Model Files

Assembly Modeling
with SolidWorks 2012
Initial and Final
Solutions!

For the SolidWorks user who needs to understand Assembly modeling

By Planchard & Planchard CSWP

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Certificcaattiioonn
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SDC
PUBLICATIONS

With exercises and models to

prepare for the SolidWorks
Certification exam Schroff Development Corporation
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Introduction Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction I-1
About the Cover I-2
About the Authors I-2
Dedication I-3
Contact the Authors I-4
Note to Instructors I-4
Trademarks, Disclaimers, and Copyrighted Material I-4
References I-5
Table of Contents I-6
What is SolidWorks I-14
Design Intent I-17
Overview of Chapters I-20
Chapter 1: SolidWorks 2012 User Interface I-20
Chapter 2: File Management, System Options, Templates, Explorer and more I-20
Chapter 3: Assembly Modeling – Bottom-up design approach I-21
Chapter 4: Bottom-up Design Approach – Two Levels of Configuration I-21
Chapter 5: Top-down Design Approach – Two Components with Configurations I-22
Chapter 6: Configurations, Custom Properties, Design Tables and References I-22
Chapter 7: Assembly Drawings with Revision Tables and Bill of Materials I-23
Chapter 8: Top-down design, Layout Sketches, Blocks and Motion I-23
Chapter 9: Introduction to the CSWA exam I-24
About the Book I-25
Windows Terminology in SolidWorks I-26

Chapter1 – SolidWorks 2012 User Interface 1-1

Chapter Overview 1-3
Start a SolidWorks 2012 Session 1-3
SolidWorks UI and CommandManager 1-5
Menu bar toolbar 1-5
Menu bar menu 1-5
Drop-down menu 1-6
Right-click Context toolbar 1-6
Fly-out tool buttons / Consolidated menu 1-6
System feedback icons 1-7
Confirmation Corner 1-7
Heads-up View toolbar 1-7
CommandManager 1-10
FeatureManager Design Tree 1-14
Fly-out FeatureManager 1-16
Task Pane 1-17
SolidWorks Resources 1-17
Design Library 1-17
File Explorer 1-18
View Palette 1-18
Appearances, Scenes, and Decals 1-19
Custom Properties 1-19
Document Recover 1-19

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Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012 Introduction

Motion Study tab 1-20

New Part 1-21
SolidWorks Default Graphics area 1-23
SolidWorks Help 1-25
SolidWorks Tutorials 1-25
Chapter Summary 1-26
Chapter Terminology 1-27

Chapter 2 - File Management, System Options, Templates, Explorer and more 2-1
Chapter Objective 2-3
Chapter Overview 2-4
Assembly Task List - Before you begin 2-6
DELIVERY STATION Assembly Layout Diagram 2-8
Assembly Layout modeling methods 2-8
Assembly Considerations 2-9
File Organization 2-10
File Management 2-13
Activity: Create New File Folders 2-13
System Options – File Locations 2-14
Document Templates 2-14
Reference Document 2-15
Design Library 2-17
Activity: Set System Options and File Locations 2-17
System Options – Large Assembly Mode 2-19
Resolved vs. Lightweight 2-19
Large Assembly Mode vs. Large Design Review 2-19
Selective Open 2-20
Simplifying Large Assemblies 2-21
SpeedPak Configurations 2-21
Suppression state of components 2-22
Resolve 2-22
Suppressed 2-22
Lightweight 2-22
Activity: Check Large Assembly Mode Setting 2-25
Assembly Template, Part Template and Document Properties 2-25
Various drafting standards 2-26
Default reference planes 2-27
Activity: Create an Assembly Template with Document Properties 2-29
Activity: Create an Part Template with Document Properties 2-29
SMC Component from 3D ContentCentral 2-32
Activity: Open the MGPM12-1010 assembly from 3D ContentCentral 2-33
SolidWorks Explorer 2-35
Activity: SolidWorks Explorer – Rename and Save components in an assembly 2-36
Open a document 2-37
Pack and Go 2-37
SolidWorks Rename 2-38
SolidWorks Replace 2-38
SolidWorks Move 2-38
Check In 2-38
Find in Vault 2-38
Saving an Assembly and its reference documents 2-40

