How To Create Drawing Templates And Sheet Formats In Solidworks

Hi, I'm Mike Dady, Awarding Engineer for Alignex. Ane ofttimes asked question we get at Alignex is how to customize SOLIDWORKS Drawing Templates and Sheet Formats. Customers want to be able to convey the needed data for manufacturing, yet not spend a irksome amount of time creating Drawings. Let'south have a closer look at that customization process and encounter how it can salvage you fourth dimension and money.

The first footstep in the procedure is understanding how Drawing Templates and Sheet Formats work together in SOLIDWORKS. I say work together because Cartoon Templates and Sail Formats are two separate file types. The Cartoon Template is used to create a new Cartoon, but the Template references a Sheet Format.

Before making whatsoever changes to the Templates or Formats, some housekeeping is required. SOLIDWORKS installs with the Default Document Templates stored in a Arrangement Directory. It is highly recommended to change that location to a non-system directory. The reason for the alter? If SOLIDWORKS is removed from the computer, that organization directory can be removed and all files lost. The whole point of this process is to save time. Losing our custom files is the exact opposite of that goal. The file locations are plant in the System Options. As you lot can see, the location is updated on my calculator for both Drawing Templates and Sheet Formats. If in that location are multiple users at the visitor, a network location can be specified so all users are working with the aforementioned file set.

Streamline your Drawings With Custom Templates?

With the housekeeping done, permit's get started on a custom Template. The quickest way to brainstorm is creating a new Drawing from the Default Template. Once started, we can then save it to a new proper noun, or supercede the existing Template if desired. It is too possible to open the Default Template directly for modification.

The Cartoon Template can be customized in multiple ways. Document Backdrop can be updated for Cartoon Standard, Annotations, Dimensions, Detailing, Document Units, and a variety of other changes for each Template. The Sheet Properties can be modified for the Calibration and Projection Type, along with the previously mentioned specification for the Sheet Format. Display of the Format can also be turned off if needed. Other customizations can be adding Notes, Tables, and a diverseness of other unique Drawing items. Like whatsoever file, make sure to save early and save ofttimes to forbid any loss of changes. Finally, Custom Properties can be added to the Cartoon Template for use downstream, or, as we'll discuss later, to populate the Drawing Title Block.

Streamline your Drawings With Custom Templates?

The Sail Format is where the streamlining happens. A properly prepare Sheet Format volition automobile-populate when creating a new Drawing. Minimizing the time needed for a user to finalize the Document.

No conversation well-nigh Sheet Formats tin can be discussed without including the Drawing Border. The fastest method to setup the Edge is using the "Automatic Border Tool." Information technology allows u.s.a. to chop-chop remove existing items to start with a clean slate. Once the rubble is cleared it just takes a few mouse clicks to get the Border Zones, Lines, and other properties setup.

With the Border complete, the Title Block is adjacent up. The lines for the Championship Block are sketched, and like all Sketches, Dimensions and Relations are used to determine the Design Intent. Proper use of Relations can brand it easy to resize the Title Cake for larger Canvas Sizes. To automobile-populate the Title Block, we create Notes that are linked to Backdrop. The Notes can link to Backdrop of the Model used in the Drawing, the Drawing itself, or Arrangement Properties. If Model properties are used, information technology is necessary to create Cartoon Views of a Model with the needed Backdrop then create the Notes. Once the linked Notes are consummate, the Drawing Views can then exist deleted. Another bully time saving technique is using Title Block Fields. This tool allows for Notes in the Sail Format to be modified while editing Cartoon Sheets. If the Notes are linked to Custom Properties, including Model Custom Properties, the Properties are automatically updated with the changes. Eliminating the need to open any Model or Holding windows.

Streamline your Drawings With Custom Templates?

Other Annotations can also be added to the Canvass Format as needed. Ballast locations are included here equally well for automated placement of Tables when added to a Drawing.

Once all the modifications are complete, information technology is essential to Relieve the Sheet Format. It can exist saved to the existing file, or a new proper name if desired. Once that is complete, verify the Drawing Template is referencing the correct Sail Format in the Sheet Properties. 1 or the other of these two steps are typically missed, and have acquired tons of frustration to SOLIDWORKS users over the years.

Many companies similar to accept a dissimilar Sheet Format for multi-sail Drawings, saving space on subsequent Sheets. This tin be setup in the Cartoon Template Certificate Backdrop. Removing the demand to constantly change the Sheet Format when creating a new Sheet.

Now yous know what it takes to customize your SOLIDWORKS Drawing Templates and Sheet Formats. By streamlining the Drawing creation process, you'll be able to move onto bigger and better projects much faster. For more information on this and other SOLIDWORKS customization, please subscribe to the Alignex Blog.

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Written by Mike Dady
Mike Dady is an Awarding Engineer at Alignex, Inc. Mike spends his days working with customers to resolve their manufacturing issues and helps them to improve on existing production designs. If he's not solving customer challenges, he's probably at home customizing his snowmobile or working on a home comeback project.