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SOLIDWORKS Structure System: Create Custom Connection Elements

How do you set up a Connection Element in SOLIDWORKS Structure Systems?

To set up a Connection Element in SOLIDWORKS Structure Systems, define a new connection element in the Structure Systems tab, configure its placement type and reference features, save it as a standard part file in a dedicated directory, and then insert it as needed. The sections below walk through each step in order.

Within the Structure Systems tab define a new connection element:

 

There are two placement types: Generic and End Connections. For this element, use an End Connection. Follow these steps to complete the definition:

  1. Select End Connection as the placement type.
  2. Set the primary reference to the back side of the plate.
  3. Select the dowel holes as the features to propagate.
  4. (Optional) Define dimension groups if you want dimensions to be modifiable when inserting the connection element. No dimension groups are defined in this example.

Once configured, a Connection Feature folder is created in the feature tree. You can edit feature behaviour directly from this folder.

SOLIDWORKS interface showing the Structure System feature used for creating complex structures.

Generic and End Connections.

For the element we specified, we will use an end connection.

Example of a frame created using the Structure SCreating a structure in SOLIDWORKS using the Structure System with different profiles and connectors.ystem in SOLIDWORKS.

 

We need to specify the primary reference, and features we want to propagate over.

  • In this case, the reference would be the back side of the plate.
  • The features to propagate is the dowel holes.

Detailed view of the Structure System toolset in SOLIDWORKS, highlighting the various options available.

We can also specify dimension groups that can be modified when inserting the connection elements, in this example we will however not define any dimension groups.

 

Within the feature tree, a Connection Feature folder is created, the features behavior can be edited directly from this folder.

 

Set up a new directory for Connection Elements:

Create a dedicated folder on your file system for custom connection elements, then register it in SOLIDWORKS so the application can locate your files. Follow these steps:

  1. In SOLIDWORKS, go to Options > File Locations > Structure Systems - Connection Elements and click Add.
  2. Browse to the new folder you created and click Select Folder, then click OK to save the setting.
  3. Save the connection element as a standard part file inside that directory.
  4. The connection element is now available to insert into any applicable Structure Systems design.

Finished structure model in SOLIDWORKS demonstrating the capabilities of the Structure System.

Save the connection element as a standard part file within the new directory.

It can now be inserted as required.