Comments on: Make Your SolidWorks Model Stop Rebuilding

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:45:24 +0000

As I’ve mentioned before, SolidWorks already does handle this to some extent. It will not rebuild earlier features unless you do a “Control Q” or switch configuration. It rebuilds from the last edited feature. An Enhancement could be made here to extend this to configurations.

I have seen bugs where every new feature added or change would prompt a rebuild from ealier in the tree. Since this model had over 500 features it took a while to rebuild. After investigating the model, I found the feature responsible and fixed the problem. The rebuild went away when adding new features.

Other things that may cause rebuilds could be circular references and equations using reference dimensions.

As for multi processors, I believe there have been some benchmarks done that show Solidworks is using multi processors when rebuild. I think certain model techniques may better utilize multi processors.

By: Albert Whatmough

Albert Whatmough — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:35:42 +0000

Ok, I can see that. I do however have a lot of trouble understanding how exactly that would work. I can see it working in a part that has no external references. What I see happening is you lock the geometry and then you later decide… oh I wanted to change this… or that and then you model just explodes with rebuild errors. as soon as you “unlock” it you are just waiting for all those rebuild errors to come alive. At least by creating a para solid that will not happen. That being said, if they can do it all the power to them.

If you really want to save time across the board get SolidWorks to make use of multiple processors.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:45:24 +0000

As I've mentioned before, SolidWorks already does handle this to some extent. It will not rebuild earlier features unless you do a "Control Q" or switch configuration. It rebuilds from the last edited feature. An Enhancement could be made here to extend this to configurations.

I have seen bugs where every new feature added or change would prompt a rebuild from ealier in the tree. Since this model had over 500 features it took a while to rebuild. After investigating the model, I found the feature responsible and fixed the problem. The rebuild went away when adding new features.

Other things that may cause rebuilds could be circular references and equations using reference dimensions.

As for multi processors, I believe there have been some benchmarks done that show Solidworks is using multi processors when rebuild. I think certain model techniques may better utilize multi processors.

By: Albert Whatmough

Albert Whatmough — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:35:42 +0000

If you really want to save time across the board get SolidWorks to make use of multiple processors.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:32:17 +0000

This idea was intended for features in complex part models. It may not be as useful when applied to assembly mates (especially top-down assemblies). The main purpose is to eliminate some of the rebuild time currently required. While inserting a parasolid file accomplishes this, a “Geometry Lock” would also provide a way to make changes if that would become necessary.

This functionality could be an actual feature, or maybe, it would be a behind-the-scenes part of SolidWorks. In either case, the more people who submit this request, the more chance that SolidWorks will invest resources to address the specific issue of rebuild time.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:32:17 +0000

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:26:45 +0000

yeah Al. I’ve been thinking more about how this would be done. If your using a lot of top-down design, locking geometry will almost be irritating, at least in the initial design phase. you will both prevent changes top-down and within the part itself. not sure how they would get around that. simply, i guess, it just would not allow you to make that change. Seems it would lock up the entire external reference though. I need to make a change to this part, it’s geometry is locked, it’s driven by another part, but that part is locked because the other part has locked geometry referencing it.

If it’s handled like suppression states, maybe you could make changes, but have to unlock the affected parts/assemblies in order to rebuild.

By: Albert Whatmough

Albert Whatmough — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:26:15 +0000

If you need to lock your model one option is always to save it as a parasolid and then re-open it. It will then be imported geometry. Of course if you do this you cannot go back. The thing I guess I can’t completely understand is if you created relationships that need to rebuild then you obviously wanted those relationships. If you don’t want the relationships you created to rebuild then why did you use them?

I am more curious, and maybe I don’t completely understand the problem.

By: Richard Williams

Richard Williams — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:43:00 +0000

I guess this is meant for pretty complex models that you guys are running. I haven’t gotten anything that intensive as of yet. Probably is a good idea since you guys mentioned it.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:30:32 +0000

Lloyd, that makes since. Howver, I tried deleting a feature and it only rebuilds from that feature onwards….it didn’t do a complete rebuild.

Configurations seem to be the weakest link on this issue. Changes to the model prompt the configurations to rebuild fully when activating. Sounds like the programmers took the easy way out by just flagging the config as dirty on any change and then do a full rebuild to cover it. It sounds like SolidWorks should just extend the current functionality of rebuilding from the last changed feature to configurations.

This lock thing just doesn’t sound necessary to me or could be more transparent behind the scenes.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:14:00 +0000

Jason,

There are a number of events that trigger a full rebuild in SolidWorks. One such event is deleting a feature half ways up the feature tree. Depending on a user’s sytle of working, this might be a common occurance. Another event is switching between configurations.

Regarding configurations, I would see the “Geometry Lock” to be a big help in that area as well. As an illustration, you could place the lock at the end of a group of common features (used in all configurations). Switching configurations would still perform a full rebuild, but only on those features after the lock.

Lloyd

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:34:07 +0000

Is this what SolidWorks already does? I mean, it doesn’t currently rebuild the entire tree, only from the edited feature down. Typically, only a control q (Force Rebuild) will rebuild the entire tree.

As for locks, I’d like to see the ability to lock configurations. Or at least a better tool for managing them. The new Modify Configus tool in 2008 is a step in the right direction.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:39:40 +0000

Hey Lloyd, sorry about that, I was trying to make it super easy. I’ve updated the post to reflect your comments and I’ve resubmitted an enhancement request. Let’s hope the people going through those know know the difference too. thanks.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:20:22 +0000

This article lays out some specific steps to submit this enhancement request. However, the specific request that starts with, “The ability to remove automatic rebuilding…”, is actually a different request altogether. It has been a little over a week since since my enhancement request has seen any type of exposure, and it has not yet earned the status of having it’s own radio button.

If you add the comments listed above, they will probably understand your intent. But it might be a good idea to create a new request from scratch and make reference to a “Geometry Lock” in the title. This will ensure that your request gets recorded properly.

Thanks

By: Brian, CADFanatic

Brian, CADFanatic — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:20:17 +0000

SolidWorks Enhancement Requests…

SolidWorks has a great way for subscription users to request enhancements to the software - the Enhancement Request section on the SolidWorks Customer Portal. You simply go to the Customer Portal site, click on Enhancement Requests, and choose from the…