SolidWorks 2009 bible

CD-ROM Included!
• Sample projects, add-ons, and more

Matt Lombard

SolidWorks
2009

®

Master multibody
modeling techniques
Try your hand at new
visualization tools
Use powerful plastics
design tools

The book you need to succeed!
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SolidWorks 2009
Bible
®

Matt Lombard

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SolidWorks® 2009 Bible
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
ISBN: 978-0-470-25825-5
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including
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electronic books.

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This work is dedicated to my grandparents, Earl “Boots”
Woods and Mildred “Mid” Woods, who taught me that the
value of hard work goes beyond the numbers on a paycheck.

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About the Author
Matt Lombard holds a mechanical engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in
Rochester, New York. Matt has worked as a design and manufacturing engineer in the medical and
microelectronics industries. Currently, through his company Dezignstuff, he works mainly as a
consumer product modeling consultant and technical writer.
Before becoming an engineer, Matt went to music school for two years and performed with the
Navy band for four years. He still plays in local community groups for fun. Having grown up in
the Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York, he now calls the Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia home.

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Credits
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Stephanie McComb

Vice President and Executive Publisher
Barry Pruett

Project Editor
Jade L. Williams

Project Coordinator
Kristie Rees

Technical Editor
Ricky Jordan

Graphics and Layout Technicians
Ana Carillo
Andrea Hornberger
Sarah Philippart

Copy Editor
Lauren Kennedy

Quality Control Technician
Caitie Kelly

Editorial Manager
Robyn Siesky

Media Development Project Manager
Laura Moss

Business Manager
Amy Knies

Media Development Associate Producer
Angela Denny

Senior Marketing Manager
Sandy Smith
Vice President and Executive Group
Publisher
Richard Swadley
Vice President and Executive Publisher
Bob Ipsen

Media Development Assistant Project
Manager
Jenny Swisher
Proofreading and Indexing
Christopher M. Jones
Valerie Haynes Perry

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Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................. xxxvii
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ xxxix

Part I: SolidWorks Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 1: Introducing SolidWorks ................................................................................................3
Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface ...........................................................................31
Chapter 3: Working with Sketches ...............................................................................................77
Chapter 4: Creating Simple Parts, Assemblies, and Drawings......................................................117
Chapter 5: Using Visualization Techniques .................................................................................155

Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Chapter 6: Getting More from Your Sketches..............................................................................183
Chapter 7: Selecting Features ......................................................................................................209
Chapter 8: Patterning and Mirroring ...........................................................................................285
Chapter 9: Using Equations ........................................................................................................315
Chapter 10: Working with Part Configurations...........................................................................329
Chapter 11: Editing and Evaluation ............................................................................................363

Part III: Working with Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Chapter 12: Building Efficient Assemblies...................................................................................397
Chapter 13: Getting More from Mates ........................................................................................425
Chapter 14: Assembly Configurations and Display States ...........................................................457
Chapter 15: Component Patterns................................................................................................485
Chapter 16: Modeling in Context ...............................................................................................495

Part IV: Creating and Using Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525
Chapter 17: Using Hole Wizard and Toolbox .............................................................................527
Chapter 18: Working with Library Features................................................................................571
Chapter 19: Using Smart Components........................................................................................597

Part V: Creating Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 617
Chapter 20: Automating Drawings: The Basics ...........................................................................619
Chapter 21: Working with Drawing Views .................................................................................645
Chapter 22: Using Annotations and Symbols ..............................................................................679

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Chapter 23: Dimensioning and Tolerancing................................................................................697
Chapter 24: Working with Tables and Drawings ........................................................................717
Chapter 25: Using Layers, Line Fonts, and Colors ......................................................................741

Part VI: Using Advanced Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753
Chapter 26: Modeling Multi-bodies ............................................................................................755
Chapter 27: Working with Surfaces ............................................................................................789
Chapter 28: Master Model Techniques .......................................................................................821

Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality. . . . . . . . . 835
Chapter 29: Using the Base Flange Method for Sheet Metal Parts ................................................837
Chapter 30: Using the Insert Bends Method for Sheet Metal Parts...............................................875
Chapter 31: Using Weldments ....................................................................................................889
Chapter 32: Using Plastic Features and Mold Tools ....................................................................919
Chapter 33: Animating with MotionManager ..............................................................................965

