{"id":5597,"date":"2016-10-03T07:12:39","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T11:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597"},"modified":"2016-10-02T13:58:10","modified_gmt":"2016-10-02T17:58:10","slug":"return-of-ctophers-custom-material-database","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597","title":{"rendered":"Return of Ctopher’s Custom Material Database"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ctopher<\/a>Custom materials in SOLIDWORKS are important if you are using materials not included in the default set. \u00a0Around a decade ago, Chris Saller compiled a bunch of such custom materials from varies sources based on requests and submissions from many different people. \u00a0This list is informally known as Ctopher’s Custom Material Database<\/em>, “ctopher” being Chris’ handle.<\/p>\n

Various versions of this file have been available on now long-gone websites over the years. \u00a0Well, the material database is finally back and bigger (better) than ever! \u00a0Chris has complied\u00a0a new version in SOLIDWORKS 2016. \u00a0This new version has many new materials. \u00a0The new database is now available directly on SolidWorks Legion in the File Downloads<\/a> tab\u00a0as Ctopher’s Custom Material Database<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

There are two methods to point SOLIDWORKS to use a custom material database. \u00a0The easiest method is described on Ctopher’s Custom Material Database<\/em> download page. \u00a0Below is a slightly more advanced method which should also work on networks.<\/p>\n

To point\u00a0SOLIDWORKS to make\u00a0the materials in this database available<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

1.To use, place custom_matls_091516_sw2016.sldmat file into an easily accessible folder, such as S:\\SOLIDWORKS Shared File\\Custom Materials. \u00a0The folder is your choice, based on your network and operational set up.<\/p>\n

2.Start SOLIDWORKS.<\/p>\n

3.Goto Tools>Options…>System Options>File Locations<\/em>. \u00a0In the Show folders for<\/em> dropdown, select Material Databases<\/em>.<\/p>\n

4.Select Add<\/em> button. \u00a0Navigate to your chosen folder, such as S:\\SOLIDWORKS Shared File\\Custom Materials.<\/p>\n

5.Select OK<\/em> button.<\/p>\n

6.Repeat for all instances of SOLIDWORKS within the network that need to access this database.<\/p>\n

To use the custom materials<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

1.Open any part file.<\/p>\n

2.In the Feature Tree, right click on Materials<\/em> and then select Edit Materials<\/em>. \u00a0\u201cCustom_matls_091516\u201d folder will be on your material list.<\/p>\n

4.Click on desired subfolder, such as Copper Alloys<\/em>.<\/p>\n

5.Click on desired material to view properties.<\/p>\n

6.Click on Apply<\/em> to apply that material to your part.<\/p>\n

7.Click on Close<\/em> to return to your part.<\/p>\n

Ctopher’s Custom Material Database<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Custom materials in SOLIDWORKS are important if you are using materials not included in the default set. \u00a0Around a decade ago, Chris Saller compiled a bunch of such custom materials from varies sources based on requests and submissions from many different people. \u00a0This list is informally known as Ctopher’s Custom Material Database, “ctopher” being Chris’ … Continue reading “Return of Ctopher’s Custom Material Database”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11,18,12,3],"tags":[1578,472,198,163,1579],"series":[],"class_list":["post-5597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-part","category-resource-review","category-tipstricks","tag-custom-materials","tag-download","tag-material","tag-material-database","tag-materials"],"yoast_head":"\nReturn of Ctopher's Custom Material Database - SolidWorks Legion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Return of Ctopher's Custom Material Database - SolidWorks Legion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Custom materials in SOLIDWORKS are important if you are using materials not included in the default set. \u00a0Around a decade ago, Chris Saller compiled a bunch of such custom materials from varies sources based on requests and submissions from many different people. \u00a0This list is informally known as Ctopher’s Custom Material Database, “ctopher” being Chris’ … Continue reading "Return of Ctopher’s Custom Material Database"\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SolidWorks Legion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-10-03T11:12:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/9-22-2016-9-28-33-AM.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"fcsuper\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@swsuper\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@swsuper\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"fcsuper\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"fcsuper\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/#\/schema\/person\/859d9f25668554f7193852892dbad92b\"},\"headline\":\"Return of Ctopher’s Custom Material Database\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-10-03T11:12:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\"},\"wordCount\":335,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/#\/schema\/person\/859d9f25668554f7193852892dbad92b\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/9-22-2016-9-28-33-AM.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"custom materials\",\"download\",\"material\",\"material database\",\"materials\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\",\"Part\",\"Resource Review\",\"Tip\/Trick\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fcsuper.com\/swblog\/?p=5597\",\"name\":\"Return of Ctopher's Custom Material Database - 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