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Introduction Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012

FeatureManager and Component States 2-44

Resolved Part 2-44
Lightweight 2-44
Out-of-Date 2-44
Suppressed 2-44
Hidden 2-45
Hidden Lightweight 2-45
Hidden, Out-of-Date 2-45
Hidden Smart Component 2-45
Rebuild 2-45
Flexible State 2-45
Resolved Assembly 2-45
Component Properties in an Assembly 2-46
Comparison of Component States 2-47
Geometric and Functional Requirements 2-47
Activity: Measure Geometric and Functional Requirements 2-48
SolidWorks Toolbox Configuration 2-51
Activity: SolidWorks Toolbox 2-51
Chapter Summary 2-53
Questions 2-54

Chapter 3 – Assembly Modeling – Bottom-up Design Approach 3-1

Chapter Objective 3-3
Chapter Overview 3-4
Geometric and Functional Requirements of the PLATE-A Part 3-6
Activity: Geometric and Functional Requirements of PLATE-A 3-10
Activity: Geometric and Functional Requirements of RODLESS-CYLINDER 3-12
PLATE-A 3-14
Activity: Create PLATE-A In-Context of the Assembly 3-16
Activity: Create a New Folder in the SolidWorks Design Library 3-23
Assembly Mating Techniques 3-24
LINEAR-TRANSFER Assembly 3-26
Activity: Insert Multiple Components in an Assembly 3-27
Customize the Keyboard 3-28
Shortcut keys 3-28
Activity: Customize the Keyboard 3-29
Activity: Create a New View 3-30
Modify the Base Component: Fixed / Float Option 3-30
Mate PropertyManager 3-31
Mates tab 3-31
Standard Mates 3-32
Advanced Mates 3-33
Mechanical Mates 3-34
Analysis tab 3-35
SmartMates 3-38
Types of SmartMates 3-38
InPlace Mates 3-40
Move Component in an Assembly 3-41
Rotate Component in an Assembly 3-43
Show Hidden Components 3-43
Assembly Features tools 3-43

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Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012 Introduction

Mate Reference toolbar 3-43

Mate Reference PropertyManager 3-43
Mate Errors 3-45
MateXpert 3-45
MateXpert PropertyManager 3-45
Diagnose Mating Problems 3-46
Activity: Insert SmartMates 3-46
Rigid vs. Flexible States 3-51
Activity: Modify the rigid state to flexible 3-52
Fasteners 3-53
Component Patterns 3-55
Linear Component Pattern 3-56
Circular Component Pattern 3-56
Feature Driven Component Pattern 3-56
Mirror Components 3-56
Activity: Apply Toolbox – Fasteners – SmartMate 3-57
Chapter Summary 3-60
Questions 3-62

Chapter 4 – Bottom-up Design Approach – Two Levels of Configurations 4-1

Chapter Objective 4-3
Chapter Overview 4-3
Configurations 4-4
Terminology Review 4-4
Manual (Add Configuration) Command 4-5
Configure Component / Configure Dimension tool 4-8
RODLESS-CYLINDER Assembly 4-10
LINEAR-TRANSFER Assembly 4-10
Activity: Apply the Collision Detection tool 4-12
Activity: Create a Distance Mate 4-14
Activity: Modify the Distance Mate 4-16
Activity: RODLESS-CYLINDER Configurations – Configure Dimension tool 4-17
Parent/Child relation in an assembly 4-19
LINEAR-TRANSFER Configurations 4-20
Activity: Create three new LINEAR-TRANSFER Configurations 4-20
Preparing for the next Assembly 4-21
Activity: Preparing for the next Assembly 4-21
Chapter Summary 4-27
Questions 4-28

