Breaking a link in SolidWorks is a common task that many users need to perform at some point during their design process. Whether you need to break a link to a referenced file or simply want to remove an external reference, SolidWorks provides several options to help you achieve this. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to break a link in SolidWorks.
Method 1: Break External References
If you have an external reference in your SolidWorks model, you can easily break it using the following steps:
- Select the feature: First, select the feature that contains the external reference you want to break. This can be a sketch, feature, or component.
- Right-click and go to ‘External References’: Right-click on the selected feature and go to ‘External References’ in the context menu.
- Select ‘Break External References’: In the ‘External References’ sub-menu, click on ‘Break External References’.
This will remove the link between your current model and any externally referenced files. However, it’s important to note that breaking external references may result in losing some design intent or parametric capabilities.
Method 2: Break Links with Design Checker
SolidWorks provides a powerful tool called Design Checker that can help you identify and manage various design issues, including broken links. To break links using Design Checker:
- Open Design Checker: Open SolidWorks and go to ‘Tools’ > ‘Design Checker’.
- Select the desired rules set: In the Design Checker dialog box, select the rules set that contains the check for broken links.
If you don’t have a custom rules set, you can choose the default rules set provided by SolidWorks.
- Run the check: Click on the ‘Check’ button to start the verification process.
- Review and fix issues: Once the check is complete, Design Checker will display a report highlighting any broken links. Review the report and follow the recommended actions to fix or break the links.
Using Design Checker is an effective way to identify and address broken links in your SolidWorks models, ensuring their integrity and eliminating potential errors.
Method 3: Remove External References from Drawings
If you’re specifically dealing with external references in drawings, SolidWorks offers a convenient option to remove them. Here’s how:
- Open the drawing file: Open the drawing file that contains the external references you want to remove.
- Go to ‘File Properties’: In the main menu, go to ‘File’ > ‘Properties’.
- Select ‘References’: In the ‘Properties’ dialog box, select the ‘References’ tab.
- Select and remove references: In this tab, you’ll find a list of all external references used in your drawing. Select each reference and click on ‘Remove’ to eliminate it from your drawing file.
This method allows you to remove external references specifically from your drawings while keeping them intact in your original model files.
Conclusion
In conclusion, breaking a link in SolidWorks is an essential skill for managing external references and maintaining design integrity. Whether it’s breaking external references within a model, utilizing the Design Checker tool, or removing references from drawings, SolidWorks provides multiple options to help you break links effectively. Remember to use these methods carefully and consider the potential impact on your design’s parametric capabilities.