Setting materials in SOLIDWORKS is a fundamental step for both visual representation and engineering analysis. It dictates a part's appearance, mass, and crucial mechanical properties essential for simulations. You can assign materials to individual parts, components within an assembly, or specifically for simulation studies.
Assigning Materials for General CAD Design
The most common way to set materials for visual representation and basic mass properties in SOLIDWORKS is through the FeatureManager Design Tree. This method allows you to apply materials from the extensive SOLIDWORKS database or create custom materials.
Steps to Assign Material to a Part:
- Locate the Part: In the FeatureManager Design Tree, find the "Material" entry directly below the part name. By default, it often reads
<material not specified>. - Access Material Options: Right-click on the "Material" entry.
- Choose "Edit Material": Select Edit Material from the context menu. This will open the SOLIDWORKS Material dialog box.
- Select a Material:
- Expand the desired material category (e.g.,
Steel,Aluminum Alloys,Plastics). - Browse through the available materials. Each material lists its physical properties (elastic modulus, yield strength, density, etc.).
- Click on the material you wish to apply (e.g.,
AISI 304).
- Expand the desired material category (e.g.,
- Apply and Close:
- Click the Apply button.
- Click Close to exit the dialog box.
Upon successful application, the material name will appear in the FeatureManager Design Tree, and the part's appearance will update to reflect the material's default texture and color. You can verify the assigned material and its properties in the part's Mass Properties dialog box.
Creating Custom Materials
If the built-in database doesn't have the exact material you need, you can create a custom material:
- Open the SOLIDWORKS Material dialog box as described above.
- Right-click on a material category (or a custom category you've created) and select New Material.
- Define the material's properties (e.g., Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio, Density) and appearance.
- Save the new material in your custom library.
Setting Materials for Simulation Studies
When conducting engineering analysis using SOLIDWORKS Simulation or SimulationXpress, assigning materials is critical because the simulation relies on the material's mechanical properties to calculate results accurately.
Steps to Set Material in SimulationXpress:
During the setup of a SimulationXpress study, you will encounter a step specifically for material assignment. This ensures the analysis uses the correct physical properties for calculations.
- Initiate Material Selection: Within the SimulationXpress wizard, navigate to the Material tab and click on the Choose Material button.
- Open Material Dialog: The Material dialog box will appear, similar to the one used for general CAD material assignment.
- Select Specific Material:
- Expand the relevant class of materials (e.g.,
Steel,Plastics,Alloy Steels). - Select the specific material required for your simulation (e.g.,
AISI 1020). - It's crucial to select a material with defined simulation properties, as missing data will lead to errors.
- Expand the relevant class of materials (e.g.,
- Confirm and Close:
- Click Apply to assign the selected material to your part for the simulation.
- Click Close to exit the Material dialog box.
- Verify and Proceed: The selected material will now be listed in the SimulationXpress wizard, and a check mark will confirm the material assignment. You can then click Next to continue with the simulation setup.
This process ensures that your simulation accurately reflects how the chosen material would behave under specified loads and fixtures.
Best Practices and Practical Insights
- Consistency is Key: Always ensure that the material specified in your CAD model matches the real-world material for accurate representations and manufacturing.
- Simulation vs. Appearance: While a material's appearance property makes the part look realistic, its physical and mechanical properties are what truly matter for analysis. Always verify these properties in the Material dialog.
- Assembly Materials: In an assembly, each component (part) retains its individual material assignment. If you need to change a material for a component within an assembly, you can right-click on the component in the FeatureManager Design Tree, select Open Part, and then follow the steps to edit its material.
- Performance: Using materials with complex textures can sometimes impact graphics performance, especially in large assemblies.
- External References: SOLIDWORKS material data can often be linked to external libraries or databases for more specialized material properties. For more advanced material definitions, especially for non-linear or composite materials, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional or Premium might be required.