Part VIII: Appendixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 993
Appendix A: Implementing SolidWorks ....................................................................................995
Appendix B: Tools, Options ......................................................................................................1021
Appendix C: What’s on the CD-ROM .......................................................................................1083

Index ........................................................................................................................................1087

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Acknowledgments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  xxxvii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxxix

Part I: SolidWorks Basics

1

Chapter 1: Introducing SolidWorks  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Starting SolidWorks for the First Time ..................................................................................4
SolidWorks License Agreement ...................................................................................4
Welcome to SolidWorks..............................................................................................4
Quick Tips ..................................................................................................................4
Online documentation ................................................................................................8
Tutorials ............................................................................................................8
What’s New .......................................................................................................8
Moving from AutoCAD .....................................................................................8
Online User’s Guide ..........................................................................................9
Tip of the Day ...................................................................................................9
Hardcopy documentation............................................................................................9
Identifying SolidWorks Documents ......................................................................................9
Saving your setup ......................................................................................................11
Templates..................................................................................................................11
Using multiple document templates ................................................................12
Sharing templates ............................................................................................15

Understanding Feature-Based Modeling ..............................................................................16
Understanding History-Based Modeling ..............................................................................18
Sketching with Parametrics .................................................................................................21
Understanding Design Intent ..............................................................................................25
Editing Design Intent ..........................................................................................................25
View, Sketch Relations ..............................................................................................26
Display/Delete Relations ............................................................................................26
Suppressed sketch relations.......................................................................................26
Working with Associativity .................................................................................................27
Tutorial: Creating a Part Template ......................................................................................27
Summary ............................................................................................................................30

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Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Interface................................................................33
Using the CommandManager and toolbars ................................................................33
CommandManager ..........................................................................................33
Using toolbars .................................................................................................38
Tooltips ...........................................................................................................43
Managing toolbars ...........................................................................................43
Workflow customization .................................................................................46
Menus .......................................................................................................................48
Cursors .....................................................................................................................49
FeatureManager and PropertyManager windows .......................................................50
Using the FeatureManager ...............................................................................50

Using the PropertyManager .............................................................................51
Task pane ..................................................................................................................52
Status bar ..................................................................................................................54
Tags.................................................................................................................54
Quick Tips ......................................................................................................55
2D Command Line Emulator ....................................................................................56
Making the Interface Work for You .....................................................................................57
Customizing colors ...................................................................................................57
Default selection colors....................................................................................57
Background options ........................................................................................59
Customization strategies............................................................................................59
Hotkey approaches ..........................................................................................60
Organizing hotkeys .........................................................................................60
Using the keyboard .........................................................................................61
Fewest number of icons ...................................................................................62
Device approaches ...........................................................................................62
Macros ............................................................................................................63
Saving custom interface settings ......................................................................63
Working with multiple document windows ..............................................................64
Window management .....................................................................................64
Changing windows ..........................................................................................65
Tutorial: Getting to Know the Interface ...............................................................................67
Copy the existing settings ..........................................................................................68
Set all interface items to their default settings ............................................................69
Customizing the CommandManager .........................................................................69
Customizing menus ..................................................................................................72
Change interface colors .............................................................................................73
Adding hotkeys .........................................................................................................74
Combining macros with hotkeys ...............................................................................75
Summary ............................................................................................................................76

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Chapter 3: Working with Sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Opening a Sketch................................................................................................................78
Identifying Sketch Entities ..................................................................................................78
The Sketch toolbar ....................................................................................................79
The Dimensions/Relations toolbar ...........................................................................100
Inferencing in Sketch ........................................................................................................104
Exploring Sketch Settings .................................................................................................106
Using Sketch Blocks ..........................................................................................................107
Tutorial: Learning to Use Sketch Relations ........................................................................109
Tutorial: Using Blocks and Belts ........................................................................................112
Summary ..........................................................................................................................115

Chapter 4: Creating Simple Parts, Assemblies, and Drawings  . . . . . . . . 117
Discovering Design Intent .................................................................................................117
Is the part symmetrical? ..........................................................................................118
What are the primary or functional features? ...........................................................118
In what ways is the part likely to change?................................................................118
What is the manufacturing method?........................................................................119
Will there be secondary operations? ........................................................................119
Will there be other versions? ...................................................................................120
Creating a Simple Part.......................................................................................................120
Where to start? ........................................................................................................120
Symmetry ................................................................................................................121

