To draw a part in SolidWorks Drawing, you need to follow a few simple steps. In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of creating a part drawing in SolidWorks and explore some useful tips and tricks along the way.
Step 1: Open the Part
Before you can create a drawing, you need to have a part to work with. Open the part file that you want to create a drawing for by navigating to File -> Open and selecting your part file.
Step 2: Create a New Drawing
To create a new drawing, go to File -> New -> Drawing. This will open up the drawing template selection window. Choose the appropriate template based on your needs, such as ANSI or ISO standard.
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If you want to use a custom template for your drawing, you can create one beforehand by going to File -> Save As and selecting “Drawing Template” as the file type. This way, you can easily access your custom template when creating new drawings.
Step 3: Insert Views
Once you have created a new drawing, it’s time to insert views of your part. To do this, go to the View Layout tab in the Command Manager and select “Standard Views”. This will give you options for inserting different views like front view, top view, or isometric view.
Select the desired view type and place it on your drawing sheet by clicking where you want it to appear. Repeat this step for all the views that you want to include in your drawing.
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You can also insert additional views such as section views or detail views by going to the View Layout tab and selecting the corresponding options.
Step 4: Add Dimensions and Annotations
Now that you have inserted your views, it’s time to add dimensions and annotations to your drawing. To do this, go to the Annotations tab in the Command Manager and select the appropriate tool for adding dimensions or annotations.
Select a dimensioning tool such as “Smart Dimension”, click on the feature or edge you want to dimension, and place the dimension on your drawing. Repeat this step for all the dimensions that you want to include.
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If you want to add annotations like notes or symbols, you can use tools such as “Note” or “Symbol”. These tools allow you to add text or graphical elements to your drawing for additional information.
Step 5: Customize Your Drawing
To make your drawing more visually appealing and organized, you can customize various aspects of it. SolidWorks provides several options for customization, such as changing line styles, adding a title block, adjusting text properties, etc.
To access customization options, go to the Tools menu and select “Options”. In the Options dialog box, navigate to the desired category (e.g., Document Properties) and make the necessary adjustments according to your preferences.
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If you frequently use specific customization settings for your drawings, consider creating a custom drawing template with these settings. This will save you time in future projects by automatically applying your preferred configurations.
Step 6: Save and Print
Once you have finished creating your part drawing, it’s important to save your work. Go to File -> Save and choose a location on your computer to save the drawing file.
If you want to print your drawing, go to File -> Print. In the Print dialog box, select the desired printer, paper size, and other settings. Preview the printout if needed and click “Print” to generate a hard copy of your drawing.
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If you want to export your drawing as a PDF or other file formats for sharing or archiving purposes, go to File -> Save As and select the desired file format from the drop-down menu.
In Conclusion
Drawing a part in SolidWorks is a straightforward process that involves opening a part file, creating a new drawing, inserting views, adding dimensions and annotations, customizing the drawing layout, and saving or printing the final result. By following these steps and utilizing various customization options available in SolidWorks, you can create professional-looking drawings that effectively communicate your design intent.
Now go ahead and start creating stunning part drawings in SolidWorks!