Improve your productivity by learning key techniques to optimize SolidWorks performance, especially when working with large and complex assemblies. These adjustments can significantly reduce load times and improve graphical responsiveness.
SolidWorks has a built-in mode to handle large assemblies. Go to Tools > Options > System Options > Assemblies and check the box for "Automatically load components lightweight". Then, under Large Assembly Mode, set a threshold for the number of components to automatically trigger this mode.
When an assembly is open, you can manually set components to be lightweight. Right-click on a component or sub-assembly in the FeatureManager Design Tree and select Set to Lightweight. This loads only a subset of a component's model data into memory, speeding up load and rebuild times.
High image quality can strain your graphics card. Navigate to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Image Quality. Move the slider for "Shaded and draft quality HLR/HLV resolution" towards the "Low" end. This reduces the number of polygons used to display curved surfaces, improving display performance.
For complex parts used in large assemblies, create a simplified configuration. Use features like Defeature or manually suppress small, graphically intensive features like fillets, text, and small holes in a separate configuration. Use this simplified version in your top-level assembly.
Fine-tune various settings by going to Tools > Options > System Options > Performance. Consider enabling "Enhanced graphics performance" and disabling settings like "Show contents while dragging drawing view" to reduce graphical lag.
Pro Tips for a Faster SolidWorks Experience
Ensure you are using a SolidWorks-certified graphics card and driver. Having sufficient RAM (16GB+) and a fast Solid State Drive (SSD) will make a significant difference in file open and save times.
RealView provides advanced shading but is very resource-intensive. Turn it off from the View toolbar unless you specifically need it for visualization. This can dramatically improve rotational performance.
Regularly rebuild your large assemblies using Ctrl + Q (Force Regen). Avoid circular references and fix any errors or warnings in your parts and sub-assemblies as they can slow down the entire model.
While useful, excessive in-context relationships between parts can create complex update paths and slow down rebuild times. Use them sparingly and consider using layout sketches or fixed mates instead.
Explore other SolidWorks guides and shortcuts