Right-click to add any one of those things. Brandon is part of the technical support team for GoEngineer serving as a PDM specialist since August 2018. I have recreated the actions in the video above and saved the result. I will usually advise you to develop an add-in because they are more stable and can be maintained properly, but I also just finished a macro for a customer. Variable Pattern can be accessed by going to: For this example, we have a model of a colander with a slot on the bottom surface. For example, in the image below, we want the bottom line to always be twice the thickness of the top portion. The underscore is used to split a long line of code across multiple lines. Define global variables using other global variables and dimensions. No globals unless we really need them. Here are some useful sites when you want to get started with building macros for SOLIDWORKS: Doing a Google search in the form of SOLIDWORKS API [your search term] will also do miracles. We will create a. of this slot and specify some dimension parameters to get variation in the patterned instances. DXF, PDF) from all folders into a single folder, VBA macro to add display data mark for configurations used in Large assembly to be opened in Large Design Review Mode, Macro copies the path of the selected component in assembly or drawing into the clipboard using SOLIDWORKS API, Macro counts all unique components selected in the assembly and displays the result in the commands bar, This macro exports positions of components to an external CSV text file using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to remove all mates and fix all top level components in the active SOLIDWORKS assembly, VBA macro allows to make an independent copy of the selected component, update reference in assembly and copy associated drawing, Macro move the components selected in the graphics area into a new folder in the feature manager tree, VBA macro to copy component name to the component reference using SOLIDWORKS with an ability to filter virtual components only, VBA macro to open each selected component in the assembly in the separate window in the same position they appear in the current assembly view, Macro performs a permutation for each components in the root level of the assembly using SOLIDWORKS API and saves the results as individual files, VBA macro to create copies of all selected components in the assembly and purge configurations in each of them, Macro demonstrates how to replace selected components in the batch preserving original selections using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to batch set the rigid or flexible option for selected components in the assembly using SOLIDWORKS API, Example demonstrates how to open the folder of the selected component in the assembly in the Windows File Explorer, VBA macro to find the assemblies within active assembly which are using the selected component using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro which writes the total quantities of components in SOLIDWORKS assembly into custom property, VBA macro to move suppressed mates in assembly into feature folder using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to open all selected sub-assemblies and part components in the Large Design Review (LDR) mode and view only mode correspondingly, Example will break, lock or unlock all external references for the file or components in the active assembly using SOLIDWORKS API, Macro allows capturing SOLIDWORKS and user commands into the list box, Helper methods allowing to identify the definition and specific type of the selected feature via SOLIDWORKS API and reflection, VBA macro to handle the long running commands in SOLIDWORKS (open, rebuild, suppress etc.) Does anyone know if there is a way in SolidWorks to create a variable/multi-angle draft? Select View > Modify > Draft Analysis from the View menu. To set the value that you want to return, use the name of the function. The Geometry pattern checkbox in the Pattern property manager On tech support we have seen a few odd situations where the pattern fails without Geometry pattern enabled, but for no apparent reason. SolidWorks is a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) application published by Dassault Systmes . A VBA macro is a single .SWP file that can sit anywhere on your computer. Zach Brown is a certified SOLIDWORKS Expert and a Technical Support Engineer. This is a really powerful tool, although the VBA implementation isnt that great. The last tool for debugging that I want to mention is the Call Stack option. I myself am a mechanical engineer by trade. We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. One window that is not visible here is the Locals window. In this tutorial, we'll use a few different examples to explain how the tool works. Select Step Draft from the Type of Draft drop-down menu. You can safely remove the underscore and the enter so the line becomes, The Part variable is set to the document that is currently open, Notice that we get the part object from the, Because the variable Part is assigned the active document, you can now call special SOLIDWORKS, Add a dot after a variable name to see all available functions. The Variable Pattern PropertyManager shows the slot feature listed in the Features to Pattern box. I added numbers in red to the previous image to explain the code. Example: Moved the variable declarations to the top of the program for clarity (2020 update: dont create a long list of all variables at the top of your program). A plane or a planar face must be selected, and then a vector is defined normal to the plane. The Seed Features were made with a Thin-feature Cut Extrude using a Spline sketch. I hope this was informative to you and thank you for choosing GoEngineer. In this So. comments: 4 View or Reply Use your SOLIDWORKS ID or 3DEXPERIENCE ID to log in. You can access the table from the Variable Pattern PropertyManager. Note: You can also do drafting while using the Extrude Boss/Base features tool using its propertymanager. