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Solidworks Teacher Guide Lesson8: School'S Name Teacher'S Name Date

This document provides instructions for creating families of parts using design tables in SolidWorks. Key points include: - Design tables allow creating multiple configurations of a part within a single file by automatically changing dimensions. - Features and dimensions should be renamed to describe their function before adding to a design table. - Linking dimensions captures design intent by relating values so they are always equal. - Geometric relations like concentric or midpoint further define relationships between features. - An Excel worksheet is used to insert a new design table, with configurations in columns and dimension/feature names in rows.

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Rafael Diaz Romero
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48 views

Solidworks Teacher Guide Lesson8: School'S Name Teacher'S Name Date

This document provides instructions for creating families of parts using design tables in SolidWorks. Key points include: - Design tables allow creating multiple configurations of a part within a single file by automatically changing dimensions. - Features and dimensions should be renamed to describe their function before adding to a design table. - Linking dimensions captures design intent by relating values so they are always equal. - Geometric relations like concentric or midpoint further define relationships between features. - An Excel worksheet is used to insert a new design table, with configurations in columns and dimension/feature names in rows.

Uploaded by

Rafael Diaz Romero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SolidWorks Teacher Guide Lesson8

School’s Name
Teacher’s Name
Date
Families of Parts

• Many times parts come


in a variety of sizes.
• This is called a family
of parts.
• It is not efficient to
build each version
individually.
• Design Tables simplify
making families of
parts.
Design Table Overview

• Design Tables are used to create different


configurations of a part.
• What is a Configuration?
– A configuration is a way to create a family of similar
parts within one file.
– Each configuration represents one version of the
part.
• Design Tables automatically change the
dimensions and features of an existing part to
create multiple configurations. The
configurations control the size and shape of a
part.
Design Table Overview

• Design Tables can control the


state of a feature.
• The state of a feature can be
suppressed or unsuppressed
(also called resolved). A
suppressed feature is not rebuilt
or displayed.
• Design Tables requires Microsoft
Excel application.

Center hole suppressed


Design Tables Require

Dimension and/or Feature names


or special keywords

Configuration Values

Tip: Rename features and dimensions before


creating a design table.
Rename Features and Dimensions

• Feature and Dimension names used in a


Design Table should be renamed to better
describe their function.
• Which is easier to understand?
– D1@Cut-Extrude1
– Width@Oval_Slot
To Rename a Feature

• Click-pause-click on Extrude1 in
the FeatureManager design tree
(do not double-click).
Tip: Instead of the click-pause-click
technique, you can select the feature,
and then press the function key F2.

• The feature name is highlighted


in blue, ready to be edited.
• Type the new name, Box, and
press Enter.
Rename the Other Features Used in the
Design Table

• Rename Extrude2 to Knob.


• Rename Cut-Extrude1 to
Hole_in_knob.
• Rename Fillet1 to
Outside_corners.
To Display Feature Dimensions

• Right-click the
Annotations folder,
and select Show
Feature Dimensions
from the shortcut
menu.
To Hide All the Feature Dimensions for a
Selected Feature

• Right-click the feature in the


FeatureManager design
tree, and select Hide All
Dimensions from the
shortcut menu.
To Hide Individual Dimensions

• Right-click the
dimension, and
select Hide from
the shortcut menu.
To Display Dimension Names

1. Click Tools,
Options.
2. Click General on
the System
Options tab.
3. Click Show
dimension names.
4. Click OK.
To Rename a Dimension

1. Display the dimension.


– Either double-click the
feature to display its
dimensions.
– Or, right-click the
Annotations folder, and
select Show Feature
Dimensions.
2. Right-click the 70mm
diameter dimension,
and select Properties
from the shortcut
menu.
Renaming Dimensions

3. In the Dimension
Properties dialog
box, select the text
in the Name box
and type in a new
name, knob_dia.
knob_dia@Sketch2
is automatically
displayed in the
Full Name box.
4. Click OK.
Rename these Dimensions

• Height of the box to


box_height.
• Width of the box to
box_width.
• Diameter of the hole in
the knob to hole_dia.
• Radius of outside
corners to fillet_radius.
Design Intent

• The depth of the Knob


should always be equal
to the depth of the Box
(the base feature).
• The Knob should always
be centered on the Box.
• Dimensions alone are
not always the best way
to capture design intent.
Linking Values

• The Link Values command relates dimensions


to each other through shared variable names.
• If the value of one linked dimension is
modified, then all of the linked dimensions are
modified.
• Link Values is excellent for making feature
dimensions equal to each other.
• This is an important tool for capturing design
intent.
Examples of Uses for Link Values

• The thickness of
the square and
the two tabs is
always equal.

