SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [22]
17. Drag the endpoint of the centerline again. Notice that as you define more sizes and relationships between sketch entities, the motion of the sketch as you drag becomes more constrained and predictable.
18. Activate the Smart Dimension tool again. Click the Top plane from the FeatureManager and then click the centerline. This creates an angle dimension. Position the angle dimension and change its value to 60 degrees, as shown in Figure 1.34.
19. Double-click any dimension and use either the up and down arrows to the right of it or the scroll wheel below it to change the value, as shown in Figure 1.35. Notice that not all values of all dimensions produce valid results. Also, notice that the entire sketch is black except for the outer end of the rectangle, which is now blue. This is the only thing you can now drag.
Figure 1.34
Creating an angle dimension
Figure 1.35
Using arrows or scroll wheel to change dimension values
Summary
While product development is about design, it is even more about change. You design something once, but you may modify it endlessly (or it may seem that way sometimes). Similarly, SolidWorks is about design, but it really enables change. Think of SolidWorks as virtual prototyping software that enables you to change your prototype rather than having to make a new one. Virtual prototypes will never completely replace physical models, but they may reduce your dependence on them to some extent.
SolidWorks is also about reusing data. Associativity enables you to model a part once and use it for Finite Element Analysis (FEA), creating 2D drawings, building assemblies, creating photorealistic renderings, and so on. When you make changes to the model, your drawing is automatically updated, and you don't have to reapply FEA materials and conditions or redo the rendering setup. Associativity saves you time by reusing your data. Associativity and change driven by feature-based and history-based modeling can take some getting used to if you have had limited exposure to it, but with some practice it becomes intuitive, and you will see the many benefits for enabling change. Parametric sketching and feature creation help you to maintain Design Intent as well as adjust it as necessary.
Chapter 2: Navigating the SolidWorks Interface
In This Chapter
Discovering elements of the SolidWorks interface
Customizing the interface to work for you
Exploring the interface
The SolidWorks interface offers a wide range of tools. You will find more than one way to do almost everything. There is no one best way to use the interface; and each method has strengths and weaknesses depending on the task, and depending on the individual.
In this chapter, I will start by displaying the entire default interface, but in the rest of the book I will only show a reduced interface, mainly to save space and keep the focus on the graphics window.
Once you have mastered the various interface elements and customized your SolidWorks installation, working with the software becomes much more efficient and satisfying. You may find your mastery of the interface comes with practice and experience. Many existing users may discover features in this book that they were not aware of, even though they have been trained and have used the software for years.
I explain each interface element identified in Figure 2.1 in detail within this chapter.
You might want to put a bookmarker in this page and refer back to Figure 2.1 often, as much of the interface discussion refers to elements illustrated in this figure.
FIGURE 2.1
Elements of the SolidWorks interface
Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Interface
The major elements of the SolidWorks interface are the graphics window, where all the action takes place, the FeatureManager, which is the list of all the features in the part, the PropertyManager, where most of the data input happens, and the CommandManager and toolbars, where you access most of the commands