Choosing the Right Way to Create Configurations in SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS configurations let you store many different versions of a part or assembly right inside one file. This is super handy for creating families of parts or just managing variations. But with a few ways to do it, which one is best for you? Let's break down the options.

Key Takeaways

• Manual Method: Best for simple changes like tweaking a dimension or turning features on/off. It's straightforward but can be hard to keep track of.
• Modify Configurations: Good for most parts and assemblies, offering a built-in table format for changes. It's more structured than manual but less powerful than Excel.
• Configuration Table: Automatically created and stores all configuration data, no matter how it was made. It's a central place for info but can get large and tricky to use.
• Excel Design Tables: The most powerful option for complex scenarios, using the full capabilities of Excel. It's flexible but requires a separate Excel file and has a steeper learning curve.

The Manual Method: Simple Changes Made Easy

If you've got just a few small tweaks to make, like changing a dimension value or suppressing a fillet or a few components, the manual method is probably your best bet. It's pretty direct and simple to get going with. The downside? You have to do everything by hand, and keeping track of all those changes can get a bit messy over time.

Modify Configurations: A Step Up in Control

This option is great for configuring most parts and assemblies. It's actually a collection of commands that all lead to one main dialog box: Modify Configurations. Within this, you can configure features, dimensions, materials, and components. It's got some of the same features as Excel design tables but uses an internal table format. You can even add new column headers by just double-clicking them, and you can create multiple tables. The catch is that if you want to reuse the table later, you have to save it, and it doesn't have quite as many options as the full Excel tables.

The Configuration Table: Your Automatic Record Keeper

When you add your first new configuration, SOLIDWORKS automatically creates a configuration table. This table lives in the tables folder and keeps a record of all the configuration data, no matter how you created it – whether it was manual, through Modify Configurations, or using Excel Design Tables. It's really useful because it's created automatically and contains all your configured data. Plus, it's handy if you're not totally sure what's been configured already. The downside is that even though it looks and acts a bit like Modify Configurations, it's a much bigger table, which can make it a bit harder to work with.

Excel Design Tables: Maximum Power for Complex Scenarios

For the most complicated configurations, Excel Design Tables are the way to go. As the name suggests, you'll need an Excel spreadsheet to make this work. The big advantage here is that you get to use all the power of Excel, including its formatting and cell formulas. This method gives you the most configuration parameters available. However, it is more complex to set up and manage, and you do need that separate Excel file to keep everything organized.