SolidWorks 2022 Advanced: Weldments

Name: SolidWorks 2022 Advanced: Weldments
Author: Will Tenney

Learn how to create and edit weldment using tools from the SolidWorks weldments library

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 7 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

Hi, my name is Will Tenney, and in this lesson, I'll give you an introduction to the weldments workflow, as well as show you how to access the tools. Here is a weldment, and in the real world a weldment is essentially a grouping of metal pieces welded together. In this case for SolidWorks, we can think of it actually as a series of extruded paths or sweeps. Now, what makes the weldment tool so special is it allows us to group our weldments or group our extruded paths logically so that when we actually export this thing out to be made, it makes sense to the fabricator and also makes sense design wise and engineering wise. It just makes that process a lot easier for us as designers. So essentially the way this would work is you would have to begin with a 3D sketch or just a sketch first. 3D sketches tend to work best because we are making 3D structures with these weldments of course. Once you've created your 3D sketch, you then would need to go up to the command manager and make sure you're in the Weldments tab and select the Weldments button. I've already done that so it's no longer able to be selected. Upon selecting it, it'll add this feature here into the feature tree. And that basically let's the program know that we are going to be creating weldments. It also gives us access to all the weldment tools that we have available to us here. Once we're able to open up the weldment tools, the next thing we do is access structural member and start selecting groupings of that 3D sketch to create those paths. For instance, I have a grouping for just the base of this hexagonal structure. I have another grouping for the top of this hexagonal structure, and my third grouping is for all the vertical members that support the top. And that's essentially how weldments works. Thanks for listening. In the next lesson, we discuss various ways of creating sketch frameworks, including 3D sketching. We discuss selecting profiles to follow that sketch framework, and we discuss corner joints.

Advanced Provider : Will Tenney 7 Lessons · 31m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

These lessons are intended to teach you how to access and use all the feature tools associated with the SolidWorks weldment feature library. Weldments are 3D scaffolding structures built by welding tubing extrusions to one another. This involves understanding extrusion profiles as well as extrusion paths. By affecting paths to create complex structures, you will also learn new strategies to create detailed 3D sketches.

Part of creating structural weldments involves the inclusion of certain features such as gussets, end caps, cuts, trims, and miters. We’ll discuss how to execute these tools, along with a few strategies for ensuring your results are structurally sound. Finally, you will learn how to depict weldments in drawings and tables for fabrication. This is necessary to ensure that your design intent is carried all the way to the end of the product development process. It also ensures that the right material in the right amount is ordered to build the piece without waste or mistakes.

What You'll Learn

Set and edit weldment design parameters to ensure a realistic final product
Create basic scaffolding structures for welding using extrusion profiles and paths
Access and add to the existing SolidWorks tubing profile library, including custom profiles
Apply standard weldment features such as gussets, end caps, cuts, trims, miters, and weld beads
Build complex structures using new strategies for detailed 3D sketches
Depict weldments in drawings and tables for fabrication

Key Takeaways

Weldments are 3D scaffolding structures built by welding tubing extrusions to one another, requiring an understanding of both extrusion profiles and extrusion paths.
Creating structural weldments involves including features such as gussets, end caps, cuts, trims, and miters, along with strategies for ensuring results are structurally sound.
Depicting weldments in drawings and tables ensures design intent is carried through to the end of the product development process.
Proper fabrication documentation ensures the right material in the right amount is ordered to build the piece without waste or mistakes.
Affecting paths to create complex structures also teaches new strategies for creating detailed 3D sketches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

It teaches how to access and use all the feature tools associated with the SolidWorks weldment feature library, including extrusion profiles and paths, standard features like gussets, end caps, cuts, trims, miters, and weld beads, and how to depict weldments in drawings and tables for fabrication.

What are weldments in this course?

Weldments are 3D scaffolding structures built by welding tubing extrusions to one another.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course covers skills including Blueprinting, CADwork, Solid Modeling, SolidWorks (CAD), Welding Procedure Specification, and Solidworks Certification.

How is the course structured?

The course is organized into seven lessons: Introduction to Weldments; Creating Weldments; Custom Profiles; Standard Weldment Features (Part 1); Standard Weldment Features (Part 2); Weld Beads; and Weldments in Drawings and Exports.

Will I learn how to prepare weldments for fabrication?

Yes. You will learn how to realistically depict weldments in drawings and tables for fabrication, ensuring design intent is carried to the end of the product development process and that the correct material and amount are ordered without waste or mistakes.