Row Rollout

      Item Numbers Rollout

      Border Rollout

      Setting Anchor Point for the BOM

      Linking Bill of Materials

      Adding Balloons to the Drawing Views

      Adding Balloons Using the AutoBalloon Tool

      Creating Magnetic LINES

      Adding New Sheets to the Drawing Document

      Editing the Sheet Format

      Creating User-Defined Sheet Formats

      Tutorials

      Tutorial 1

      Tutorial 2

      Self-evaluation test

      Review Questions

      Exercise

      Exercise 1

      Preface

      SOLIDWORKS 2023

      SOLIDWORKS, originally developed by the SOLIDWORKS Corporation, USA, was acquired by Dassault Systemes, France, in 1997. Dassault Systemes is world’s leading developer of product life cycle management (PLM) solutions. It is one of the fastest growing solid modeling software. It is a parametric, feature-based solid modeling tool that not only unites the three-dimensional (3D) parametric features with two-dimensional (2D) tools, but also addresses every design-through-manufacturing needs. SOLIDWORKS 2023 includes a number of customer requested enhancements, substantiating that it is completely tailored to address customers needs. Based mainly on the user feedback, this solid modeling tool is remarkably user-friendly and allows you to be productive from day one.

      In SOLIDWORKS, you can easily generate the 2D drawing views of the components. The drawing views that can be generated include detailed, orthographic, isometric, auxiliary, section, and other views. You can use any predefined standard drawing document to generate the drawing views. Besides displaying the model dimensions in the drawing views or adding reference dimensions and other annotations, you can also add the parametric Bill of Materials (BOM) and balloons in the drawing view. If a component in the assembly is replaced, removed, or a new component is assembled, the modification will automatically reflect in the BOM placed in the drawing document. The bidirectional associative nature of this software ensures that any modification made in the model is automatically reflected in the drawing views and any modification made in the dimensions in the drawing views automatically updates the model.

      In addition to creating solid models, assembly features, and drawing views, SOLIDWORKS enables you to effectively and easily create complex sheet metal components using a number of tools. Apart from modeling and detailing, you can print your solid models directly through 3D printers. You can also define position, orientation and other parameters of the model for 3D printing in SOLIDWORKS.

      SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers textbook has been written to help the users who are interested in learning 3D design. Real-world mechanical engineering industry examples and tutorials have been used to ensure that the users can relate the knowledge of this textbook with the actual mechanical industry designs. The textbook also includes four student projects for the students to practice. In addition, the book contains SOLIDWORKS Certification Exam questions as tutorials to acquaint user with certification questions and help them to get certified.

      Some of the main features of the textbook are as follows:

      • Tutorial Approach

      The author has adopted the tutorial point-of-view and the learn-by-doing approach throughout the textbook. This approach guides the users through the process of creating the models in the tutorials.

      • Real-world Mechanical Engineering Projects as Tutorials

      The author has used the real-world mechanical engineering projects as tutorials in this textbook so that the readers can correlate the tutorials with the real-time models in the mechanical engineering industry.

      • Coverage of Major SOLIDWORKS Modes

      All major modes of SOLIDWORKS are covered in this textbook. These include the Part mode, the Assembly mode, and the Drawing mode.

      • Tips and Notes

      Additional information related to various topics is provided to the users in the form of tips and notes.

      • Learning Objectives

      The first page of every chapter summarizes the topics that are covered in the chapter.

      • Self-Evaluation Test, Review Questions, and Exercises

      Each chapter ends with Self-Evaluation Test that enables the users to assess their knowledge of the chapter. The answers to Self-Evaluation Test are given at the end of the chapter. Also, the Review Questions and Exercises are given at the end of the chapters and they can be used by the Instructors as test questions and exercises.

      • Heavily Illustrated Text

      The text in this textbook is heavily illustrated with the help of around 800 line diagrams and 900 screen captures.

      Symbols Used in this Textbook

      Note

      The author has provided additional information to the users about the topic being discussed in the form of Notes.

      Tip

      Special information on various techniques is provided in the form of Tips that will increase the efficiency of the users.

      Formatting Conventions Used in the Textbook

      Please refer to the following list for the formatting conventions used in this textbook.

      Naming Conventions Used in the Textbook Tool

      If you click on an item in a toolbar and a command is invoked to create/edit an object or perform some action, then that item is termed as tool.

      For example:

      To Create: Line tool, Smart Dimension tool, Extruded Boss/Base tool

      To Modify: Fillet tool, Draft tool, Trim Surface tool

      Action: Zoom to Fit tool, Pan tool, Copy tool

      If you click on an item in a toolbar and a dialog box is invoked wherein you can set the properties to create/edit an object, then that item is also termed as tool, refer to Figure 1.

