SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [14]
FIGURE 1.11
The New SolidWorks Document dialog box
FIGURE 1.12
Additional subfolders added to a File Locations path
FIGURE 1.13
The tabs associated with the subfolders in New SolidWorks Document dialog box
Using default templates
Default templates are established at Tools⇒Options⇒Default Templates. The default templates must be in one of the paths specified in File Locations. Figure 1.14 shows the Default Templates settings.
FIGURE 1.14
The Tools⇒Options⇒Default Templates settings
There are two Default Template options: Always use these default document templates and Prompt user to select document template. The Default Template options apply to situations when a template is required by an automatic feature in the software such as an imported part or a mirrored part. In this situation, depending on the option selected, the system automatically uses the default template or the user is prompted to select a template.
Performance
Allowing the software to apply the default template automatically can have a great impact on speed. This is especially true in the case of imported assemblies, which would require you to select templates manually for each imported part in the assembly if the Prompt user to select document template option is selected.
Sharing templates
If you are administering an installation of a large number of users, or even if there are just a couple of users working on similar designs, shared templates are necessary. If every user does what she thinks best, you may get an interesting combination of conflicting ideas, and the consistency of the company's documentation may suffer. Standardized templates cannot make users model, assemble, and detail in exactly the same way, but they do start off users on the same foot.
To share templates among several users, create a folder for templates on a commonly accessible network location, preferably with read-only access for users and read-write permissions for administrators. Then point each user's File Locations and Default templates to that location. Access problems due to multiple users accessing the same files do not arise in this situation because users copy templates to create new documents and do not use them directly.
Caution
One of the downfalls of this arrangement is that if the network goes down, users no longer have access to their templates. This can be averted by also putting copies of the templates on the local computers; however, it has the tendency to undermine the goal of consistent documentation. Users may tend to use and customize the local templates rather than use the standardized network copies.
CAD administration and organizing any group of people on some level always comes down to trusting employees to do the right thing. There is no way to completely secure any system against all people trying to work around the system, so you must rely on hiring people you can train and trust.
Understanding Feature-Based Modeling
You need to be familiar with some terminology before diving into building models with SolidWorks. Notice that I talk about “modeling” rather than “drawing,” or even “design.” This is because SolidWorks is virtual prototyping software. Whether you are building an assembly line for automotive parts or designing decorative perfume bottles, SolidWorks can help you visualize your geometrical production data in the most realistic way possible without actually having it in your hand. This is more akin to making a physical model in the shop than drawing on paper.
“Feature-based” modeling means that you build the model by creating 2D sketches and applying processes (features) to create the 3D shape. For example, you can create a simple box by using the Extrude process, and you can create a sphere using the Revolve process. However, you can make a cylinder using either process, by revolving a rectangle or extruding a circle. You start by visualizing the 3D shape, and