Hi Dan,
Actually, you do not need simulation loaded (that is for stress analysis), look for SolidWorks Motion under the addins list. You then click on the motion study tab at the bottom of the SW Window to make a motion model. If you have a simple mate that puts the hole in the package concentric with the peg, then you should just need to add gravity (the apple icon on the motion study tool bar) and run it for a little bit to see where it will come to rest.
There is some help on motion in the solidworks help to explain the features.
There are three types of motion studies: animation, basic motion and then motion analysis. There is some explanation of these elsewhere on the motion forums, but you will need to look at basic motion or motion analysis for your task.
Cheers,
Ian
Hi Dan,
Sorry, I missed the SW Pro line in your original mail. I would still give this a go using basic motion. It is using an NVIDIA gaming physics engine, and should still give a reasonable solution. Otherwise just do the mass props approach and see where the center of mass lies
Cheers,
Ian
Hi Dan,
If you are talking about looking at the weight distribution in a package (ie item plus clamshell), then motion can easily do this for you. Even basic motion may be adequate.
As long as you have correct mass properties of the parts, you can have the entire package just as a subassembly sitting on a peg/hook and see how it balances.
You can also determine if it's balanced based on the mass properties of the system to see if it lies directly below the peg postion.
Hope this helps,
Ian