      For example:

      To Create: Extruded Boss/Base tool, Mirror tool, Rib tool

      To Modify: Flex tool, Deform tool

      In this textbook, the path to invoke a tool is given as:

      CommandManager: Features > Extruded Boss/Base

      SOLIDWORKS Menus: Insert > Boss/Base > Extrude

      Toolbar: Features > Extruded Boss/Base

      Flyout

      A flyout is the one in which a set of tools are grouped together. You can identify a flyout with a down arrow on it. A flyout is given a name based on the types of tools grouped in it. For example, Line flyout, View Settings flyout, Fillet flyout, and so on; refer to Figure 1.

      PropertyManager

      The naming conventions for the components in a PropertyManager are mentioned in Figure 2.

      Button

      The items in a dialog box that has a 3D shape like a button is termed as Button. For example, OK button, Cancel button, and so on.

      Free Companion Website

      It has been our constant endeavor to provide you the best textbooks and services at affordable price. In this endeavor, we have come out with a Free Companion website that will facilitate the process of teaching and learning of SOLIDWORKS 2023. If you purchase this textbook, you will get access to the files on the Companion website.

      The following resources are available for the faculty and students in this website:

      Faculty Resources

      • Technical Support

         You can get online technical support by contacting techsupport@cadcim.com.

      • Instructor Guide

      Solutions to all review questions and exercises in the textbook are provided in the instructor guide to help the faculty members test the skills of the students.

      • Part Files

      The part files used in illustrations, examples, and exercises are available for free download.

      • Free Download Projects

      In this book, four projects are available for free download..

      To access the files, you need to register by visiting the Resources section at www.cadcim.com.

      Student Resources

      • Technical Support

      You can get online technical support by contacting techsupport@cadcim.com.

      • Part Files

      The part files used in illustrations and examples are available for free download.

      • Free Download Projects

      In this book, four projects are available for free download.

      If you face any problem in accessing these files, please contact the publisher at sales@cadcim.com or the author at Stickoo@pnw.edu or tickoo525@gmail.com.

      Video Courses

      CADCIM offers video courses in CAD, CAE Simulation, BIM, Civil/GIS, and Animation domains on various e-Learning/Video platforms. To enroll for the video courses, please visit the CADCIM website using the link https://www.cadcim.com/video-courses.

      Stay Connected

      You can now stay connected with us through Facebook and Twitter to get the latest information about our textbooks, videos, and teaching/learning resources. To stay informed of such updates, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cadcim) and Twitter (@cadcimtech). You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/cadcimtech) to get the information about our latest video tutorials.

      SOLIDWORKS Advanced Edition

      CADCIM Technologies publishes another textbook with the name Advanced SOLIDWORKS 2023 for Designers which covers the advanced features of SOLIDWORKS such as:

      • Surface Modeling

      • Sheet Metal Design

      • Blocks

      • Equations, Configurations, and Library Features

      • Motion Study

      • Mold Design

      • Simulation and other advanced topics

      In addition, the book will contain real world projects that will help users to enhance their designing skills. It will also include SOLIDWORKS Certification Exam questions as tutorials to acquaint user with certification questions and help them to get certified.

      Chapter 1

      Introduction to SOLIDWORKS 2023

      Learning Objectives

      After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

      • Understand how to start SOLIDWORKS

      • Understand the system requirements to run SOLIDWORKS

      • Understand various modes of SOLIDWORKS

      • Work with various CommandManagers of SOLIDWORKS

      • Understand various important terms in SOLIDWORKS

      • Save files automatically in SOLIDWORKS

      • Change the color schemes in SOLIDWORKS

      INTRODUCTION TO SOLIDWORKS 2023

      Welcome to the world of Computer Aided Design (CAD) with SOLIDWORKS. If you are a new user of this software package, you will be joining hands with thousands of users of this parametric, feature-based, and one of the most user-friendly software packages. If you are familiar with the previous releases of this software, you will be able to upgrade your designing skills with this improved release of SOLIDWORKS.

      SOLIDWORKS, developed by the SOLIDWORKS Corporation, USA, is a feature-based, parametric solid-modeling mechanical design and automation software. SOLIDWORKS is the first CAD package to use the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface. The use of the drag and drop (DD) functionality of Windows makes this CAD package extremely easy to learn. The Windows graphic user interface makes it possible for the mechanical design engineers to innovate their ideas and implement them in the form of virtual prototypes or solid models, large assemblies, subassemblies, and detailing and drafting.