Make it solid ...........................................................................................................122
Instant 3D ...............................................................................................................127
Making the first extrude feature ..............................................................................128
Relative size or direct dimensions?.................................................................130
Creating the offset .........................................................................................130
Sketch techniques..........................................................................................131
Hole Wizard ..................................................................................................134
Cutting a slot .................................................................................................136
Fillets and chamfers.......................................................................................139
Tutorial: Creating a Simple Assembly................................................................................141
Tutorial: Making a Simple Drawing...................................................................................147
Summary ..........................................................................................................................153

Chapter 5: Using Visualization Techniques  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Manipulating the View ......................................................................................................155
Arrow keys ..............................................................................................................156
Middle mouse button ..............................................................................................156
Using the View toolbars ..........................................................................................156
Scrollbars and splitters ............................................................................................157
Using the Magnifying Glass .....................................................................................158
Clicking the Triad axes ............................................................................................159

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Using the View Tools ........................................................................................................159
Camera Views .........................................................................................................162

View Orientation .....................................................................................................165
The Standard Views toolbar ....................................................................................166
Annotation views ....................................................................................................168
Understanding RealView ...................................................................................................169
RealView basic components ....................................................................................169
Applying appearances .............................................................................................170
Appearance overrides ....................................................................................170
Other entity colors ........................................................................................171
The Display pane ...........................................................................................172
Automatic colors ...........................................................................................172
Using Display States ..........................................................................................................172
Using Edge Settings ..........................................................................................................173
Tutorial: Visualization Techniques ....................................................................................174
Summary ..........................................................................................................................180

Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts

181

Chapter 6: Getting More from Your Sketches  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Editing Sketch Relations ...................................................................................................183
Display/Delete Relations ..........................................................................................184
SketchXpert ............................................................................................................186
Copying and Moving Sketch Entities.................................................................................187
Move entities ...........................................................................................................187
Rotate entities..........................................................................................................187
Copy entities ...........................................................................................................188
Scale entities............................................................................................................188
Modify Sketch .........................................................................................................189
Scale about ....................................................................................................189

Translate .......................................................................................................189
Rotate ............................................................................................................189
Mirroring.......................................................................................................190
Copy and paste .......................................................................................................190
Simple drag .............................................................................................................190
Derived sketch ........................................................................................................191
Using Sketch Pictures........................................................................................................191
Three views .............................................................................................................193
Perspective ..............................................................................................................193
Sharp edges .............................................................................................................194
Auto Trace ..............................................................................................................194
Using Sketch Text .............................................................................................................195

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Using Colors and Line Styles with Sketches ......................................................................196
Color Display mode ................................................................................................196
Line color ................................................................................................................197
Edit sketch or curve color .......................................................................................197
Line thickness and line style ....................................................................................197
Using Other Sketch Tools .................................................................................................198
RapidSketch ............................................................................................................198
Sensors ....................................................................................................................198
Meta data for sketches .............................................................................................199
Construction geometry ............................................................................................200
Tutorial: Editing and Copying...........................................................................................200

Tutorial: Controlling Pictures, Text, Colors, and Styles .....................................................204
Tutorial: Using Meta Data .................................................................................................207
Summary ..........................................................................................................................208

Chapter 7: Selecting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Identifying When to Use Which Tool................................................................................209
Extrude ...................................................................................................................210
Solid Feature .................................................................................................210
Thin Feature ..................................................................................................210
Sketch types ..................................................................................................212
Instant 3D ...............................................................................................................215
Creating extrudes with Instant 3D .................................................................215
Editing geometry with Instant 3D ..................................................................217
Revolve ...................................................................................................................218
End conditions ..............................................................................................218
Contour selection ..........................................................................................218
Loft .........................................................................................................................218
Entities that you can use in a loft ...................................................................220
The similarities between lofts and splines ......................................................220
The need for surfaces.....................................................................................221
Loft end constraints .......................................................................................222
Isoparameter U-V lines ..................................................................................224
Guide curves .................................................................................................224
Centerline lofts ..............................................................................................225
SelectionManager ..........................................................................................226
Loft options ...................................................................................................226
Sweep .....................................................................................................................228
Simple sweep ................................................................................................228
Sweep with guide curves ...............................................................................229
Pierce relation................................................................................................230

