SOLIDWORKS Assembly Modeling Course Overview

The SOLIDWORKS Assembly Modeling course on designandprocess.com focuses on advanced techniques for creating and managing complex assemblies within SOLIDWORKS. This course is designed to equip users with the skills to work with large assemblies efficiently, utilize advanced mating features, and perform in-context edits to streamline the design process and enhance productivity.

This course is ideal for SOLIDWORKS users looking to deepen their understanding of assembly modeling, from basic assembly creation to advanced functionalities like gear mating and assembly visualization. Whether working on small devices or large machinery, this course provides the tools and techniques needed to enhance your assembly modeling skills.

Skills Learned:

Master creation of advanced mates, mechanical mates, smart mates, mate references, & motion
Learn top-down assembly modeling to create and edit parts within context of an assembly
Develop strategies to manage large assemblies containing thousands of parts
Detail assembly drawings with callouts, manage bill of materials (BOMs), and other meta data
Manage versions or configurations of an assembly with different components, subassemblies, and orientations

Course Duration

3 Days (7 hours/day)

Prerequisites

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course

Course Examples

Planetary Gear Mates

Create mechanical mates with accurate gear ratios & simulate motion

Large Assemblies

Manage large assemblies and pre-defined magnetic mates

Assembly Configurations

Different versions of designs with interchangeable components

Mate Controller

Add motion & control position of moveable assemblies

In-Context Edits

Add features and propagate to parts and create new parts within the assembly

Assembly Visualization

Manage assembly file size and troubleshoot errors and resource heavy components

SOLIDWORKS Assembly Modeling Course Syllabus

Lesson 1: Advanced Mate Techniques

SOLIDWORKS Assemblies
Assembly File Structure

FeatureManager Design Tree
Opening Assemblies

File References

File Reference Example
File Names

Solving Mates

Subassembly Mates
Find References
Update Holders

Advanced Mate Techniques

Mate Shortcuts

Case Study: Mate Shortcuts

SmartMate while Adding Components
SmartMate Cursor Feedback
SmartMates from Within the Assembly

Mate References
Design Library Parts
Capture Mate References
Mates with Axes and Planes
Sharing a Model
Multiple Selection Mate References
Multiple Mate Mode

Width Free Mate

Driven Mates
Using Misaligned Mates

Misalignment Types

Copying Multiple Components

Differences in Mating

Case Study: Copy With Mates

Using Copy with Mates
Copy with Mate Options
Investigating the Mates

Fixed Components
Summary: Inserting and Mating Components

Adding Components
Copying Components
Inserting and Mating Simultaneously
Mating Existing Components
Selection Aids

Advanced Mate Features

Lock Rotation

Case Study: Advanced Mate Features

The Belt / Chain Assembly Feature
Slot Mate Constraints

Profile Center Mate

Valid Faces for Profile Center

Rack Pinion Mate
Exercise 1: Mate References
Exercise 2: Profile Center Mates
Exercise 3: Slot Mates
Exercise 4: Using Copy With Mates
Exercise 5: Gear Mates

Lesson 2: Top-Down Assembly Modeling

Top-Down Assembly Modeling
Making Changes to Dimensions
Case Study: Editing and Building In-context
Adding Features In-context

Indicators of Edit Component
Appearance of Components While Editing

Inserting a New Part into an Assembly

Locating the New Part Component
Virtual Parts

Building In-context Features

Common Tools
Working Outside the Assembly

Propagating Changes
Saving Virtual Parts as External

In-Context Features
Update Holders

External References

Component Level Symbols
Feature Level Symbols
Out of Context
Putting a Part Back Into Context

Breaking and Locking External References

External References
External Reference Report

Assembly Design Intent

InPlace Mates

SOLIDWORKS File Utilities
Removing External References

Why Remove External References?
Editing to Remove References

Exercise 6: In-context Features
Exercise 7: Top-Down Assembly Modeling
Exercise 8: Removing External References

Lesson 3: Assembly Features and Smart Components

Assembly Features and Smart Fasteners
Case Study: Assembly Features
Assembly Features

Special Cases
Standard Assembly Features

Hole Series

Time-Dependent Features
Hole Series with an Existing Hole

Smart Fasteners

Fastener Defaults
Smart Fasteners Settings
Hole Series Components
Changes to Existing Fasteners

Smart Components
Case Study: Smart Component

Make Smart Component
Inserting the Smart Component
Inserting Smart Features
Using Multiple Features and Components
Using Auto Size

