Is ʼMass Propertiesʼ the correct tool to find the center of gravity in SolidWorks?
Short Answer
Yes — in SolidWorks, mass properties is the standard professional tool to find the center of gravity for a part or assembly. It calculates the center of mass from assigned material, body volume, and component inclusion settings. Its main limitation is that the result is only reliable if material densities and excluded bodies are correctly defined.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: A very common failure is reading the center of gravity from Mass Properties before assigning the correct material or density to every body and component. In assemblies, suppressed, hidden, or excluded components can also change the reported result without being immediately obvious.
How to Find the Center of Gravity
Command: Mass Properties
Shortcut: None by default
Quick Steps:
- Open the part or assembly, then go to Evaluate tab on the CommandManager and click Mass Properties.
- In the Mass Properties dialog, review the reported Center of mass values and confirm the correct units and coordinate system.
- If needed, enable the Show center of mass option to display the CG point graphically in the model area.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Show center of mass
Expert Setting: This display option shows the CG point directly in the graphics area, which is useful for quick validation in assemblies. Also verify whether all relevant bodies/components are included, because the displayed point updates based on the current Mass Properties calculation scope.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The model has no assigned material or has incorrect custom density, so the calculated center of gravity is physically wrong.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): In assemblies, components may be suppressed, hidden, lightweight, or excluded from mass calculations, affecting the result.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Users sometimes confuse the geometric center with the mass center; Mass Properties returns center of mass, not a simple bounding-box center.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Assign the correct material to every part, then rerun Mass Properties from the Evaluate tab and turn on Show center of mass.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use Mass Properties as the default professional method for center of gravity in SolidWorks. Avoid relying on it early in design if materials, densities, or assembly inclusion states are still provisional.
FAQ
Can I find center of gravity in an assembly?
Yes, Mass Properties works for assemblies and calculates the combined center of mass.
Does hidden geometry affect center of gravity in SolidWorks?
It can, depending on whether the component is still included in mass calculation.
Is center of gravity the same as geometric center?
No, center of gravity depends on mass and density, not just shape.
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