SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [27]
For example, the bicycle derailleur assembly shown in Figure 3.20 makes use of wireframe and transparency, as shown in Figure 3.21 in a different view. While a transparent part shows what is behind it, it is still more distracting than a wireframe part. Moreover, wireframe parts can be shown with hidden edges removed or hidden edges visible. As a result, wireframe display offers more options.
FIGURE 3.21
Combining display modes can be very effective in visualizing an assembly.
Making the case for shaded with edge display
Years ago, using shaded display with edges slowed computer performance noticeably, but with the development of modern hardware (and to some extent software), adding edges to the shaded display does not slow down performance to the same degree. It makes the display clearer and helps you interact with the parts better. With edge display turned on, you can see where the faces are broken up without any highlighting.
You can use the setting that displays the wireframe and edges, choosing a similar shade as the actual shaded part. There are several reasons for using this setting. The first is that when you change between shaded and wireframe modes, the part doesn't change color, and not all of the parts in the assembly turn black. The default setting for SolidWorks parts is that the wireframe is black, and the edges displayed in Shaded with Edges mode are also black. Having the edges and wireframe colors follow the shaded color just makes a lot of sense.
The setting that makes wireframe and shaded modes the same color is found at Tools⇒Options⇒Document Properties⇒Model Display⇒Apply same color to wireframe, HLR and shaded. This setting is shown in Figure 3.22.
FIGURE 3.22
Making the wireframe and displayed edges the same color as the shaded model
This is a document property, but you can override it by using a system option, found at Tools⇒Options⇒Colors⇒Use specified color for Shaded With Edges mode, shown in Figure 3.23.
This option is turned on by default. If you want the edges to be the same color as the shaded part, you have to turn it off, in addition to selecting the Apply same color to wireframe, HLR and shaded setting (from Figure 3.22) for each individual part (which means it should be set up in the templates that you use to make the parts).
For example, if you have a red shaded model, and use Shaded With Edges mode, the edges of the model vary between pink and dark red, depending on the shade of red you use. The edges always contrast slightly with the shaded color, but the contrast is less than if the edges are always black.
FIGURE 3.23
Overriding the edge color settings
Using tangent edge display
Taking the control of the display of edges one step further, you can also use the tangent edge settings. These settings are found in the View⇒Display menu, and are as follows:
• Tangent Edges Visible. Displays tangent edges as solid lines, just like all other edges.
• Tangent Edges as Phantom. Displays tangent edges in a phantom line font.
• Tangent Edges Removed. Displays only non-tangent edges.
The Tangent Edges Removed setting leaves parts looking like a silhouette. You may prefer the phantom setting because you can easily distinguish between edges that actually look like edges on the part and edges that only serve to break up faces on the model. The Tangent Edges Visible setting conveys no additional information, and is the default setting. Figure 3.24 shows a sample part with all three settings.
FIGURE 3.24
Samples of the tangent edge settings
Using Assembly Visualization
Assembly Visualization is a feature that enables you to sort or display parts and subassemblies in an assembly in various ways, including by filename, quantity, mass, or a custom property value. When you click column