-> Display Options tab

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-> Display Options tab

CAD-Line > Display Options tab

Use the Display-Options tab to:

•Edit the color and transparency of a CAD-Solid*.

•Toggle Show / Hide a CAD-Solid.

•Move a CAD-Solid in the X, Y, and Z-axis directions.

* Cad-Solid is the name we use for a CAD model after you import it onto a CAD-Line with the CAD-Line dialog.

CAD-Line dialog

Display Options tab

CAD-Line dialog > Display Options tab

CAD-Line dialog > Display Options tab

Click to exapand /collapse Display Options 
MD-Dialog-CADLine-DisplayOptions-Display

Show SOLID (check-box)

Click the Show Solid check-box to show or hide the CAD-Solid that is on the CAD-Line.

Note:

Enable Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanisms to show CAD-Solids in Mechanism-Editors.

Transparency:

Drag the Transparency slider-bar to change the transparency of the CAD-Solid on the CAD-Line. Experiment!

Solid color:

Click the Solid Color button to open and edit the color of the CAD-Solid with the Windows® color picker,

Number of Vertices: (read-only)

Complex files have more vertices. MechDesigner may be slow to respond to new commands when there are many CAD-Solids, each with many Number-of-Vertices.

How many is too many? Try to make Number-of-Vertices < 10,000.

Experiment with the Fine, Coarse and Custom radio-buttons in the SOLIDWORKS tab.

Top Tips:

In SOLIDWORKS, make the model as simple as possible. E.g. remove screws, screw holes, cosmetic threads, fillets ...

Make a new SOLIDWORKS Configuration, and in the new configuration:

•Remove cosmetic fillets

•Remove non-functional internal or external fillets (rounds)

•Optionally, replace fillets with chamfers

Simplify CAD files and models you download from OEMs or CAD file services (e.g. Trace-Parts), For example:

•Bearings: remove or suppress balls, rollers, seals, shields, cage, and replace with a simplified solid section.

•Motors: replace with a simplified solid section.

•Aluminum extrusions: replace with a simplified section.
Click to exapand /collapse CAD Solid XYZ Position 
MD-Dialog-CADLine-DisplayOptions-XYZ

Move CAD-Solid - X (or Y, or Z)-axis

If, in MechDesigner, the CAD-Solid is not in the correct place, you can use Move CAD-Solid - X-axis (or Y, or Z) to move the CAD-Solid.

However, you cannot rotate the CAD-Solid in MechDesigner.

Notes:

Before you import a CAD-Solid:

•If you use the SolidWorks tab to import your CAD model, add a Coordinate System feature such that the XY-axis aligns with the CAD-Line and the Origin is coincident with the start-Point of the CAD-Line.

•If you use the STL Import tab to import your CAD model, rotate your model in your CAD software to that of the CAD-Line. If required, move it in the X, Y, and Z directions, in MechDesigner.