SolidWorks Advanced Customization Techniques

SolidWorks advanced customization techniques

By Matthew LoronoMarch 23, 2010

SolidWorks customization

Goals of this presentation: Give exposure to a variety of customizable areas

within SolidWorks.

This presentation will cover beginner to advanced topics.

Instructions will be complete enough to give users enough information to begin their own explorations into each topic.


SolidWorks has many types of customizations; examples:• Document Properties

• System Options

• Library files

• Menu and other user interface functions

• API macros and add-ins

• Sheet formats and templates

• Etc…

This session will cover these topics: Tags Mouse Gestures Shortcut Bars Sheet Metal Gage Tables Hole Wizard holes (SHCS example) Hole Callout Format File Symbols


Backup Backup Backup!

When editing installed files, always make a backup first!

When making major edits to a file you create, always make a backup first so you can get back to the last working copy if something goes wrong with your edits.

Tags

Tags

What are Tags?• Tags are keywords that the user may add to

SolidWorks documents or features to make them easier to filter and search.

• Functionality is available in SolidWorks 2008 and later.

Tags

Applying tags to features1. In the view pane or FeatureManager design

tree, select any feature.2. In the status bar (lower-right bottom of the

SolidWorks window), click the Tags icon.3. Tags box will pop up near the icon and will

include any tags already in use for that feature.4. Type new tags into that field, separating each

with a semi-colon.5. (Click on the Tags icon again to close the Tags

box.)

Tags

Using tags with filter1. In the filter field (at the top of the

FeatureManager design tree), type-in the desired tag.

2. This will automatically filter out all features which do not contain that tag nor match that text in their description.

3. To redisplay all features, click cancel x in the filter field.

Mouse Gestures

Mouse Gestures

What are Mouse Gestures? User-interface tool added in

SolidWorks 2010. Donut shaped menu that pops in

view pane when the user drags their mouse and RMB clicks at same time.

Each direction of the mouse drag motion selects a different command.

Mouse Gestures Mouse Gestures menu

may be customized by going to

• Tools pulldown>

• Customize>

• Mouse Gestures tab Menu may have either 4 or

8 elements. Menu is mode sensitive

Mouse Gestures

Tips:• Common practice is to add

Standard views to Mouse Gestures menu.

• Don’t add commands that end document sessions, such as Exit or Close.

• Don’t add commands that trigger activities which cause long waits Pack and Go.

Shortcut Bars

Shortcut Bars

What are Shortcut Bars?• Non-context pop-up menus that are customizable

for four modes.

• Part

• Drawing

• Assembly

• Sketch

• Activated by pressing “S” key.

• Functionality added in SoildWorks 2008.

Customizing Shortcut Bars1. With nothing selected, press the “S” key.

2. RMB click on the Shortcut Bar after it appears.

3. Select Customize.

4. The Customize window will pop up.

5. To add a command: drag a tool button from the Button area and drop onto the Shortcut Bar

6. To remove a command, drag a tool button from the Shortcut Bar and drop it onto Customize window.

Shortcut Bars

Shortcut Bars

Tips:• Add Extruded Boss and Extruded

Cut to Sketch Shortcut Bar to reduce feature creation steps and mouse movement.

• Don’t add commands that are already in the Context Toolbars (LMB click or RMB click menus)

• Place the most commonly used commands towards the upper left of the Shortcut Bar.

• If you have device such as a high-end mouse or 3DConnexion SpacePilot), map the letter “S” to one of its buttons. This reduces time consuming keyboard usage.

Sheet Metal Gauge Table

Sheet Metal Gauge Table

What are Sheet Metal Gauge Tables? An excel spreadsheet where sheet metal gage

properties are established for a particular material.

Properties that may be assigned:

• Gage thickness

• Allowable bend radii

• K-factor

Sheet Metal Gauge Tables

Sheet metal gage data is accessible while creating sheet metal features such as Base Flange and Edge Flange.

