Creating a drawing from part or assembly in Solidworks - Practice Exercises

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding Drawing Views from Assemblies

When creating a drawing from an assembly in SolidWorks, which view type best shows the internal components without hiding any parts?

A Exploded View

B Section View

C Detail View

D Projected View

💡 Hint

Think about which view cuts through the assembly to reveal inside parts.

A Section View slices through the assembly, showing internal components clearly. Exploded views separate parts but don't show internal details. Detail and Projected views focus on specific areas or projections.

❓ dax_lod_result

intermediate

Calculating Total Parts in Assembly Drawing

You have a SolidWorks assembly drawing with multiple parts. Using a BI tool, you want to calculate the total count of unique parts shown in the drawing. Which DAX measure correctly counts unique part IDs from the 'Parts' table?

Solidworks

Total Unique Parts = DISTINCTCOUNT(Parts[PartID])

A Total Unique Parts = COUNT(Parts[PartID])

B Total Unique Parts = SUM(Parts[PartID])

C Total Unique Parts = DISTINCTCOUNT(Parts[PartID])

D Total Unique Parts = COUNTROWS(Parts)

💡 Hint

Count only unique part IDs, not all rows.

DISTINCTCOUNT counts unique values in a column. COUNT counts all non-blank values, SUM adds numeric values, and COUNTROWS counts all rows regardless of uniqueness.

❓ visualization

advanced

Best Visualization for Assembly Part Distribution

You want to create a dashboard visualization showing the number of parts per sub-assembly in a SolidWorks assembly drawing. Which visualization type best communicates this distribution clearly to non-technical users?

A Line Chart

B Pie Chart

C Scatter Plot

D Stacked Bar Chart

💡 Hint

Think about comparing quantities across categories with clear labels.

A Stacked Bar Chart shows part counts per sub-assembly clearly and allows easy comparison. Pie Charts can be hard to compare precisely, Scatter Plots show relationships, and Line Charts show trends over time.

🔧 Formula Fix

advanced

Debugging Missing Parts in Drawing Report

Your BI report shows fewer parts than expected from a SolidWorks assembly drawing. The DAX measure used is:

Parts Count = COUNTROWS(FILTER(Parts, Parts[IsVisible] = TRUE()))

Why might this measure undercount parts?

A The IsVisible column may not be updated correctly for hidden parts.

B COUNTROWS cannot be used with FILTER function.

C The measure should use SUM instead of COUNTROWS.

D FILTER function requires a table, but Parts is a column.

💡 Hint

Consider data accuracy and column values.

If the IsVisible column is not updated when parts are hidden in the drawing, the filter excludes parts incorrectly, causing undercount. COUNTROWS with FILTER is valid. SUM is not appropriate here. Parts is a table, so FILTER works.

🎯 Scenario

expert

Optimizing Drawing Data Model for Performance

You have a large SolidWorks assembly drawing with thousands of parts and sub-assemblies. Your BI dashboard is slow when filtering by sub-assembly. Which data modeling approach best improves performance?

A Create a star schema with a fact table for parts and dimension tables for sub-assemblies and attributes.

B Use a single flat table with all part and sub-assembly details combined.

C Store all data in multiple disconnected tables and use complex DAX to join them.

D Avoid using any relationships and rely on slicers only.

💡 Hint

Think about how BI tools handle relationships and filtering efficiently.

A star schema organizes data into a central fact table and related dimension tables, enabling fast filtering and aggregation. Flat tables can be large and slow. Disconnected tables require complex calculations and reduce performance. No relationships limit filtering capabilities.

Practice

1. What is the first step when creating a drawing from a part or assembly in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Add dimensions to the drawing before selecting views.

B. Export the part as a PDF before creating the drawing.

C. Save the drawing file without selecting a template.

D. Open the part or assembly file and select 'Make Drawing from Part/Assembly'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Open the part or assembly file

   You must first open the part or assembly you want to create a drawing from in SolidWorks.