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. Select the default plane (Top plane), and NormalTo it using the view orientation tool from the View Headsup toolbar. For the variable name, do one of the following: Repeat steps 1 and 2 to define additional discrete variables. The functionality hasnt changed a bit though. SolidWorks Pattern Feature Tutorial Complete | Linear Pattern, Circular Pattern, Curve Driven Pattern. Explore this section to find productivity and automation tools which suit your needs. We will contact you if we have questions regarding your feedback. You need external tools like Visual Studio to develop the software. Face propagation contains options such as along tangent, all faces, inner faces and outer faces. I started CAD Booster four years ago to automate the boring bits of my engineering job. The effect of face propagation in Solidworks draft tool is shown below. |Get a Product Demo Select the Equation View . The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Any dimension can be edited on the fly to update the pattern. A heatmap (aka heat map) depicts values for a main variable of interest across two axis variables as a grid of colored squares. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer. We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. In this example, we have tread on the sole of a shoe made with two Variable Patterns. You can use some variables like a command (especially those that turn on and off certain states of the drawing environment). The Variable Table in Solid Edge sports a familiar Excel spreadsheet layout and can be used to define and edit functional relationships between the variables. [2] There is a steep learning curve if you have never built software before, or if you have never built software for SOLIDWORKS before. This question has a validated answer. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. Well be using VBA or Visual Basic for Applications. You will see each type of drafting step by step tutorial in this post. The SOLIDWORKS software does the following: The solution to the global variable appears in the. Click here for information about technical support, I acknowledge I have read and I hereby accept the. This can be used to update or add new instances to the pattern. It still creates a sketch and a cut-extrude on a previously selected face. Terms of Use and beep to notify its completion, Macro finds all features which are hidden in the SOLIDWORKS model and either displays or removes them, VBA macro to toggle on and off the scroll selected item into view option in SOLIDWORKS FeatureManager settings, VBA macro to force rebuild, hide all types and show isometric view of SOLIDWORKS model, This macro allows to suspend rebuild operation for parts, assemblies and drawings to enhance the performance using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro upgrades cosmetic threads to a new (SOLIDWORKS 2020) version which allows to improve performance of the document, Tool to open SOLIDWORKS assembly or drawing in quick view (large design review) mode from the context menu in Windows file explorer, VBA macro which creates a date custom property in SOLIDWORKS file in the specified format with an option to automatically update, Macro copies all the file specific properties into the properties of the active configuration, VBA macro to link and auto-update multiple SOLIDWORKS custom properties from the external CSV/Text file into configuration or file, Macro renames all configurations of assembly or part into the value of the specified configuration specific custom property, VBA macro to sort file and configuration specific custom properties (in ascending and descending order) using logical order via SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to copy SOLIDWORKS custom properties from cut-list (sheet metal or weldment) to model or configuration, Macro feature to link specified custom properties from weldment cut-lists to SOLIDWORKS file custom properties, Excel macro which allows very fast way to manage (read and write) SOLIDWORKS custom properties in a batch directly from Excel spreadsheet, Macro demonstrates how to remove all colors from the part document on all levels (face, feature, body) using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro renames (translates) the features in the part feature tree using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to rename sheet metal flat patterns after the corresponding cut-list feature names, SOLIDWORKS VBA macro to colorize all the cut-list item bodies (sheet metal and weldments) based on the value of the custom property, Macro excludes the solid bodies selected from the graphics area or from the feature tree from weldment or sheet metal cut-list using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to rename bodies within the SOLIDWORKS cut-list