• The width of both


slots is always
equal.
Link the Depth of the Box to the Depth of
the Knob

1. Display the
dimensions.
2. Right-click on the
depth dimension
for the Box, and
select Link Values
from the shortcut
menu.
Linking the Box to the Knob

3. Type Depth in the


Name text box and
then click OK.
4. Right-click on the
depth dimension
for the Knob, and
select Link Values
from the shortcut
menu.
Linking the Box to the Knob

5. Select Depth from the


list, and click OK.
6. Both dimensions have
the same name and
value.
7. Rebuild the part to
update the geometry.

Tip: Use the CTRL key to select


several dimensions at the
same time and link them in
one step.
Geometric Relations

• Relate geometry through physical


relationships such as:
– Concentric
– Coradial
– Midpoint
– Equal
– Collinear
– Coincident
Examples of Geometric Relations

• The Sketch Fillet tool


automatically creates one
radial dimension and 3
Equal relations.
• Changing the dimension
changes all 4 fillets.
• This technique is better
than having 4 radial
dimensions.
Examples of Geometric Relations

• Two features.
• Making the circle
for the boss
Coradial with the
edge of the base
ensures that the
boss will always
be the correct size Or
regardless of how
the base changes.
To Center the Knob on the Box

1. Right-click the Knob feature,


and select Edit Sketch from
the shortcut menu.
Centering the Knob on the Box

2. Delete the linear


dimensions.
3. Notice the circle is blue,
indicating it is under
defined.
4. Drag the circle to one
side. Without dimensions
to locate it, it is free to
move.
5. Click , and sketch a
diagonal Centerline.
Centering the Knob on the Box

6. Click Add Relation .


7. Select the centerline and the
point at the center of the circle.
– Note: If the centerline is still
highlighted when Add Relations
opens, the line automatically
appears in the Selected Entities list
and you do not have to select it
again.
– If you select the wrong entity, right-
click in the graphics area, and
select Clear Selections.
Centering the Knob on the Box

8. Click Midpoint, and


then click Apply
and Close.
9. The circle will now
stay centered on
the Box feature.
Centering the Knob on the Box

10. Click Rebuild to exit the


sketch and rebuild the
part.
To Insert a New Design Table

1. Position the part in the lower


right hand corner of the
graphics area.
2. Click Insert, Design Table.

The PropertyManager appears.


3. Select the Auto-create option to
create a new design table
automatically .
Inserting a New Design Table

• An Excel worksheet is displayed in the part


document window.
• Excel toolbars replace the SolidWorks
toolbars.
• By default, the first configuration is named
Default. You can (and should) change this to
something more meaningful.
Review of a Design Table’s Format

Dimension and/or Feature names


or special keywords go in this row.

Configuration names Values go here.


go in this column.
Inserting a New Design Table

1. Double-click the box_width


dimension.

The full dimension name is


inserted into cell B2. The
dimension value is inserted
into cell B3.
The next cell, C2, is
automatically selected.
2. Double-click the box_height
dimension.
Inserting a New Design Table

3. Repeat this process for knob_dia, hole_dia,


fillet_radius, and Depth.
– Note: Since the depth dimensions of the Knob and
the Box are linked together, you only need one of
them in the design table.

Excel tip: Dimension names tend to be very long.


Use the Excel command Format, Cells, and click
Wrap Text on the Alignment tab.
Inserting a New Design Table

1. Enter new configuration names in column A:


– Replace Default with blk1.
– Fill cells A4 through A6 with blk2, blk3, and blk4.

2. Fill in the dimension values as shown below.


To Close the Excel Worksheet

1. Click in the graphics area outside the


worksheet.
2. The system builds
the configurations.
3. Click OK.
The Design Table is
embedded and
stored in the part document.
The design table icon appears in the
FeatureManager.
4. Save the part document.
To View Part Configurations

1. Click the Configuration


Manager tab at the
bottom of the
FeatureManager
window.
The list of
configurations is
displayed.
2. Double-click each
configuration.
Viewing Part Configurations

3. The part is automatically rebuilt using the


dimension values from the design table.

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