Productivity is key in any engineering project. The right tools can make all the difference in getting a project done efficiently and on time.

SOLIDWORKS is a powerful engineering software, but some lesser-known features can help boost productivity.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of these hidden tools and how to use them effectively. Stay tuned; you may be surprised at how much time you can save by using these tools!

1. Mouse Gestures

Mouse Gestures are one of my favorite features in SOLIDWORKS. I use them daily, and they significantly enhance productivity. They are easy to use and customise to your exact needs.

• To view your current Mouse Gesture setup or customise it, Right-Click on your Command Manager and select “Customise”.

• Navigate to the Mouse Gestures tab.

• You’ll see multiple wheels for every environment in SOLIDWORKS (Part, Sketch, Assembly, and Drawing). Customise any of the wheels to your specifications for each environment.

• Want to change the number of features you can use? Select the amount from the dropdown.

• Want to change the features you access? Search for your favorite feature and drag and drop the shortcut where you want it.

1.1. But how do I access it?

While in the environment (e.g., sketch), hold down your Right-Mouse Button and move it slightly in any direction. The circle pops up, and you simply move your mouse over the feature you want to use.

2. The “s” key

Pressing the “S” key in any environment brings up a shortcut bar next to your cursor. This shortcut bar contains any feature you want, and it includes the command search, previously located only in the top-right corner.

This shortcut bar is customisable:

• Right-Click on the Command Manager and select “Customise”. Navigate to the “Shortcut Bars” tab and customise it to your needs. Search for your command and drag and drop it into the toolbar on the right.
• After setting up one environment’s shortcut, click on the environment you want to customise next under the “Select a Shortcut Toolbar to Customise” option.

• Easily add a feature by searching for it using the search tool in the toolbar and hitting the “+” icon next to the feature. This adds it to the bar for you.

3. Heads-Up Toolbar

The Heads-Up Toolbar will make your life easier by providing a bunch of commands directly from the graphics area. This toolbar is located at the top middle of the graphics area and contains common view commands like Section View, View Cube, Zoom tools, etc.

You can customise it to suit your needs by Right-clicking on the Command Manager and selecting “Customise”. Go to the “Commands” tab and drag and drop any command onto this toolbar. It’s as easy as it gets!

4. Selection filters

Selection Filters are a great way to increase efficiency, especially in large assemblies. These filters help you select specific types of entities quickly and accurately.

• Activate Selection Filters by pressing the “F5” key.
• Customise which filters to display by right-clicking on the Selection Filter toolbar.

5. Assembly visualisation

Assembly visualisation is an excellent tool for managing and analyzing complex assemblies. It helps you identify, and sort components based on various criteria such as mass, volume, or custom properties.

• Access assembly visualisation from the Evaluate tab.
• Use the color-coded bar to quickly identify critical components.

6. FeatureWorks

FeatureWorks is a tool that allows you to recognise features in imported geometry. This is particularly useful when working with parts created in other CAD software.

• Access FeatureWorks from the Tools menu.
• Use the Feature Recognition Wizard to convert imported geometry into native SOLIDWORKS features.

7. SOLIDWORKS RX

SOLIDWORKS RX is a diagnostic tool that helps troubleshoot performance issues. It collects system information and generates reports to help identify and resolve problems.

• Access SOLIDWORKS RX from the Windows Start menu.
• Use the tools within SOLIDWORKS RX to diagnose issues and improve performance.

8. Custom properties

Custom Properties are essential for managing metadata in your models and drawings. They help streamline the design process and ensure consistency across your projects.

• Access Custom Properties from the File menu.
• Use the Property Tab Builder to create custom property templates.