Cut Sweep with a solid profile .......................................................................232

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Creating Curve Features....................................................................................................233
Helix .......................................................................................................................234
Tapered Helix ................................................................................................234
Variable Pitch Helix .......................................................................................234
Spiral .............................................................................................................235
Projected curve .......................................................................................................235
Sketch Onto Face ..........................................................................................235
Sketch Onto Sketch .......................................................................................236
Curve Through XYZ Points .....................................................................................238
Curve Through Reference Points .............................................................................238
Composite curve .....................................................................................................238
Split lines ................................................................................................................239
Equation Driven Curve............................................................................................240
Filleting ............................................................................................................................240
Creating a constant radius fillet ...............................................................................242
Selecting entities to fillet ................................................................................242
Tangent propagation .....................................................................................244
Dealing with a large number of fillets ............................................................245
Multiple Radius Fillet ....................................................................................247
Round Corners ..............................................................................................248
Keep Edge/Keep Surface ................................................................................249
Keep Feature .................................................................................................250

Creating variable radius fillets .................................................................................250
Applying the values .......................................................................................251
Straight versus smooth transitions .................................................................252
Other reasons to use the variable radius fillet ................................................252
Face fillet.................................................................................................................253
Continuous curvature face fillets ...................................................................255
Face fillets with Help point ............................................................................256
Single hold line fillet......................................................................................257
Double hold line fillet ....................................................................................258
Constant width fillet ......................................................................................260
Full round fillet .......................................................................................................260
Setback fillet............................................................................................................261
Selecting a Specialty Feature .............................................................................................264
Dome and Shape .....................................................................................................264
Wrap feature ...........................................................................................................267
Scribe ............................................................................................................268
Emboss..........................................................................................................268
Deboss...........................................................................................................268
Flex .........................................................................................................................270
Deform ....................................................................................................................273
Point Deform .................................................................................................273
Curve to Curve Deform .................................................................................275
Surface Push Deform .....................................................................................276
Indent .....................................................................................................................276

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Tutorial: Bracket Casting ...................................................................................................277
Tutorial: Creating a Wire-Formed Part ..............................................................................281
Summary ..........................................................................................................................284

Chapter 8: Patterning and Mirroring  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Patterning in a Sketch .......................................................................................................285
Further sketch myth debunking ..............................................................................287
Patterning a sketch ..................................................................................................288
Linear Sketch Pattern.....................................................................................288
Circular Sketch Pattern ..................................................................................288
Mirroring in a Sketch ........................................................................................................290
Mirror Entities .........................................................................................................290
Dynamic Mirror ......................................................................................................290
Symmetry sketch relation ........................................................................................291
Mirroring in 3D sketches.........................................................................................291
Geometry Pattern ..............................................................................................................291
Patterning Bodies ..............................................................................................................293
Patterning Faces ................................................................................................................293
Patterning Fillets ...............................................................................................................295
Understanding Pattern Types ............................................................................................295
Linear Pattern ..........................................................................................................295
Circular Pattern .......................................................................................................297
Curve Driven Pattern...............................................................................................298
Sketch Driven Pattern..............................................................................................301
Table Driven Pattern ...............................................................................................301
Fill Pattern ..............................................................................................................303
Cosmetic Patterns .............................................................................................................304
Mirroring in 3D ................................................................................................................306
Mirroring bodies .....................................................................................................306

Mirroring features ...................................................................................................306
Mirroring entire parts ..............................................................................................307
Tutorial: Creating a Circular Pattern .................................................................................307
Tutorial: Mirroring Features ..............................................................................................309
Tutorial: Applying a Cosmetic Pattern...............................................................................311
Summary ..........................................................................................................................313

Chapter 9: Using Equations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Understanding Equations ..................................................................................................315
Creating equations ..................................................................................................316
Naming dimensions.......................................................................................316
Building the equation ....................................................................................317
Using comments ............................................................................................319
Using driven dimensions .........................................................................................320
Equation tricks ........................................................................................................322
IIF 322 ...........................................................................................................322
SWITCH .......................................................................................................323