      SOLIDWORKS is one of the products of SOLIDWORKS Corporation, which is a part of Dassault Systemes. SOLIDWORKS also works as platform software for a number of software. This implies that you can also use other compatible software within the SOLIDWORKS window. There are a number of software provided by the SOLIDWORKS Corporation, which can be used as add-ins with SOLIDWORKS. Some of the software that can be used on SOLIDWORKS’s work platform are listed below:

      SOLIDWORKS Motion

      SOLIDWORKS Routing 

      ScanTo3D

      eDrawings

      SOLIDWORKS Simulation 

      SOLIDWORKS Toolbox

      PhotoView 360 

      CircuitWorks

      SOLIDWORKS Plastics

      SOLIDWORKS Inspection 

      TolAnalyst

      As mentioned earlier, SOLIDWORKS is a parametric, feature-based, and easy-to-use mechanical design automation software. It enables you to convert the basic 2D sketch into a solid model by using simple but highly effective modeling tools. It also enables you to create the virtual prototype of a sheet metal component and the flat pattern of the component. This helps you in the complete process planning for designing and creating a press tool. SOLIDWORKS helps you to extract the core and the cavity of a model that has to be molded or cast. With SOLIDWORKS, you can also create complex parametric shapes in the form of surfaces. Some of the important modes of SOLIDWORKS are discussed next.

      Part Mode

      The Part mode of SOLIDWORKS is a feature-based parametric environment in which you can create solid models. In this mode, you are provided with three default planes named as Front Plane, Top Plane, and Right Plane. First, you need to select a sketching plane to create a sketch for the base feature. On selecting a sketching plane, you enter the sketching environment. The sketches for the model are drawn in the sketching environment using easy-to-use tools. After drawing the sketches, you can dimension them and apply the required relations in the same sketching environment. The design intent is captured easily by adding relations and equations and using the design table in the design. You are provided with the standard hole library known as the Hole Wizard in the Part mode. You can create simple holes, tapped holes, counterbore holes, countersink holes, and so on by using this wizard. The holes can be of any standard such as ISO, ANSI, JIS, and so on. You can also create complicated surfaces by using the surface modeling tools available in the Part mode. Annotations such as weld symbols, geometric tolerance, datum references, and surface finish symbols can be added to the model within the Part mode. The standard features that are used frequently can be saved as library features and retrieved when needed. The palette feature library of SOLIDWORKS contains a number of standard mechanical parts and features. You can also create the sheet metal components in this mode of SOLIDWORKS by using the related tools. Besides this, you can also analyze the part model for various stresses applied to it in the real physical conditions by using an easy and user-friendly tool called SimulationXpress. It helps you reduce the cost and time in physically testing your design in real testing conditions (destructive tests). You can also analyze the component during modeling in the SOLIDWORKS windows. In addition, you can work with the weld modeling within the Part mode of SOLIDWORKS by creating steel structures and adding weld beads. All standard weld types and welding conditions are available for your reference. You can extract the core and the cavity in the Part mode by using the mold design tools.

      Assembly Mode

      In the Assembly mode, you can assemble components of the assembly with the help of the required tools. There are two methods of assembling the components:

      1. Bottom-up assembly

      2. Top-down assembly

      In the bottom-up assembly method, the assembly is created by assembling the components created earlier and maintaining their design intent. In the top-down method, the components are created in the assembly mode. You may begin with some ready-made parts and then create other components in the context of the assembly. You can refer to the features of some components of the assembly to drive the dimensions of other components. You can assemble all components of an assembly by using a single tool, the Mate tool. While assembling the components of an assembly, you can also animate the assembly by dragging. Besides this, you can also check the working of your assembly. Collision detection is one of the important features in this mode. Using this feature, you can rotate and move components as well as detect the interference and collision between the assembled components. You can see the realistic motion of the assembly by using physical dynamics. Physical simulation is used to simulate the assembly with the effects of motors, springs, and gravity on the assemblies.

      Drawing Mode

      The Drawing mode is used for the documentation of the parts or the assemblies created earlier in the form of drawing views. The procedure for creating drawing views is called drafting. There are two types of drafting done in SOLIDWORKS:

      1. Generative drafting

      2. Interactive drafting

      Generative drafting is a process of generating drawing views of a part or an assembly created earlier. The parametric dimensions and the annotations added to the component in the Part mode can be generated in the drawing views. Generative drafting is bidirectionally associative in nature. Automatic BOMs and balloons can be added to an assembly while generating the drawing views of it.

      In interactive drafting, you have to create the drawing views by sketching them using normal sketching tools and then add dimensions to them.

      SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

      The system requirements to ensure the smooth functioning of SOLIDWORKS on your system are as follows:

      • Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit).

      • Intel or AMD Processor with SSE2 support.

      • 16 GB or more RAM.

      • Hard disk space 2 GB minimum (5 GB recommended).

      • A certified graphics card and driver.

      • A word processing program.

      • Adobe Acrobat higher than 8.0.7 or any similar program.

      • DVD drive and Mouse or any other compatible pointing device.

      • Internet Explorer version 8 or higher.

