SolidWorks Feature Tip to Improve Design

by Josh on January 3, 2008 · Comments

sand-castle.jpgIf you’ve been using SolidWorks for more than a couple hours you know you parts are created by stacking up a bunch of features on the left side of the screen. It’s a veritable tower of sand, held together by the spit of fully-defined sketches.

Based on what you do in that stack, the FeatureManager Tree, your part could crumble or, even worse, have absolutely no aesthetic appeal whatsoever. One way around this is one of the most useful features you can use in SolidWorks but one I don’t see used nearly enough. Naming Features.

Huh, You say? Well, before you wad this blog up and throw it in the disposal here’s why you should do it and how it will improve your design.

I’m all for not being constrained to sketches and features, running around with nothing but your solid geometry on. But in SolidWorks sketch-driven, history-based modeling is a reality and can be used for good, as opposed to things that are not good.

Create a train of thought
Some call it design intent (how you want the model to act) but really, it’s more. It’s how you’re throwin’ crap together or hopefully, at the very least, thinking of how its being built or manufactured. Instead of leaving features named Cut-Extrude1, Sweep2, or Fillet3 name them along the way.

Doing this causes something to happen. It becomes clear what the features actually are and you may better understand how to make changes to create a better product. This helps refine features, cut load time and improve design. Here’s a simple example.

The Three Trees
When the part was completed the FeatureManager looked like the first tree below. The second version names the features and you can see right away where there’s possible duplication. The third tree refines the features and cleans up the model.
feature-manager-names.jpg

Try this on any of your parts. My bet is you’ll see where you can make improvements right away. I regularly run this test with newbies and it really helps develop a more cognitive approach to modeling.

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  • My instructor would take points off of our models if we didn't name out features(also would for under-defined sketches). That gets you trained on naming them quickly. In the past at my company, depending on who modeled the part, the features may not have been named. With sheet metal part containing up to 1000 holes it is very nice to have them named. Currently everyone names the features.

    I have "Name feature on creation" system option checked. Helps me follow the same process on all the models.
  • Hey John. That Professor knows what is uP.

    I was hoping someone would mention the option for this. It a great reminder to add a name and really doesn't take that much time. Right on.
  • Also, if you work in a multi-user environment, where multiple people will touch the models, use the Comments on the features as well. I've had trickly variable pitch helix springs that would do screwy (or should I say springy) things when trying to add configurations to it; they would blow up. I added comments to the features to let other engineers know the procedure for adding a configuration and making the spring longer/shorter/different diameter without having it blow up. Could use the design journal I guess, but the comments will pop up as you hover over the feature so it grabs their attention better.

    I used to use the "Name feature on creation" but found it cumbersome when concepting and fleshing out a new part. Since I do alot of that now, I simply turn it off, and once the part is about to be released along with its drawing I'll go and put in the feature names.

    Oooh, ooh, and here's one. If you ever have to work with a really crappy part model (that someone else made) and your boss is asking why it's taking so long, you can RMB on any feature and see who created that sloppy feature or that undefined sketch.

    Now if only SolidWorks could track how much time is spent working a model/assembly/drawing, I wouldn't have to use a 3rd party like MetriQ

    Great tip to start off the new year, Josh!
  • I also name the features after I've create them, instead of using the option. Helps me see where improvements can be made easier and doesn't slow down the momentum.

    An embedded metric add-in would be incredible. Not only to keep track of your things, but also keep track of learning curves. You would think SolidWorks would like to know some of this info also. Thanks Bruce.
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