How Do You Use eDrawings in SolidWorks?

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Do you want to learn how to use eDrawings in SolidWorks? Look no further! In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of using eDrawings, a powerful software tool that allows you to view, review, and mark up 2D and 3D CAD files.

What is eDrawings?

eDrawings is a software application developed by SolidWorks that enables you to view and share 2D and 3D CAD files in a compact and easy-to-use format. It supports various file formats such as DWG, DXF, SolidWorks, and more. With eDrawings, you can collaborate with others by sharing your designs for review or presentation purposes.

Installing eDrawings

Before we begin using eDrawings, it’s important to have it installed on your computer. To install eDrawings:

  1. Step 1: Go to the SolidWorks website.
  2. Step 2: Navigate to the Downloads section.
  3. Step 3: Locate the eDrawings software.
  4. Step 4: Download and run the installer file.
  5. Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Navigating the Interface

Once you have installed eDrawings, let’s familiarize ourselves with its interface:

  • Main Toolbar: This toolbar contains various tools for navigating, measuring, marking up, and analyzing your CAD files.
  • eDrawing File Menu: Here you can open existing files or create new ones. You can also access options to save, print, and export your drawings.
  • View Toolbar: This toolbar allows you to switch between different views, such as isometric, front, top, etc. You can also toggle between 2D and 3D views.
  • Markup Toolbar: Use this toolbar to add markups, text annotations, dimensions, and more to your drawings.
  • Pan and Zoom: Use the middle mouse button or the scroll wheel to pan and zoom in/out of your drawing. Alternatively, you can use the navigation tools in the main toolbar.

Opening a CAD File

Now that we are familiar with the interface let’s open a CAD file in eDrawings:

  1. Step 1: Launch eDrawings on your computer.
  2. Step 2: Click on the ‘File’ menu and select ‘Open’.
  3. Step 3: Navigate to the location where your CAD file is stored.
  4. Step 4: Select the file and click ‘Open’.

Navigating and Analyzing a CAD File

eDrawings provides various tools to help you navigate and analyze your CAD files. Here are some essential features:

Pan and Zoom

To pan around your drawing or zoom in/out:

  • Pan: Hold down the middle mouse button or scroll wheel and drag the mouse.
  • Zoom In/Out: Scroll up/down on your mouse wheel or use the zoom controls in the main toolbar.

Measurements

To measure distances, angles, and radii within your drawing:

  1. Step 1: Click on the ‘Measure’ tool in the main toolbar.
  2. Step 2: Select the desired measurement type – Distance, Angle, or Radius.
  3. Step 3: Click on the appropriate points in your drawing to measure.
  4. Step 4: The measurement value will be displayed in the measurement box.

Cross-Sectioning

If you want to explore the internal details of your model:

  1. Step 1: Click on the ‘Section’ tool in the main toolbar.
  2. Step 2: Define a cutting plane by selecting two or more points on your model.
  3. Step 3: Adjust the section depth and direction as required.

Saving and Sharing eDrawings Files

eDrawings allows you to save your files in a format that can be easily shared with others. To save an eDrawings file:

  1. Step 1: Click on the ‘File’ menu and select ‘Save As’.
  2. Step 2: Choose a location to save your file and enter a name for it.
  3. Note:You can choose from various file formats such as eDRW, STL, PDF, etc., depending on your needs.

In Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored how to use eDrawings in SolidWorks. We learned how to install eDrawings, navigate the interface, open and analyze CAD files, and save and share eDrawings files. By mastering these skills, you can effectively collaborate with others and present your designs in a visually engaging manner.

Now it’s your turn to dive into the world of eDrawings and unleash its full potential!