How Do You Make a Weldment Cut List in SolidWorks?

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How Do You Make a Weldment Cut List in SolidWorks?

Creating a weldment cut list in SolidWorks can be a useful way to organize and manage your welding projects. The cut list provides detailed information about the individual components of your weldment, such as their dimensions and quantities. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps of creating a weldment cut list in SolidWorks.

Step 1: Create your Weldment

Before you can generate a cut list, you need to have a weldment created in SolidWorks. A weldment is a structural framework that consists of interconnected members made from standard or custom profiles.

To create a weldment, follow these steps:

  1. Select the desired sketch plane for your weldment.
  2. Create a sketch and draw the profile of the first member.
  3. Use the structural member command to extrude or revolve the sketch to create your first member.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create additional members as needed.
  5. Connect the members using appropriate welding features like miter, butt, or corner joints.

Step 2: Insert Cut List

Once you have created your weldment, it’s time to insert the cut list feature. The cut list feature will automatically generate and update information about each component of your weldment.

To insert the cut list feature, follow these steps:

  1. Select the “Insert” menu at the top of your SolidWorks window.
  2. Navigate to “Tables” and choose “Weldments” from the drop-down menu.
  3. Select “Cut List” from the options.

Once you have inserted the cut list feature, you will see a new table in your SolidWorks window that displays information about each component.

Step 3: Customize Cut List Properties

By default, the cut list table in SolidWorks will display basic information such as the item number, material, and length of each component. However, you can customize the properties displayed in the cut list to suit your specific requirements.

To customize the cut list properties, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the cut list table and select “Properties”.
  2. In the “Cut-List Properties” dialog box, you can add or remove properties using the “Add Property” or “Remove Property” buttons respectively.
  3. You can also reorder the properties using the up and down arrows.
  4. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Step 4: Update Cut List

If you make any changes to your weldment, such as adding or deleting components or modifying their dimensions, it is important to update your cut list. The update function ensures that your cut list reflects the latest changes made to your weldment.

To update your cut list in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

  1. Select the cut list table in your SolidWorks window.
  2. Right-click on it and choose “Update”.
  3. The cut list will automatically update with any changes made to your weldment.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have learned how to create a weldment cut list in SolidWorks. By following these steps, you can efficiently organize and manage your welding projects, ensuring accuracy and consistency in your fabrication process.

Remember to customize the cut list properties to suit your specific requirements and always update the cut list when making changes to your weldment. With SolidWorks’ powerful tools, you can streamline your workflow and enhance productivity in the field of welding.