body folder (sheet metal or weldment) based on the predefined template (e.g. using eDrawings API, without the need to have SOLIDWORKS installed or SOLIDWORKS license, Console application which exports all files from the specified folder to PDF format using eDrawings API, without the need to have SOLIDWORKS installed or SOLIDWORKS license, VBA macro to export flat patterns from all components of the active assembly or active part, VBA macro to export the selected 2D sketch in SOLIDWORKS part or assembly file to the DXF or DWG file, VBA macro to save all bodies (or selected bodies) in the SOLIDWORKS part document to individual files, Script allows exporting of the SOLIDWORKS file into the foreign format using command line, VBA macro to export only selected bodies to foreign format (e.g. Where is the Variable Pattern Tool Located? The macro recorder does record most actions that create geometry or features. Terms of Use Thank you for your comments. The SOLIDWORKS software lets you design models quickly and precisely. Then set or enter the Draft angle to taper the face of your model as per the design requirements. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Another way is to double click on a dimension and, in the dimension field, type = followed by the variable name; the text will turn gold and there will be a globe icon that pops up. The Draft command is limited in the range of draft angles it can produce, so we'll look to Move Face for a solution. Its a, As you can, see you can define multiple variables on one line, If you dont specify a type (Dim swApp), the variable will be a, Variants are strange types that can contain any type of data, but you need to convert them to specific types if you want to do some real work with them. Example 1: Creating a Linear Variable pattern. VBA editor: what is the immediate window? It is easiest to start with VBA because it is the most accessible option. When everyone has their own file, you are never sure everyone is using the same version. You can also apply a draft angle as a part of an extruded base, boss, or cut. Add-in also allows to manage multi-user environment by storing the configuration in the centralized location. If you perform optimization with discrete variables only, the program finds the optimal scenario only from the list of defined scenarios. The first step in learning how to create macros is by recording your own actions using the macro recorder. The execution of code stops at these points. You can use draught analysis to check draught angles, look at angle variations inside a face, and find parting lines, injection, and ejection surfaces in parts. One application is to make a molded part easier to remove from the mold. For Search 'Command Variables' in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base. Then your t groove for the screwdriver will look somewhat like the one below. Lets modify one of the instances manually using Instant3D. Dont even bother trying to remember all options. Search for jobs related to Variable draft in solidworks or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 20m+ jobs. For this example, after the dimension columns have been added, we'll change the Angle to 18, the Slot offset to 25mm, and the Slot length to 25mm, and then click. Set discrete variables to evaluate scenarios or perform optimization. Click here for information about technical support. After that, your new add-in appears in the list of available add-ins: Add-ins can be built by SOLIDWORKS (like SOLIDWORKS Routing) or by third parties like CAD Booster. Brandon is a BYU-Idaho graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. This changes the size, shape, location, and depth of each instance. |Personalize Cookie Choices . Global Variables Features Equations First group: Global variables A global variable is a named variable that you can use it throughout the part/assembly. The line Debug.Assert x > 10 will assert whether x is indeed greater than 10 and it will pause the program if it isnt. If we use a global variable, this becomes much clearer. We dont need that option anymore, so it can be disabled. If you want some professional guidance in your endeavors, you can enroll in this course by SOLIDWORKS: Your current Value Added Reseller (VAR) can help you with official SOLIDWORKS courses. Let us explore about Draft tool in SolidWorks CAD software. One side may be 5 degrees and transition around the curve to 3 degrees and so on. |Personalize Cookie Choices SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. We'll start by chopping the model in half, and finish by mirroring the half-body back onto itself, to take advantage of part symmetry. It is good practice to start your macro with a few lines on the who, why and how. You can create global variables to use in equations. For additional productivity add-ins visit the SOLIDWORKS Labs page. You can apply draft to all faces, inner faces or outer faces using face propagation tool. Here you can find the modules, user forms, class modules and SOLIDWORKS objects in your macro. I would remove longstatus and longwarnings because they are never used. Sincerely,The SOLIDWORKS Documentation Team. Can be created in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), VB (Visual Basic, formerly VB.net) and C#. In the images below, I used our global variable to specify the depth of the extrude and then modified. Let's say you want to pattern a 2D entity in your sketch. A new