The SolidWorks Blog

Can spatial aptitude tests help predict your success as an engineer?

Do you enjoy taking these tests?  I know I do.

On reviewing results from similar types of spatial aptitude tests, the results are basically: men test better than women, and those who test well make good engineers.  This may be so (my sister, however,  did well on these tests—she happens to be an electrical engineer), but I am interested in knowing if these tests can determine how good of an engineer you are, or if we can somehow use spatial tests to help us improve our abilities as engineers, or is this just the way we are wired.

After extensive research (okay, I spend about 30 minutes Googling), I could not find any research on this.  I would be very interested in knowing if the winners of the SolidWorks World Model Mania contest would also test higher than other engineers at special tests?  I wonder if we could expand our engineering skills by taking more tests.  Could those who do not test well on such tests improve over time? 

Any professor doing research on these topics, I would enjoy hearing from you.

And to all of the SolidWorks users out there, I'd love to hear our thoughts aw well. Leave them in the comment section below.

New SolidWorks Certification Logos And Certificate Designs Available

Every few years we undergo a redesign of our logos and certificate backgrounds which is done to keep them looking fresh.  This week we released the latest version of both the certification logos, and the certificate backgrounds.

New logos are available to everyone that has passed one of our certification exams, and the new style backgrounds are available to those who have passed a certification exam in the last year or so.  See the attached document that explains how you can download these new items.  In the meantime, here are some sample shots of the new designs:

Download Accessing Your Certificates And Logos

PS - if you're not certified yet and want to learn how, visit the Certification section of SolidWorks.com

SolidWorks Simulation Tips: Parameters and Design Studies

In my opinion, one of the most underutilized tools in SolidWorks Simulation is the Design Study.  Design studies allow you to easily set up a number of ‘what if’ scenarios and run them all with the click of a button.  Sure, it might take a couple extra minutes to set up a few parameters, but the extra setup time will pay off handsomely later.

Let’s take a look at the effects of varying mesh size for a stress concentration.  The first step is to create and run a Simulation Study to verify the model setup and boundary conditions.  Second, set up a parameter for the global element size.  Third, create a design study, using that parameter as a variable.  Finally, add a constraint; in this case we’ll use the maximum stress from the Simulation study we previously created.  When these steps are complete, run the design study and all of the scenarios with the click of a button!

Setting up a Parameter can be done in two ways.  From the Evaluation tab of your Command Manager, you can left-click the down arrow on the Design Study icon and choose ‘Parameters’.  Alternately, from your Simulation feature tree, you can right-click on “Parameters” and choose ‘Edit/Define…’. The keys to creating a Parameter are to provide a name, choose the appropriate category, then link that parameter to the item you want to vary in the design study.  In this example, I want to link the Parameter to ‘Global Element’ size, so I’ll click on the Mesh icon from my Simulation study feature tree.

The next step is to insert a Design Study into your model.  Use the down-arrows to add the Element Size variable to the Design Study.  In the second column, I chose to use discrete values for element size.  These can be typed in using a comma to separate values.  In the Constraints section, use the pull-down menu to add a Simulation Data Sensor to the model, specifically to monitor the maximum stress.  Be sure to choose the Simulation study you want the sensor to reference for data.  Then un-check the ‘Optimization’ box and click ‘Run’.

When the Design Study is finished running all of the scenarios, you will have a plot for each constraint utilized.  In the picture below, the stress plot from one of the scenarios is shown.  I’ve also added a ‘Local Trend Graph‘ to show the stress concentration model does, indeed, show a diverging solution with regards to stress.

I could have arrived at the same information in a couple of ways not utilizing a Design Study.  The most common method I encounter is a user creating ten Simulation studies, then manually meshing each with a different Global Element size.  That is, quite simply, a waste of time!  The extra few minutes spent creating Parameters and properly defining a Design Study can be done much faster than creating several individual studies.  I’m certain with a little investigation you can find plenty of uses for this powerful tool.  Now go make your products better with SolidWorks Simulation!

Want to learn more about SolidWorks Simulation? Check out our First Look at Simulation video to see how simulation could improve your own designs and reduce prototypes.

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Bill Reuss is a CAE Specialist at 3DVision Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.  He is a regular contributor to 3DVision Technologies' Blog where you will find new ideas to improve your productivity with SolidWorks Simulation.

 

My Perfect Electric Bicycle is a Motorcycle!

