SolidWorks foundation

This chapter points out that

With the rapid development of PC and CAD technology, 3D design software, which used to be applied only in workstation environment and UNIX platform, can now be used in ordinary PC platform and Windows environment, and become a design tool for ordinary designers and engineers. SolidWorks, as a mechanical design software in Windows environment, has fully possessed the characteristics of friendly interface and simple operation of Windows, and its powerful design function meets the design requirements of most mechanical products.

SolidWorks, as a three-dimensional design software, has a comprehensive function of modeling parts and assembly entities, and analyzes and processes the models, thus automatically generating engineering drawings. When learning specific operations, we should first install the software on the computer correctly, then work with the user interface of SolidWorks, and build a suitable working environment by setting options.

This chapter includes:

Overview of 3D design software

The main characteristics of SolidWorks

Install and start SolidWorks

SolidWorks user interface

Establishing the working environment of SolidWorks

1. 1 Overview of 3D design software

From the 20th century11960s, CAD software mainly solved the problem of graphic display and description on computer, and then gradually put forward physical description models such as wireframe, curved surface and geometric entity. Today, it has gone through the following stages.

Computer graphics stage: focus on solving computer graphics, surface expression and other basic problems.

Technical parameters and characteristics of this stage: solving the control and modification of CAD data.

Intelligent design stage: more engineering knowledge and rules are integrated into the design to realize a higher level of computer-aided design.

After more than 40 years' development, 3D design software has developed from a simple tool to provide a wide range of engineering support, covering the standardization and serialization of design intent expression, the creation of design results, the judgment of interference inspection process, design optimization and many other aspects. The 3D design model can be converted into a data format that supports CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) applications. These characteristics of three-dimensional design meet the needs of the project, greatly improve the quality and efficiency of product development, and greatly shorten the cycle of product design and development.

At present, 3D design software has been widely used in large manufacturing enterprises at home and abroad. Boeing and other American companies used 3D design and related software to realize the non-design drawings of 777 in two and a half years. According to the traditional design work, the whole process will take at least four years. The company also widely applies concurrent engineering technology in engineering implementation, carries out virtual assembly of the whole product in CAD environment, and corrects some design errors, thus ensuring the short period of design process, high-quality design results and fluency of manufacturing process.

The extensive use of 3D design software can be divided into high-end and mid-end CAD systems. The high-end 3D CAD software mainly includes I-DEAS, UG, Pro/ENgineeR, CATIA, and the mid-end 3D CAD system mainly includes SolidWorks, SolidEdges, MDT, Inventor, etc. For general manufacturing enterprises, the powerful function of SolidWorks can accomplish general design tasks, and its ease of use and high efficiency have attracted more and more users' attention.

3D design software has gone through the variable control technology from simple geometric model generation tool to product model, and finally formed a complete enterprise digital process. The application of 3D design software greatly improves the efficiency of product design and development.

Compared with 2D design (CAD), the biggest feature of 3D design is the use of modeling technology and related technologies in the whole design process. Three-dimensional design software not only has powerful modeling function, but also provides extensive engineering support. Including the description of design intent, design and design reuse, such as serialization.

Three-dimensional design is divided into three stages: part design, assembly design and engineering drawing generation. It is related to the whole design process, so that the modification of any design stage will affect other results of that design stage, thus maintaining the consistency of the model in various design environments and improving the design efficiency.

1. 1. 1 part design

Part design is the basis of three-dimensional design. Parts generally appear in the form of three-dimensional entities, as shown in figure 1. 1 for the parts of the "bucket" model in the loading vehicle. Modeling from the point of view of part entities, parametric modeling based on features and three-dimensional design have become mainstream technologies. The entities processed on different parts are called features, and different feature combinations form the three-dimensional solid model of the parts. It not only has the characteristics of the corresponding project, but also can flexibly control the modeling results through the topological relationship and time series relationship between features.

The three-dimensional solid model of the part has realized the following functions in the process of design and manufacture.

Generate engineering drawing parts.

Stress analysis and strength check of parts.

Forming assembly, checking the rationality of the design.

Formation of die parts.

Generate NC code and process directly.

Figure 1. 1 model parts of loader bucket

1. 1.2 assembly design

Assembly is one of the basic functions of 3D design software. Figure 1.2 shows the toy "loader" assembly model. In modern design, two or more parts can be assembled according to certain constraints by using the existing three-dimensional part model to form a virtual product assembly; It can also be used in projects that are more in line with the top-down assembly design method. In the assembly environment, new components and assemblies can be designed with reference to the assembly positions and dimensions of other components. At the same time, the assembly has been extended to more engineering fields, such as motion analysis, interference inspection, etc ... The assembly environment of 3D design software products has become the basic environment for comprehensive performance verification.

