Creating part configurations in Solidworks - Business Scenario Walkthrough

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a product design analyst at a manufacturing company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to analyze different configurations of a product part to understand how changes affect production costs and assembly time.

📊 Data: You have data on various part configurations including dimensions, material types, production cost, and assembly time for each configuration.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a report with visualizations comparing production cost and assembly time across different part configurations.

Sample Data

Configuration ID	Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Material	Production Cost ($)	Assembly Time (min)
C1	100	50	Aluminum	120	15
C2	120	50	Aluminum	135	17
C3	100	60	Steel	140	20
C4	120	60	Steel	155	22
C5	110	55	Plastic	100	12
C6	130	55	Plastic	110	14

1

Step 1: Import the sample data into your BI tool as a table.

Load the table with columns: Configuration ID, Length (mm), Width (mm), Material, Production Cost ($), Assembly Time (min).

Expected Result

Data table with 6 rows and 6 columns loaded correctly.

2

Step 2: Create a bar chart to compare Production Cost by Configuration ID.

Set X-axis to Configuration ID, Y-axis to Production Cost ($).

Expected Result

Bar chart showing production cost for each configuration C1 to C6.

3

Step 3: Create a bar chart to compare Assembly Time by Configuration ID.

Set X-axis to Configuration ID, Y-axis to Assembly Time (min).

Expected Result

Bar chart showing assembly time for each configuration C1 to C6.

4

Step 4: Create a slicer/filter for Material to allow filtering the charts by material type.

Add filter control on Material column with options Aluminum, Steel, Plastic.

Expected Result

User can select a material and charts update to show only configurations with that material.

5

Step 5: Create a calculated measure for Cost per mm² area to analyze cost efficiency.

Add measure: Cost per mm² = Production Cost ($) / (Length (mm) * Width (mm))

Expected Result

New measure showing cost per square millimeter for each configuration.

6

Step 6: Create a table visualization showing Configuration ID, Material, Production Cost, Assembly Time, and Cost per mm².

Add columns: Configuration ID, Material, Production Cost ($), Assembly Time (min), Cost per mm².

Expected Result

Table displaying all configurations with calculated cost efficiency.

7

Step 7: Analyze the charts and table to identify which configurations offer the best balance of low cost and low assembly time.

Use visual inspection and sorting by Cost per mm² and Assembly Time.

Expected Result

Insight that Plastic configurations (C5, C6) have lower cost and assembly time compared to Steel and Aluminum.

Final Result

Production Cost by Configuration

C1 |███████████ 120$
C2 |█████████████ 135$
C3 |███████████████ 140$
C4 |████████████████ 155$
C5 |████████ 100$
C6 |█████████ 110$

Assembly Time by Configuration

C1 |████████ 15 min
C2 |██████████ 17 min
C3 |████████████ 20 min
C4 |██████████████ 22 min
C5 |██████ 12 min
C6 |███████ 14 min

Table: Configurations with Cost per mm²

ID | Material | Cost ($) | Time (min) | Cost/mm²
C1 | Aluminum | 120      | 15         | 0.024
C2 | Aluminum | 135      | 17         | 0.0225
C3 | Steel    | 140      | 20         | 0.0233
C4 | Steel    | 155      | 22         | 0.0215
C5 | Plastic  | 100      | 12         | 0.0165
C6 | Plastic  | 110      | 14         | 0.0154

Bonus Challenge

Create a dashboard that dynamically shows the impact of changing Length and Width on Production Cost and Assembly Time using parameter controls.

Show Hint

Use what-if parameters or slicers for Length and Width, then create measures that recalculate cost and time based on these inputs.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of creating part configurations in SolidWorks?

easy

A. To apply colors to parts

B. To export parts to different file formats

C. To create multiple versions of a part within a single file

D. To simulate motion of parts

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what configurations do

   Configurations allow multiple variations of a part to be saved in one file.

2. Step 2: Identify the main benefit

   This saves time and keeps designs organized by avoiding multiple separate files.

3. Final Answer:

   To create multiple versions of a part within a single file -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Configurations = multiple versions in one file [OK]

Hint: Think: one file, many versions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing configurations with exporting files
• Thinking configurations only change colors
• Believing configurations simulate motion

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a new configuration in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Right-click the part name in the ConfigurationManager and select 'Add Configuration'

B. Click 'File' then 'New Configuration'

C. Use the 'Save As' option to create a new configuration

D. Drag and drop the part into the ConfigurationManager

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate ConfigurationManager

   The ConfigurationManager tab shows all configurations of a part.

2. Step 2: Add new configuration correctly

   Right-clicking the part name here and selecting 'Add Configuration' is the proper method.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click the part name in the ConfigurationManager and select 'Add Configuration' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Add config via ConfigurationManager right-click [OK]

Hint: Right-click in ConfigurationManager to add configs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add configuration from File menu
• Using Save As to create configurations
• Dragging parts instead of using menu

3. Given a part with two configurations: 'Small' with length 50mm and 'Large' with length 100mm, what will be the length if you switch to the 'Large' configuration?

medium

A. Length will not change

B. 75mm

C. 50mm

D. 100mm

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand configuration properties

   Each configuration can have different dimension values, like length.

2. Step 2: Check the 'Large' configuration length

   The 'Large' configuration sets length to 100mm, overriding the default or other configs.

3. Final Answer:

   100mm -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   'Large' config length = 100mm [OK]

Hint: Switch config to see its specific dimension [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming length stays the same across configs
• Averaging lengths instead of selecting config value
• Confusing config names with values

4. You created a new configuration but the dimension changes are not applied. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The dimension is not set to be configurable

B. You forgot to save the part after creating the configuration

C. You need to restart SolidWorks to apply changes

D. Configurations only work for assemblies, not parts

Solution

1. Step 1: Check dimension configurability

   Dimensions must be marked as configurable to change per configuration.

2. Step 2: Identify why changes don't apply

   If dimension is fixed (not configurable), changes in new config won't affect it.

3. Final Answer:

   The dimension is not set to be configurable -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Dimension configurability controls config changes [OK]

Hint: Make dimension configurable to change per config [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming saving or restarting applies changes
• Thinking configs only work in assemblies
• Ignoring dimension properties

5. You want to create a part with three configurations: 'Base', 'Extended', and 'Compact'. 'Extended' should have a length 20% longer than 'Base', and 'Compact' 30% shorter. How do you set this up efficiently in SolidWorks?

hard

A. Manually enter length values for each configuration

B. Use equations to link 'Extended' and 'Compact' lengths to 'Base' length

C. Create separate part files for each size

D. Duplicate the 'Base' configuration and rename copies

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand configuration relationships

   Using equations lets you link dimensions so changes update automatically.

2. Step 2: Apply equations for length

   Set 'Extended' length = Base length * 1.2 and 'Compact' length = Base length * 0.7.

3. Step 3: Benefit of equations

   This keeps sizes consistent and easy to update by changing only the 'Base' length.

4. Final Answer:

   Use equations to link 'Extended' and 'Compact' lengths to 'Base' length -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Equations link config sizes efficiently [OK]

Hint: Use equations to relate config dimensions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Entering values manually causing errors
• Creating separate files wastes time
• Duplicating configs without linking dimensions