Blocks group sketch entities and dimensions together so that they move as one in a sketch. Together with a layout sketch, you can go directly from an assembly sketch to the full assembly. Create, edit and save blocks. Create a layout sketch of an assembly using blocks. Build assembly components based on the existing blocks.
Create and use a custom route specification template using the Routing Library Manager. Specify size and schedule of pipe segments. Select pipes and elbows from the Piping and Tubing Database. Insert route components with route specification templates.
Edit a pipe route relative to the pipe\'s geometry (either centerline or external surface). Coverings can also be added to pipes. Create a route relative to an existing surface. Add coverings to pipes. Change where dimensions are assigned relative to the pipe (centerline or external surface).
Explore the user interface of SOLIDWORKS Treehouse, an assembly structure planning tool for managers and designers alike. Tour the user interface to explore how to use SOLIDWORKS Treehouse. Build the structure for a new assembly complete with parts and drawings.
Apply a setback fillet to vertices where three or more edges meet. Setback fillets can model cleaner looking blends at the vertices. Add setback values to vertices where three or more edges meet.
Set the options of a sweep feature to control the orientation and twist of the profile along the path. Use curvature combs to evaluate the curvature of paths and guide curves. Control the twist of the profile along the path of a sweep.
Create 2D or 3D curves defined by mathematical equations. The curve can be explicit where y is a function of x, or parametric where x, y, and z are functions of t. Create a 3D spline using a parametric mathematical equation. Create a sweep feature using one 3D spline as the path and another as the guide curve.
Learn to use modeling techniques that allow for efficient transition between part design and delivery of the finished castings. Create a motorcycle gear case by designing the production tooling for the part. Start by designing the core, or the negative space, of the gear case. Design the pattern, or outside faces, of the gear case as a separate solid body. Save the tooling bodies as new part files. Combine the solid bodies, subtracting the core from the pattern. Apply machining features to finish the model.
When the internal cut features of a model are of most importance in a design, one approach is to create solid features that represent the negative space of a part. Once the negative space is complete, the Combine command can be used to subtract the volume from another solid body. Use solid geometry representing the interior space of a manifold to create the negative space of the part. Create a separate solid body surrounding the geometry as the main body of the manifold. Combine the solid bodies in the part using a subtract operation.
SOLIDWORKS includes many tools for evaluating part geometry. By analyzing the curvature of a parts curves and surfaces, you can evaluate the quality of transitions between features and the surfaces themselves. Understand what curvature is. Display Curvature to use colors to evaluate the surfaces of a model. Use Curvature Combs to evaluate sketch curves. Learn how to display the minimum radius and inflection points of a curve. Use zebra stripes to simulate reflections on faces of a model. Understand how to use evaluate tools to recognize tangency and curvature continuous conditions.
By looking at the transitions between spiral surfaces and adjacent surfaces, you can understand the three types of continuity present in CAD systems. Identify C0 (contact), C1 (tangent), and C2 (curvature) continuity.
Create display states to control the visibility and display style of components. Display states can be linked to configurations of an assembly. Display states can control hide/show state, display mode, appearance, and transparency of components. Add display states to an assembly. Modify visual properties of components with display states. Explore component selection techniques. Use the display pane. Open an assembly to a specific configuration and display state. Link display states to configurations.
Smart Mates can be used to automate mates while adding a component to an assembly as well as for mating existing components. Different mate relations can be created based on the geometry that is specified for the Smart Mate. Automate mates while adding a component to an assembly. Use Smart Mates to mate existing components. Use Smart Mates with circular edges to generate multiple mates simultaneously.
Apply color, material and texture appearances to components, part features, or faces in an assembly. Control how those appearances propagate through the model. Appearances applied at the assembly component level do not affect the individual part file. Apply an appearance to several componets in an assembly. Apply a material appearance and change how it is displayed. Understand the hierarchy of appearance application in an assembly.
Use multiple mate mode within the Mate command as a shortcut to create many mate relations to one common reference. Create multiple mates to a common reference using multiple mate mode. Toggle alignment of mates. Explore different techniques to edit mate features.
Use limit mates to restrict the movement of components within a specified range of linear or angular values. Add coincident and limit mates to restrict the degrees of freedom of a component. Set the starting, minimum, and maximum values for a limit mate.
Constrain two similar entities (points, edges, faces, etc) to be symmetric about a plane or planar face. A symmetry mate does not force the components to be symmetric, just the entities you select. Understand the acceptable selections for a symmetry mate. Constrain two planar faces to be symmetric about a reference plane.
Use global variables and equations in assemblies to control dimensions of components or values of mates. Set dimension names. Define global variables. Add equations that link dimension values of one component to values in another component.
Edit the values of distance, angle, and limit mates. Add distance and angle mates according to the specifications in a drawing table. Edit the values of the distance and angle mates that you create.
Use both bottom-up and top-down assembly modeling design techniques to insert and modify components in an assembly. Insert components into an assembly using a bottom-up approach. Modify a component using a top-down approach. Create a new component using a top-down approach.
Change the part for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional sample exam by removing features, adding features, and editing existing features. Remove, add, and edit features to change the part. Obtain the mass properties of the part.
Use drawing view commands that are specific to working with assembly models including broken out section views, alternate position views, and exploded views. Use drawing view properties to represent assembly configurations. Create a broken-out section view to show internal components of the assembly. Create an alternate position view using an existing or a new configuration. Create an exploded assembly drawing view.
Create several types of derived drawing views and understand the unique characteristics of each view type. A derived drawing view is created by referencing an existing drawing view. Create a projected view by folding off an existing drawing view. Project a view normal to a selected edge to create an auxiliary view. Show a portion of a view at an enlarged scale using detail views. Create a drawing view relative to planes or planar faces in the model. Focus on a portion of a drawing view by cropping and hiding the unwanted entities. Shorten an existing drawing view using broken views.
Create a note with text that is linked to existing dimensions and custom properties. Link a note to a dimension. Edit the title block of a drawing to add notes linked to a model's properties. Add drawing property information to populate a title block.