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Using Link Values .............................................................................................................324
Using Global Variables ......................................................................................................325
Using Expressions .............................................................................................................326
Tutorial: Using Equations .................................................................................................327
Summary ..........................................................................................................................328

Chapter 10: Working with Part Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Controlling Items with Configurations ..............................................................................330
Finding configurations ............................................................................................330
Deleting configs .............................................................................................330
Sorting configs...............................................................................................331
Activating configurations.........................................................................................332
Creating configurations ...........................................................................................334
Making a new config .....................................................................................334
Configuration properties and options ............................................................334
Advanced options ..........................................................................................336
The Modify dialog box ..................................................................................336
Negative dimensions .....................................................................................337
Using the Modify Configurations box ......................................................................337
Using Custom PropertyManagers ............................................................................338
Derived configurations ............................................................................................338
File size considerations............................................................................................339
Controlling dimensions ...........................................................................................340
Controlling suppression ..........................................................................................340
Controlling custom properties.................................................................................342
Controlling colors ...................................................................................................343
Controlling sketch relations ....................................................................................343
Controlling sketch planes ........................................................................................344
Controlling configurations of inserted parts ............................................................345
Library features .......................................................................................................345
Unconfigurable items ..............................................................................................346
Using Design Tables ..........................................................................................................347
What Can Be Driven by a Design Table? ...........................................................................347
Creating a simple design table ...........................................................................................349
Design table settings ................................................................................................354
Linked design table .......................................................................................354

Edit control ...................................................................................................355
Options .........................................................................................................355
Editing the design table ...........................................................................................356
Tutorial: Working with Configurations and Design Tables ................................................357
Summary ..........................................................................................................................361

Chapter 11: Editing and Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Using Rollback ..................................................................................................................363
Using the Rollback bar ............................................................................................364
Consumed features ........................................................................................365
Examining the parent-child relationship ........................................................365

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Rolling back features with multiple parents ...................................................366
Viewing consumed features in their original order.........................................367
Enhancement requests ...................................................................................369
Other Rollback techniques ......................................................................................369
Reordering Features ..........................................................................................................369
Reordering Folders............................................................................................................371
Using the Flyout FeatureManager .....................................................................................371
Summarizing Part Modeling Best Practice .........................................................................373
Using Evaluation Techniques ............................................................................................377
Verification on rebuild ............................................................................................377
Check......................................................................................................................378
Reflective techniques ...............................................................................................379

Zebra Stripes .................................................................................................379
RealView .......................................................................................................380
Lights and specularity....................................................................................380
Curvature display ..........................................................................................381
Deviation Analysis .........................................................................................381
Tangent Edges as Phantom ............................................................................382
SimulationXpress ....................................................................................................382
Material .........................................................................................................383
Restraint ........................................................................................................383
Load ..............................................................................................................384
Analyze .........................................................................................................384
Results ...........................................................................................................384
Optimization .................................................................................................385
Tutorial: Making Use of Editing and Evaluation Techniques .............................................386
Summary ..........................................................................................................................393

Part III: Working with Assemblies

395

Chapter 12: Building Efficient Assemblies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Identifying the Elements of an Assembly ...........................................................................397
Standard reference geometry items ..........................................................................398
Assembly equations .................................................................................................399
External references ........................................................................................400
Link values and global variables ....................................................................400
Renaming ......................................................................................................400
Recommendations .........................................................................................401
Assembly layout sketch ...........................................................................................401
Virtual components .................................................................................................402

Assembly reference geometry ..................................................................................402
History-based and non-history-based portions of the assembly tree ........................403
Parts and subassemblies ..........................................................................................403
Folders ....................................................................................................................404
Mates ......................................................................................................................404
Assembly features ....................................................................................................404

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Component patterns ...............................................................................................404
In-context reference update holders ........................................................................405
Smart Fasteners .......................................................................................................405
Hole Series ..............................................................................................................405
Using SpeedPaks ...............................................................................................................406
Using Ghosts ...........................................................................................................408
Sharing Self-contained Data ....................................................................................408
Using SpeedPak with drawings ...............................................................................408
Using Subassemblies .........................................................................................................408
Creating subassemblies from existing parts .............................................................409
Insert a new subassembly ..............................................................................410
Dissolving subassemblies ...............................................................................410
Organizing for performance ....................................................................................410
Solving mates ................................................................................................410
Flexible subassemblies...................................................................................411
Legacy data....................................................................................................412
Organizing for the BOM ..........................................................................................412