Why do I find myself underwhelmed with the offerings on the electric bicycle market?  I want to feel like I’m riding a piece of modern engineering and not yesteryear’s moped.  I have come to the conclusion that the factors that make one want to purchase an electric bike are much different than the reasons I would want to purchase a new road bike or a mountain bike.  What the industry needs now is the next new Rubik’s Cube, New Beetle, or iPhone.

Do you remember the last time you saw a new product that made your heart race with excitement?  I remember seeing the 1986 Honda Interceptor and the first Kawasaki Ninja and having this feeling.  Those of you who are part of the e-generation probably felt this way about the first Apple device you remember.

1986 Honda VF500F Interceptor still looking good!

It is at least partially for this reason that the eBikeTec Exhibition & Conference was held in Paris, France April 16^th through 18^th.  The focus of this event was increasing the selection of electric bicycles that are currently in production in that country, which will likely trickle down to the US and American markets. The consumer always appreciates choices. If you arrive at your decision of what product to buy then you’ll also want it in your favorite color and the latest year’s model.So for myself, I’ve narrowly defined the criteria that would make me want to go purchase an electric bike.  For starters, it would look a lot more like a sportbike than a bicycle.  I’m thinking something like the Brammo Empulse put out by those clever Oregonians.

 

Or perhaps the Brammo Enertia :

The Zero DS made by Zero Motorcycles would also be a strong contender and would be a blast to take that end of cul de sac shortcut on.

So, for myself I’ve come away with a narrow list of criteria that might actually put me in the showroom for one of these cutting edge machines:

1. The Tax incentive for an electric vehicle would have to be more than the current 10%.  I think 20% would get my attention.

2. It would have to be a piece of art, something that leads you to appreciate the clean flowing lines.

3. It would have to be well engineered and put together thoughtfully.

4. It would have to be made in the USA.

5. Finally, it would absolutely have to be less cost than my car (which is a 2001 Ford Escape with 196,000 miles on it by the way).

6. Last but not least, it would have to be fun to drive!… Even with the cost of fuel savings, why drive a bike if it’s not fun to be out there in the breeze?

I wondered what a lifelong competitive road and mountain biker would think about today’s electric bikes, so I posed the question to Mark Scheetz, one of our Engineering Managers at GoEngineer.  Mark is a man that I greatly respect and has more miles in the saddle than I can fathom in a lifetime.

Me: “Mark, what would it take to make you rush out today to purchase an electric bike in today’s market?”

Mark:  “Well, I think when done right they are a viable transportation alternative and green transportation. If they cause more people to get out of their cars and into bike commuting and/or general transportation, then that’s a good thing. They can also be helpful to those who are limited physically and can’t peddle well. It’s a nice way for them to enjoy some of the benefits of cycling. I know of some elderly people who use them as well as some with MS and other ailments.”

“The best out there are really electric assist bikes, where you still do much of the peddling work on level ground and descents, and reserve the electric assist for hills and headwinds. That way it’s still a like cycling and utilizing human power, with only a little help when needed.”

“What I don’t like are the ones that are really just electric motorbikes with pedals. Nothing more than an electric moped. Many of these machines use the cheapest materials, inefficient motors, heavy batteries and are not even green. Their real value lies not in exercise, a greener world nor a good alternative for commuting, but rather as a toy. That’s perfectly fine if you’re looking for something to have a little fun and kick around town. Fun is good thing. But let’s not pretend they offer any other more noble benefits.”

“I personally have absolutely no use for them, today. That’s not to say when I get really old and need the assist I wouldn’t consider the option.”

I do think that we are headed towards a revolution for electric bikes in the near future and I think the market will look much different in 2018 than 2013.

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Tim Roberts currently manages the Technical Support Team at GoEngineer. Tim earned his BSME from the University of Tennessee with an emphasis in machine design in 1993. He as worked as a manufacturing engineer as well as done technical support for several other CAD/CAM and analysis products. Tim lives with his family in Salt Lake City, UT and loves to climb and golf when not spending family time or assisting the best customers in the world. View all posts by Tim Roberts

Are you interested in how you can make your own designs more environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint? Contact us to get an in-person demonstration of SolidWorks Sustainability.

 

Discover and Fix Your Vibration Vulnerability with SolidWorks Simulation

When I go biking during the summer, I rely on the frame of my bicycle to withstand stresses such as vibration and impact. As I speed down the trail, I think about the engineers and their process of designing a product that adeptly serves the needs of their customers. How did they test out the bicycle to make sure it doesn’t fall apart if the path becomes rocky? If the bike falls over, how did they make sure that the pedals don’t fall off? How do the engineers evaluate which loads can highlight problems in the design?

