CSWP Design Automation & Productivity Enhancements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which SOLIDWORKS add-in provides a built-in PDM (Product Data Management) solution for controlling file versions and access in a workgroup?
- SOLIDWORKS Composer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard (Correct answer)
- SOLIDWORKS Manage
- SOLIDWORKS Costing
Correct answer: SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard is a vault-based system for version control, workflow management, and multi-user file access bundled with SOLIDWORKS.
Question 2: When recording a SOLIDWORKS macro, which action should be performed LAST before stopping the recording to ensure the macro is reusable on any open document?
- Save the active document
- Close all open documents
- Avoid selecting document-specific file paths during recording (Correct answer)
- Set the units to millimeters
Correct answer: Avoid selecting document-specific file paths during recording
Hardcoded file paths recorded during macro capture make the macro document-specific; performing path-neutral actions ensures broader reusability.
Question 3: What is the function of the 'Defeature' tool in SOLIDWORKS?
- Removes all fillets and chamfers for manufacturing
- Simplifies a model by replacing geometry with simplified shapes to protect IP when sharing externally (Correct answer)
- Deletes suppressed features permanently
- Exports only the outer shell of a model
Correct answer: Simplifies a model by replacing geometry with simplified shapes to protect IP when sharing externally
Defeature creates a simplified version of a model that hides internal geometry and replaces complex shapes with facets, protecting proprietary design details.
Question 4: In SOLIDWORKS, 'Smart Fasteners' automatically insert fasteners into assembly holes by referencing:
- The material of the mating parts
- The Toolbox fastener library and the hole's standard and size (Correct answer)
- The PDM vault fastener catalog
- User-defined equations for hole diameter
Correct answer: The Toolbox fastener library and the hole's standard and size
Smart Fasteners reads hole wizard data (standard, size, depth) and inserts matching fasteners from the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox library.
Question 5: Which SOLIDWORKS productivity tool provides real-time design guidance and checks against company or industry standards as you model?
- Design Checker (Correct answer)
- SimulationXpress
- Costing
- MBD
Correct answer: Design Checker
Design Checker validates models and drawings against predefined standards (font sizes, units, title block data) and flags non-compliant items.
Question 6: What is the correct way to reference a dimension from a different part within an assembly-level equation in SOLIDWORKS?
- "D1@Sketch1"
- "D1@Sketch1@PartName.sldprt" (Correct answer)
- "D1@PartName@AssemblyName"
- "D1@Sketch1" + PartName
Correct answer: "D1@Sketch1@PartName.sldprt"
Cross-part references in assembly equations use the syntax "DimName@FeatureName@PartName.sldprt" to identify the source dimension.
Question 7: A SOLIDWORKS 'Sensor' can be configured to alert the user when:
- A simulation mesh is complete
- A measured value such as mass, interference, or dimension exceeds a defined threshold (Correct answer)
- A configuration is activated
- A referenced file goes out of date
Correct answer: A measured value such as mass, interference, or dimension exceeds a defined threshold
Sensors monitor mass properties, simulation data, dimensions, or interference and trigger alerts when values move outside user-defined limits.
CSWP Design Automation & Productivity Enhancements 4
Which SOLIDWORKS add-in provides a built-in PDM (Product Data Management) solution for controlling file versions and access in a workgroup?