Add Relation

See SolidWorks Help: Add Relation.

CAD

Computer Aided Design software. SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and SketchUp are examples of CAD software.

Circular sketch pattern

More information at SolidWorks Help: Circular Sketch Pattern.

configuration

different versions of the part/assembly

construction geometry

Also referred to as reference geometry is used to aid the definition of of geometry that will become part of the final part. Reference geometry isn't anything you will see in the final part, it is a part of the design parameter/constraint that will drive what you see in the final part. See SolidWorks Help Construction Geometry for more information.

Convert Entities

Convert Entities is a sketch tool that allows you to convert existing model edges visible through a sketch plane into sketch entities such as lines, arcs, and points. See SolidWorks Help: Convert Entities.

design intent

Design intent refers to the geometric constraints that the mechanical designer intends for the model to have. For example, a designer can intend for a hole to be in the center of a plate and constrain it as such in the model. See More on Design Intent.

DFM

DFM stands for Design for Manufacturability. There are many feature based tools in SolidWorks that aid the mechanical designer in designing components and assemblies that can be manufactured by common manufacturing processes. Read this Introduction to DFM article for more information.

display state

different versions of how the part/assembly appears

display style

The display style is a setting that impacts how the model appears in the graphics area (shaded, wireframe, hidden lines visible, etc.)

Extend Entities

This does the opposite of Trim Entities, extending geometric entities to a boundary. See SolidWorks Help: Extend Entities.

Extruded Boss/Base command

Creates a 3D feature from a 2D sketch by adding a specified thickness to the sketch in one direction. See SolidWorks Help: Extruded Boss/Base.

Extruded Cut

See more information at SolidWorks Help: Extruded Cut

Features

Features in SolidWorks are what make up a 3D model. These are things like extrudes, holes, fillets, rounds, etc.

flyouts

Icons usually in the shape of sideways triangles that expand or collapse sub-items.

fully defined

A sketch geometry status that indicates there is enough design parameters constraining the sketch geometry to allow only one possible condition. See Sketch Geometry Status'.

geometric dimensioning and tolerancing

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, or GD&T, is a system of defining and communicating engineering tolerances in terms of the functional requirements of a product. It allows for clear definition of engineering dimensional and geometric constraints through a symbolic language scheme.

Geometric relations

Constraints based on geometry conditions such as parallelism, perpendicularity, tangency, coincidence, symmetry, etc. See SolidWorks Help: Sketch Relations.

Hole Wizard

Hole wizard makes it fast and easy to model standard holes in a mechanical design. The macro tool consist of a Type tab, where the hole specifications are set, and a Positions Tab, where the position of the hole(s) is specified. See SolidWorks Help: Hole Wizard for more information.

Linear sketch pattern

More information at SolidWorks Help: Linear Sketch Pattern.

neutral format file types

Neutral format file types are file types that are typically exported from native file types (such as a SolidWorks file) that contain the geometric and attribute data but not the detailed design data that was used to create the model allowing them to be safely shared with stakeholders outside your organization.

Offset entities

Offset entities places geometry out of line by a prescribed distance. See SolidWorks Help: Offset Entities.

parametric design

Parametric design refers to using relationships, constraints and parameters to control a design to better clarify design intent. See more on parametric design.

Pierce Relation

The pierce relation adds a constraint on a sketch point to intersect with a sketch line that is perpendicular to the originating sketch plane. See SolidWorks Help: Pierce Relation.

Power Trim

More information from SolidWorks Help: Power Trim.

product life cycle

The path, or cycle, which the product takes from idea conception to product termination and disposal. This includes design, manufacturing, quality, maintenence, and every other function of the product across its whole life. See more on product life cycle.

profile

A profile refers to the 2D geometric elements that make up a cross section. See SolidWorks Help: Profiles for potential Sweep Profiles.

reference geometry

Reference geometry is geometry such as planes, points, and axes that is used for construction of other geometric features but don't actually represent geometry of the model. See SolidWorks Help: Reference Geometry.

Revolved features

A feature that is extruded by from the sketch profile around a selected axis of rotation.

section views

Section views are views of your model cut in a specific location and orientation. They are useful for evaluating internal components of your SolidWorks part or assembly.

Sketch

The sketch tab contains sketch commands that are used to make 2D profiles and shapes that are then made into 3D features.

sketch geometry status’

Sketch geometry status' indicate the condition of constraints on a geometric entity in a SolidWorks sketch. There is under-defined to indicate too little design specification, fully-defined to indicate there is enough design specification, and over-defined to indicate too much design specification (conflicting design parameters). See SolidWorks Help: Sketch Geometry Status' for more information.

sketch relations

Sketch relations constrain sketch geometry geometrically as opposed to dimensionally. Some examples of geometric constraints are parallelism, perpendicularity, tangency, and alignment. Some sketch relations are automatic and others must be added manually in SolidWorks. See SolidWorks Help: Sketch Relations for more information.

sketch state

The sketch state is whether the sketch is fully defined, under defined or over defined. These are states of constraint (how constrained is the model). See more on Sketch States.

Sweep

Sweep refers to extruding a 2D profile along a 2D or 3D path. See SolidWorks Help: Sweep.

thin-feature

Thin Feature allows you to apply a thickness to a profile. In traditional extrusions, the profile is usually an open contour however with sweep, the profile is a closed contour. See SolidWorks Help: Thin-Feature.

Trim entities

"Trim" away excess geometry. See SolidWorks Help: Trim Entities.

under-defined

A sketch geometry status that indicates there are not enough design parameters constraining the sketch geometry to allow only one possible condition. See Sketch Geometry Status'.

License

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Introduction to SolidWorks Part 1 Copyright © 2021 by melvincrs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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