Chapter 5 – Top-down Design Approach – Two Components with Configurations 5-1

Chapter Objective 5-3
Chapter Overview 5-3
Top-down Design Assembly Modeling Approach 5-5
In-Context 5-7
External References 5-8
Suffix 5-9
Lock / Break 5-9
2AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly 5-10
Activity: Create the 2AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly 5-10
External References – InPlace Mates 5-13

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Introduction Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012

Activity: Create In-Context, External References, and InPlace Mates 5-16

Activity: Review External References in PLATE-B 5-19
Activity: Customize the Assembly toolbar in the CommandManager 5-21
Hole Selection 5-22
Activity: Insert a Hole 5-23
Mating the SLIDE-TABLE Assembly 5-28
Activity: Mating the SLIDE-TABLE Assembly to the 2AXIS-TRANSFER 5-29
Smart Fasteners 5-32
Activity: Measure and Insert Smart Fasteners 5-33
Edit Mates and Redefine Components 5-37
Activity: Redefine and Replace Components 5-37
Activity: Apply the Interference Detection tool 5-41
Redefine External References 5-46
External Reference – Out of Context 5-47
Activity: Redefine External References – Out of Context 5-47
Activity: Locate InPlace Mates with Filter FeatureManager tool 5-53
Activity: Insert Standard Mates between PLATE-B and GUIDE-CYLINDER 5-54
Activity: Apply the Interference Detection tool 5-56
Configurations 5-57
Activity: Create two new GUIDE-CYLINDER Configurations 5-61
Activity: Create two new SLIDE-TABLE Configurations 5-65
Activity: Create the Top Level 2AXIS-TRANSFER Configurations 5-69
Design Table 5-72
Chapter Summary 5-76
Questions 5-77

Chapter 6 – Part and Assembly Configurations, Custom Properties, Design

Tables and References 6-1
Chapter Objective 6-3
Chapter Overview 6-3
ROTARY-GRIPPER Assembly 6-7
Activity: Create the ROTARY-GRIPPER Assembly 6-8
Dynamic Behavior of Components 6-12
Activity: View the Dynamic Behavior of Components 6-13
Three new ROTARY Configurations 6-16
Activity: Create new ROTAARY Configurations: Add Configuration tool 6-16
Assemble the GRIPPER Assembly to the ROTARY Assembly 6-19
Activity: Assemble the Assemblies 6-20
PLATE-D part with In-Context features 6-24
Activity: Create PLATE-D In-Context to the ROTARY-GRIPPER 6-25
PLATE-D holes 6-28
Activity: Create the PLATE-D part 6-28
Activity: Display Update Holders in the Assembly 6-32
Remove External References and InPlace Mates 6-33
Activity: Remove External References and InPlance Mates in PLATE-D 6-34
Activity: Apply the SmartMate tool 6-38
PLATE-C 6-41
Activity: Create the PLATE-C part 6-42
Activity: Insert PLATE-C into the 2AXIS TRANSFER with no External References 6-43
Activity: Create the Cbore and the Linear Pattern feature in PLATE-C 6-46
Activity: Copy a sketch from one component to another 6-51

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Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012 Introduction

ROTARY-GRIPPER Design Table 6-56

Activity: Create the ROTARY-GRIPPER Design Table 6-56
PLATE-D Design Table and Properties 6-58
System Properties 6-58
User defined Properties 6-59
PATE-D Properties 6-59
Activity: Create the PLATE-D Design Table with Custom Properties 6-60
Edit the ROTARY-GRIPPER Design Table 6-69
Activity: Edit the ROTARY-GRIPPER Design Table 6-69
Activity: Edit the PLATE-D part and Design Table 6-72
Chapter Summary 6-76
Questions 6-77

