Are you tired of searching for symbols every time you need to add them to your SolidWorks designs? Well, worry no more! In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to add a symbol library in SolidWorks, making it easier and more efficient for you to access symbols whenever you need them.
Step 1: Creating a Symbol Library
To begin, open SolidWorks and navigate to the “Library” tab in the CommandManager. Click on the “Symbol” icon to open the Symbol Library Manager.
Note: If you cannot find the “Library” tab or the “Symbol” icon in your CommandManager, you may need to activate them by customizing your interface through the “Tools” menu.
Once you have opened the Symbol Library Manager, click on the “New Library” button. A dialog box will appear prompting you to enter a name for your symbol library. Choose a name that is descriptive and easy to remember.
Step 2: Adding Symbols to Your Library
Now that you have created your symbol library, it’s time to add symbols to it. To do this, click on the “Add Symbols” button in the Symbol Library Manager.
A file browser window will open, allowing you to navigate to the location where your symbols are stored. Select one or multiple symbols and click “Open” to add them to your library.
Note: SolidWorks supports various file formats for symbols, such as .sldblk (SolidWorks Block), .dwg (AutoCAD Drawing), .dxf (Drawing Exchange Format), and more. Make sure your symbols are saved in a compatible format.
Step 3: Organizing Your Symbol Library
As you add more symbols to your library, it’s important to keep them organized for easy access. In the Symbol Library Manager, you can create folders and subfolders to categorize your symbols.
To create a folder, right-click on the symbol library name and select “New Folder.” Enter a name for the folder and press enter. To create a subfolder, right-click on an existing folder and follow the same steps.
Step 4: Accessing Symbols in SolidWorks
Now that you have created and organized your symbol library, it’s time to use it in SolidWorks. Open a new or existing design document and navigate to the “Insert” tab in the CommandManager.
In the “Symbols” group, click on the drop-down arrow next to “Library” and select your custom symbol library from the list.
A tree view of your symbol library will appear. Expand folders to locate specific symbols. Once you find the desired symbol, simply click on it to insert it into your design.
Conclusion
By creating a custom symbol library in SolidWorks, you can save valuable time by conveniently accessing symbols whenever you need them. Remember to organize your library effectively for better efficiency. Now go ahead, create your own symbol library, and take your SolidWorks designs to the next level!