Evaluate the size, weight, and more of a model using the measure and mass properties tools. Understand how the material and coordinate system of a part affect its mass properties. Measure between points and circles to determine the size of a part.
Add materials to parts for calculations of mass properties, for use with SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and to modify the appearance of the part. Define the material for a part. Add a custom material to a part. Use configurations to assign different materials to a part.
Use standard mates to constrain the degrees of freedom of components relative to other components or reference geometry such as planes or axes. Learn about standard mate types such as coincident, concentric, and more. Understand how selected entities such as faces, edges, vertices, planes, or axes determines the available mate types.
Use sketch relations to fully define a sketch and capture design intent. Learn about automatic sketch relations and sketch relations that you add manually. Add relations between two lines to understand common sketch relations. Add relations between circles and arcs to observe additional sketch relations.
Create rounded or beveled edges using fillets or chamfers, respectively. Understand general filleting rules to facilitate better modeling practices. Create and understand some of the options for constant radius fillets. Create and understand some of the options for chamfer features.
Use the Physical Dynamics options when moving components to allow realistic interaction between assembly components. Physical dynamics identifies collisions between faces and allows components to push one another when they come into contact. Understand options within the Move Component command. Use the Physical Dynamics option to simulate interaction between components being moved. Understand the limitations of using Physical Dynamics versus a Motion Study. Learn how to troubleshoot issues when using the physical dynamics option.
Use the Interference Detection tool to identify any overlap between parts in an assembly. Clearance between parts can also be detected using the Clearance Verification tool. Use the Interference Detection tool to identify interferences between assembly components. Explore the options available within the Interference Detection tool. Use the Clearance Verification tool to identify clearances between assembly components. Explore the options available with the Clearance Verification tool.
Contour selection options allow individual contours to be selected within a sketch. By making use of contour selection techniques, a single sketch can be used to produce multiple features. Use the Contour Select Tool to pre-select contours for a feature. Use the Selected Contours options for a feature to define areas of a sketch to use. Use a single sketch to generate multiple features. Understand the icons displayed when using selected contours and sharing sketches.
Mirror existing sketch entities with the Mirror Entities tool or by adding symmetric relations. Or, dynamically mirror sketch entities as you create them. Mirror sketch entities that you previously created. Dynamically mirror sketch entities as you create them. Add symmetric relations to sketch entities to mirror the entities.
Use the ConfigurationManager to add configurations to an assembly and show two versions of its components. Also, explore the advanced options of configuration properties. Use the ConfigurationManager to add configurations to an assembly. Use the advanced options of the configuration properties to control new components and mates. Create two versions of the assembly to represent different available components.
Global variables declare a named value that dimensions can be set equal to or that can be used in equations. Equations are mathematical expressions that can define dimension values as well as relate dimensions to each other. Create global variables. Use global variables to set fillet features to be equal radii. Use global variables in equations. Use equations to control dimension values.
Explore the various methods for moving and rotating components, including dragging, using the triad, and setting the options in the PropertyManager. Explore the options for detecting collisions between components. Calculate the minimum clearance distance between components. Move and rotate a component by dragging, using the triad, or using the options in the PropertyManager. Identify the clearance between options when moving components. Detect collisions between moving components and other components.
Use bill of materials (BOM) tables to call out the components of an assembly. Bill of materials can be modified in many ways and new table templates can be generated to save customizations. Tabulated bill of materials can list information about multiple configurations within the same table. Create a bill of materials for an assembly. Modify a bill of materials table to add and reorder column. Save a bill of materials as a template. Create a tabulated bill of materials.
Create ellipses and slots as entities in a sketch. Learn about the variety of tools you can use to create ellipses and slots. Understand when you might choose the different ellipse and slot tools based on points in the center or along the perimeter of the ellipse or slot.
Create circles and arcs as entities in a sketch. Learn about the variety of tools you can use to create circles and arc. Understand when you might choose the different circle and arc tools based on points in the center or along the perimeter of the circle or arc.
Create lines and centerlines as entities in a sketch. Understand the options for creating lines in a sketch. Draw lines that are vertical, horizontal, or at a specified angle. Use centerlines for relations and dimensions to facilitate the creation of model geometry.
Review the various end condition options for extruded features. Examine the end conditions defined by distance from the sketch: Blind, Through All, and Midplane. Examine the end conditions defined by existing 3D geometry: Up to Next, Up to Vertex, Up to Surface, Offset from Surface, and Up to Body. Identify geometry differences based on the selected end condition.
