In SolidWorks there are so many feature that help in enhancing memory or in other words saving memory during a large assembly.
Apart from SolidWorks every other software is RAM resident like Ms office, Games, Videos….etc. as all the graphics are controlled by RAM. Even movement of the mouse cursor on the screen is supported by RAM.
But what actually a memory is? Why we have to save in memory?
We all know memory is the space where we can store all our information when a computer is operating. There are two types of memory in a system RAM [Random Access Memory] & HDD [Hard drive].
 |
| OPEN |
 |
| RAM |
 |
| HD |
 |
| SAVE |
SolidWorks is a RAM resident CAD system. Whenever a file is opened, it copies from its storage location (HDD) to the RAM. After doing all the changes to the file, when we perform the save operation, it writes back the original file in HDD.
Apart from SolidWorks every other software is RAM resident like Ms office, Games, Videos….etc. as all the graphics are controlled by RAM. Even movement of the mouse cursor on the screen is supported by RAM.
We need to save memory to get better performance from computer system during software usage.
Now, since we have understood the basics about memory. Let us take a look at the feature’s in SolidWorks which help us to have an Enhanced Memory Management.
1. Light weight feature in assy: This is very use full feature. Using this feature we can save a lot of memory during opening of large Assembly. This feature automatically loads parts without their history tree in assembly helps to prevent memory. This feature also save memory during motion & animation of a assembly.
2. Defeature tool for assembly: With the Defeature tool, you can remove details from a part or assembly and save the results to a new file in which the details are replaced by dumb solids (that is, solids without feature definition or history). You can then share the new file without revealing all the design details of the model.
3. Speed Pack: speedpak create a simplified representation of an assembly without losing referance. If you work with very large and complex assemblies using speedpak can significantly improve performance while working in the asssembly an its drawing.
4. Unloading hidden component: we can unload hidden component from memory but retain the effect of their mates. This can also save large amount of memory in large assembly.
5. Assembly Visualization:- Assembly Visualization provides different ways to display and sort an assembly's components in a list and in the graphics area.You can rank components based on the values of their custom properties, and activate a spectrum of colors that reflects the relative values of the properties for each component.
5. Assembly Visualization:- Assembly Visualization provides different ways to display and sort an assembly's components in a list and in the graphics area.You can rank components based on the values of their custom properties, and activate a spectrum of colors that reflects the relative values of the properties for each component.
6. The AssemblyXpert: AssemblyXpert analyzes performance of assemblies and suggests possible actions you can take to improve performance. This is useful when you work with large and complex assemblies. In some cases, you can select to have the software make changes to your assembly to improve performance.
7. Large Assembly Mode: Large Assembly Mode is a collection of system settings that improves the performance of assemblies. You can turn on Large Assembly Mode at any time, or you can set a threshold for the number of components, and have Large Assembly Mode turn on automatically when that threshold is reached. While using the Open dialog box to open an assembly whose number of components exceeds the specified threshold, you can specify whether or not to activate Large Assembly Mode by selecting or clearing Large Assembly Mode.
8. Simplified representation of assembly: When you want to work on a small subset of components in a large assembly, you can improve assembly performance by using Quick view / Selective open to open a simplified representation of the assembly. You specify which components to load; other components are not loaded and not visible, but the effects of their mates are retained. You specify which components to load by opening the assembly through the Open dialog box. While opening, you can select:
· Individual components. (You do not need to fully open the assembly first.)
· A display state where you previously defined the show/hide state of the components.
9. Simplifying Large Assemblies: Large assemblies can consist of hundreds of components. Reasons to simplify a large assembly include:
· Improve performance and reduce rebuild times.
· Improve display speed during dynamic view operations (zoom, pan, rotate, and so on).
· Focus your work on a subset of components.
By keeping the above things in mind we can easily save memory an enhance performance.
Karan Gill (CSWE)
(Asst. manager – Technical)
