Assembly manuals – integration between WOODEXPERT projects and SOLIDWORKS Composer

Whether our project is correct or not is defined by its functionality and utility. One aspect thereof is easy, intuitive assembly. During their work, a designer should remember not just about ergonomics, technical limitations, but also about easy and intuitive assembly. SOLIDWORKS Composer can help you prepare an easy-to-read assembly manual. Using it you can create graphic input, animation and interactive manuals based on your 3D designs.

SOLIDWORKS Composer is full integrated with all SOLIDWORKS modules. It reads native 3D project files and keeps their assembly structure. Since WOODEXPERT creates projects in native SOLIDWORKS extensions, they can be used to create an assembly manual and animation showing all steps to the end user.

After opening a project made in WOODEXPERT in SOLIDWORKS Composer, we have insight into its full tree structure. Using it we can control the visibility of all components: show them in the order that they are assembled or hide them when they are not needed.

SOLIDWORKS Composer reflects the colours that were set in SOLIDWORKS. It makes it easier for the user to locate the elements and plan the steps of the manual.

In SOLIDWORKS Composer, we can create views that can be saved as vector graphics in .SVG format. They can be used to create manuals in word processor software or edited further in vector graphics editing software.

Each step can be fully planned by changing the visibility of the elements (called ‘actors’) and by adjusting their respective positions.

An assembly manual project created in SOLIDWORKS Composer can be updated by loading a modified or updated WOODEXPERT project. This helps save time and maintain visual integrity.

Based on a file imported from WOODEXPERT, one can use SOLIDWORKS Composer to create a BOM table. Program can analyse elements’ geometry and names, assign them BOM ID numbers and create a table that we can adjust to suit our needs.

To sum up: SOLIDWORKS Composer is a tool that lets you prepare technical documentation, animations and interactive manuals. In furniture industry, it can be used for a range of tasks that will enhance productivity, communication and quality of documentation. Here are some of the ways to use SOLIDWORKS Composer in furniture industry:

• SOLIDWORKS Composer enables you to create detailed, readable assembly manuals, that can be presented as 3D animations or static illustrations.
• Technical documentation – it enables you to create detailed technical documentation, including drawings, cross-sections and detail views, which is indispensable for production and quality control.
• Product showcasing – ability to create attractive product visualizations that can be used for marketing or sales purposes , e.g. in catalogues, on web pages or in promotional materials.
• Courses and education – this tool allows you to prepare teaching aids that can then be used to tutor the employees on assembly, operating the machines or quality procedures.
• Communication with clients – thanks to generated graphical input and interactive manuals, clients can better understand offered products, which makes decision making easier and minimizes the risk of misunderstandings.
• Furniture projects made in SOLIDWORKS using WOODEXPERT – our add-in that enhances work of a furniture designer – can be easily used in SOLIDWORKS Composer to prepare assembly animations, interactive manuals or graphic input.

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