SOLIDWORKS Model Property Tools - Part2 - Mass Properties

In this blog we will go through the Mass Properties tool.

Where to find it? The evaluate menu contains the Mass Properties tool as does the Tools pull down menu. To work properly you will need to make sure the Material is set, and in this case Gray Cast Iron is set.

SolidWorks

Let's explore the mass properties window. All of the values are shown here.

  1. Use the option menus to change settings. (see Options image for more details)
  2. The options allow you to change the reporting values and other settings. (see Override image for more details)
  3. Includes hidden bodies/components lets you remove items you wish not to be weighed.
  4. Create center of mass feature allows a physical feature to show up in assemblies and drawings.
  5. Show weld bead mass allows the welds to be added to the assemblies.
  6. Use the Recalculate button to re-measure the values if you remove parts and or bodies.

    SolidWorks

The options allow you to change the reporting values, decimal places, and material density.

The accuracy changes the speed and coarseness of the calculations (more useful on assemblies than parts)

SolidWorks

Overrides are available for you to custom set a part or assemblies mass properties.

SolidWorks

***A performance note***
When you save the document, you can update the mass properties information. This enhances system performance, since the next time you access mass properties, the system does not need to recalculate the values (if the document is unchanged). To set this option, click Tools > Options > System Options > Performance and select Update mass properties while saving document.

We hope this has given you a better understanding of the capability available in the Mass Properties command. Please check back for the rest of the series as we continue to take a deep dive into the SOLIDWORKS assembly validation tools that are available and how they work.  Please check back to the CATI Blog as the Dedicated Support Team will continue posting new series of articles every month that go further into the details of many of the SOLIDWORKS tools. All of these articles will be stored in the category of Daily Dose…..of SOLIDWORKS Support and links to each article with their release date are listed below:

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

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