In the era of increasingly widespread Internet applications, people are increasingly communicating on the Internet. Designers can exchange design documents through the Internet to exchange design experience and enhance the design level; companies can also directly transfer design documents to processing and manufacturing companies so that they can complete production of parts and components in the shortest possible time. In the process of file transfer, people have to face such problems: how can we ensure that the files are correct, compress the file size as much as possible, and send and receive them quickly. In the process of using SolidWorks, we found that using compression software (Winzip, WinRar and other software), we can reduce the file size of SolidWorks in different ways. Through these processing methods and the combination of compression software, the complete SolidWorks file can be compressed to a fraction or one-tenth of the original file, or even smaller. This article describes in detail eight ways to reduce the size of SolidWorks files, and evaluate the compression quality of SolidWorks files for each method. Unfrag.exeUnfrag.exe compression ratio Transmission Line Steel Tubular Pole We
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One, eight methods introduced
Based on our application experience and collected data, we have summarized the following methods to reduce the size of SolidWorks files:
1. "Modify Attributes" Method: This method applies to SolidWorks part files, assembly files, and drawing files. Through experiments we found that the image quality of SolidWorks files affects the file size: the higher the image quality, the larger the file. Therefore, we can set the image quality of the model file to the minimum when saving the file. Select the menu "Tools" \ "Options", in the "File Properties" tab, click "Image Quality". Select "Coloring Quality" and "Wireframe Quality" as "Custom" and set to "Rapid". After the image quality of the model file is reduced, the model displayed in the graphics area is “roughâ€, but only affects the display effect and does not affect the design and application of the part. We once tested a drawing file with a size of 2,665,472B, saved the file after minimizing the image quality, and reduced the file size to 1,765,888B.
2. "Save as" method: save the part as a different name, save the file can ignore the file redundant information when saving the file, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the size of the file. When using the "save as" method, there may be file-related issues with the assembly and drawing. Therefore, if necessary, the "Save as backup" option should be checked. The Save As method applies to various SolidWorks files. It can be seen that the effect of using the Save As method on reducing the file size is obvious.
3. "Compression" method: The feature of this method is to compress all the features in the part file before saving the file (in the case of assembly files, to compress or hide the parts). When viewing and modifying a part, uncompress the feature or part.
4. "Encapsulated parts" method: The method of packaging parts is to create a stretched boss feature, all the details of the model are all sealed, only in the graphics area shows the stretch boss features, this method is used for parts file.
5. "Resection model" method: The method of cutting the model is similar to the method of packaging the model. It is only to create a stretched resection feature. Cut the entire model and try to minimize the model. Tests have shown that the larger the extent of the resecting feature (the part file cannot be completely removed), the smaller the document. This method is often used in assembly files. To create a fully-through assembly removal feature in an assembly file, you can greatly reduce the file size.
6. "Reduce graphics" method: The reduction of the model method is actually very simple, that is, use the zoom tool to reduce the model of the entire graphics area, and then save the file. Although this method is simple, it is not easy to use; if the model of the graphics area is too small, it will increase the size of the file.
7. "Hidden" method: The so-called hidden, is to hide the SolidWorks file entities and surfaces, no display in the graphics workspace. Right-click any entity feature in the FeatureManager design tree and select Hide Entities to hide all the entities in the part. Right-click in the FeatureManager design tree and select Hide Surface Entity to hide the surfaces. Selected entities.
8. Tool method: The tool method uses Unfrag.exe software to directly process SolidWorks. It can eliminate the “fragment†(redundant information) left when the SolidWorks file is saved, so as to reduce the file size. Unfrag.exe software is a free software program included in the "CAD tool set XP", can also be downloaded in "three-dimensional space" (http://cadtool.yeah.net). The Unfrag.exe file is small, but it is very popular for reducing files. After the Unfrag.exe compressed SolidWorks file, the file size was significantly reduced; at the same time, the speed was significantly increased when the compressed file was opened with SolidWorks. In addition, according to our experience and some information, under the conditions of non-network applications, the use of Unfrag.exe file will not cause damage and conflicts of the file, we can rest assured that use. The use of Unfrag.exe is very simple. The interface is shown in Figure 5. Execute Unfrag.exe or drag a SolidWorks file or folder to the Unfrag.exe icon to compress the file.
