There is a really quick way to hollow out a part in SolidWorks that you may not be aware existed. Most are familiar with the Shell command where you can remove a face or faces and shell the rest of the part. However what most don’t realize is picking a face to remove is optional. If you define a shell thickness but do not select a face to remove it will still shell, or hollow out, your part to a specific wall thickness.
Of course, remember eventually you still need to manufacture the part.
In SolidWorks there are several places to adjust the color or appearance of a face, feature, body, component, etc. One tip that will make life easier in SolidWorks is to use the Appearances button on the context toolbars. For those not familiar with the terminology the context toolbars (sometimes known as in-context) are graphical toolbars that only appear when you select items in the graphics area or FeatureManager design tree. Context toolbars appear and provide access to frequently performed actions for that context. To change an appearance just click on any face in the graphics area then click on the Appearance button in the Context toolbar.
You’ll notice that it lists the appearance in a hierarchy format. Think of this list as an interactive table and click on the area where you want to add or modify an appearance. For example, if you wanted to add color to just the face click to the blank area directly to the right of the face row. (red arrow in image)
In SolidWorks parts and assemblies there is a method to quickly create an offset plane without having to use the Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane command.
Hold down the CTRL key and drag on one of the spheres on an existing plane as shown below in the diagram.
The plane PropertyManager will appear so you can define and insert the plane.
Here are some handy Windows Keyboard short cuts that can save you time in your daily design work, and help you navigate your Windows system. Some of these shortcuts work in SolidWorks as well.
WIN + “+” = Magnifying Glass zoom in*
WIN + “-” = Magnifying Glass zoom out*
WIN + E = Windows Explorer
WIN + D = Show Desktop
WIN + L = Lock Windows
Win + Tab = Cycle through the open application using Aero Flip*
WIN + P = Projector and video output settings*
WIN + X = Mobility Center – Several convenient controls such as projector, WiFi, etc.
WIN + Up Arrow or WIN + Down Arrow = Toggle between window states, Maximized, Restore and Minimized
WIN + Shift + Left or Right Arrow = Move window to another monitor
WIN + 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 = Launch the corresponding application on the Task Bar
WIN + T = Task Bar navigation via arrow keys
Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + Drag = Copy
Ctrl + Tab = Cycle through the open documents within an application
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Zoom in on Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Zoom out of Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Click on Application Icon = Cycle through the open documents within the application
Ctrl + Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run application as Administrator
Ctrl + Alt + Delete = Windows options including: Lock computer and Start Task Manager
Ctrl + Shift + Escape = Windows Task Manager
Shift + Drag = Move
Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run a new instance of an application
Shift + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Go back to last Web Page
Shift + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Go forward to next Web Page
Alt + Tab = Cycle through the open applications
Alt + F4 = Terminate the active application
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for presentations.
Typically when most users want to move a table in a drawing they will select the table then grab the cross-hair symbol in the upper left corner of the table.
A quick alternative to using the cross-hair is to hold down the ALT key and then select anywhere on the table to move it around your sheet. This ALT drag technique also works on drawing views. Just hold down ALT and select anywhere inside the drawing view border to drag it.