Flexible Components

Flexible Part Source
Making a Part Flexible
Editing Flexible Components

Exercise 9: Assembly Features

Extruded Cut Assembly Feature

Exercise 10: Hole Series and Smart Fasteners
Exercise 11: Level Assembly
Exercise 12: Smart Components 1
Exercise 13: Smart Components 2
Exercise 14: Flexible Parts

Lesson 4: Assembly Editing

Assembly Editing
Key Topics

Editing Activities
Design Changes
Finding and Repairing Problems
Information From an Assembly

Case Study: Assembly Editing

Component and Mate Level Errors

Mate Errors

Over Defined Mates and Components
Finding an Over Defining Mate
MateXpert
Grouping Mates

Replacing and Modifying Components

Working in a Multi-user Environment
Replacing a Single Instance
Mated Entities

Converting Parts and Assemblies

Parts into Assemblies
Assemblies into Parts
Parts into Parts
Replacing Parts with Assemblies
Defeature

Replacing Components Using Save As
Reloading Components
Component Patterns

Pattern Instances
Linear and Circular Patterns
Linear Pattern and Rotate
Pattern Driven Component Pattern
Chain Pattern
Mirroring Components

Exercise 15: Assembly Errors
Exercise 16: Mirror Component
Exercise 17: Using a Pattern Driven Pattern
Exercise 18: Using a Chain Pattern

Lesson 5: Using Configurations with Assemblies

Using Configurations with Assemblies
Case Study: Assembly Configurations
Creating Configurations Manually
Configuration Properties
Using the Modify Configurations Dialog

Modify Configurations Hide/Show Controls

Changing Configurations using the Context Toolbar

Saving Configurations
Information from an Assembly

Managing the Tree Display
Assembly Evaluation Tools
Case Study: Hole Alignment

Introducing:Hole Alignment

Controlling Dimensions in an Assembly

Global Variables
Assembly Equations
Dimension Names in an Assembly
Adding Equations

Creating an Equality
Equations With Functions

Equation

Comments
Sensors

Sensor Types and Alerts
Dimension Sensors
Dimension
Proximity Sensors

Using the Mate Controller

Mate Positions

Exercise 19: Using Modify Configurations
Exercise 20: Assembly Configurations
Exercise 21: Sensors and Assembly Equations

Lesson 6: Display States and Appearances

Display States

Stored Display States
Display States vs. Configurations
Display Pane
Display Pane Icons

Bulk Selection Tools

Using Selections
Selection Methods
Adding Display States
Renaming Display States
Copying a Display State
Copying a Display State

Case Study: Display States

Previewing Hidden Components
Configurations and Display States
Linked Display States

Advanced Select
Envelopes

Using Envelopes

Appearances, Materials and Scenes

Appearances Menu
Changing Scenes

Case Study: Appearances and Materials

Modifying Texture Maps
Materials

Exercise 22: Display States
Exercise 23: Display States, Appearances and Materials

Lesson 7: Large Assemblies

Large Assemblies
Key Topics
Assembly Loading

Automatic
Manual

Assembly Modes

Resolved
Lightweight
Large Design Review

Assembly Visualization

Visualization Properties
Elements of the Assembly Visualization Interface
Editing and Adding Columns

Lightweight Components

Opening Lightweight Components
After the Assembly is Open
Indicators of Lightweight Status
Best Practice
Comparison of Component States

Large Assembly Settings
Case Study: Large Assembly Options
Using SpeedPak

SpeedPak from the ConfigurationManager
SpeedPak from Top Level Assembly

Using Simplified Configurations

Suppressing Component
Simplified Configurations
Simplify

Automatic Assembly Loading

Advanced Open Options

Defeature
Modifying the Structure of an Assembly

Dissolving a Sub-assembly
Creating a New Subassembly with Components
Promoting and Demoting Components
Flexible Subassemblies
Using Folders

Envelope Publisher
Large Design Review

Edit Assembly Mode
Selective Open

Comparison of Loading, Modes, and Methods
Tips for Faster Assemblies

Appearance and Views
Set Options
Mate Considerations

Drawing Considerations
Exercise 24: Large Assembly Settings and Large Design Review
Exercise 25: Working with Subassemblies
Exercise 26: Flexible Subassemblies
Exercise 27: Simplified Configurations

Lesson 8: Facility Layout

Facility Layout
Publishing an Asset

Adding Assets to an Assembly
Adding a Ground Plane Feature

Using Magnetic Mates

Arrow Direction Orientation
Cycling Connection Points
Editing Assets
Connecting Different Assets

Modeling Connection Point Geometry

Using SpeedPak With Assets

Exercise 28: Assets and Magnetic Mates