DRWG8081
Spring 2024 - Section 1
Solid Modelling for Manufacturing II
Week 1 - Class 1
This class
• SOLIDWORKS
– Files Structure
– Standards and Unit System
• Create custom part, assembly and drawing
templates
• Configure Document Setup and Properties
• Setup Tools and Icon Configurations
• Creating and Saving Different Profiles and
Configurations
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
Kunj Panchal
• Mechanical Engineering Designer
• Faculty Conestoga College
• Kbpanchal@[Link]
• Please reach out by email or MS Teams
• I look my emails and MS Teams Monday to Friday.
• I will not reply during weekend
Our Common Goal
We want to make sure you graduate with the
skills necessary to make you successful in
your career.
Course
• 5 assignments (70%)
– (10%,15%,15%,15%,15%)
• Based on lessons
• Much of the information is covered in class
• 2 quizzes (30%)
– (mid-term 10% and final %20)
• Covers any material up until the test date
Assignments and Late
• Submitted to eConestoga
– I’ll only mark the last one
– Penalty of 10%/day up to 3 days max
• Re-submitting?!?
• Reasons for being late
• Re-marking your submission.
Pack and Go
• Industry best practice
• Common issues
– Start at the highest
• Drawing > Assembly > Part
– Opening from within ZIP file
– Renaming parts
• Prior to handing in
Academic Integrity
• I need to evaluate the individual
• Penalties vs PENALTIES
– 10% for being a day late
– 100% for violation of academic integrity
• You will be caught, I promise!
Understanding SolidWorks files
• Primary
– *.sldprt
– *.sldasm
– *.slddrw
• Secondary
– Template files
• *.drwdot
You may have to click on
• *.prtdot “Advanced” to see these
• *.asmdot
Architecture
• How SolidWorks CAD files work?
• Files are pointers and values
• Drawings
*.drwdot Formats
– Assembly *.asmdot
• Parts *.prtdot
• Use of Pack and Go is **Mandatory**
Drawing & Sheet Format
Templates
• Drawing template controls document unit
system, drafting standard, formatting
• Sheet format controls sheet size, title
block, sheet border
Part and Assembly Templates
• Set reference geometry
• Appearances
• Document Properties (under Settings >
Options)
• Custom Properties
Adjusting the Template
• Display settings
– Datum planes
– Mold parting line
– Weld bead
Lighting and Color
• Appearances
– Adjust Light source and intensity
– Background color
• Beware – turning up default settings can
cause undue load on the graphic card as
assembly size increases
Document Properties
• Decimal
precision
• Position
of dim’n
• DimXpert
• Image
Quality
Custom Properties
• Create the properties used in the drawing
format.
– Material
– Finish
– Description
Save As a Part/Assy Template
• Use the pull down
for file type and
select template file.
• Save into your own
folder under
Templates
• Identify it with a
descriptive title.
• SolidWorks should point you towards the correct folder
– E.g. C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2022\templates
Drawing
• Add default
tolerances
• Add standard for
interpretation
Document Properties
• Review each and change to preference.
– Line thickness
– Dimension spacing, orientation, position
– Font
• If you find you are often changing some
setting, consider if it should be the default.
Custom Properties
• Add properties for the
Title Block
– “DrawnDate”
– “DrawnBy”
– “CheckedDate”
– “CheckedBy”
– “EngAppDate”
– “EngineeringApproval”
– “MfgAppDate”
– “ManufacturingApproval”
– “QAAppDate”
– “QAApproval”
Save As
• Save into your own
folder under
Templates
• Identify it with a
descriptive title.
Using Your Template
2
3
1
More Details
• In your Level 1 course textbook:
– Chapter 1 – System Options
– Chapter 2 – Document Properties
• Default formats:
– C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS
2023\lang\english\sheetformat
Time Saving Techniques
• Good templates
• RMB (Right Mouse Button) tool
• Shortcut keys
• Sketching
– Dynamic Mirror
– Line/Curve
• Assembly copy/place
Mouse Gestures
• Part
• Sketch
• Assembly
• Drawing
Templates to make
• Part and Assembly templates
– ANSI (Inch) and ISO (Millimeter)
– Properties (Description, Finish, Material,
Weight)
• Drawing Templates
– ANSI (inch), A,B,C
– ISO (mm) A2,A3,A4
– Add custom properties
Sources of Help
• SolidWorks Help
• SolidWorks Tutorials
• YouTube guides
• Learning LinkedIn
• Google
• Email me