Part I: SolidWorks Basics
l^ Edit Block. Enables you to edit an existing block as if it were a regular sketch.
l Insert Block. Enables you to select from a list of open blocks or browse to a location
where blocks are stored. You can edit the insertion point by using the Edit Block function.
l Add/Remove. Enables you to add or remove sketch entities from the block without delet-
ing them from the sketch while editing a block.
l Rebuild Block. Allows changes to a block to be reflected in any external relations without
exiting the block. For example, if you have a block in a sketch and a sketch line is coinci-
dent to one of the endpoints in the block, you may edit the block such that the referenced
endpoint moves. As a result, the line in the sketch will not move until you exit the block
or use the Rebuild Block function.
l^ Save Block/Save Sketch As Block. Saves a selected block to an external file (with the
*.sldblk extension), or saves the selected sketch as a block.
l^ Explode Block. Removes all the sketch entities from a block and brings them into the
current sketch.
l^ Belt/Chain. Enables you to make a belt or chain around a set of pulleys. Each pulley must
be a block. After activating the command (by right-clicking on a sketch or block), you can
select each pulley and use the arrow on the pulley to switch the side of the pulley to
which the belt goes. You can also compensate for the thickness of the belt (this is impor-
tant when both sides of the belt are in contact with pulleys) and drive the pulley arrange-
ment using the length of the belt. Figure 3.34 shows the Belt/Chain dialog box.
FIGURE 3.34The Belt/Chain dialog box