WDS Software & Service has developed PowerTools, a package of ten modules integrated into SolidWorks. The tools address part, assembly and drawing documents and automate detailing and manufacturing preparation.
The modules are Tolerance Manager, Title Block Tool, Bill of Materials on Separate Sheet, Fit Table, Fit Calculator, Auxiliary Plane Through View, Centre of Mass, Workpiece Edges, Automatic Drawing Derivation and Point Table.
Tolerance Manager calculates fit and general tolerances as maximum, mean or minimum dimensions. A hole dimensioned with a fit can be set to interference, clearance or centre dimension. Each dimension can use its own setting and be output as a new configuration. The module then creates a copy of the model with real dimensions for direct import into a CAM system.
The Title Block Tool enters company-specific drawing-title data through a form and includes several hundred materials. The bill-of-materials function exports a BOM from a drawing view to an additional DIN A4 drawing sheet while maintaining assembly links. It updates automatically when parts are added.
Fit Table searches every view on an active drawing sheet for fitted dimensions and creates a table containing upper and lower deviations plus maximum and minimum dimensions to three decimal places. Fit Calculator generates limit deviations for ISO fits.
Auxiliary Plane Through View creates reference planes parallel to the screen. Centre of Mass determines the centre of gravity for assemblies or parts and creates a 3D sketch containing a point and coordinate system.
Workpiece Edges places and edits standard-compliant ISO 13715 edge symbols on SolidWorks drawings. Automatic Drawing Derivation supports assemblies and parts, parallel generation of different file formats, and multi-format storage in separate folders.
Point Table dimensions a 2D point cloud on a drawing or a 3D point cloud in a part or assembly relative to a reference point along X and Y, or X, Y and Z, and exports the result to an Excel table.
