- [Instructor] In SOLIDWORKS 3D part files,
geometric dimensioning and tolerancing tools
can be found in the DimXpert tab of the primary menu bar.
GD&T call outs can be attached to part features
without having to first create a 2D drawing.
This is important because many machine shops
now accept native 3D part files
instead of or in addition to 2D drawings.
When GD&T controls can be included at the 3D part level,
the geometric dimensioning
and tolerancing control information is perfectly preserved
as the native files are sent to a machine shop.
This eliminates the extra steps of transferring
the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing data
to a two-dimensional drawing,
sending both the drawing
and the three-dimensional part to a machine shop,
then having the machine shop translate the two-dimensional
geometric dimensioning and tolerancing data
back onto the three-dimensional part.
All of the geometric constraints and design intent
are preserved in a native three-dimensional file
when the geometric dimensioning
and tolerancing controls are included.