We help many SolidWorks users become more proficient and efficient with the tools they use everyday. Simply having such a potent MCAD software at their disposal is a gigantic step towards productivity gains. And yet, it surprises me when I ask users if they take advantage of leveraging Annotations from their 3D model in to their 2D drawings. Few do. (But if you are one who does, shout out; we'd like to hear from you) In the end, we're talking about saving you time in the creation of your 2D drawings.
The first and easiest tool/technique is to insert Annotations such as Datum symbols and notes at the 3D model level. (Insert, Annotations from the pull-down menus) To view these annotations, right-mouse click the Annotations folder in the model's feature tree and choose "Display Annotations." The particular Annotation type can be set within the Details of the same context menu. Then, to bring these Annotations into drawing views on the print, use Insert, Model Items from the drawing's pulldown menu. Click on the thumbnailed images below to view the screenshots.
A second technique is to use 3D Annotations along with a special drawing view type called Annotation Views. This method likewise speeds up the time it takes to document our 3D work. Additionally it is useful for quickly conveying manufacturing design intent per the ASME 14.41-2003 standard. 3D Annotation Views are organizer according to the model's orthographics projections (Front view, Top view, etc) and can be created manually or automatically. As a warning, however, 3D Annotation Views are not dynamically linked back to the model from whenst they came. To re-create the drawing view and show updated annotations, the view will have to be deleted and re-inserted.
How do I create an Annotation View?- From within the model, you can create an Annotation either dynamically (while you are inserting Annotations) or by marking an orientation as a Annotation View and selecting items after the fact. Again, from a right-mouse click on the Annotations folder, check off "Display Annotations" and "Enable Annotation View Visibility." Also from that menu, you can create a new Annotation View. (Insert Annotation View)
The desired Annotations can be selected after choosing the orientation (or face) you wish to control. Follow the blue arrows as they direct you through the wizard.
The last piece of the puzzle is to create the views in your 2D drawing. From within the drawing, insert a new drawing view from the model.
Select the radio button marked "Annotation View" and whatever views exist will be highlighted; also, note the little letter "A" next to the icon. See the thumbnail below.
Creating efficiency with SolidWorks is easy and there are many unique techniques such as this to help you along.
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