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What’s the Best Way to Customize Inspection Reports in SOLIDWORKS for Compliance?

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Customizing SOLIDWORKS Inspection Report for your Quality Process The SolidWorks Inspection Template Editor is a tool used to customize the layout and content of Excel-based inspection reports. It allows you to define how data extracted from drawings (like dimensions, tolerances, notes, etc.) will appear in the final inspection document.  It works with SolidWorks drawings, PDFs, and TIFFs, and extracts dimensions and annotations to help ensure part quality. It will perform within the Inspection standalone application or within the SOLIDWORKS Inspection Add-In.  Steps to create Customized Report Template:  1. Open SOLIDWORKS Inspection  Launch the SOLIDWORKS Inspection Standalone application or Add-in, then select the “Template Editor” from inspection file menu. 2. Load your custom Excel Template  After selecting the Template Editor, browse and open your customized Excel File. The SOLIDWORKS Inspection template editor token dialogue box as shown below.  3. M...

What Is Design Guidance in xDesign and How Can It Rethink Your CAD Designs?

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Rethinking Design with AI  Using Design Guidance in xDesign to Explore Smarter Part Concepts What if your CAD tool could suggest a better version of your design? Not by giving you a finished product, but by showing what your part could look like under ideal conditions. That’s what Design Guidance in xDesign is built to do. This tool offers a conceptual design suggestion based on your constraints — how the part is fixed, where it's loaded, and which regions can or cannot change. The result is a lightweight, optimized shape that isn't meant for direct manufacturing but instead acts as inspiration. You then use that inspiration to rebuild the real part geometry. Let’s walk through how the tool works and how we used it on a piston connecting rod to reimagine its structure. Step 1: Fix the Part in Place Before optimization, we need to define where the part is fixed — where it won’t move in real use. Using the Clamp tool, we selected the bottom holes of the connecting rod.  ...

How Do You Add Custom Toolbox Components to the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library?

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Nowadays, many companies use their own standard components instead of using the default SOLIDWORKS standard components. In that one common challenge is that they are often unable to use their custom toolbox components in the same way as the SOLIDWORKS standard toolbox components. In this blog, we will explain how to configure your own toolbox components and integrate them into the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox library. STEP:1 Open your customized toolbox component. If you have multiple sizes within the same toolbox component, create configurations for each size. Refer the image.  STEP:2 Open the Design Library drop-down toolbox folder. Right-click on any standard, such as ANSI or IS, and select Configure . (or) Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Configure .  STEP:3 By using the second method, the Toolbox Settings Wizard will open. In the wizard, five options are available. Hole Wizard Customize your hardware Select sizes and options Create custom properties Add ...

What Are the Basics of Thermal Analysis in SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

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  Basics of Thermal Analysis Usually, there won't be any problems with the process once the user begins to simulate a part to get the results. The question arises on the different types of Simulation & its Procedures for example thermal analysis. There are homogeneous & Non- Homogeneous heat transfer occurs in the thermal analysis so in this blog the basics of thermal analysis is discussed in detail. Types of Heat Transfer:- There are three types of Heat transfer which is as follows 1.     Conduction 2.     Convection 3.     Radiation Thermal analysis calculates the temperature distribution in a body due to some or all of these types of heat transfer. In all types, heat energy flows from the medium with higher concentration temperature to the medium with lower concentration temperature. Heat transfer by conduction and convection requires the presence of an intermediate medium while heat transfer by radiation does ...

How Can SOLIDWORKS Layout Design Streamline Your Workflow?

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LAYOUT DESIGN IN SOLIDWORKS: TOOLS AND WORKFLOW Designing individual components is just one part of engineering. Equally important is planning how those components fit within a larger physical space be it a factory floor, rooftop, workstation, or testing facility. This is where layout design in SOLIDWORKS adds value. SOLIDWORKS layout design offers a robust set of tools to help designers and engineers plan space efficiently, identify potential conflicts early, and improve the overall build process. This blog explores those tools in detail and how they can be applied to real-world layout challenges. Why Layout Design Matters Layout planning in SOLIDWORKS allows you to go beyond part and assembly modeling by enabling spatial design and equipment planning. Benefits include: • Reducing errors through clash detection • Improving communication with stakeholders using visual layouts • Planning equipment accessibility and workflow • Reusing layout components efficiently across multiple pr...

How to Fix “Preview Tab Not Working” and “The Media Is Write Protected” Error in SOLIDWORKS PDM?

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Resolving Preview Tab not working & The Media is Write Protected Error in SOLIDWORKS PDM You may has recently come across the error “The Media Is Write Protected” in SOLIDWORKS PDM while trying to preview or open a PDF file that is available in Local Vault. Also, you can notice that the “Preview tab” in the Vault view will be “Black or Shows some error message” . In some cases, it is reported that this causes SOLIDWORKS PDM to Crash. This behavior is reported mostly by those who are using SOLIDWORKS PDM in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Reason: The problem is due to the recent Windows Security Update. This update is reported to break the Integration of “Adobe Reader ActiveX” with SOLIDWORKS PDM. Solution / Workaround: In SOLIDWORKSPDM Professional Client, it is possible to temporarily switch PDF viewer to default Windows Viewer. Note: Please involve your IT Professional to make the below changes for you. Step 1: Open “Registry Editor” with Run as administrator . Browse...

What Is the Practical Guide to Mechanical Mates in SOLIDWORKS?

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 Mechanical Mates in SOLIDWORKS - A Practical Guide Mechanical mates in SOLIDWORKS allow you to define how components move  in relation to one another, beyond just locking them in place. These mates are  essential for assemblies that involve rotating, sliding, or interacting parts,  such as gears, cams, and linkages. This blog gives you a simple overview of each mechanical mate in  SOLIDWORKS and how it works. Cam Mate: The Cam Mate is used to simulate contact between a rotating cam and a linear  follower. It maintains consistent contact as the cam drives motion, allowing  you to make complex mechanical timing and movement. How to use: • Select a closed profile or edge loop on the cam. • Select a point, vertex, or face on the follower component. Figure 1: CAM Mate Hinge Mate: The Hinge Mate allows two components to  rotate relative to each other around a common  axis, just like a physical hinge with realistic  rotational motion. How to ...