Proper Tab and Slot Design and How to Avoid Serious Issues

Elite Engineer, David Durston, explores how he used the new Tab and Slot tool in SOLIDWORKS 2018 to design a mini playset for his children

The Tab and Slot feature creates tabs on one body and slots on another body to interlock the two bodies You can specify how the tabs and slots look

slot schuifdeur When a tab or slot is added to a part, the stress flow is disrupted These can lead to large stress concentrations Tabs and slot joints should

slot depo 10k via dana The Snap TabSlot tool eases this assembly in 3D Consider the five-piece single design below Tab 1 fits into slot 2, tab 3 fits into slot 4, slot 5 fits into