      GETTING STARTED WITH SOLIDWORKS

      Install SOLIDWORKS 2023 on your system. On doing so, a shortcut icon of SOLIDWORKS 2023 will automatically be created on the desktop. Double-click on this icon; the system will prepare to start SOLIDWORKS and after sometime, the SOLIDWORKS window will be displayed on the screen. On opening SOLIDWORKS for the first time, the SolidWorks

      License Agreement dialog box will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-1. Choose the Accept button in this dialog box; the SOLIDWORKS 2023 window will open and the SOLIDWORKS Resources task pane will be displayed on the right. Also, the Welcome - SOLIDWORKS dialog box will be invoked simultaneously, as shown in Figure 1-2. This window can be used to open a new file or an existing file.

      If the SOLIDWORKS Resources task pane is not displayed or expanded, choose the SOLIDWORKS Resources button located on the right side of the window to display it. This task pane can be used to open online tutorials and to visit the website of SOLIDWORKS partners. Choose the Part button from the Welcome - SOLIDWORKS dialog box or the New button from the Menu Bar to create a new document. If you start a new document using the New button from the Menu Bar then the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-3.

      Note

      If you are starting SOLIDWORKS 2023 for the first time, then on invoking the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box or the Welcome - SOLIDWORKSdialog box, the Units and Dimension Standard dialog box will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-4. Using this dialog box, you can specify the default units and dimension standards for SOLIDWORKS. In this book, the unit system used is MMGS (millimeter, gram, second) and the dimension standard used is ISO.

      Choose the Part button to create a part model and then choose the OK button from the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box to enter the Part mode of SOLIDWORKS. Hover the cursor over the SOLIDWORKS logo; the SOLIDWORKS Menus will be displayed on the right of the logo. Note that the task pane is automatically closed once you start a new file and click in the drawing area. The initial screen display on starting a new part file of SOLIDWORKS using the New button in the Menu Bar is shown in Figure 1-5.

      It is evident from the screen that SOLIDWORKS is a very user-friendly solid modeling software. Apart from the default CommandManager shown in Figure 1-5, you can also invoke other CommandManagers. To do so, move the cursor on a CommandManager tab and right-click; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the required CommandManager from the shortcut menu; it will be added. Besides the existing CommandManager, you can also create a new CommandManager.

      MENU BAR AND SOLIDWORKS MENUS

      In SOLIDWORKS, the display area of the screen has been increased by grouping the tools that have similar functions or purposes. For example, the tools that are in the Standard toolbar are also available in the Menu Bar, as shown in Figure 1-6. This toolbar is available above the drawing area. When you move the cursor to the arrow on the right of the SOLIDWORKS logo, the SOLIDWORKS menus will be displayed as shown in Figure 1-7. You can also fix them by choosing the push-pin button.

      CommandManager

      You can invoke a tool in SOLIDWORKS from four locations, CommandManager, SOLIDWORKS menus on top of the screen, toolbar, and shortcut menu. The CommandManagers are docked above the drawing area. While working with CommandManager, you will realize that invoking a tool from the CommandManager is the most convenient method to invoke a tool. Different types of CommandManagers are used for different design environments. These CommandManagers are discussed next.

      Part Mode CommandManagers

      A number of CommandManagers can be invoked in the Part mode. The CommandManagers that are extensively used during the designing process in this environment are described next.

      Sketch CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to enter and exit the 2D and 3D sketching environments. The tools available in this CommandManager are used to draw sketches for features. This CommandManager is also used to add relations and smart dimensions to the sketched entities. The Sketch CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-8.

      Features CommandManager

      This is one of the most important CommandManagers provided in the Part mode. Once the sketch has been drawn, you need to convert the sketch into a feature by using the modeling tools. This CommandManager contains all the modeling tools that are used for feature-based solid modeling. The Features CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-9.

      MBD Dimensions CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to add dimensions and tolerances to the features of a part. The MBD Dimensions CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-10.

      Sheet Metal CommandManager

      This CommandManager provides you the tools that are used to create the sheet metal parts. In SOLIDWORKS, you can also create sheet metal parts while working in the Part mode. This is done with the help of the Sheet Metal CommandManager shown in Figure 1-11.

      Mold Tools CommandManager

      The tools in this CommandManager are used to design a mold and to extract its core and cavity. The Mold Tools CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-12.

      Evaluate CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to measure the distance between two entities, add equations in the design, calculate the mass properties of a solid model, and so on. The Evaluate CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-13.

      Surfaces CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to create complicated surface features. These surface features can be converted into solid features. The Surfaces CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-14.

      Direct Editing CommandManager

      This CommandManager consists of tools that are used for editing a feature, refer to Figure 1-15.

      Data Migration CommandManager

      This CommandManager consist of tools that are used to work with the models created in other packages or in different environments, refer to Figure 1-16.

      Assembly Mode CommandManagers

      The CommandManagers in the Assembly mode are used to assemble the components, create an explode line sketch, and simulate the assembly. The CommandManagers in the Assembly mode are discussed next.

      Assembly CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to insert a component and apply various types of mates to the assembly. Mates are the constraints that can be applied to components to restrict their degrees of freedom. You can also move and rotate a component in the assembly, change the hidden and suppression states of the assembly and individual components, edit the component of an assembly, and so on. The Assembly CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-17.