2. Step 2: Select 'Make Drawing from Part/Assembly'

   Use the menu option to start a new drawing based on the opened file.

3. Final Answer:

   Open the part or assembly file and select 'Make Drawing from Part/Assembly'. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Starting from the part file = Open the part or assembly file and select 'Make Drawing from Part/Assembly'. [OK]

Hint: Always start from the part or assembly file first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add dimensions before creating views
• Skipping template selection
• Exporting before drawing creation

2. Which of the following is the correct way to insert a standard view into a drawing in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Right-click on the drawing sheet and select 'Insert Standard 3D View'.

B. Select 'Insert' > 'Model View' and choose the desired view orientation.

C. Drag the part file directly onto the drawing sheet.

D. Use the 'View Layout' tab and click 'Standard 3 Views'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Open the drawing and go to Insert menu

   In SolidWorks, to add views, you use the 'Insert' menu and select 'Model View'.

2. Step 2: Choose the part or assembly and view orientation

   After selecting 'Model View', pick the file and the view (front, top, side) to insert.

3. Final Answer:

   Select 'Insert' > 'Model View' and choose the desired view orientation. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Insert > Model View = Select 'Insert' > 'Model View' and choose the desired view orientation. [OK]

Hint: Use Insert > Model View to add standard views [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to drag files onto the drawing sheet
• Looking for 'Insert Standard 3D View' which doesn't exist
• Using 'View Layout' tab incorrectly

3. Given a part drawing with a front view inserted, what happens if you select the front view and choose 'Projected View' and drag to the right?

medium

A. A section view is created automatically to the right of the front view.

B. A top view is created automatically to the right of the front view.

C. A side view is created automatically to the right of the front view.

D. Nothing happens until you manually select the view type.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Projected View behavior

   When you create a projected view from a front view and drag right, SolidWorks creates the right side view.

2. Step 2: Confirm view placement

   The projected view aligns with the front view and shows the side profile automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   A side view is created automatically to the right of the front view. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Projected view right = side view [OK]

Hint: Projected view direction matches standard view orientation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing top and side views
• Expecting section view from projected view
• Thinking manual selection is needed

4. You try to insert a drawing view but get an error saying 'Model not found'. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The part or assembly file was moved or renamed after creating the drawing.

B. You forgot to save the drawing file before inserting views.

C. The drawing template is corrupted.

D. You selected the wrong sheet size in the drawing.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of 'Model not found' error

   This error usually means SolidWorks cannot locate the original part or assembly file linked to the drawing.

2. Step 2: Check file location and name

   If the part or assembly was moved or renamed after the drawing was created, the link breaks causing this error.

3. Final Answer:

   The part or assembly file was moved or renamed after creating the drawing. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Model not found = moved/renamed file [OK]

Hint: Keep part files in original location to avoid link errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming saving drawing fixes model link
• Blaming template corruption
• Changing sheet size unrelated to model link

5. You need to create a detailed drawing of an assembly showing exploded views and balloon annotations for each part. Which sequence of actions is correct?

hard

A. Create drawing from assembly, insert exploded view, then add balloons linked to BOM.

B. Create drawing from assembly, add balloons first, then insert exploded view.

C. Create drawing from assembly, export exploded view as image, then add balloons manually.

D. Create drawing from assembly, insert section views, then add balloons.

Solution

1. Step 1: Create drawing from assembly

   Start by opening the assembly and creating a new drawing from it.

2. Step 2: Insert exploded view

   Use the drawing tools to insert the exploded view of the assembly to show parts separated clearly.

3. Step 3: Add balloons linked to BOM

   Add balloon annotations that automatically link to the Bill of Materials for clear part identification.

4. Final Answer:

   Create drawing from assembly, insert exploded view, then add balloons linked to BOM. -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Exploded view then balloons linked to BOM = Create drawing from assembly, insert exploded view, then add balloons linked to BOM. [OK]

Hint: Insert exploded view before adding balloons for clarity [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding balloons before exploded view
• Exporting exploded view as image instead of native view
• Confusing section views with exploded views