Machine Design Tools Overview

Tasks

Solutions

Start with a bottom-up or top-down design method.

Bottom-up Design:

In bottom-up design, you design individual parts that you add to assemblies.

To create parts, start by creating a sketch with sketch tools, or by importing an existing sketch (for example, from an IGES or DXF/DWG file).

You can also convert a 2D sketch into a 3D model. The 2D sketch can be an imported drawing, or it can be a sketch constructed in SolidWorks.

Top-down Design:

In top-down design, you use a layout inside an assembly to drive part and assembly design. See the Working with Assemblies section below for more information.

Other resources:

• Click Help, Moving from AutoCAD and see the Imported AutoCAD Data section.

Create parts.

Add shapes called features to create parts. Use ScanTo3D to create surface or solid models from 3D mesh or point cloud scan data.

Create weldments.

Use Weldments tools to create weldments.

To learn more about weldments, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Weldments tutorial.

Create sheet metal parts.

Use Sheet Metal tools to create sheet metal parts.

To learn more about sheet metal, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Sheet Metal tutorial.

Add parts into a part document.

Use the Insert Part tool to add parts into a multibody part document. You can add parts multiple times into the same document.

Create multiple versions of parts within a single document.

Use design tables to create similar parts using configurations in a single document. You can also create configurations manually and create component configurations in assemblies.

To learn more about creating configurations using design tables, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Design Tables tutorial.

Determine the volume and weight of parts.

Use the Mass Properties tool to calculate a part's properties such as density, mass, volume, and so on.

Determine the factor of safety to see how parts perform when forces are applied to them.

Use the COSMOSXpress analysis wizard to determine the factor of safety of parts. Click Tools, COSMOSXpress to start the wizard.

To learn more about COSMOSXpress, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the COSMOSXpress tutorial.

Tasks

Solutions

Drive a part or assembly design using a layout.

In an assembly, create an assembly layout sketch to make sure your components are positioned properly.

Create a layout of sketch blocks in a part to conceptually design an assembly. Then create a full assembly generating one component for each block.

Add parts to an assembly.

Create a new assembly from an existing part or assembly, then use several methods to add components to the assembly.

You can also create a part in the context of an assembly so you can use the geometry of other assembly components while designing the part. The new part has its own part file so you can modify it independently from the assembly.

To learn more about assemblies, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Lesson 2 - Assemblies tutorial.

Manipulate component location, orientation, and display states.

Use the Move Component and Rotate tools to move assembly components.

Use Display States to set a separate display mode (Wireframe, Hidden Lines Removed, etc.) for each component in an assembly.

Control assembly movement and define the design intent.

For example, the design intent might be that a shaft should remain concentric to the cylinder in which it moves.

Use mate tools to add mate relations that control movement of parts:

Standard mates set standard mate relations between components, such as concentric, parallel, perpendicular, and so on.

Gear mates control the rotation of one component with respect to another component.

Rack and pinion mates allow linear translation of one component (the rack) to cause circular rotation in another component (the pinion), and vice versa.

Limit mates limit component movement to a specified range.

Width mates center a tab within the width of a groove.

SmartMates automatically add mates when you drag components into place.

To learn more about mates, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Assembly Mates tutorial.

Create holes and add fasteners or components that require other components and features.

Create holes for fasteners with the Hole Wizard tool, then use Smart Fasteners to automatically add standard fasteners into the holes.

You can access a customizable library of standard parts using the SolidWorks Toolbox add-in. Select a standard and the type of part you want to insert, then drag the component into the assembly.

Click Tools, Add-Ins, and select SolidWorks Toolbox to activate this add-in.

To learn more about SolidWorks Toolbox, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the SolidWorks Toolbox tutorial.

Create Smart Components that require the addition of associated components and features such as bolts and mounting holes. When you insert the Smart Component into an assembly, you can choose whether or not to insert the associated components and features.

Add supplier-certified models.

Use the 3D ContentCentralSM web site to save design time by accessing supplier-certified CAD models that you can download and add to an assembly.

Build efficient, modular assemblies using sub-assemblies.

See Working with Sub-assemblies for tips and links to related topics.

