• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 1009 0

encounters an error, it tries to resolve it. If it sees a failed mate, the software is trying to fix the issue in the background. This takes time. If you have an error or a set of errors in your assembly, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to fix the errors so SolidWorks stops trying to resolve them every time it rebuilds.

Avoiding unnecessarily complex geometry

Using things like helixes, extrude sketch text, modeled knurling, threads, large patterns of small holes, and so on can contribute to poor performance of assemblies with a lot of data to process. Even though in assemblies, you don't necessarily have to rebuild all of those part features, often the graphics load of very small features or large numbers of edges or faces contributes significantly to a speed problem. This is another reason to have a good video card.

Using special tools to improve large assembly performance

In addition to the techniques you can use to help improve SolidWorks assembly performance, there are also several tools within the software specifically designed to help you deal with the performance issue.

Using simplified configurations

Part and assembly documents can have configurations, which remove detail and rebuilt intensive features. There is even an option in the Open dialog that will open an assembly and turn every part to its simplified configuration (for more information on this see Chapter 8).

The Defeature function can help you simplify parts and assemblies. Simplified configurations of parts and subassemblies can bring you noticeable results without a whole lot of effort. The most rebuild time savings will likely come from a couple of your most complex parts.

Using SpeedPak

A SpeedPak is a derived configuration that can use a subset of parts and subassemblies. The subset can include faces, bodies, and other elements to create extremely simplified configurations, Read more about SpeedPaks in Chapter 8. If you use large assemblies, and you are serious about needing more performance, you should be using SpeedPaks.

Using Display States instead of configurations

If you just use assembly configurations to turn on or off parts, or change transparency, then stop using configurations. Display states are much faster than configurations and don't add to file size. If you are not using display states and you are using large assemblies, you need to at least check them out and see what you're missing.

Using Lightweight options

Lightweight options only load minimal part data to display the assembly. If you need to do more than display and move the assembly, you may need to fully load (resolve) the part data before you can complete those actions. Lightweight saves time when opening assemblies.

Using Large Assembly Mode

Large Assembly Mode is just a combination of lightweight mode, some other settings (detailed at Tools⇒Option⇒Assemblies), and a limit number. Once the number of parts goes beyond the limit, the settings kick in automatically.

Using detached drawings

Detached drawings have some of the same limitations that lightweight assemblies have. You can do some things, but not others. When there is a change to the parts or assembly, you have to reload the assembly into the drawing. For more information on the advantages and limitations of detached drawings, see Chapter 16.

Suspending automatic rebuilds

You can prevent parts from rebuilding in assemblies. You can access this setting by right-clicking on the top-level assembly name in the FeatureManager, as shown in Figure 7.22. In the figure, the cursor is on the option. You can manually turn this option back off when you want rebuilds, or open individual parts and assemblies to rebuild documents independently.

FIGURE 7.22

Turn off part and assembly rebuilds

Summary

SolidWorks packs a lot of powerful and useful tools into the assemblies environment. Even if you are an experienced user, it pays to look through the list periodically, because new functions are added frequently or you may have a new use for an old tool.

Chapter 8: Controlling Assembly