Using virtual product assembly model, the following functions can be realized.

The true renderings of a product, verifying the product structure and analyzing the design.

Explosion of product generation view.

Product motion analysis and dynamic simulation describe the trajectory of specific points of moving parts.

The real effect of product planning is "conceptual design product"

Generate product simulation animation to demonstrate product assembly process.

Figure 1.2 toy "loader" assembly model

1. 1.3 engineering drawing generation

Using the solid models of parts and assemblies, parts and 2D engineering drawings of assemblies can be automatically generated. Compared with traditional CAD, the operation of generating engineering drawings by 3D design software is much simpler. You only need to specify the projection direction and insertion size of the model, and then you can set the details of the engineering drawings. Figure 1.3 shows SolidWorks automatically generated as shown in figure 1. 1 and the "bucket" part of the corresponding engineering drawing.

Figure 1.3 "Bucket" Engineering Drawing

SolidWorks 1.2 function

SolidWorks is a three-dimensional mechanical design software in Windows environment, which has the following characteristics.

1. Simple, easy to learn and use.

The simple interface facilitates the work.

Fully support Windows drag and copy, and cut, copy, paste and other operations according to the characteristics of mobile technology.

Using SolidWorks help system can quickly master the design method.

Localization uses the core, all-Chinese interface.

2. Clear and intuitive dynamic interface

Dynamic marking uses different colors, and the parameters of the current operation remind designers that objects can be marked, so that designers can set relevant parameter characteristics in the drawing; Mouse confirmation and rich shortcut menu design make it very easy; The establishment of a feature, no matter where the mouse pointer is, can quickly establish a feature.

The function of previewing the dynamic graphics of the community enables the design process to easily and clearly check whether the design is reasonable or not.

The groundbreaking function manager will be able to record and handle the design of a tree-like design function manager, so that designers can easily manage and modify the spare parts and assembly of management functions.

Dynamically activating the property manager can easily display the properties of the manager and modify such operations.

Using property manager to reduce dialog graphics makes the design more concise and lively.

Configuration management provides the establishment and revision of parts or assembly operation forms.

3. Flexible sketch drawing and checking functions

The state and characteristics of sketches have tended to be clearly defined, so that designers can easily identify the current operating state.

Sketch drawing is easy to use click-click or click-drag to draw sketches, which is in line with general design habits.

The sketch can automatically add geometric constraints in the process of dynamic feedback and reasoning, and the sketch uses different colors to distinguish the definition state of the real sketch.

You can drag the primitive drawing to change the size and geometry of graphics and values.

Drawing can be used for pipeline design or scanning sketches of 3D features.

4. Powerful feature-based modeling of parts and assembly control.

Powerful entity modeling function.

Dynamic characteristics and draft modification can be easily realized.

The function of sheet metal forming tool makes it possible to create the shape of sheet metal parts with simple drag function.

Using the feature palette window, you can set it quickly by simply dragging the feature; This function is very convenient to manage and use.

Using parts and assembly configuration can not only realize the existing design and establish enterprise combination, but also realize the product design.

The assembly configuration is automatically generated by components and configurations driven by Excel software.

Large-scale assembly can be handled quickly and efficiently by using the light assembly function.

The assembly movement can be animated and dynamically viewed.

Intelligent assembly can be realized in assembly, and dynamic interference inspection, clearance test and static interference inspection can also be carried out on the assembly.

The system provides both bottom-up and top-down assembly methods. This method allows engineers to design new components with reference to the positions and dimensions of other components in the assembly environment, which is more in line with project habits.

5. Dynamic model related engineering drawing generation function

Using RapidDraft to draw a drawing can separate the drawing from the 3D model, thus speeding up the operation of the drawing.

The whole relationship between the three-dimensional model and the shape and size of the view can always be maintained.

Three-dimensional models can automatically generate project views.

Flexible view operation can generate projection view and local enlarged view of cross section.

6. Easy data exchange

Through standard data format and other CAD data exchange software.

Provides diagnostic data input function, which allows users to input geometric entities, perform simplification, model errors, and re-establish and delete redundant topologies.

The data interface in the form of free plug-ins can easily interact with other 3D design software (such as Pro/ENGINEER, ug, MDT, SolidEdges, etc.). ) data exchange.

The DWG/DXF file conversion wizard can convert engineering drawing files created by other software into SolidWorks files.

Three-dimensional models can be exported to standard data format, and engineering drawings can also be exported to DWG/DXF file format.

7. Support collaborative work

3D Meeting is developed based on Microsoft's NetMeeting technology, which provides a collaborative working environment for SolidWorks designers. 3 D meetings can work together in real time through the network.

Support Web directory, design data can be stored in folders, just as easy as storing on local hard disk.

