How to Change Units in SOLIDWORKS

Changing the units in SOLIDWORKS is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. In this blog, we will show you how to change the units in your SOLIDWORKS software so that you can create designs in the metric system or any other system you prefer!

What are the different types of unit conversions, and how do they work?

Unit conversions are just a fancy way of saying that you are changing the measurement system of your design. This can be helpful when you want to work in a different unit system than the default settings in SOLIDWORKS. There are three types of unit conversions that you can use in SOLIDWORKS:

1. Linear Unit Conversion – this conversion changes the length measurements of your design. For example, if you change the linear units from inches to millimeters, all the measurements in your design will be changed to millimeters.
2. Area Unit Conversion – this conversion changes the area measurements of your design. For example, if you change the area units from square inches to square centimeters, all the area measurements in your design will be changed to square centimeters.
3. Volume Unit Conversion – this conversion changes the volume measurements of your design. For example, if you change the volume units from cubic inches to cubic centimeters, all the volume measurements in your design will be changed to cubic centimeters.

How to change the units in SOLIDWORKS

Now that you know how unit conversions work let’s get into how to change the units in your SOLIDWORKS software. Here is how you do it:

1. Open your SOLIDWORKS file and select the “Tools” tab from the drop-down menu, or go to the bottom right corner and click on the upward arrow to quickly switch units or select edit document units.
   

   Bottom, Right pop-up menu for unit measurements in SOLIDWORKS

2. Select “Options” from the drop-down menu.
   

   “Options…” under the “Tools” dropdown menu in SOLIDWORKS

3. Select the “Document Properties” tab from the options window that pops up.
   

   Document Properties Menu in SOLIDWORKS

4. Scroll down to find the “Units” section and click on it to expand it.
   

   “Units” in the Document Properties Menu in SOLIDWORKS

5. In this section, you can choose from various unit systems and customize how your measurements will be displayed.
6. Once you have made your selections,  click “OK” to save the changes.

Congratulations! You have now changed the units in your SOLIDWORKS design. With this knowledge, you can now design in any unit system that you prefer and easily switch between them as needed.

Tips for making unit conversions easier

Unit conversions can be tricky, so here are a few tips to make this easier:

• Make sure you select the right unit conversion. Depending on what type of measurement you want to change (length, area, or volume), select the correct one for that measurement. Otherwise, your design will not be to scale and will appear very small or very large.
• Double-check your units. It’s always better to double-check your unit rates before you start designing. This will ensure your sketches are to scale before you start sketching.
• Be familiar with your company’s standard units (I.E., ANSI or ISO). You do not have to be concerned with the conversions. SOLIDWORKS converts everything for you automatically.

In this blog, we have shown you how to change the units in your SOLIDWORKS software so that you can create designs in the metric system or any other system you prefer. We have also given you some tips for making unit conversions easier. Changing the units in SOLIDWORKS is a simple process that can be done in just a few short steps, and with this knowledge, you can now design in any unit system you prefer!

If you need assistance with units in SOLIDWORKS, call our team of experts at (888) 313-1688.