Dimensioning and geometric tolerance have been around for a long time. Until recently, 2D drawings were required to provide tolerance and dimensional data to purchasing, manufacturing, and quality control. As more companies integrate their 3D CAD data into their manufacturing and other downstream processes, the need for digital procedures and standards increases. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) released the ANSI/ASME Y14-41-2003 standard to address three industrial practices:

• 3D models only
• 3D models and drawings
• drawings only

For the purposes of this article, we'll discuss the first two.

SolidWorks' part and assembly models support 3D annotations and conform the ASME standard. They can be organized using all of your standard orthographic views, and they replicate the standard drawing view orientations. 3D annotations are easy to create and manage and can be an integral part of your purchasing, manufacturing, and inspection processes.

Why Use 3D Annotations?
In addition to common ways to define design intent, 3D annotations allow engineers to insert critical information directly into the SolidWorks model. They can reduce or even eliminate the need for 2D drawings. Even if drawings are eventually required, adding this information to the model helps speed up the drawing process.

 

Getting Started
Every SolidWorks model contains a default annotation view called Unassigned Items. This view contains any annotations that aren't inserted into specific annotation views.

 

You can manually and automatically add new annotation views to your model. To add the views automatically, right-click on the Annotations folder in the feature manager and select Automatically Place into Annotation Views. Each time you insert an annotation, it's added to one of the existing views or a new view is created.

 

Insert Annotation Views Automatically
The first feature you create in a new model results in at least one new annotation view being created -- more than likely there will be two. Creating and extruding the first feature in this model automatically created the front and top annotation views.

 

To add additional annotations, select a tool from the Annotation toolbar. Select a face and place the annotation (such as a datum features or surface finish symbols). The annotations are added to the appropriate annotation view.

 

 

Change Annotation Views
If you want to change an annotation to display in another view, you can change each annotation separately or move them all at once. To move several annotations at the same time, right-click on the annotation view in the FeatureManager design tree and select Edit Annotation View. The Move to Annotation View property manager displays, and you can select multiple annotations to move into the view.

 

You can also select one or more annotations from the graphics window, right-click, and select Change Annotation View. The current view is listed and a flyout menu lists the available annotation views. Select the new view and the annotation moves.

 

Create Drawings from Annotation Views
When you create a drawing from the model, select the Annotation View radio button in the drawing view property manager. The orientation section of the property manager shows the available annotation views with a special icon. Select one or more of the annotation views and the drawing is created.

NOTE: 3D annotations in parts aren't dynamically linked to their corresponding drawings. If you change a 3D annotation in a part, the drawing is not updated. You must reinsert the drawing view for the change to take effect.

 

Provide More CAD Data
Whether you are looking to reduce the dependency on 2D drawings or are simply looking for ways to provide downstream users of your CAD data with more information, 3D annotations are steps in the right direction. Using 3D annotations can help bridge the information gap between design and manufacturing and provide a better transition when it's time to have your parts made. Even casual users of your CAD information, such as purchasing and marketing staff, will benefit by having complete manufacturing information available at the model level.