Create simulations of machine movement.

Use three methods to visualize machine movement:

To record and play back a simulation of movement, use Physical Simulation. You can add simulation elements, such as springs, motors, and gravity, that move components.

To check how components interact while you are creating an assembly, use the Physical Dynamics option in Collision Detection. When you drag or rotate a component, it applies a force to any components it touches, so you see the realistic motion of assembly components.

To create animations of models, such as a rotating or exploding model, use the SolidWorks Animator add-in. Animations can simulate assembly movement when combined with physical dynamics. Click Tools, Add-Ins, and select SolidWorks Animator to activate this add-in.

To learn more about SolidWorks Animator, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the SolidWorks Animator tutorial.

Troubleshoot problems you have when moving assembly components, such as components that collide.

Use the Interference detection tool to check a file for components that interfere with each other.  A list gives you the names of the components that interfere and the interference volume. The area of interference highlights in the graphics area.

Use the Collision Detection option when you move or rotate components to detect if multiple components collide.

If a problem with mates is causing problems with the assembly motion, use MateXpert to identify mate problems.

Maximize performance of large assemblies.

Use lightweight components, which loads only a subset of a model's data in memory. The remaining model data is loaded on an as-needed basis. You can also open sub-assemblies as lightweight components.

Use large assembly mode, which maximizes system option settings for large assemblies.

Simplify assemblies and vary the assembly design with component configurations.

Tasks

Solutions

Make drawings from a part or assembly.

Use the Make Drawing from Part/Assembly tool on the Standard toolbar to assist you in creating a drawing.

To learn more about drawings, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the Lesson 3 - Drawings and Advanced Drawings tutorials.

Add views.

SolidWorks offers tools to create various drawing views:

Add detail views, section views, broken views, and broken out sections to a drawing.

Use Alternate Position Views to superimpose one drawing view precisely on another. Alternate position views are often used to show the range of motion of an assembly.

Add dimensions and annotations from part and assembly documents.

Use Insert Model Items to insert dimensions marked for drawings and annotations already in model documents.

Use 3D annotations to create annotation views in the model. You can use these views in a drawing. The annotation views are converted into 2D drawing views; the annotations you inserted in the model appear in the drawing.

Use DimXpert to apply dimensions in drawings so that manufacturing features (patterns, slots, pockets, etc.) are fully-defined.

Add annotations and balloons to views.

Add Center Marks , Centerlines , Geometric Tolerance Symbols , Notes , Surface Finish Symbols , and other annotations.

Specify in Tools, Options, Document Properties, Detailing for center marks, centerlines, balloons, and dimensions to be inserted automatically on view creation.

Use the AutoBalloon tool to automatically insert balloons in a drawing.

Add a bill of materials and other tables.

Use the Bill of Materials tool to add a bill of materials to a drawing.

You can also add hole tables, revision tables, and weldment cut lists.

Tasks

Solutions

Manage product data and control revisions.

Use the PDMWorks Workgroup add-in, a product data management tool. Click Tools, Add-Ins, and select PDMWorks Workgroup 2007 to activate this add-in.

To learn more about PDMWorks Workgroup, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the PDMWorks Workgroup tutorial.

• Get the newest version of a document.

• Replace a component in an assembly document.

• Store documents in a common place.

• Copy a document to use it in a new design.

• Change the location where parts and sub-assemblies of an assembly are stored.

• Reload the document to get the latest version.

• Use the Replace Components tool to replace components in order to update the assembly.

• Use the Save tool to save the assembly document and all referenced component documents.

• Use the Save As command to create a copy of a document with a different name that you can use in other designs.

• Edit part location to save parts or sub-assemblies of an assembly to a new location or file name.

Send part, assembly, and drawing documents to others for review.

Publish an eDrawings file from SolidWorks, then send it to others who can use the free eDrawings Viewer to view the file.

To learn more about eDrawings, click Help, SolidWorks Tutorials and complete the eDrawings tutorial.

Find companies that use SolidWorks to help you with your design, engineering, or manufacturing needs.

Visit the SolidWorks Manufacturing Network web site and search for companies.