How to Create a Weldment Custom Profile in SolidWorks
SolidWorks Weldments is a powerful tool for creating structural frames, but sometimes the default profiles may not meet your requirements. In such cases, you can make your custom weldment profiles. This guide will take you through the process, including how to save and add them to your SolidWorks library for future use.
Step 1: Create a Sketch of the Profile
1. Open SolidWorks and create a new part.
2. Select a plane (e.g., Front Plane) and start a new sketch.
3. Draw the profile using sketching tools. Ensure it is fully defined.
4. Also, you can add points in Sketch for Structure alignment.
5. The origin point should be positioned logically (e.g., at the centre or a key reference point), as this will define the insertion point when applying the profile.
Step 2: Define the Profile as a Weldment Profile
1. Once the sketch is complete, exit the sketch.
2. Select the sketch (Sketch1) in the Feature Manager Design Tree
3. As you select the sketch in the feature manager tree, the sketch gets highlighted. Make it selected.
4. Go to File > Save As.
5. In the Save as type, select Save as type: Library Feature Part (.sldlfp).
6. Create a folder structure based on Standard, Type, and Size (e.g., Custom Profiles\Square Tubes\50x50)
7. Save the file.
Note: do not save in C drive because in case the system crashes or formats, your created profiles become safe.
8. Your profile is saved successfully, after saving the “L” shown in your sketch (L stands for ‘Leab part’). Now we need to move this profile into the Weldments Profiles directory.
Step 3: Adding the Custom Profile to SolidWorks
1. Open SolidWorks and go to Options (Tools > Options).
2. Navigate to File Locations.
4. Click Add and browse to the location where your custom profile is saved.
5. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Using the Custom Profile in Weldments
1. Open a new part and activate Weldments (if not already enabled).
2. Create a 3D sketch for the frame structure.
3. Click Structural Member in the Weldments toolbar.
4. Under Standard, select your custom profile category.
5. Under Type, choose the appropriate subfolder (e.g., Square Tubes).
6. Select the Size you saved earlier.
7. Apply the profile to the sketch lines.
Here, you can see I have created a weldment structure by using our custom profile that we have created.
By following these steps, you can create and manage custom weldment profiles in SolidWorks efficiently. This allows you to design structures tailored to your specific needs. Ensuring your profiles are well-organized in the Weldment Profiles directory makes them easy to access and use in future projects.
With this method, you can expand your design possibilities and streamline your workflow in SolidWorks!
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Thank you for Reading!
Author:
Kiran Sonar – Application Engineer SolidWorks
