Solidworks

Hints and support files for working with Solidworks at Reykjavik University

• 3D printing a Solidworks part

Hints

How do I place multiple instances of a part into an assembly

Reference: https://help.solidworks.com/2020/english/SolidWorks/sldworks/t_Inserting_Components_One_at_a_Time.htm?id=8.1.1.0.0

1. Pin the PropertyManager

Solidworks keeps putting too many parts on the Bill of Materials, how do I exclude them?

Reference: https://mechanitec.ca/how-to-exclude-part-from-bom-solidworks/

1. Select the parts
2. Right-click and choose "Component Properties" which might be an icon on the top right bar
3. Check "Exclude from bill of materials" then click "OK"

The Bill of Materials shows a part, but not it's configuration name

This turns out to be a bit of work as shown in https://help.solidworks.com/2021/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/c_Bill_of_Materials_Multiple_Configurations.htm

1. Open the Configuration Manager
2. Rename the configuration what you want to show up such as "Lockwasher-M4"
3. Right-click that configuration and pick "Properties"
4. Under "Bill of Materials Options" set Part number displayed when used in a bill of materials to "Configuration Name"
5. Click OK

How do I change the appearance of all Configurations?

Reference https://knowledge.cadimensions.com/hubfs/KB%20Reference%20Docs/SOLIDWORKS%20Appearance%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf?hsLang=en

1. Right-click on the part in the Part tree and choose the "Appearances" icon which is a multi-colored sphere with a pencil
2. Pick the part in question
3. Scroll down to "Display States (linked)" and make sure "All display states" is checked
4. Drag and drop the Appearances on the part

How do I make an exploded view

Reference: https://help.solidworks.com/2026/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/t_Creating_Exploded_Views.htm

1. Open the part or assembly, NOT THE DRAWING
2. Insert > Exploded View
3. Pick parts then drag them apart using the X-Y-Z arrows
4. Save the step
5. When you are done, click the green checkbox
6. These exploded views are saved in the Configurations tab under the current Configuration
7. You will have to expand the configuration to see the saved Exploded view to open it again or rename it.

How do I put the exploded view into a drawing?

1. Create a standard Isometric view on the sheet (or whatever you want to use)
2. Click on it to see the properties
3. Pick the right configuration in "Reference Configuration"
4. Check the "Show in exploded or model break state"
5. Pick the Exploded view you want to show

How do I move features around without them going into assemblies on the tree?

Select them, then drag them with ALT pressed.

How do I make components in an assembly that snap into the right locations without having to put all the relations in?

You need to make Smart Components. Summary:

1. Create an assembly with the part in it (or open an existing one)
2. Appy mates to that component
3. Tools > Make Smart Component
4. Set the options
5. Save the assembly and click Yes to save the reference models that have been modified.
6. You don't need the assembly anymore if you created it just for this operation.