Starting Electrical in SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a powerful computer-aided design (CAD) software that allows engineers and designers to create and simulate 3D models. With its extensive range of features and tools, SolidWorks also offers specific modules for electrical design.
In this tutorial, we will explore how to get started with Electrical in SolidWorks.
Installation
Before you can begin using the Electrical module in SolidWorks, you need to ensure that it is properly installed. When installing SolidWorks, make sure to select the option for installing the Electrical module.
If you have already installed SolidWorks without the Electrical module, you can modify your installation by running the installer again.
Getting Started
Once you have installed the Electrical module, launch SolidWorks and open a new or existing assembly or part file. To access the Electrical functionality, go to the “Add-Ins” tab in the top menu bar and enable the “SolidWorks Electrical” add-in.
With the add-in enabled, you will now see additional tabs in the top menu bar specifically for working with electrical components and designs. These tabs include “Schematic”, “3D Panel”, “Reports”, and more.
Create a Schematic
To start creating an electrical schematic in SolidWorks, navigate to the “Schematic” tab. Here, you will find various tools for adding schematic symbols, wires, connectors, and other components.
To add a schematic symbol, click on the desired symbol from the library panel and place it on your workspace. You can then connect symbols using wires or connectors by simply clicking on one symbol and dragging a wire or connector to another symbol.
SolidWorks also allows you to define attributes for each symbol, such as part numbers, descriptions, and manufacturer information. These attributes can be accessed through right-clicking on a symbol and selecting “Properties”.
Generate a 3D Panel
Once you have created your schematic, you can generate a 3D panel representation of your electrical design. The 3D Panel tab in SolidWorks provides tools for mapping the schematic symbols onto a 3D representation of your panel or enclosure.
To generate a 3D panel, click on the “Create/Edit 3D Panel” button. This will open the Panel Layout environment where you can import your assembly model or create a new one.
You can then map the schematic symbols onto the 3D model by selecting each symbol and placing it in its corresponding location on the panel.
SolidWorks also offers features for routing wires and cables within the panel, as well as automatically generating reports for manufacturing and documentation purposes.
Collaboration and Documentation
SolidWorks Electrical provides collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same electrical project simultaneously. This is especially useful when working with teams or when different engineers are responsible for different parts of the design.
Additionally, SolidWorks Electrical allows you to generate various reports related to your electrical design. These reports include bill of materials (BOM), wire lists, terminal strip layouts, and more.
These reports can be customized to meet specific requirements and provide crucial information for manufacturing and installation processes.
Conclusion
Starting electrical design in SolidWorks is made easy with its dedicated Electrical module. By following these steps, you can begin creating schematics, generating 3D panels, collaborating with team members, and generating essential reports for your electrical designs.