Discover tips and techniques for creating efficient layouts in SOLIDWORKS.
Designing room layouts in SOLIDWORKS offers several benefits. Firstly, it allows for precise measurements and accurate representations of the space. With SOLIDWORKS, you can create 2D and 3D layouts that provide a realistic view of how the room will look once it's built. By setting up a layout, you can easily assess the square footage of a space, where key components are laid out, and even "behind the scenes" details.
Another advantage of using SOLIDWORKS for layout design is the ability to easily make changes and revisions. Whether you need to resize a room, rearrange furniture, or add new elements, SOLIDWORKS makes it simple to update the layout without starting from scratch.
One way to begin creating a layout is to use what is known as a "mother sketch." This is a initial sketch, where you draw in your room(s) and add dimensions. I found that it is helpful to design multiple rooms as one sketch. By doing so, you can easily edit and visualize a space and it's layout. Another benefit is the ability to put in the wall thickness between rooms, and they are all connected. You can extrude all the walls at once, or use the mother sketch as a shared sketch that you use to extrude individual rooms.
An alternative is to create the rooms as separate sketches. Each room would be drawn separately, and extruded as an independent feature. One thing to note about this, is that it can be difficult to see the big picture. As SOLIDWORKS is parametric, if you change the dimensions of room that another is dimensioned off of, it can affect the rooms built downstream because of the tendencies between features. Something else to note is that if you edit a sketch earlier in the FeatureManager DesignTree, you cannot see the rooms built after that feature as you make changes. This can make it difficult to add relations or visualize the rooms that are further down in the FeatureTree.
Using equations can help create linked values and create mathematical relationships between dimensions. You can also set up global variables to represent key aspects of the area. In the mother sketch shown above, a global variable was set up to represent the wall thickness between rooms. The dimension between the walls was set up to equal that global variable. You can see which ones are driven by it from the "Σ" symbol. By changing the global variable itself, it negates the need to update each individual dimension. Instead, you simply change the global variable set up representing the wall thickness, and all the dimensions driven by it will update automatically.
Setting up global variables can be used for other variables as well. Other variables to consider include the dimensions of windows, the height and width of doors, as well as the thickness of the flooring. You can see in the image above the different variables applied to this floor layout.
Additionally, SOLIDWORKS offers various tools and features that can enhance the design process. From drag-and-drop functionality to automatic alignment and spacing, these tools help streamline the layout design and improve efficiency. You can easily create an assembly after creating your base layout and add furniture, machines, etcetera, to test fit and arrangement options. One recommendation is to use the "Move with Triad" tool to easily rotate components with more control than simply using the mouse. You can even use configurations, so that you can have different set ups, all stored in a single file.
Another great reason to create a layout is to document where construction items are located. For instance, where plumbing, wiring, and ducts are located. By having it documented in an assembly, if you do renovations, you know exactly what and where is behind the walls. Using a combination of 3D sketching and sweeps, you can easily create routing to show the path and location of important features.
By creating layouts in SOLIDWORKS, you can also collaborate with others more effectively. The software allows for easy sharing and collaboration, enabling team members and stakeholders to provide feedback and make suggestions. Visualize the potential impact of machinery or other large items on the space.This perspective provides a comprehensive view, enhancing efficiency by determining the exact space required in each area. This can prevent the realization that relocating a large fixture is necessary due to insufficient space.
The image below was created by importing the layout into SOLIDWORKS Visualize. SOLIDWORKS Visualize adds lighting, textures and realistic rendering options to give a first-hand look at what your layout will look like. In SOLIDWORKS and Visualize there is an option to do a walkthrough as well, which gives you an opportunity to experience a virtual tour of your space.
In conclusion, designing room layouts in SOLIDWORKS offers numerous benefits, including precision, flexibility, efficiency, and collaboration. Whether you're designing a facility or home, using SOLIDWORKS can greatly enhance the layout design process and help you create the perfect space.