Are you tired of dealing with external references in SolidWorks? Do you want to turn them off and regain control over your designs?
In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of turning off external references in SolidWorks, step by step. So let’s get started!
Understanding External References
Before we dive into the details of turning off external references, let’s first understand what they are. External references are relationships between different parts or assemblies in SolidWorks.
These relationships allow changes made in one part to propagate to other parts that reference it. While this can be useful in some cases, it can also lead to unexpected changes and difficulties in managing your designs.
Why Turn Off External References?
There are several reasons why you might want to turn off external references in SolidWorks. One common scenario is when you receive a part or assembly from a colleague or a supplier and want to modify it without affecting the original design. Turning off external references ensures that any changes you make will only impact the current file and not propagate to other files.
Another reason is when you’re working on a complex assembly with many interdependent parts. In such cases, external references can make it difficult to understand and modify individual components without accidentally affecting others. By turning off external references, you can isolate each part and focus on making specific modifications without worrying about unintended consequences.
Tutorial: Turning Off External References
Step 1: Open the Part or Assembly
The first step is to open the part or assembly file that contains the external references you want to turn off.
Step 2: Go to Tools > Options
In the main menu, click on “Tools” and select “Options” from the dropdown menu. This will open the Options dialog box.
Step 3: Open the External References Tab
In the Options dialog box, click on the “External References” tab. This tab contains settings related to external references.
Step 4: Disable External References
Under the External References tab, you will see a checkbox labeled “Enable external references.” By default, this checkbox is checked, indicating that external references are enabled. To turn off external references, simply uncheck this checkbox.
Step 5: Click OK
After disabling external references, click on the OK button to save your changes and close the Options dialog box.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully turned off external references in SolidWorks.
By following these simple steps, you can now modify parts and assemblies without worrying about unintended changes propagating to other files. Remember that turning off external references is a reversible action, and you can always enable them again if needed.
In this tutorial, we discussed why you might want to turn off external references and provided a step-by-step guide to do so in SolidWorks. We hope you found this tutorial helpful and that it will enhance your productivity when working with complex designs. Happy designing!