DriveWorks Pro 22

SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS

DriveWorks interacts with SOLIDWORKS in the following ways:

• Models, drawings and their respective parameters are captured, so rules can be applied to produce new variants from a specification.
• Specifications can be run (using the forms designed in DriveWorks) from the DriveWorks Task Pane inside SOLIDWORKS.
• The SOLIDWORKS outputs resulting from a completed specification can be generated.
• A DriveWorks 3D File can be saved from an assembly or part so it can be presented in the 3D Preview control. Appearance parameters of the DriveWorks 3D File are captured using DriveWorks 3D Workshop.

Enabling the DriveWorks Add-ins in SOLIDWORKS

The DriveWorks Add-in in SOLIDWORKS should be activated during the installation of DriveWorks. If the Add-in is not loaded it can be turned on by:

1. Open SOLIDWORKS and from the Menu bar click Tools> Add-ins.
2. From the Add-ins dialog scroll down to the section Partner Gold Add-ins.
3. Select the required DriveWorks Add-ins from the list.
   Note, there are two options available for each add-in:

   • Active Add-in - Makes the Add-in active in the current session of SOLIDWORKS.
   • Start Up - Will load the Add-in on each start up of SOLIDWORKS.
   The DriveWorks Add-ins that are available once DriveWorks is installed are:

   • DriveWorks <version number> - Activates the DriveWorks tab in the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane.
   • DriveWorks 3D Export - allows SOLIDWORKS models to be saved in the DriveWorks 3D Format.

Once the DriveWorks add-in is loaded in SOLIDWORKS all commands for capturing, specifying and generating are accessible from the DriveWorks tab of the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane.

If the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane is not active:

1. Open SOLIDWORKS and right click in the Menu bar.
2. From the right click Command Manager menu select Task Pane.
3. The Task Pane will appear on the right hand side of the graphics window.
4. The DriveWorks logo is displayed on the DriveWorks tab (see the image above). Select this to bring the tab to the front and begin using DriveWorks.

Licensing

If DriveWorks has not been licensed you will see the following message in the task pane:

At least one DriveWorks Pro module (Administrator, User, Autopilot or Live) is required to be licensed on the machine you are using SOLIDWORKS on.

To license DriveWorks, please see the article Licensing

Capturing SOLIDWORKS Models, Drawings and Parameters

All of DriveWorks' capture capabilities are contained inside of the DriveWorks Pro tab in the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane.

The DriveWorks Pro tab is divided into a few different areas:

• The DriveWorks Pro command bar
• Contextual action links which appear below the command bar 
• A Capture Explorer containing buttons relevant to the file you have open.

Command Bar

The command bar provides access to common functionality in DriveWorks Pro, for example:

• Open Group - will launch the wizard, the drop down provides links to open recently used groups.
• New Group - will launch the wizard.
• Launch DriveWorks Administrator.
• Save - saves changed information to the currently open group.
• Refresh model and group data - refreshes the information in the Capture Explorer if the model changes.
• Generate Models.
• Run - will run a new specification in the task pane.
• Settings.
• Help - launches the help file.

Action Links

Action links appear in a few different places in DriveWorks, they typically provide a quick way of launching relevant functionality (for example, the Project Wizard if no project is open), or launch the help file and navigate to a topic relevant to the section you are working with.

Capture Explorer

The buttons in the capture explorer are used to tell DriveWorks what custom properties, dimensions, features, and more, are to be controlled by DriveWorks (this process is called Capture). After you've created or opened a group, you can use the Explorer to capture new assemblies, parts, and drawings, or work with already-captured ones.

For more information about capturing parts, assemblies, and drawings, see the following help areas:

• Task Pane (Part Mode)
• Task Pane (Assembly Mode)
• Task Pane (Drawing Mode)

Resizing the DriveWorks Task Pane

The DriveWorks Task Pane runs the full height of the SOLIDWORKS graphics window. The task pane and elements within it can be resized to suit your preferences as below.

Horizontal Resizing

Place the mouse pointer on the left hand side of the task pane until the horizontal double arrow appears. Left click and hold the mouse and drag the window until the desired width is achieved.

Minimize the capture explorer buttons

The buttons at the bottom of the Capture Explorer can be set to run horizontally along the bottom of the task pane as below.

Move the mouse above the first button until the double arrow appears.	Left click and drag the buttons down.

Expand Advanced Features panel.

Select a captured feature that allows Advanced Features from the Features list Select Show Advanced Features Move the mouse above the advanced features list until the vertical alignment indicator appears	Left click and drag the Advanced Features panel into position

Running a Specification

Specifications can be made directly from the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane.

For more information please see New Specification.

Generating the SOLIDWORKS Outputs

Models and drawings that are queued for generation can be generated from the DriveWorks tab of the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane.

For more information please see Model Generation.

DriveWorks 3D File

A DriveWorks 3D File allows 3D content to be shown over the internet regardless of which browser is being used.

A DriveWorks 3D File has the extension .Drive3D.

This file is created from inside SOLIDWORKS.

To create a Drive 3D file:

1. In SOLIDWORKS open the SOLIDWORKS Assembly or Part the Drive 3D file is to be created from.
2. Click File, Save As from the SOLIDWORKS menu.
3. Browse to the location to save the file
4. Enter a name for the file in the File name field
5. In the Save as type drop down select the DriveWorks 3D File (*.Drive3D) option
   
   
   
6. Click Save