      Layout CommandManager

      The tools in this CommandManager are used to create and edit blocks, refer to Figure 1-18.

      Drawing Mode CommandManagers

      You can invoke a number of CommandManagers in the Drawing mode. The CommandManagers that are extensively used during the designing process in this mode are discussed next.

      Drawing CommandManager

      This CommandManager is used to generate the drawing views of an existing model or an assembly. The views that can be generated using this CommandManager are model view, three standard views, projected view, section view, aligned section view, detail view, crop view, relative view, auxiliary view, and so on. The Drawing CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-19.

      Annotation CommandManager

      The Annotation CommandManager is used to generate the model items and to add notes, balloons, geometric tolerance, surface finish symbols, and so on to the drawing views. The Annotation CommandManager is shown in Figure 1-20.

      Customized CommandManager

      If you often work on a particular set of tools, you can create a customized CommandManager to cater to your needs. To do so, right-click on a tab in the CommandManager; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Customize option from the shortcut menu; the Customize dialog box will be displayed. Also, a new tab will be added to the CommandManager. Click on this tab; a flyout will be displayed with Empty Tab as the first option and followed by the list of toolbars. Choose the Empty Tab option; another tab named New Tab will be added to the CommandManager. Rename the new tab. Next, choose the Commands tab from the Customize dialog box. Select a category from the Toolbars list box; the tools under the selected category will be displayed in the Buttons area. Select a tool, press and hold the left mouse button, and drag the tool to the customized CommandManager; the tool will be added to the customized CommandManager. Choose the OK button from the Customize dialog box.

      To add all the tools of a toolbar to the new CommandManager, invoke the Customize dialog box and click on the new tab; a flyout will be displayed with Empty Tab as the first option followed by the list of toolbars. Choose a toolbar from the flyout; all tools in the toolbar will be added to the New Tab and its name will be changed to that of the toolbar.

      To delete a customized CommandManager, invoke the Customize dialog box as discussed earlier. Next, choose the CommandManager tab to be deleted and right-click; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Delete option from the shortcut menu; the CommandManager will be deleted.

      Note

      You cannot delete the default CommandManagers.

      TOOLBAR

      In SOLIDWORKS, you can choose most of the tools from the CommandManager or from the SOLIDWORKS menus. However, if you hide the CommandManager to increase the drawing area, you can use the toolbars to invoke a tool. To display a toolbar, right-click on the CommandManager; the list of toolbars available in SOLIDWORKS will be displayed. Select the required toolbar.

      Pop-up Toolbar

      A pop-up toolbar will be displayed when you select a feature or an entity and do not move the mouse. Figure 1-21 shows a pop-up toolbar displayed on selecting a feature. Remember that this toolbar will disappear if you move the cursor away from the selected feature or entity.

      You can switch off the display of the pop-up toolbar. To do so, invoke the Customize dialog box. In the Context toolbar area of the Toolbars tab, the Show on selection check box will be selected by default. It means that the display of the pop-up toolbar is on, by default. To turn off the display of the pop-up toolbar, clear this check box and choose the OK button.

      View (Heads-Up) Toolbar

      In SOLIDWORKS, some of the display tools have been grouped together and are displayed in the drawing area in a toolbar, as shown in Figure 1-22. This toolbar is known as View (Heads-Up) toolbar.

      Customizing the CommandManagers and Toolbars

      In SOLIDWORKS, all buttons are not displayed by default in toolbars or CommandManagers. You need to customize and add buttons to them according to your need and specifications. Follow the procedure given below to customize the CommandManagers and toolbars:

      1. Choose Tools > Customize from the SOLIDWORKS menus or right-click on a CommandManager and choose the Customize option to display the Customize dialog box.

      2. Choose the Commands tab from the Customize dialog box.

      3. Select a category from the Toolbars list box of the Customize dialog box; the tools available in the selected category will be displayed in the Buttons area.

      4. Click on a button in the Buttons area; the description of the selected button will be displayed in the Description area.

      5. Press and hold the left mouse button on a button in the Buttons area of the Customize dialog box.

      6. Drag the mouse to a CommandManager or a toolbar and then release the left mouse button to place the button on that CommandManager or toolbar. Next, choose OK.

      To remove a tool from the CommandManager or toolbar, invoke the Customize dialog box and drag the tool that you need to remove from the CommandManager to the graphics area.

      Shortcut Bar

      On pressing the S key on the keyboard, some of the tools that can be used in the current mode will be displayed near the cursor. This is called as shortcut bar. To customize the tools in the shortcut bar, right-click on it, and choose the Customize option. Then, follow the procedure discussed earlier.

