The reason is that the 2D nature of drawings has to rely on multiple perspectives to present the information separately,such as front, top and right views. To be fair, the crowded annotation display happens to both 2D and 3D, but just occurs more often in 3D than in 2D. After the annotations are added, the busy display can make it hard, or even overwhelming, for downstream data consumptions as shown in Figure 1.
Why should I bother with 3D annotations?” This objection may become more pressing since 2D drawing tools have been perfected for the past 20 or 30 years, while MBD software applications are relatively new and less developed. Because most engineers are more familiar with 2D detailing tools than with 3D annotating techniques, a frequent objection is that “I can detail it much faster in 2D drawings. A crowded display of a 3D annotated model.Īnnotating a 3D model can take anywhere from several minutes to dozens of hours, depending on the model complexity, the required level of details and a user’s skills. It’s difficult not only for the data authors to create, but also for the recipients to interpret.įigure 1. Figure 1 shows an example of busy 3D annotations.
I hope you found this helpful! Thanks for reading.In model-based definition (MBD) implementations, a common challenge is that 3D annotations can take a lot of time to call out explicitly and, as a result, can quickly crowd the graphics display. A fully detailed drawing or part with proper GD&T can be done in a fraction of the time that it would have taken without it. If you click to select the GD&T, you can also copy and paste.Īpplying SolidWorks GD&T standards can cut down on the time it takes to create a drawing or part. If you double click the GD&T, you can edit it. Left mouse click and hold on blue dot and drag off. If you want to detach, click dim to highlight. You have options in the property manager to change/add Styles, leaders, text, frame style and more.Īnother cool part is you can attach the GD&T to other dimensions by left mouse click and hold, then drag and release on dimension, it will move with the dimensions. You can add multiple GD&T’s with multiple single clicks. Once you have entered your symbols and values, single click on the sheet to place the GD&T and then click ok. If needed, add notes to the bottom of the frame. If your initial symbol is the same, you can merge them by clicking the composite frame check box. If you need more frames, click the down arrow. You can also add Primary, Secondary or Tertiary values, they have pulldowns with a combination of type-in and symbol buttons. You will want to start by selecting a few Symbol. This dialog box pops up and will allow you to select what symbol you want to add, as well as other tolerance or dimensions. I will show you how easy it is to create GD&T in a drawing.įrom your Annotation Command Manager Tab, click Geometric Tolerance. SOLIDWORKS MBD: The next step in the evolution of part definition. Look at this blog from my co-worker Ryan Field. Like I mentioned above, you can add GD&T to part files. With SOLIDWORKS GD&T, it is easy and actually fun.
That made it easier but was still a pain. When using AutoCad, we would create blocks to represent GD&T. SolidWorks drawing’s geometric tolerancing tools support the ASME Y14.5-2009 tolerancing guidelines.īack in the day when I was using AutoCAD, we were required to add GD&T to our drawings. It is used to add geometric tolerances using feature control frames to parts and drawings. GD&T is the process of assigning dimensions and tolerances to features of a part in a way that makes it possible to manufacture, inspect, and assemble. What is SOLIDWORKS Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)?