If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
If you’re wondering what one of the basic things you can do to make creating parts, assemblies and drawings easier without pushing it off onto someone else, I may have a solution for you.
Steps that prevent repetitive tasks can usually be some of the most simple.
While things in SolidWorks are not always so simple there are simple practices that can reduce the pain. A lot of times we start a new project and don’t realize we’re doing a lot of the same work we did before. To prevent this, and save you a load of time, you can speed up design by creating templates for parts, assemblies and drawings, but there’s a secret.
What’s the big idea?
The big idea behind each template it is to have a basic version of anything you create and modify on a regular basis. So, whenever you’re like, “Heavens ta betsy! I’ve got to create that all over again or try to re-use that monster of a part that has millions of features and circular references! Someone kill me.” this would be a perfect time to create a template.
Here’s how we do it.
The Secret?
The templates are actually SolidWorks documents. Yeah, surprise. Take a look. Whenever you select File, New you can select a part, assembly or drawing. These are templates. So, why can’t they be a little more advanced and help you speed up your design? Well, they can.
Create a document with the most generic information possible
Whether this is a part, assembly or drawing we want these to be pure as the driven snow.
Parts - Limit the amount of features or info you put in the document. For example, if it’s an extruded angle, just create the basic shape of the angle, without holes, chamfers or cuts. The only time you would add other feature is if they were always used. Get the idea?
Assemblies – How basic can you make an assembly to re-use it again? I think you can make it real simple. One example would be just creating the external model and leave the internals out. Again, only add other subassemblies or parts if they are always on the assembly. Now we’re goin’
Drawings – We typically think of drawings as templates, but we can really save some time by adding things to them, even parts and assemblies, BOM’s and saving them as templates. One thing I always create is drawing template for general notes. I could create these as blocks, but if you have a lot, it can start affecting drawing file size. Create a drawing, stick your notes in it and organize them with pages. Golden.
One important note
Make sure you put all the mass property data and all your attributes information in as well. Re-entering that stuff is one of the biggest pains ever. You can also have all your textures applied and scenes set as well. That is extra cool. I would even create a procedure or checklist to make sure everything is set up correctly for each template.
Where do I put templates?
The default location for templates is in the data directory of the SolidWorks install folder, but you can put them anywhere you like.
I recommend doing what I talked about Creating an Organized SolidWorks Team and create a network folder. The location you would like to use can be set in Tools, Options, System Options, File locations and select Document Templates in the pulldown.
The Lowdown
Really, anything you can create a basic version of to start from can be a template. Here’s some more examples of documents that you could turn into templates.
Parts - Extrusion, stock material, brackets, sheet metal boxes, gears, ergonomic surfaces, buttons
Assemblies - Pallet assemblies, drawers, chassis, circuit boards, internal system components
Drawings – General notes, Installation drawings, Wiring Diagram, plumbing routings
If you haven't already, consider subscribing to SolidSmack so you can easily receive updates when new articles are published or announcements are made.
Templates are useful in other ways besides designing.
We promote templates for the actual building of the structure in our case for building. Our visual templates (we call a banner) is a new patented (pat. no. 6,766,282) product called the AccuFrame System. In rigous testing by the DuPont Company and our company AccuFrame has recorded labor savings of 15% or more constructing homes.
AccuFrame System is printed on DuPont Tyvek substrate with indellable ink so construction workers can perform thier task under every weather condition.
Design/engineering isn’t the “end-all” of technology and shouldn’t be for that matter. A natual advancment in CAD and BIM is to invite the building team members on board with technology a logical way to disseminate the cricical information on-site….blue prints are to long over due for replacement or any real since of on-site production.
Contact me to know more.
Michael Schettine
President SAI.
email mike@accuframesystem.com
This sounds really interesting Michael. So, the CAD ‘template’ is used to create a full-size template (banner) to layout the components (frames, trusses, windows, doors) so construction is faster? is that correct?
I think big rolls of plastic are cumbersome. There should be a way of using lasers or a little robot to drive around and draw your lines. Either process would derive it’s info from the original CAD files.
Big rolls of plastic that Rob has detailed is incorrect. You are correct that the same computer data controls the banner creation.
AccuFrame is printed on DuPont Tyvek on a 1:1 scale of the framing lumber only…2×4 walls have a size of 7″ inches wide, the lenght of the wall, 2×6 walls are detailed on 11″inches wide Tyvek banners. Each floor is delivered on a roll with a starting point so incorrect placment is not a issue.
The banner is detailed with the framing information only so when a framer staples the banner onto the top&bottom plates that are laying side by side the layout is complete with the remaining step to divide the banner with a sharp knife. Each plated banner is when idenicail to one another making the system ready for construction of the wall section.
Easy to use, easy to send visual computer tempaltes drives on-site production by 15% in reduced building cycle.
Please email mike@accuframesystem to see pictures of the AccuFrame System.
I see… these are just for the walls. I was thinking they were for the floor layout.
Make sure to print a reference measurement on there too, so the guys don’t stretch it too much when putting it on.
I still think there is the possibility of putting the pattern/templates directly onto the floor.
For a large number of homes the plywood floor could be prepared, numbered and have the printing right on it. This could have the wall elevations and floor layout and any other details right down to the millwork.
I guess mud and dirt might make it tricky.
Yes It is good set up all templates as you described. But in team there is lot of problems.
Bigest I think is -
1. You did set up network folder. Good. But how do you set the appropriate name of designer on the drawing, when you have part template and drawing template on the network? From which place will be pull down the name? From properties and from drawing stamp not because these are on network.
We do that, by copiing the templates to every user. The user will after set himselve name for example Josh Mings. And there is the problem, when you want change the template (add new notes etc.), you must do that by the every user.
2. How you do drawings? By the selecting default drawing document originaly “Drawing.drwdot” and dialog box with sheet formats appear?
I think that better and quicker way is set more drawing documents with different sheet formats (A4.drwdot, A3.drwdot etc.). But there is also problem. When you want change for example stamp, you must do that by the avery drawing document.
Now I am creating new templates for our company and this questions I am trying to resolve.
How do you solve these problems in your company?
There’s a couple ways to solve this. The best is to use custom properties and have it automatically fill in the paper size, designer, etc.
If you have way to pull this info from a database, even better. We have one template and run a program that pulls the info from a database.
Yes this is it. From database…And what program is it? Any macro?
And how you look on problem 2. with drawings?
Thanks Josh
I use a program developed in house at the company. There’s a couple macros here that may help. It’s probably going to help to have somebody that know the SolidWorks API. This will make it possible to add much more functionality to how you do things at your organization. If it just yourself, you can pick up some basic knowledge of how macros work by looking at examples. Commercial programs like PDMWorks and Conisio can also help with this.
We can help you with quality fast turn boards both commercial and Mil spec. Low volume or high volume.
Thanks