SOLIDWORKS 3D Design

3D CAD Design Techniques and Tutorials

Speed up your sketching with “on screen numeric input on entity creation”

Sketch Dimension Input

Introduced in SolidWorks 2009 is the option to “Enable on screen numeric input on entity creation”.  Though it’s name doesn’t do it justice, this feature can really have a big impact on your ability to create accurate sketches quickly.

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Circular References

A Circular reference occurs when two or more components, in an assembly, share external references in a way that a rebuild of one component necessitates a rebuild of another component(s). If PDM is involved, circular references will prevent the check-ins. A circular reference can manifest itself by the presence of reoccurring rebuild symbols. Rebuilding the…

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Let’s get picky and use the Selection Manager

Dan Johnson asks this question in the SolidWorks Forum: I am trying to create a handle that is part of a scanner body and I made my curves using a 3D sketch. When I try and make either a loft or boundary surface, I try to grab just one curve in my 3DSketch, but it…

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A History of SolidWorks Commands

This is a CHALLENGE for all you history buffs out there. And no, I am not talking about the Roman Empire or who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte, but about finding out when – in what version – various SolidWorks commands where implemented. At this time, there is no public database where you can select a command or…

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William Lishman – Inventor, Artist and Innovator

William Lishman was the inspiration for the 1996 Film “Fly Away Home” about a gaggle of geese who were led by Mr. Lishman to wintering grounds in Virgina. Mr Lishman designed and build a flying “go cart” to lead the geese to their temporary home for the cold season. The Toronto Star has done an…

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The power of Display States in SolidWorks 2010

Johnny Eberle was asking in the SolidWorks Forum: I am trying to create a view of just one part of weldment with a few other parts, which are modeled in an assembly.  I can’t figure out how to isolate the few components that I need to show. Any ideas? Fortunately, new in SolidWorks 2010 are…

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How to link a drawing note to the material property of a body

Jason Rackley was asking this question in the Solidworks Forum: Is it possible to link a note to the material of a body in a drawing (note)? I have a multi-body part with different materials assigned to each body.  In my drawing of the part I would like to attach a note to each body…

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PlantWorks 2010 now available

Javelin’s Plant Design and Layout add-in product for SolidWorks has been updated for SolidWorks 2010. PlantWorks allows for rapid 3D layout generation from furniture layouts to full machine layouts in your facility for proposals, photo renderings, and fly-through animation. Using PlantWorks and SolidWorks visualization tools you will be able to provide early visibility of your…

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