SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [65]
You cannot use Physical Dynamics with Dynamic Clearance. The only adjustment it offers is a sensitivity control that changes the resolution of the reactions. Because it is a live tool (all the reactions happen in real time as you drag parts on the screen), calculation speed is a factor.
Using Sensors
Sensors in SolidWorks keep track of several measurable values and notify you when a value deviates from high and low limits that you can specify. You can use sensors in both parts and assemblies. The types of sensors available in assemblies are Mass, Volume, Surface area, and the following:
• Simulation data. Select one of a number of common simulation results to act as a trigger. (Simulation study must be available, so you cannot use this sensor type in SolidWorks Standard; you must have Simulation installed, licensed, and running for this to work.)
• Dimension. You can use reference dimensions or driving dimensions, including dimensions calculated by equations.
• Interference detection. Detect static parts in assemblies.
• Measurement. Any value you would normally take from the Measure tool can be tracked.
• Proximity. Establish a sensor location, direction, and acting distance, and the sensor returns a True value if a selected part passes through that sensor.
To add a sensor to an assembly, you must first have the Sensors folder displayed in the assembly FeatureManager. If it is not displayed, you can activate it at Tools⇒Options⇒FeatureManager, and make sure the Sensors folder is set to Show. This part of Tools⇒Options is shown in Figure 7.12.
FIGURE 7.12
Activating the Sensors folder in the FeatureManager
To add a sensor, right-click the Sensors folder at the top of the assembly FeatureManager and select Add Sensor. The Sensor PropertyManager is shown in Figure 7.13, with the Sensor Type drop-down list expanded.
FIGURE 7.13
Adding a sensor to an assembly
Once you have selected a type of sensor to add to the assembly, you can select the parts that are affected, set the options, and then set the alert. The alert appears as a notification balloon if the value returned by the sensor matches the expression you establish in the Alert panel of the Sensor PropertyManager.
For example, when the reference dimension shown in Figure 7.14 changes and becomes less than a certain value, say 1 inch, SolidWorks displays an alert on the Sensors folder.
FIGURE 7.14
Sensors display alerts when an established value meets established criteria.
Selecting Components
In the SolidWorks Tools menu for assemblies, there is an entry called Component Selection that offers a wide range of methods, as shown in Figure 7.15. SolidWorks does not have icon-driven activations for these tools, but they are available in the Customize⇒Keyboard interface so you can make hotkey shortcuts to them.
FIGURE 7.15
Using the Component Selection methods in the SolidWorks Tools menu
Selecting with a volume
The Volume Select option has no dialog box or PropertyManager interface. The workflow for using this option goes like this:
1. Put the assembly into a view orthogonal to a rectangular volume that you would like to create to select parts of the assembly.
2. Pre-select items to determine where the rectangular volume starts. (Pre-selecting a point makes the face of the volume go through the point; pre-selecting a plane makes the face of the volume coincident with that face.)
3. Initiate the Volume Selection command through the menus at Tools⇒Component Selection⇒Volume Select. Even though nothing appears to happen — no interface, no change to the screen, no special cursor — continue with your selection.
4. With the cursor, drag a rectangle on the screen (as you