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Reading AssemblyXpert Results

The AssemblyXpert is a tool that provides information about assemblies. It gives statistics about parts, mates, resolved and lightweight components, subassembly depth, and other information. It may also offer suggestions for how to improve assembly performance. The AssemblyXpert presents information in three status categories, which appear on the left side of the AssemblyXpert window:

Passed

Warning

Information Only

A sample AssemblyXpert result window is shown in Figure 7.18.

FIGURE 7.18

AssemblyXpert results can help you find solutions for slow assembly performance.

You can speed up the performance of your assemblies by combining AssemblyXpert results with your knowledge of best practice. AssemblyXpert never simply tells you what to do, but it does make suggestions. For example, it might suggest that you use Large Assembly Mode, or it may tell you 386 mates are evaluated when the assembly is rebuilt (which, along with performance problems and best practice knowledge, should tell you that you might want to minimize mates at this level of the assembly).

You should also consider using AssemblyXpert in conjunction with SolidWorks Rx, which can point out a lot of system-level issues.

Using Defeature

Defeature is a new function in SolidWorks 2011 that works in both parts and assemblies. It also works on both imported and native data. This tool allows you to share less-detailed CAD data with other CAD users. The output of this function can be internally stored simplified geometry, or simplified geometry sent to an external file or to 3D Content Central. (3DCC.com is the SolidWorks on-line sharing library for commonly used data.)

In parts, Defeature removes small features, or selected features, and leaves a folder at the top of the FeatureManager, as shown in Figure 7.19. The Defeature folder is associated with a “dumb,” featureless, imported body stored in the file as a separate body. You can save these features out using the RMB menu of the Defeature folder in the FeatureManager.

FIGURE 7.19

Defeature in parts

Defeature in the assembly uses a PropertyManager, as follows:

Components. This step enables you to remove components, thus simplifying the defeatured assembly. You can allow SolidWorks to use an automatic method or you can make the selections yourself.

Motion. This step enables you to assemble the remaining parts into groups that work like subassemblies for the purpose of motion.

To Keep. This step defeatures individual parts, filling in holes, removing small features, and so on.

Removing Features. You now wait for SolidWorks to make all the changes you have asked it to do. This might take some time, depending on your computer and the assembly you are defeaturing.

Figure 7.20 shows the steps for using Defeature in an assembly.

FIGURE 7.20

Stepping through Defeature in an assembly

Using the Hole Alignment Tool

The Hole Alignment tool is found through the menus at Tools⇒Hole Alignment, or you can find it on the Evaluate tab of the CommandManager. Hole Alignment is a feature-based evaluation tool. It detects misalignment (defined as centerlines that are farther from one another than the distance you specify) of Hole Wizard holes, simple holes, and extruded cylindrical holes. Figure 7.21 shows the interface of the Hole Alignment tool.

This tool does have some limitations, which are mostly in the types of holes for which it can detect misalignment. The unsupported hole types are as follows:

• Multi-boundary extrudes (multiple circles in a single sketch used for an extruded cut)

• Imported geometry, or geometry created with any of the following:

• Move Face

• Move/Copy Body

• Split Part

• Mirror Body

• Mirror Part

• Mirror Component

• Pattern Body

• Insert Part

This list excludes a lot of potential sources for error, and doesn't leave many items of consequence. If you misalign holes using sketches or Hole Wizard holes, you have other problems.

FIGURE 7.21

Using the Hole Alignment PropertyManager

Working