Sheet Metal Gauge Tables

Establish location for gage table files: Place custom gage tables at install location,

usually C:\Program Files\<install folder>\lang\english\Sheet Metal Gauge Tables\

Or, point SolidWorks to another location at:1. Tools pulldown>2. Options>3. System Options tab>4. File Locations selection>5. Sheet Metal Gauge Tables drop down choice

Sheet Metal Gauge Table Network tip: Sheet Metal Gauge Tables

can standardize material sizes through an enterprise.

Multiple tables may be created for different material types

(See SolidWorks Help to information about similar Sheet Metal Gauge/Bend Tables.)

Hole Wizard holes

Hole Wizard holes

What is the Hole Wizard?• Command that provides a user interface to

create many types of hole features.

• Hole types created with Hole Wizard:• Counterbore

• Countersink

• Hole

• Straight Tap

• Tapered Tap

• Legacy

Hole Wizard holes

Standard Hole Wizard holes are linked to associated fastener hardware.

Default hole dimensions are stored within Toolbox Setup with associated hardware specifications.

Hole Wizard holes

SolidWorks does not allow modification Toolbox “Standards” that come with the install.

To modify hardware and hole defaults, custom Toolbox “Standard” must first be created.

Hole Wizard holes (SHCS)

Potential issue with “standard” counter-bored holes for socket head cap screws:

Traditionally, counterbore depths for SHCS holes are equal to the diameter of the counterbore.

SHCS often use the same depth for their head height too, thus nominally being line-to-line with the top surface of counterbore.

Tolerances may allow the head to sit slightly proud of the top surface, possibly creating fit issues with other components.


Demonstration task:

Create customized “standard” for Socket Head Cap Screw (SHCS) counterbore holes with specific head clearance to

resolve fit issue.


Create a new Toolbox “standard” based on existing “standard”

1. Open Toolbox Setup.1. Goto Tools pulldown>

2. System Options tab>

3. Hole/Wizard/Toolbox line>

4. Configuration button>

2. On Tool Setup, select 1. Select your hardware.

3. Select the standard you wish to copy and modify.


4. Select the double-folder icon at the top of the icon view pane.

5. Type in a name for the new “standard” and select the green checkmark.

6. Note: depending on the size of the original “standard”, the copy process may take several minutes.


7. Select the new “standard” and navigate the hardware types to reach Socket Head Cap Screw folder.

8. In the Standard Properties area, select Size. A database of properties will display to the right side of the window.

9. Horizontally scroll the properties view to the far right and enter .02 into each field in the Head Clearance column.


10.Once all values are changed, select the save button and exit Toolbox Setup.

11.Verification: open a part and create a new Hole Wizard hole feature that uses one of the SHCS counterbore holes in the new “standard”.

12.Validation: inspect the hole feature using Measure or the feature’s PropertyManager to make sure that new “standard” works as expected. (There are some bugs in older versions of SolidWorks.)

Hole Wizard holes (network use)

Sharing Hole Wizard setting throughout an enterprise means sharing all of Toolbox as well.

Sharing Toolbox can be simple for some, but complex for others.

Hole Wizard hole (network use)

For a tiny to small sized single-site engineering group:1. Copy the C:\SolidWorks Data folder and all

of it contents to a network location.2. Point all workstations to network location:

1. Goto Tools pulldown>2. System Options tab>3. Hole/Wizard/Toolbox line>4. Browse button>5. Find and select new location for SolidWorks Data

folder.

Hole Callout Format File


What is the Hole Callout Format File?

For drawings, the file used by the Hole Callout command to create callouts for various types of holes.

File name is calloutformat.txt and is usually in C:\Program Files\<install folder>\lang\english\


Potential issue with calloutformat.txt: SolidWorks’ tapped hole callout defaults to

include drill size. Including a drill size within a tapped hole callout

may be considered over-specification:• Thread callout itself specifies the final form of the

hole.

• Drill specification is process specific. It may actually be incorrect if a different process is used, such as roll forming or molding. (SolidWorks assumes drill process is used.)