Grouping subassemblies by relative motion ............................................................412
Organizing groups of purchased components .........................................................413
Depicting an assembly process ................................................................................414
Item numbering ............................................................................................414
Individual steps .............................................................................................414
Patterning considerations ........................................................................................415
Using Folders ....................................................................................................................415
Creating folders in the FeatureManager ...................................................................415
Add To New Folder .......................................................................................415
Create New Folder ........................................................................................416
Adding items to existing folders ..............................................................................416
Reordering items in the tree ....................................................................................417
Working with Tree Display Options .................................................................................417
Show feature names and descriptions ......................................................................418
Show component and config names and descriptions .............................................418
Using names other than the part filename in the assembly FeatureManager ............418
Viewing features, mates, and dependencies .............................................................420
Finding Useful Assembly Tools .........................................................................................421
Using Sensors ..........................................................................................................421
Using the AssemblyXpert ........................................................................................422
Tutorial: Managing the FeatureManager ............................................................................423
Summary ..........................................................................................................................424

Chapter 13: Getting More from Mates  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Applying Mates .................................................................................................................426
Mating Through the Mate PropertyManager ............................................................426
Mate workflow ..............................................................................................427
View and model positioning ..........................................................................427

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Select Other...................................................................................................428
Multiple Mate mode ......................................................................................429
SmartMates .............................................................................................................429
Alt+dragging a SmartMate .............................................................................429
Drag between windows .................................................................................431
Mate references..............................................................................................431
Mating with macros.................................................................................................431
Mating for Motion .............................................................................................................432
Degree-of-Freedom analysis ....................................................................................432
Best bet for motion ..................................................................................................433
Working with Advanced and Mechanical Mate Types .......................................................435
Symmetric mate ......................................................................................................436
Cam mate ................................................................................................................436
Width mate .............................................................................................................438
Gear mate................................................................................................................439
Rack and Pinion mate..............................................................................................440
Limit mates .............................................................................................................441
Screw mate ..............................................................................................................441
Path mate ................................................................................................................442
Linear Coupler mate................................................................................................443
Hinge mate..............................................................................................................444
Belt/Chain ...............................................................................................................444
Editing and Troubleshooting.............................................................................................445
Editing existing mates .............................................................................................446
Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................447

Distinguishing between the warnings and the errors ...............................................447
Examining Mate Options ..................................................................................................449
Reviewing Mate Best Practices ...........................................................................................449
Tutorial: Mating for Success ..............................................................................................450
Summary ..........................................................................................................................455

Chapter 14: Assembly Configurations and Display States . . . . . . . . . . . . 457
Using Display States ..........................................................................................................457
Display States and configurations ............................................................................458
Display States and drawings ....................................................................................461
Understanding Assembly Configurations ..........................................................................461
Configurations for performance ..............................................................................461
Suppressing components and features ...........................................................461
Configuring SpeedPaks..................................................................................462
Using part configurations for speed ...............................................................462
Advanced Component Selection ....................................................................464
Isolate............................................................................................................464
SolidWorks Utilities Simplify Assembly .........................................................465
Controlling display performance ...................................................................465

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Configurations for positions ....................................................................................467
Positioning with mates ..................................................................................468
Positioning with sketches ..............................................................................469
Configurations for product variations ......................................................................470

Design tables for assembly configurations ...............................................................471
Assembly configuration dos and don’ts ...................................................................471
Creating Exploded Views ..................................................................................................472
Tutorial: Working with Assembly Configurations .............................................................480
Summary ..........................................................................................................................484

Chapter 15: Component Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
Using Local Component Patterns ......................................................................................486
Local pattern references...........................................................................................486
Pattern seed only .....................................................................................................487
Instances to Skip .....................................................................................................488
Using Feature-Driven Component Patterns .......................................................................489
Understanding Other Pattern Options...............................................................................490
Dissolve Pattern.......................................................................................................491
Add to New Folder..................................................................................................491
Component pattern display options ........................................................................491
Component patterns and configurations .................................................................492
Tutorial: Creating Component Patterns .............................................................................492
Summary ..........................................................................................................................494