      Mouse Gestures

      In SOLIDWORKS, when you press the right mouse button and drag the cursor in any direction, a set of tools that are arranged radially will be displayed. This is called as Mouse Gesture. After displaying the tools by using the Mouse Gesture, move the cursor over a particular tool to invoke it. By default, four tools will be displayed in a Mouse Gesture. However, you can customize the Mouse Gesture and display 2, 3, 4, 8 or 12 tools. To customize a Mouse Gesture, invoke the Customize dialog box. Next, choose the Mouse Gestures tab; the Mouse Gesture Guide window will be displayed, showing various tools that are used in different environments, refer to Figure 1-23. Now you can drag and drop the required tools to this window. Next, specify the options in the appropriate field and choose the OK button.

      DIMENSIONING STANDARDS AND UNITS

      While installing SOLIDWORKS on your system, you can specify the units and dimensioning standards for dimensioning the model. There are various dimensioning standards such as ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, BSI, and GOST that can be specified for dimensioning a model and units such as millimeters, centimeters, inches, and so on. This book follows millimeters as the unit for dimensioning and ISO as the dimension standard. Therefore, it is recommended that you install SOLIDWORKS with ISO as the dimensioning standard and millimeter as units.

      IMPORTANT TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

      Before you proceed, it is very important to understand the following terms as they have been widely used in this book.

      Feature-based Modeling

      A feature is defined as the smallest building block that can be modified individually. In SOLIDWORKS, the solid models are created by integrating a number of these building blocks. A model created in SOLIDWORKS is a combination of a number of individual features that are related to one another, directly or indirectly. These features understand their fits and functions properly and therefore can be modified at any time during the design process. If proper design intent is maintained while creating the model, these features automatically adjust their values to any change in their surrounding. This provides greater flexibility to the design.

      Parametric Modeling

      The parametric nature of a software package is defined as its ability to use the standard properties or parameters in defining the shape and size of a geometry. The main function of this property is to drive the selected geometry to a new size or shape without considering its original dimensions. You can change or modify the shape and size of any feature at any stage of the design process. This property makes the designing process very easy.

      For example, consider the design of the body of a pipe housing shown in Figure 1-24. In order to change the design by modifying the diameter of the holes and the number of holes on the front, top, and bottom faces, you need to select the feature and change the diameter and the number of instances in the pattern. The modified design is shown in Figure 1-25.

      Bidirectional Associativity

      As mentioned earlier, SOLIDWORKS has different modes such as Part, Assembly, and Drawing. There exists bidirectional associativity among all these modes. This associativity ensures that any modification made in the model in any one of these modes of SOLIDWORKS is automatically reflected in the other modes immediately. For example, if you modify the dimension of a part in the Part mode, the change will reflect in the Assembly and Drawing modes as well. Similarly, if you modify the dimensions of a part in the drawing views generated in the Drawing mode, the changes will reflect in the Part and Assembly modes. Consider the drawing views shown in Figure 1-26 of the body of the pipe housing shown in Figure 1-24. Now, when you modify the model of the body of the pipe housing in the Part mode, the changes will reflect in the Drawing mode automatically. Figure 1-27 shows the drawing views of the pipe housing after increasing the diameter and the number of holes.

      Windows Functionality

      SOLIDWORKS is a Windows-based 3D CAD package. It uses Window’s graphical user interface and the functionalities such as drag and drop, copy paste, and so on. For example, consider that you have created a hole feature on the front planar surface of a model. Now, to create another hole feature on the top planar surface of the same model, select the hole feature and press Ctrl+C (copy) on the keyboard. Next, select the top planar surface of the base feature and press Ctrl+V (paste); the copied hole feature will be pasted on the selected face. You can also drag and drop the standard features from the Design Library task pane to the face of the model on which the feature is to be added.

      SWIFT Technology

      SWIFT is the acronym for SOLIDWORKS Intelligent Feature Technology. This technology makes SOLIDWORKS more user-friendly. This technology helps the user think more about the design rather than the tools in the software. Therefore, even the novice users find it very easy to use SOLIDWORKS for their design. The tools that use SWIFT Technology are called as Xperts. The different Xperts in SOLIDWORKS are SketchXpert, FeatureXpert, DimXpert, AssemblyXpert, FilletXpert, DraftXpert, and MateXpert. The SketchXpert in the sketching environment is used to resolve the conflicts that arise while applying relations to a sketch. Similarly, the FeatureXpert in the Part mode is used when the fillet and draft features fail. You will learn about these tools in the later chapters.

      Geometric Relations

      Geometric relations are the logical operations that are performed to add a relationship (like tangent or perpendicular) between the sketched entities, planes, axes, edges, or vertices. When adding relations, one entity can be a sketched entity and the other entity can be a sketched entity, or an edge, face, vertex, origin, plane, and so on. There are two methods to create the geometric relations: Automatic Relations and Add Relations.

      Automatic Relations

      The sketching environment of SOLIDWORKS has been provided with the facility of applying auto relations. This facility ensures that the geometric relations are applied to the sketch automatically while creating it. Automatic relations are also applied in the Drawing mode while working with interactive drafting.

