SolidWorks 2022 Intermediate: Parts and Mating

Name: SolidWorks 2022 Intermediate: Parts and Mating
Author: William Tenney

Learn how to distinguish solid bodies from surface bodies, move them in XYZ space, and prepare them for assemblies.

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Course: On-Demand

Hi, my name is Will Tenny, and in this lesson we discuss the similarities and differences between parts, surface bodies, and solid bodies. In SolidWorks, there are three types of files. There's part files, assembly files, and drawing files. Right now we are viewing a part file, and we know that because if we go up here to the feature manager to the top left-hand corner, we see this part file symbol, this upside-down yellow T. We also, looking through the feature manager, see a number of features that can only really be created in a part file. So, being in a part file, we can build CAD models from scratch. That's what makes them unique. You might also have noticed that in the feature manager, there are other symbols for part files embedded. That's because, during the creation of these bodies, I have imported parts or other part files into this part file as design references. In fact, if we go back a little bit, we can see what those references were. I likely imported a monitor. I imported a part file for this laptop, keyboard, and mouse. I probably imported bodies that relate directly to a very specific lifting mechanism that didn't want to have to build a second time. Now, within part files you have bodies. Bodies can be thought of as units exclusive to themselves. They can be measured independently of the other bodies in the part file. They can be evaluated for mass, density, center of mass, those types of things, specifically for themselves without having anything to do with any of the other bodies in the part file. It's quite common for a part file to have several bodies within it that can be used for different design purposes. Now, amongst bodies, there are two types. There are solid bodies and surface bodies. We can find out how many solid or surface bodies we have by going back to the feature manager here at the top. And these two drop-down menus indicate what those surface bodies or solid bodies are. This number tells us we have one surface body, and if we hover over it, it highlights in orange to the right what that surface body is. Same thing with the solid body. One of the differences between the surface bodies and solid bodies is they are made with a completely different tool set of features. There are solid CAD modeling tools and surface modeling tools. Now, you may find that as a designer you prefer to use one type of toolkit over another, and that's fine. Because once you've completed the body, you can go back and change a surface body to a solid body or a solid body to a surface body. Now, to go a little bit deeper, let's open up a section view so we can view some of the differences. You can see the solid body to the left is filled with material. This also means you could use the evaluate tab and the measure tool to find out what the density or the mass or the center of mass of this unit is. You can't do that with the surface body on the right. This is really just made of a bunch of infinitely thin surfaces that knit together to create the appearance of something solid when actually it is not. Now, again, you can choose to make your models using tools that create something like this, but you can always go back and turn them into a solid body after the fact if you wish to export it as an STL or step file for 3D printing or for production, whatever you need. Thanks for listening. In the next lesson, we discuss various ways for creating multi-body parts.

Intermediate Provider : William Tenney 7 Lessons · 38m in English

Course Description

Starting off, you will learn the differences between solid bodies and surfaces bodies as well as how a single part file can carry both. From there, you will learn how to move them through XYZ space in two ways: Moving using assigned values then place them from one place to another and moving them by mating them to other bodies using references of similar features that both bodies share.

From there you will learn how to bring part files into other part files and place them immediately using XYZ coordinates or mated references. You will also learn how to break a multi-body part file into subsequent parts files, each with their own body, for the purposes of joining them together in a larger assembly file. In order to do this correctly and ensure that the design intent you had when first creating the initial part file carries all the way into the complex assembly file to come, you will learn how different types of files can reference others. Therefore, you will find that there is value in placing as much design intent as possible into a reference or “master” file from which all subsequent files are created.

What You'll Learn

Distinguish between solid bodies and surface bodies and recognize how a single part file can carry both
Move bodies through XYZ space using assigned values and by mating them to other bodies via shared feature references
Insert part files into other part files and place them using XYZ coordinates or mated references
Create multibody parts and break multi-body part files into single-body part files
Build master parts and prepare part files for assembly without losing design intent
Reference one file from another to carry design intent from the initial part file into a complex assembly

Key Takeaways

A single SolidWorks part file can contain both solid bodies and surface bodies.
Bodies can be moved in XYZ space either by assigning values and relocating them or by mating them to other bodies using references of shared features.
Multi-body part files can be broken into subsequent single-body part files so they can be joined in a larger assembly file.
Placing as much design intent as possible into a reference or master file lets all subsequent files be created from it.
Preparing part files for assembly is done correctly when design intent from the initial part file carries through into the complex assembly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this SolidWorks 2022 Intermediate course cover?

It covers the differences between solid and surface bodies, moving bodies in XYZ space by assigned values or by mating them to other bodies, inserting parts within parts, creating multibody parts, breaking multi-body part files into single-body files, and creating master parts to prepare files for assembly while preserving design intent.

How are bodies moved in XYZ space in this course?

You learn two ways: moving them using assigned values and placing them from one location to another, and moving them by mating them to other bodies using references of similar features that both bodies share.

Why does the course emphasize master files and design intent?

Because there is value in placing as much design intent as possible into a reference or master file from which all subsequent files are created, ensuring the design intent from the initial part file carries all the way into the complex assembly file.

What skills does this course relate to?

It relates to CADwork, Solid Modeling, Solid Mechanics, SolidWorks (CAD), and Solidworks Certification.

What topics are taught across the lessons?

Lessons include Parts vs Surface Bodies vs Solid Bodies, Creating Multibody Parts, Introduction to Move/Copy Bodies, Mating Bodies in Part Files, Inserting Parts within Parts, Creating Master Parts in Preparation for Assemblies, and Breaking Master Part Files into Subsequent Part Files.