Among the above methods, the four methods “Modify Attributeâ€, “Save Asâ€, “Reduce Graphâ€, and Tool Method will not affect the features or parts of the SolidWorks file itself, and can be opened and used directly. Other methods are relatively troublesome. For example, compression of part features may affect the corresponding assembly file or drawing file. After reopening the file, uncompressing the compression feature will resolve model rebuild errors in the assembly file or drawing file. The "compression", "encapsulated parts" and "resection model" methods require that both the document delivery and the receiving parties have a clear understanding of the document's processing methods.
Second, the eight methods of testing
In order to make more reasonable use of these different methods, we tested the SolidWorks part files. It should be noted that, for a specific SolidWorks file, the file size is not fixed, and the steps of file operations before the file is saved and the number of related files opened have influence on the size of the file. For the examples provided in this article, after the file was saved, it has reached a maximum of 3,090,944 B. After many trials, we chose a more stable state for testing.
To ensure the validity of the test, we use the same test conditions for the method or combination of methods used:
1, the same file: in the WINDOWRS browser to copy multiple files, the original file size is 2,681,856 B
2 single file window: only open a file window
3, the same operation: open the file directly, only after the necessary operations to save, there is no other redundant operation.
4, the model file color, display settings are the same
5, SolidWorks various settings are the same
6, after closing the file, then check the size of the file
The results of the above eight methods and their combination tests are shown in Table 1:
Table 1: Test results
No. Processing method File size (Byte) Compression ratio Reuse
1 Open the file, save directly 3,086,848115.10% 1,531,90449.63%
2 "modified attributes" 2,280,96085.05% 1,531,90467.16%
3 "Save As" 1,532,41657.14% 1,531,39299.93%
4 "Modify Attributes" + "Save As" 1,130,49642.15% 1,129,47299.91%
5 "compression" 1,552,89657.90% 401,40825.85%
6 "compression" + "save as" 402,43215.01% 401, 40899.75%
7 "compression" + "modification attributes" 1,552,89657.90% 401,40825.85%
8 "Compression" + "Modify Attributes" + "Save As" 409,60015.27%401,40898.00%
9 "package parts" 1,568,76858.50% 417,28026.60%
10 "Packing Parts" + "Save As" 419,32815.64%418,30499.76%
11 "packaged parts" + "modified attributes" 1,568,76858.50% 417,28026.60%
12 "packaged parts" + "modified attributes" + "save as" 418,81615.62% 417,79299.76%
13 "resection model" 1,668,60862.22% 516,60830.96%
14 "excision model" + "save as" 518,14419.32% 517,12099.80%
15 "excision model" + "modified attribute" 1,635,84061.00%484,35229.61%
16 "cut model" + "modify property" + "save as" 485,88818.12%484,86499.79%
17 "Reducing Graphics" 1,516,54456.55% 1,504,25699.19%
18 "Reduce Graphics" + "Save As" 1,507,32856.20% 1,507,328100.00%
19 "Hidden" 1,432,06453.39% 1,017,85671.07%
0 Tool Method 1,530,88057.08%_____ ____
Third, the conclusion
Through Table 1, we can easily draw the following conclusions:
1. The use of "compression", "encapsulated part", "remove model", and "save as" methods alone is very effective in reducing file size;
2. Combining "compression", "encapsulated parts", "cutting model" and other methods as well as "save as" methods can greatly reduce the file size;
3. The effect of the Unfrag.exe tool is equivalent to the "Save as" file. Unfrag.exe has no effect on the saved file.
Therefore, when transferring SolidWorks files and saving SolidWorks files over the Internet, depending on the ease of use and the effect of file compression, we recommend that users adopt the following methods:
1. For a single SolidWorks file, use the Compression + Save As, Package Part + Save As or Remove Model + Save As methods, preferably the Compression + Save As method.
2. For the transfer of the entire set of documents, the "compression" method is used in combination with the tool method. The object that requested the file can understand and use the file's decompression method correctly.
3. Taking into account the need to save space and ease of use, the Unfrage.exe tool should be used directly for the preservation of the entire product.
4. In the product design process, you can often use the Unfrage.exe program to compress the file, in order to improve the speed of opening the file.
After using WinRar to compress the number 5 parts in Table 1, the effect is very impressive. The file size is 86,581Byte, which is only 3.2% of the original file size.
If you are willing to communicate design experience with me, don’t forget to use the method described in this document when you send me a document!