In doing some investigation relating to the actual dimensional limits of SolidWorks CAD models I came to some compelling conclusions. Solidworks models are dimensional, (rather than unit-less) and the native modeling basis is 1 meter. The largest possible model dimension is 1000 meters, (39370.07874016 inches) and the smallest possible model dimension is 0.0000001 meters, (1/10th of a micron!!!). To put that in perspective, that is 100 times smaller than 1 human red blood cell.
Now let’s biggie size the conversation. In theory you should be able to fit a part file within a 1km x 1km x 1km cube. In practice, the best reliability (especially with graphics) comes from limiting a part model to +/- 350m. Because circles are stored via their Diameter value, not via Radius, arcs are actually limited to a 500m radius. Note – assembly files extend your working envelope. For example, If you model a city block as a part file 1 km on a side, you can lay out a ‘city’ of many of these blocks in each direction. Mates will still work, measurements and dimensions will report accurately, up to a working limit of 100km x 100km.
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