Chapter 7 – Assembly Drawings with Revision Tables and Bill of Materials 7-1
Chapter Objective 7-3
Chapter Overview 7-3
3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly 7-6
Activity: Copy and open the Chapter 7 models 7-7
Activity: Insert SmartMates 7-12
3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly Configurations 7-14
Activity: Create the 3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly Configurations 7-15
3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly Drawing 7-18
Activity: Create the 3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly drawing 7-18
Activity: Search for a Part: SolidWorks Explorer 7-24
Activity: Modify the Title Block: Sheet1 7-29
Activity: Create a Linked Note: Sheet1 7-30
Activity: Add a Sheet – Insert an Isometric view 7-32
Bill of Materials 7-34
Activity: Create a Top-level only Bill of Materials: Shet2 7-36
Activity: Create Custom Properties for the BOM Components: Sheet2 7-37
Fasteners 7-39
Activity: Insert fasteners from the MY-TOOLBOX folder 7-39
Activity: Replace inserted fasteners (components) 7-42
Fastener Configuration 7-44
Activity: Create the 3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly Fastener configuration 7-45
Additional information on Editing a Bill of Materials Table 7-47
Exploded View 7-48
Activity: Create the 3AXIS-TRANSFER Assembly Exploded view 7-49
Drawing – Balloons 7-52
Activity: Apply the AutoBalloon tool: Sheet2 7-53
Custom Properties 7-56
Revision Table 7-57
Activity: Create a Revision Table: Sheet1 7-58
Activity: Insert a Linked Note for Revision: Sheet1 7-60
Drawing View Properties 7-64
Activity: Apply Drawing view Properties: Sheet1 7-64
Activity: Create the 3AXIS_TRANSGER Drawing: Sheet3 7-66
Activity: Create a Section View: Sheet3 7-68
Chapter Summary 7-74
Questions 7-75

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Introduction Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012

Chapter 8 – Top-down Design, Layout Sketches, Blocks, Motion and more 8-1
Chapter Objective 8-3
Chapter Overview 8-3
Product Specification 8-4
Global Values and Equations 8-6
Activity: Create Global Values and Equations 8-7
Input Assembly and Reordering Components 8-11
Activity: Create the INPUT-BASE-PLATE Part 8-13
Activity: Insert a new Assembly – Reorder Components 8-15
Reusing Components: Component Pattern and Mirror Component 8-17
Activity: Reuse Components: Apply the Mirror Components tool 8-20
Insert the DELIVERY-STATION Assembly 8-21
Activity: Insert the DELIVERY-STATION Assembly 8-21
AssemblyXpert 8-24
Activity: Apply the AssemblyXpert tool 8-24
Assembly Visualization 8-25
Activity: Apply the Assembly Visualization tool 8-25
Layout-based Assembly Design 8-25
Activity: Layout-based Assembly Design – Motion – Example 1 8-26
Activity: Layout-based Assembly Design – Motion – Example 2 8-28
Envelopes 8-32
Additional Assembly tools: join, Split, and Explode Line Sketch 8-32
Join feature 8-32
Split feature 8-35
Exploded Line Sketch 8-36
Motion Study – Basic Motion tool 8-38
Assembly Motion 8-38
Animation Wizard 8-39
Basic Motion 8-40
Motor tool 8-40
Spring tool 8-40
Contact tool 8-41
Gravity tool 8-41
Activity: Basic Motion Study – Example 1 8-42
Activity: Basic Motion Study – Example 2 8-43
Chapter Summary 8-44

Chapter 9 – Introduction to the Certified SolidWorks Associate Exam 9-1

Chapter Objective 9-3
Introduction 9-3
Intended Audience 9-3
CSWA Exam Content 9-5
About the Exam 9-9
Exam day 9-9
Drafting Competencies 9-14
Basic and Intermediate Part Creation and Modification 9-16
Advanced Part Creation and Modification 9-22
Assembly Creation and Modification 9-28

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Assembly Modeling with SolidWorks 2012 Introduction

Appendix
ECO Form A-1
Types of Decimal Dimensions (ASME Y14.5M) A-2
SolidWorks Keyboard Shortcuts A-3
Windows Shortcuts A-3
Helpful On-Line information A-4

Index I-1

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