Hole Callout Format File (tap)

Demonstration task:

Change calloutformat.txt so that drill size is not included in tapped hole callouts when using Hole Callout command.

(scope limited to blind cosmetic thread hole feature for this demonstration)

1. Locate calloutformat.txt and make a backup copy.

2. Then open calloutformat.txt with Windows Notepad or similar.

3. Search for “[ANSI Inch]” and then the heading “TAPPED HOLES”.



5.Right below that heading will be this code:

6. Replace those two lines with these two lines of code:

7. Save calloutformat.txt.

TAP-BLIND=;\ <hw-threaddesc><hw-threadclass> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-threaddepth>

TAP-BLIND=<MOD-DIAM> <hw-tapdrldia> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-tapdrldepth>;\

<hw-threaddesc> <hw-threadclass> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-threaddepth>

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8. Verification: Re-read new lines of code. Make sure that the spacing between tags is correct. (Those spaces sometimes toggle defaults within Hole Callout command.)

9. Exit Notepad.

10.Validation: In SolidWorks, create a model with a blind tapped hole. Create a drawing from that model and use Hole Callout on the tapped hole to ensure it displays correctly.


11.Note: SolidWorks can remain open while editing calloutformat.txt.

12.Note: Existing hole callouts on drawings will not automatically change, even if a drawing is open while calloutformat.txt is updated. Only new hole callouts will use the new default. Old callouts will still need to be updated directly.

Symbols

Symbols

What are Symbols? Symbols are special characters (such as degree,

depth, diameter, etc.) that may be inserted into dimensions or annotations by using their text ID (such as <MOD-DEG> for degree) or this button:

Symbols are stored in a library file name gtol.sym, which is located at:

c:\Program files\<install folder>\lang\english

Symbols

Creating a new symbol Symbols must be simple geometric shapes

formed with lines, arcs, circles, polylines and alphanumeric characters.

Symbols

Symbols exist on an imaginary grid space where 0,0 is the lower left corner and 1,0 is the upper right corner.

Symbols are not limited to this grid space. Larger numbers than 1.0 are allowed, as are negative numbers

1.0 represents the height of a font as it is used in SolidWorks.

0,0

1,1

Symbols (eye)

Demonstration task:

Create a new symbol to represent visual inspection, such as an eye.

(Note: Changes made to Gtol.sym while SolidWorks is open will not be available until

SolidWorks is restarted)

Symbol (eye)

0,0

1,1

Sketch new symbol on a grid.

} Height of font as displayed in SolidWorks

Symbol (eye)

0,0

1,1

Center 1,.5; Size .4

Center 1,.5; Size .60

Center 1,1; Size 1.4

Center 1,0; Size 1.4

30°

Symbol (eye)

1. Create the following script based on gtol.sym instructions and the estimates from the sketch:

#INSP,Inspection Symbols

*EYE,Eye

A,ARC 1,0,.7,30,150

A,ARC 1,1,.7,210,330

A,SARC 1,.5,.2,0,180

A,SARC 1,.5,.2,180,0

A,CIRCLE 1,.5,.3

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Symbol (eye)

2. Close SolidWorks

3. Create a backup of gtol.sym.

4. Open gtol.sym with Windows Notepad or similar text editor.

5. At the end of gtol.sym file, add the new code.

6. Verification: ensure the code is correct, then save gtol.sym.

7. Validation: Start SolidWorks and open a drawing. Create annotation note and insert the new symbol. Place other text along side to see where the symbol will line up.

Symbol (eye)

If the symbol does not appear as desired, exit SolidWorks, re-evaluate your sketch, and make adjustments to your gtol.sym code.

Symbol (eye)

Adjusted code:#INSP,Inspection Symbols

*EYE,Eye

A,ARC 1,.15,.7,30,150

A,ARC 1,.85,.7,210,330

A,SARC 1,.5,.2,0,180

A,SARC 1,.5,.2,180,0

A,CIRCLE 1,.5,.3

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SolidWorks Advanced Customization Techniques