feature is created using the selected sketch and a whole lot of options. Sir, some of the Options in ' Mechanical Mate' has skipped from your video. Ive written down everything that is happening in this short macro, everything that does not make sense and everything that I think you should know. using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro imports and exports information about layers (description, color, style, thickness, visibility and will print) in the SOLIDWORKS drawings, VBA macro which locks (or password protects) the sheet format editing using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to open the drawings associated to the component in its own window regardless of naming (with an option to open the drawing in detailing mode), VBA macro opens the document referenced by the selected drawing view in the referenced configuration and display state, VBA macro to rename all flat pattern views in the the active sheet after the respective cut-list names using SOLIDWORKS API, Macro will rename all drawings sheets using the value of the specified custom property using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to replace sheet formats in the drawing sheets based on the specified map, VBA macro to scale drawing views in the current sheet based on the geometry size and specified map, VBA macro to find and delete notes in all SOLIDWORKS drawing sheets based on the text, regular expressions or empty values, This macro increments the numeric value of the notes by matching regular expression (e.g. Watch SolidWorks Draft Tutorial Video Here:-. Assemblies contain parts or other assemblies, called subassemblies. The help website by SOLIDWORKS is also extensive and sorted by version. |Contact Sales I would remove boolstatus if we dont need its value after calling SelectByID2. From example draft angle is selected as 12 degree. It starts with a prefix (sw) to help you understand its type (a SOLIDWORKS object ). When you double click on the dimension for the bottom line, we can add the equation=D1@Sketch1*2with D1@Sketch1 being the .50 dimension. To create an offset plane, select the Reference Geometry drop down on the CommandManager and choose the Plane option. All rights reserved. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. Removed the underscore at the definition of swApp. Read Creating macro buttons in SOLIDWORKS toolbars for more information. The Draft Definition dialog box that appears, displays the variable angle draft option as activated. A line that starts with a single quote ( ) is a comment. Follow the Programming VBA and VSTA macros using SOLIDWORKS API section for guidelines of using and creating macros in SOLIDWORKS. This is confusing and annoying for people that are just getting started. Search 'Defining Variables' in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base. You can comment out part of a line. The Locals window shows you a list of the variables in your code and their current values. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. To create a global variable, you can use the equation manager and add a line in the global variables section of the table. We can define the type of view so I'll just place that like an isometric and just hit OK. |Contact Sales For example, in the image below, we want the bottom line to always be twice the thickness of the top portion. You can run the macro by browsing for it or by adding a shortcut button to your command manager in SOLIDWORKS.. You can even record and play back macros, although not all actions can be recorded. VBA is an old Microsft programming language for creating macros for applications like Excel. incrementing the revision) using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to output all notes text to the text file from the SOLIDWORKS drawing file, Adds the watermark feature (license) with custom message and name which cannot be deleted or edited, Macro demonstrates how to copy the specified custom property from the material database to the model custom property using SOLIDWORKS API and XML parsers, Macro imports the points cloud from the specified CSV file into the active 2D or 3D Sketch using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to export coordinates of sketch points from the selected sketch with an ability to convert coordinate to user units and into the model space, Macro will hide (blank) or show (unblank) all sketches (2D and 3D) in the active document using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to merge selected sketches into a single 3D sketch using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to find and select all arcs with diameter equal to the input arc using SOLIDWORKS API, VBA macro to toggle on and off the sketch enable snapping option in SOLIDWORKS sketch, VBA macro which creates 3D bounding box sketch based on the SOLIDWORKS bounding box with an ability to select sketch segments, Macro splits the selected surface or solid body by faces creating individual sheet body for each face using SOLIDWORKS API, SOLIDWORKS VBA macro to copy selected faces by calling the "Surface Offset" feature with distance 0, Macro demonstrates how to create an animation from configurations to represents model history or sheet metal folding, VBA macro to toggle a white background with another color of your choice in drawings using system settings, Macro allows to export all document properties into excel format using SOLIDWORKS API and reflection.