S-STEM/TRAIN Solidworks Project: Learning the Ropes - Entry #12: Assembly Visualization

 Advanced Techniques - Assembly Visualization

This entry is a continuation of the basic theory conveyed in SolidWorks Project: Learning the Ropes - Entry #1, where a 3D model of a pressure plate was created. As stated in Entry #1, the theory being tested in this blog series is based upon the internal tutorial program embedded within Solidworks, which is rumored to be all that is needed to reach intermediate to advanced level understanding of the software, with additional sources only needed for specialized uses or integration with other programs such as Blender for 3D printing. This series will document the progress of a first year engineering student with no prior experience with computer aided engineering design to weigh the theory based on outcomes. 

The process demonstrated followed the tutorials presented through the software itself, with no external assistance from other instructional sources.

Entry #12 will be the first foray into the Advanced Techniques section of the tutorials. Assembly Visualization delves into a sampling of the various methods through which components may be displated and sorted, both in the list and graphics areas. Components may be separated by color or ranked to “reflect the relative values of the properties for each component,” according to the SolidWorks tutorial itself.  This signposting is provided at the start of the tutorial:

This tutorial demonstrates the following:

• Sorting a list of components by various properties.

• Applying colors to the model to help you visualize and compare the value of the sorting property for each component.

• Hiding some components to focus on other components.

• Creating and sorting by an equation.

• Editing property values.

• Saving the sorted list to an external file.

This tutorial begins by providing a base file of an assembly, allowing the user to jump right into the aspects covered in this tutorial without the need to build a 3D model of their own. The assembly can be seen in Fig. 1.  The first section of the tutorial goes on to describe what can be seen in the Assembly Visualization tab of the Manager Pane, which is displayed after navigating to the standard toolbar, selecting Tools, scrolling all the way down to a second page to select Evaluate, the selecting Assembly Visualization. The result can be seen in Fig. 2. If the user still sees what is displayed in Fig. 3, the last step has not been completed and Assembly Visualization needs to be selected in the menu.

The next section is Visualizing Gradient Properties and a visual of this is Fig. 4. Utilizing the Assembly Visualization pane, components may  be sorted in various ways. In doing so, the assembly graphic becomes color coded to denote variances in mass, with a color spectrum key to the left of the pane. Other sorting options provide the same visualization features. The next section instructs on how to add colors to the spectrum.

The next section is Adding Another Color to the spectrum. It is very straight forward, and only requires clicking on the area to the left of the vertical color spectrum bar and selecting another color. Further modification of the spectrum can be achieved by moving the color slider up and down the bar. If users would like to put the spectrum back to normal, a Reset All option is available by right clicking the slider. The results of adding yellow may be seen in Fig. 5.

Hiding Components is the next section in the tutorial, and can be used to look inside of an assembly, among other benefits. This is a very simple feature, accessible by simply dragging the small, horizontal bar at the top of the component list in the Manager Pane below the part the user would like to hide. First, however, the list should be sorted properly using one of the methods previously mentioned. In Fig. 6, the gear-caddy component is hidden, and the innards of the assembly can be seen. Another bar which functions in the same manner is at the bottom of the list and can be dragged upwards to hide anything at the bottom of the list, as seen in Fig. 7.

Next, the tutorial describes Changing the Sorting Property. While the Assembly Visualization pane seems rather limited in sorting options, this is by no means the case. An entire list of various sorting options may be accessed through the menu, and custom sorting equations may be input as well, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Further options including editing the value of a property can be used to override the built in expense of components used in the assembly, as well as various other display states used for visualizing various aspects of the assembly. If you want to assign levels of importance, rarity, or planned obsolescence to take into consideration, all of these options may be custom calculated, then have a visual color spectrum applied to simplify the communication and subsequent understanding of each individual component of a product. This could be very useful in presentations where a product may need to be updated or redesigned due to the cost or inability to source components. 

In conclusion, this tutorial was free of errors and was easy to follow. While it may not be a difficult tutorial, its advanced status seems to be due to the specialized nature of the utility. 

Fig. 1 - The pre-generated assembly provides a good base to learn the functions in this tutorial. Can you tell what it is?

Fig. 2. What should be displayed in the Manager Pane, after selecting Assembly Visualization.

Fig. 3. What is displayed in the Manager Pane prior to selecting Assembly Visualization.

Fig. 4. The Assembly Visualization panel makes it easy to sort the components by mass.

Fig. 5. Adding another color to the spectrum is simple and may help with visualizing various aspects of the assembly.

Fig. 6. With the gear-caddy hidden, the inner workings of the assembly can be observed.

Fig. 7. Dragging the bar upwards from the bottom of the list hides the lightest components of the assembly.

Fig. 8. Many various sorting options are available beyond what is initially displayed in the Assembly Visualization pane.

Fig. 9. The components may be sorted by cost or a plethora of other aspects.

Fig. 10. Formulae may be created to add more utility to the Assembly visualization pane.