Chapter 16: Modeling in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495
Understanding In-Context Modeling.................................................................................495
Advantages of in-context modeling .........................................................................496
Potential problems with in-context modeling ..........................................................496
Dealing with the Practical Details of In-Context Modeling ................................................496
The in-context process ............................................................................................497
Starting out in-context ...................................................................................497
Working in-context .......................................................................................498
In-context best practice suggestions ........................................................................505
Multiple contexts ...........................................................................................505

In-context with configurations.......................................................................508
In-context with motion..................................................................................510
In-context with multiple instances.................................................................510
In-context and file management ....................................................................510
In-context and mates .....................................................................................511
Circular references.........................................................................................511
Skeletons and layouts ....................................................................................512
In-context and libraries .................................................................................512
Removing relations ........................................................................................512
Should you use mating or in-context? ...........................................................513
Communicating design intent........................................................................513

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Other Types of External References ...................................................................................514
Inserted parts ..........................................................................................................514
Split parts ................................................................................................................514
Mirror parts.............................................................................................................515
Using the Layout feature ...................................................................................................515
Using the Layout workflow .....................................................................................516
Virtual components .................................................................................................516
Tutorial: Working In-Context ...........................................................................................518
Summary ..........................................................................................................................524

Part IV: Creating and Using Libraries

525

Chapter 17: Using Hole Wizard and Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527
Using the Hole Wizard......................................................................................................527
Anatomy of a Hole Wizard hole ..............................................................................529
Placement sketch ...........................................................................................529
Hole sketch ...................................................................................................529
2D versus 3D placement sketches ...........................................................................530
Advantages and limitations of the 2D sketch .................................................530
Advantages and limitations of the 3D sketch .................................................530
Making and using Favorites.....................................................................................534
Creating a Hole Wizard Favorite....................................................................534
Storing custom holes .....................................................................................535
Administering Hole Wizard Favorites ............................................................535
Favorites quirks .............................................................................................535
Using the Hole Series ..............................................................................................536
Hole Series interface ......................................................................................536
Basic Hole Series steps ...................................................................................536
Understanding Toolbox ....................................................................................................538
How Toolbox works................................................................................................539
The database .................................................................................................539
The Configurator application.........................................................................540
Toolbox organization.....................................................................................542
Configurations or parts? ................................................................................543
Which is better? ............................................................................................544
Materials or custom part numbers in Toolbox ...............................................545
Toolbox in a multi-user environment ......................................................................545
Sharing Toolbox ............................................................................................546
Sharing an existing Toolbox library ...............................................................547
Toolbox administration ...........................................................................................548

Read-only setting ...........................................................................................548
Upgrading SolidWorks with Toolbox ............................................................549
Adding custom Toolbox parts .......................................................................550
Adding folders to Toolbox .............................................................................550

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Merging Toolbox libraries..............................................................................550
Toolbox and PDM .........................................................................................551
Toolbox settings ............................................................................................551
Using Toolbox.........................................................................................................555
Turning Toolbox and the Toolbox Browser on ..............................................555
Populating holes ............................................................................................557
Smart Fasteners .............................................................................................559
Organizing Toolbox parts in an assembly ................................................................561
Recommendations ...................................................................................................561
The simplest setup that works .......................................................................562
A complete setup that works .........................................................................562
Tutorial: Gaining Experience with the Hole Wizard and Toolbox .....................................563
Summary ..........................................................................................................................570

Chapter 18: Working with Library Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571
Using Library Features ......................................................................................................571
Getting started with library features ........................................................................572
The Library Feature interface ..................................................................................572
Task pane ......................................................................................................572

Design Library ...............................................................................................573
Other Design Library functions ...............................................................................577
Annotations ...................................................................................................577
Location of the Design Library folder.............................................................577
Library parts ..................................................................................................578
Sheet metal forming tools ..............................................................................578
Assemblies.....................................................................................................579
Routing .........................................................................................................579
Smart Components ........................................................................................579
Creating Library Features ..................................................................................................579
Creating a library feature .........................................................................................579
A few limitations ...........................................................................................580
Creating a new library feature ........................................................................580
Saving the library feature ...............................................................................582
Display of the Library Feature icon ................................................................583
Creating a library feature from an existing part........................................................585
Adding folders to the library ...................................................................................586
Locating and Internal dimensions ...........................................................................587
Understanding Dissection .................................................................................................588
Tutorial: Working with Library Features ...........................................................................588
Summary ..........................................................................................................................595

