There’s an awesome and often overlooked feature in SolidWorks that some of you know about and I believe others would really benefit from. It is the filter that SolidWorks added to the topmost part of the FeatureManager tree a couple of releases ago.
As you begin typing, the graphics area updates in real time displaying items that match.
Take note of the options that are available and also note that you can search for anything, including sketches, specific features, etc…
Check it out in the SolidWorks help.
SolidWorks tips & tricks
After writing about the Magnifying Glass previously, I felt compelled to immediately post this tip about what I feel is a very efficent means of zooming in and out of areas of your model. While the Magnifying Glass is interesting, I don’t think it’s as efficient as this.
First of all, F is for Fit – “Zoom to Fit” technically speaking. It’s about the first SolidWorks command I ever learned and I think it is the first most people should learn. It is basically the equivalent of “zoom extents” in that 2D program most of us used to use.
The next most important command, I think perhaps, is “Zoom to Area”. I’m not certain, but this one might not have a shortcut key associated with it when SolidWorks ships “out of the box”. I associate my W key with this command because it is the equivalent of zoom window in that one 2D program I referred to earlier.
The third command that I think is very interesting is “Previous View”. I’m pretty sure this one is not associated with a shortcut key out of the box – and if it is, I’m pretty sure it’s not associated with the P key, because that is Pan out of the box I believe. But my brain likes P for Previous – besides, there is a better way to Pan than with the Pan command I think. (hold down the Ctrl key and the middle mouse button simultaneously and Pan away…)
So, assuming your keys I’ve discussed above are set to F and W and P, this is how I use SolidWorks a lot, particularly if I am just checking or interogating a model: F zooms all the way out. If you want to look at a certain area or work on a certain area, then press w and zoom in on that area. Now, you can hold down the middle mouse button and rotate the model, or “roll” the model to look at it. Press the P key to zoom previous, which will take you back to the “pre-rotated” state, and then press P one more time and you will be back out to the zoomed to fit state. You can repeat this over and over again very quickly and “accurately”, again, particularly if you are only checking a model.
SolidWorks tips & tricks
The Magnifying Glass is new to SolidWorks 2009 as I recall. I think it’s a tool that slipped under the radar for a lot of people, including myself. It was not until I started writing this tip that I realized I was missing out on some of its key features.
You’ve already got the Magnifying Glass at your fingertip – just press the G key! (assuming you don’t have it customized for something else)
Before you press the G key, have your mouse pointer pointing to the place you want to magnify so that you don’t have to drag the magnifying glass to it.
Scroll the mouse wheel to change the magnification level inside the glass – while the model remains stationary.
If you drag your pointer inside of this magnifying glass, when it reaches the edge of the round glass, you will then be dragging the glass with you. It might feel more natural though, to hold down the Ctrl key and press the middle mouse button as you drag / pan the magnifying glass around your model.
To close the command, either click (without holding down the Ctrl key) or press G again or Esc.
SolidWorks tips & tricks
These commands, particularly the Delete face and Move face commands, are extremely important to the die designer using SolidWorks. I use the Delete face command quite often, especially when processing a part for a strip layout. I use Delete face a lot for removing gussets before unbending for example. Move face is a great command for making an edge or set of edges longer or shorter on the flat blank of the reference part after development.
http://accuratediedesign.com/knowledgebase/wp-content/uploads/2009/videos/Move face, Delete face and Replace face in SolidWorks.mp4
SolidWorks tips & tricks
This is a great and very simple command that I wasn’t aware of for the first couple or few years that I used SolidWorks. I used to use Fill Surface to accomplish this and as you can see by watching the YouTube video below, the delete hole functionality works much better and faster.
http://accuratediedesign.com/knowledgebase/wp-content/uploads/2009/videos/Delete Hole in SolidWorks.mp4
SolidWorks tips & tricks
Sometimes when you open an Iges or Step or other non-native file that you received, it has an error next to the imported body feature in the tree. Very often times you can simply do a Save As and save the file as a Parasolid and then reopen it and this will cause the error to disappear.
SolidWorks tips & tricks
Every die designer that starts to use SolidWorks runs into this issue. And there are several different methods that we see people use to try to get around it. I will never forget when I experienced it – how frustrating it was. As you start to draw a rectangular die block on the Front plane so that the Z axis is pointing at their nose as they are looking at the screen, just like it will be sitting on the CNC, you realize that this is actually the “top” in your mind. You are looking down at the top of the die. “Why is SolidWorks calling it the Front View?“ When you look at what you consider the “front” of this block and this die, SolidWorks is calling this the “Bottom View”.
People spend hours trying to figure out how to work around this issue when in fact, it is very simple to do. Click on the PDF below for a simple solution that works perfectly!
Standard Model Views.pdf
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