      Add Relations

      Add relations is used to add geometric relations manually to the sketch. The sixteen types of geometric relations that can be manually applied to the sketch are as follows:

      Horizontal

      This relation forces the selected line segment to become a horizontal line. You can also select two points and force them to be aligned horizontally.

      Vertical

      This relation forces the selected line segment to become a vertical line. You can also select two points and force them to be aligned vertically.

      Collinear

      This relation forces the two selected entities to be placed in the same line.

      Coradial

      This relation is applied to any two selected arcs, two circles, or an arc and a circle to force them to become equi-radius and also to share the same center point.

      Perpendicular

      This relation is used to make selected line segment perpendicular to another selected segment.

      Parallel

      This relation is used to make the selected line segment parallel to another selected segment.

      Tangent

      This relation is used to make the selected line segment, arc, spline, circle, or ellipse tangent to another arc, circle, spline, or ellipse.

      Note

      In case of splines, relations are applied to their control points.

      Concentric

      This relation forces two selected arcs, circles, a point and an arc, a point and a circle, or an arc and a circle to share the same center point.

      Midpoint

      This relation forces a selected point to be placed on the mid point of a selected line.

      Intersection

      This relation forces a selected point to be placed at the intersection of two selected entities.

      Coincident

      This relation is used to make two points, a point and a line, or a point and an arc coincident.

      Equal

      The equal relation forces the two selected lines to become equal in length. This relation is also used to force two arcs, two circles, or an arc and a circle to have equal radii.

      Symmetric

      The symmetric relation is used to force the selected entities to become symmetrical about a selected center line, so that they remain equidistant from the center line.

      Fix

      This relation is used to fix the selected entity to a particular location with respect to the coordinate system. The endpoints of the fixed line, arc, spline, or elliptical segment are free to move along the line.

      Pierce

      This relation forces the sketched point to be coincident to the selected axis, edge, or curve where it pierces the sketch plane. The sketched point in this relation can be the end point of the sketched entity.

      Merge

      This relation is used to merge two sketched points or end points of entities.

      Blocks

      A block is a set of entities grouped together to act as a single entity. Blocks are used to create complex mechanisms as sketches and check their functioning before developing them into complex 3D models.

      Library Feature

      Generally, in a mechanical design, some features are used frequently. In most of the other solid modeling tools, you need to create these features whenever you need them. However, SOLIDWORKS allows you to save these features in a library so that you can retrieve them whenever you want. This saves a lot of designing time and effort of a designer.

      Design Table

      Design tables are used to create a multi-instance parametric component. For example, some components in your organization may have the same geometry but different dimensions. Instead of creating each component of the same geometry with a different size, you can create one component and then using the design table, create different instances of the component by changing the dimension as per your requirement. You can access all these components in a single part file.

      Equations

      Equations are the analytical and numerical formulae applied to the dimensions during the sketching of the feature sketch or after sketching the feature sketch. The equations can also be applied to the placed features.

      Collision Detection

      Collision detection is used to detect interference and collision between the parts of an assembly when the assembly is in motion. While creating the assembly in SOLIDWORKS, you can detect collision between parts by moving and rotating them.

      What’s Wrong Functionality

      While creating a feature of the model or after editing a feature, if the geometry of the feature is not compatible and the system is not able to construct that feature, then the What’s Wrong functionality is used to detect the possible error that may have occurred while creating the feature.

      SimulationXpress

      In SOLIDWORKS, you are provided with an analysis tool named as SimulationXpress, which is used to execute the static or stress analysis. In SimulationXpress, you can only execute the linear static analysis. Using the linear static analysis, you can calculate the displacement, strain, and stresses applied on a component with the effect of material, various loading conditions, and restraint conditions applied on a model. A component fails when the stress applied on it reaches beyond a certain permissible limit. The Static Nodal stress plot of the crane hook designed in SOLIDWORKS and analyzed using SimulationXpress is shown in Figure 1-28.

      Physical Dynamics

      The Physical Dynamics is used to observe the motion of the assembly. With this option selected, the component dragged in the assembly applies a force to the component that it touches. As a result, the other component moves or rotates within its allowable degrees of freedom.

      Physical Simulation

      The Physical Simulation is used to simulate the assemblies created in the assembly environment of SOLIDWORKS. You can assign and simulate the effect of different simulation elements such as linear, rotary motors, and gravity to the assemblies. After creating a simulating assembly, you can record and replay the simulation.

      Seed Feature

      The original feature that is used as the parent feature to create any type of pattern or mirror feature is known as the seed feature. You can edit or modify only a seed feature. You cannot edit the instances of the pattern feature.

