Using existing SolidWorks files

I'm occasionally asked to take SolidWorks files created by others and modify or complete a project using that existing geometry. This can certainly be done, but there are pros and cons to it.

As I've said here before, SolidWorks is an evolving product, full of new features and enhancements to make the creation of geometry faster or easier. What that means in real life is that there were ways to make parts before, and now there are new and different ways to make the same parts. So, the user has many choices, depending on when he/she learned the program, in the methods used to model.

I can import a file and look at the feature tree and tell by the way it was built whether the creator has been using SolidWorks for a long time or is a more recent convert. The part can be a good model created using very basic features from very early releases, or it can be a good model created using new features. Modifying the parts or assembly involves looking at those feature trees and deciding if it's better to change what's there, or start over.

It sometimes makes the most sense to study the old files, understand the features and design intent, and then model the part from scratch. Other times, it makes the most sense to roll back the part and modify the features, retaining most of the old geometry and methods. It's a matter of examining the situation and determining the most cost-effective approach for the customer.