Can you create a custom material with specific density in SolidWorks?

Short Answer

Yes — in SolidWorks, you can create a custom material with a specific density by editing or copying a material in Edit Material and entering the exact density value in the material properties. This is the most common professional method for accurate mass calculations. Limitation: the material must be saved in a writable custom library.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If you edit the default solidworks material database directly, your custom material can be lost during updates or blocked by company permissions. A very common failure is assigning the material correctly but forgetting that the part still has wrong units or incorrect body geometry, which makes mass results misleading.

How to Create a Custom Material with Specific Density

• Command: Edit Material

• Shortcut: [No default keyboard shortcut]

• Quick Steps:

  1. In the FeatureManager design tree, right-click Material for the part, then click Edit Material.
  2. In the material dialog, choose a custom material library or create one, then copy an existing material and rename it.
  3. In the Properties tab, enter the required Density value, confirm the correct units, then click Apply and Close.

Variables & Settings

• Key Setting: Density property in the Material dialog

• Expert Setting: Make sure the density unit matches your document workflow, such as kg/m^3, g/cm^3, or lb/in^3. A correct number in the wrong unit is one of the most common professional mistakes and will give incorrect mass, center of gravity, and simulation results.

Why it Fails

• Cause 1 (Geometry): The part has open surfaces, import errors, or invalid solid bodies, so mass properties do not calculate correctly even when density is assigned.
• Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The custom material database file is stored in a read-only or network-restricted location, so SolidWorks cannot save the new material.
• Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The user edits material appearance or classification only, but does not actually update the Density field in the material properties.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

• Quick Fix: Create and save the material in a separate custom .sldmat library, then verify the result with Evaluate > Mass Properties.
• Manager’s Verdict: Use a custom material library for any company-standard density values; avoid editing default libraries directly because it creates version-control and update problems.

FAQ

Can I assign different custom densities to different parts?
Yes, each part can have its own assigned material and density.

Can I use a custom material in assemblies?
Yes, assembly mass updates from the materials assigned to individual components.

Can I change density without creating a full new material?
Usually the best practice is no; create a custom material so the value stays controlled and reusable.

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