      FeatureManager Design Tree

      The FeatureManager Design Tree is one the most important components of SOLIDWORKS screen. It contains information about default planes, materials, lights, and all the features that are added to the model. When you add features to the model using various modeling tools, the same are also displayed in the FeatureManager Design Tree. You can easily select and edit the features using the FeatureManager Design Tree. When you invoke any tool to create a feature, the FeatureManager Design Tree is replaced by the respective PropertyManager. At this stage, the FeatureManager Design Tree is displayed in the drawing area.

      Absorbed Features

      Features that are directly involved in creating other features are known as absorbed features. For example, the sketch of an extruded feature is an absorbed feature of the extruded feature.

      Child Features

      The features that are dependent on their parent feature and cannot exist without their parent features are known as child features. For example, consider a model with extrude feature and filleted edges. If you delete the extrude feature, the fillet feature will also get deleted because its existence is not possible without its parent feature.

      Dependent Features

      Dependent features are those features that depend on their parent feature but can still exist without the parent feature with some minor modifications. If the parent feature is deleted, then by specifying other references and modifying the feature, you can retain the dependent features.

      AUTO-BACKUP OPTION

      SOLIDWORKS also allows you to set the option to save the SOLIDWORKS document automatically after a regular interval of time. While working on a design project, if the system crashes, you may lose the unsaved design data. If the auto-backup option is turned on, your data will be saved automatically after regular intervals. To turn this option on, choose Tools > Options from the SOLIDWORKS menus; the System Options - General dialog box will be displayed. Select the Backup/Recover option from the display area provided on the left of this dialog box. Next, choose the Save auto-recover information every check box in the Auto-recover area, if it is not chosen by default. On doing so, the spinner and the drop-down list provided on the right of the check box will be enabled. Use the spinner and the drop-down list to set the number of changes or minutes after which the document will be saved automatically. By default, the backup files are saved at the location X:/Users/<name of your machine>AppData/Local/TempSWBackupDirectory/swxauto (where X is the drive in which you have installed SOLIDWORKS 2023 and the AppData folder is a hidden folder). You can also change the path of this location. To change this path, choose the button provided on the right of the edit box; the Select Folder dialog box will be displayed. You can specify the location of the folder to save the backup files using this dialog box. If you need to save the backup files in the current folder, select the Number of backup copies per document check box and then select the Save backup files in the same location as the original radio button. You can set the number of backup files that you need to save using the Number of backup copies per document spinner. After setting all options, choose the OK button from the System Options - Backup/Recover dialog box.

      SELECTING HIDDEN ENTITIES

      Sometimes, while working on a model, you need to select an entity that is either hidden behind another entity or is not displayed in the current orientation of the view. SOLIDWORKS allows you to select these entities using the Select Other option. For example, consider that you need to select the back face of a model, which is not displayed in the current orientation. In such a case, you need to move the cursor over the visible face such that the cursor is also in line with the back face of the model. Now, click on the front face and choose the Select Other button from the pop-up toolbar; the cursor changes to the select other cursor and the Select Other list box will be displayed. This list box displays all entities that can be selected. The item on which you move the cursor in the list box will be highlighted in the drawing area. You can select the hidden face using this box.

      HOT KEYS

      SOLIDWORKS is more popularly known for its mouse gesture functionality. However, you can also use the keys of the keyboard to invoke some tools, windows, dialog boxes, and so on. These keys are known as hot keys. Some hot keys along with their functions are given next.

      Hot Key Function

      F11           Full screen

      S              Invokes the shortcut bar

      R              Invokes the recent documents

      F               Fits the object in the drawing over the screen

      Z               Zooms out

      Space Bar Invokes the Orientation menu

      Ctrl+1        Changes the current view to the Front View

      Ctrl+2        Changes the current view to the Back View

      Ctrl+3        Changes the current view to the Left View

      Ctrl+4         Changes the current view to the Right View

      Ctrl+5         Changes the current view to the Top View

      Ctrl+6         Changes the current view to the Bottom View

      Ctrl+7         Changes the current view to the Isometric View

      Ctrl+8         Changes the current view to the Normal View

      Ctrl+Shift+Z Changes the current view to the Previous View

      Ctrl+Arrows Moves the feature along the arrows direction

      Ctrl+Arrows Rotates the feature along the arrows direction

      Ctrl+B         Rebuilds the model

      Ctrl+Z          Invokes the Undo tool

      Ctrl+N          Invokes the New SOLIDWORKS Document dialog box

      Ctrl+O          Invokes the Open window

      Ctrl+S          Saves the document

      Ctrl+P          Prints the document

      Ctrl+A          Selects all the parts in the document

      Ctrl+C          Copies the selected feature

      Ctrl+V          Pastes the selected feature

      Ctrl+X          Cuts the selected feature

      Alt+F           Opens the File menu

      Alt+E           Opens the Edit menu

      Alt+V           Opens the View menu

      Alt+I             Opens the Insert menu

      Alt+T            Opens the Tool menu

      Alt+W           Opens the Window menu

      Alt+H      

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