SolidWorks 2010 Bible

CHAPTER

Using Weldments

IN THIS CHAPTER

Using 3D sketching techniques

Creating weldment-specific

features

Adding non-structural

components

Creating sub-weldments

Understanding Cut lists

Placing the Weldment Cut list

on a drawing

Working with weldments

tutorial

W

eldments in SolidWorks are built on driving structural profiles

along sketch entities in a multi-body part environment.

Weldment members can be curved, you can make them using

standard or custom profiles, and you can build them from both 2D and 3D

sketches. A Cut list within the part keeps track of the length of each profile

that is needed to fabricate the weldment. Weldments are specialized parts

that are similar in some ways to sheet metal parts.

You can use weldments for round or rectangular tubular structures, struc-

tures made from channels, flanged sections, standard or custom shapes, gus-

sets, and end caps, and they can also represent weld beads in the part. You

can also use weldments to create structures that are bolted together, struc-

tural aluminum extrusion frames, vinyl window frames, and wooden frames

and structures, and you can put them into assemblies with other parts such

as castings, sheet metal, and fabricated plate.

Sketching in 3D

The 3D sketch is an important tool for creating weldments (and many
other features) in SolidWorks. Structural frames are a large part of the
work that is typically done using weldment functionality in SolidWorks, and
frames are often represented as 3D wireframes. You can do this with a com-
bination of 2D sketches on different planes, with a single 3D sketch, or with
a combination of 2D and 3D sketches. If you have confidence in your ability
to use 3D sketches, then that is the best way to go. 3D sketches can be chal-
lenging, but they are certainly manageable if you know what to expect from
them.