8. Promote the development of expansion

Provide a free, open and fully-functional API interface development tool, and redevelop other OLE development processes of Visual C++,Visual Basic, VBA or SolidWorks according to the actual situation.

9. Support network exchange

New products designed with SolidWorks can be published on the Internet, so that customers who don't have SolidWorks can view them through a Web browser, which is very convenient for remote publishing and communication of new products.

10. Rich 3D performance means

SolidWorks provides animation function and can generate AVI files.

SolidWorks enables users to easily make high-quality PhotoWorks renderings through plug-ins, including rich materials and textures, user-definable lighting, reflection, transparency and background settings.

1 1. Promote engineering analysis

SolidWorks has many plug-ins, and engineers can provide various engineering analysis tools, such as COSMOS/Works, mechanical dynamics of motion analysis mechanism, which can be used for rapid stress, deformation, frequency, thermal efficiency, power, fatigue and electromagnetic engineering analysis, and heat flow analysis. For example, the plug-in can not only use SolidWorks to model three-dimensional entities, but also make the software a powerful computer-aided engineering analysis tool.

1.3 Install and start SolidWorks.

For the normal operation of SolidWorks, we should first check whether the software and hardware configuration of the computer system meets the requirements of SolidWorks, and import the correct software from the installation CD into the computer.

1.3. 1 Install the necessary software and hardware configuration SolidWorks.

1. Hardware requirements

The hardware configuration required for the normal operation of SolidWorks is shown in table 1. 1.

Table 1. 1 SolidWorks Hardware Requirements

The lowest hardware recommended is the best.

CPU Pentium

266MHz Pentium II, 450 MHz or higher Pentium II, 600 MHz or higher.

128MB 256MB 5 12MB memory

32MB or larger memory card, 3D graphics accelerator

Hard disk of not less than 500 MB

8x drove here.

2. Software requirements

The requirement of SolidWorks software environment for Microsoft Windows 2000/Me/NT4/XP requires that Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 5.0 or above) and Microsoft Excel (97 version 97 or above) have been correctly installed.

1.3.2 installation process SolidWorks

When installing SolidWorks, you only need to add a CD-ROM drive in SolidWorks, and then click the installation wizard to be notified. The specific installation process is as follows.

(1) Add the installation CD-ROM drive, and the installation program will run automatically, and the installation interface as shown in figure 1.4 will pop up. Click the [] button to install SolidWorks to enter the main installation program of SolidWorks.

Figure 1.4 Installation interface

(2) Enter the installation wizard, as shown in figure 1.5, and click Next to follow the installation.

Figure 1.5 Installation Wizard

(3) Select the installation option, as shown in figure 1.6. Choose according to optional modules. Note that different modules have different corresponding serial numbers on the packaging box of the CD. Next click the [Options] button.

(4) The process of this project selects an installation folder. Install the default C: \ Program Files \ SolidWorks directory, as shown in figure 1.7. If you need to modify, click Modify to open a dialog box to select. Then, click the Next button.

Figure 1.6 Select the installation option figure 1.7 Select the target folder.

(5) Establishment of dimensioning standard. SolidWorks 2004 provides GB and ISO standards, which can be selected as required. Generally, GB, which conforms to China's basic national standards, should be selected as the standard size standard, and the system unit is selected by default. Generally, the default unit is [MMGSC (millimeter gram second)], as shown in figure 1.8.

(6) Choose whether to provide software and performance information to SolidWorks Corporation. If the user's computer has Internet access, he can select [Yes, I want to recommend participation-radio button, as shown in figure 1.9.

Figure 1.8 Select dimensioning standard and system default unit figure 1.9 Choose whether to participate in the customer experience feedback scheme.

(7) Prepare for the installation, and the system will start to install. Just click the [Install] button in the dialog box as shown in figure 1. 10.

(8) Installation will start according to the path specified by the program, as shown in figure 1. 1 1. After the installation is completed, figure 1. 12 will appear in the interface, and click Finish.

Chart 1. 10 Start Installation Flowchart 1. 1 Install User Interface

Chart 1. 12 Complete the user interface when installing.

After SolidWorks is installed correctly, it will automatically start the Windows system [program] | [add SolidWorks 2004 menu group] and display icons on the desktop to quickly display SolidWorks 2004.

1.3.3 Start SolidWorks

Like other Windows applications, SolidWorks has introduced many methods. The simplest method is to quickly start SolidWorks 2003 by double-clicking the desktop icon.

SolidWorks user interface 1.4

SolidWorks is an application program specially developed for Windows environment, so its user interface is very similar to other Windows applications, for example, it also includes common commands such as copy and paste and corresponding shortcuts.

The SolidWorks user interface includes a title bar, a menu bar, a toolbar, a status bar and a workspace. The workspace is divided into zones control area and mapping area, as shown in figure 1. 13.