Chapter 19: Using Smart Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597
Understanding Smart Components ...................................................................................597
Using Smart Components .................................................................................................598
Getting started with a simple Smart Component .....................................................599
Auto-sizing Smart Components ...............................................................................601

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Making Smart Components...............................................................................................603
Getting started with a simple Smart Component .....................................................603
Creating an auto-sizing Smart Component ..............................................................606
File management with Smart Components ..............................................................611
Editing Smart Components .....................................................................................612
Tutorial: Working with Smart Components ......................................................................613
Summary ..........................................................................................................................616

Part V: Creating Drawings

617

Chapter 20: Automating Drawings: The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 619
The Difference Between Templates and Formats ...............................................................619
Can templates be changed on existing documents? .................................................620
Why have different templates or formats? ...............................................................620
Custom drafting standards ......................................................................................621
Creating Drawing Formats ................................................................................................622
Customizing an existing format ...............................................................................622
Sample formats ..............................................................................................622
Editing a format.............................................................................................622
Managing text ................................................................................................625
Custom properties...................................................................................................625
Custom property data entry...........................................................................625
Property link display .....................................................................................628
Errors and link variables ................................................................................629

Creating linked properties .............................................................................629
Using the Title Block function .................................................................................630
Creating a format from a blank screen .....................................................................631
Creating a format from an imported DWG/DXF file ................................................632
Saving the format ....................................................................................................635
Second sheet formats...............................................................................................635
Adding new sheets ........................................................................................635
Reloading formats..........................................................................................636
Creating Drawing Templates .............................................................................................637
Using Predefined views in drawing templates ..........................................................637
Aligning Predefined views .............................................................................639
Populating a drawing with Predefined views..................................................639
Predefined views and sheet scale ...................................................................640
Predefined view limitations ...........................................................................640
Using styles and blocks in templates .......................................................................640
Custom properties in templates ...............................................................................642
Saving a template ....................................................................................................643
Creating Blocks .................................................................................................................643
Summary ..........................................................................................................................644

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Chapter 21: Working with Drawing Views  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645
Creating Common View Types..........................................................................................646
Using the View palette.............................................................................................646
Model......................................................................................................................647

Open documents ...........................................................................................647
Thumbnail Preview .......................................................................................648
Start Command When Creating New Drawing Option ..................................648
Cosmetic Thread Display ...............................................................................648
Number of Views and Orientation .................................................................649
Auto-Start Projected View Option .................................................................649
Display Style..................................................................................................650
Scale ..............................................................................................................650
Dimension Type ............................................................................................650
Cosmetic Thread Display ...............................................................................650
Projected view .........................................................................................................650
Standard 3 view ......................................................................................................651
Detail view ..............................................................................................................651
Pre-drawn detail circle ...................................................................................651
Detail circle drawn in-line .............................................................................653
Editing a Detail view......................................................................................653
Section view ............................................................................................................653
Default Section view ......................................................................................653
Partial Section view .......................................................................................654
Aligned Section view .....................................................................................656
Editing a Section view ...................................................................................657
Creating Other View Types ...............................................................................................657
Crop view ...............................................................................................................657
Broken-out Section view .........................................................................................658
Drawing the closed loop ................................................................................658
Selecting the depth ........................................................................................660
Editing the view ............................................................................................660
Break view...............................................................................................................661
Auxiliary view .........................................................................................................663
Alternate Position view ............................................................................................663

Predefined view.......................................................................................................664
Empty view .............................................................................................................664
Custom view ...........................................................................................................665
Relative view ...........................................................................................................665
3D Drawing View Mode ..........................................................................................666
View orientation and alignment...............................................................................666
Using Display Options in Views ........................................................................................667
Display States ..........................................................................................................667
Display modes .........................................................................................................668
Component Line Font ...................................................................................668
Layers ............................................................................................................669
Edge display options ...............................................................................................669

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