As it is ridden over rough ground the bicycle frame has to withstand not only the loads from the pedals and the weight of the rider but also the vibrational loads from the suspension system.  The danger is, if the vibrational loads are at the same frequency as the products natural modes of vibration, resonance can occur and the bicycle could literally shake itself apart.

Some design issues are hard to detect because you can’t see them visually. The SolidWorks Failure Mode Analysis video series will allow you to figure out some of the ways to detect hidden flaws in your designs using SolidWorks Simulation so that you can avoid product recalls and save time and money. The video on Vibration vulnerabilities will show you how you can use SolidWorks Simulation to fix your vibration vulnerability by allowing you calculate resonant frequencies, visualize natural vibration modes and dynamically test for vibrational stresses as you model product operation.

Whether you design complex machinery, hi-tech, or consumer products, Simulation helps every engineer vanquish their own design demons.

With its easy to use, powerful capabilities SolidWorks Simulation is the ideal tool to ensure your designs avoid this complex failure mode. SolidWorks Simulation allows you to easily calculate resonant frequencies and visualize the natural modes of your product design. 

To learn more about how you can revise and enhance your product design, such as a bike frame, for optimal service, watch the video.

5 SolidWorks Tips You May Have Never Seen Before

Chances are if you’ve been around SolidWorks for any significant amount of time, you may have seen some of these before, but I’ll be surprised if more than a handful of seasoned SolidWorks users have seen all 5 of these tips and tricks. While I’ve shown countless tips and tricks for SolidWorks in my time, these 5 are some of my personal favorites.

#5 Selecting an Edge and Starting a Sketch

This particular feature simply does several things with minimal input... a SolidWorks trademark. Simply select any Edge of any solid body and click INSERT | SKETCH.

A Sketch Plane is created automatically, Normal to the Edge Selected, with the Origin Coincident to the End Point nearest to where the Edge was selected.

This operation supports any Edge type from Linear and Prismatic to completely Organic and Lofted. You could also use INSERT | Reference Geometry to add a Plane Perpendicular to a Curve, but this takes care of all those steps AND starts a new Sketch.

#4 Loop Select

Do you like using Convert Entities but wonder why it only converts the exterior edges of a face? Tired of manually selecting each and every edge of that inside loop? I’ve got your answer in 2 clicks!!!

After you’ve started a new sketch, just select the same old face you would normally use to Convert Entities, but use the CTRL key to add one more selection to that set... 1 Inside Edge!

This is called a LOOP Select and will take the ‘focus’ of the selected face from the Outside Loop (default) to the Inside Loop.

Normal Face Select | CONVERT ENTITIES gets Outside Loop (Default)

CTRL Select Face and 1 Inside Edge | CONVERT ENTITIES gets Inside Loop

**Loop Select BONUS**

This tip also works for Loop Selection of the Inside Loop if you want to add a Fillet or Chamfer to the Inside Loop but not the Outside Loop.

It has an added bonus that if you were to change the sketch that affects the inside cut shown above, your Fillet or Chamfer would NOT error out with the addition or removal of edges to the cut profile.

You WOULD, however, get a Fillet or Chamfer error if you had discretely selected all the Inside Edges and there was a change that affected the edge count of the cut profile. It would take an Edit of the applied feature to resolve the Missing or Added edge.

#3 Explode Direction Control

Like SEVERAL other functions in SolidWorks, Control of the Triad orientation can be modified using the ALT key along with a Drag and Drop of the Triad.

Simply start the Explode Command, or edit an existing Exploded View and begin a new Explode Step.

The triad always mimics the triad orientation of the part or assembly.

To move and re-orient the triad, simply hold ALT and pick and drag the triad using the blue sphere where the X,Y and Z axis meet... then drag it over other geometry. It will snap to Linear edges, Plainer faces and will align to the Axis of Holes or Cylindrical features. Then just drag the triad along the new direction and position your part.

ANYWHERE there is a triad in SolidWorks, consider this tip valid... Move/Copy Bodies... Move with Triad... etc.

#2 Copy Surfaces

Copying a surface from one part to another is a very useful tool when you want to build In Context relationships between parts, especially when you get an unruly imported file with thousands of surfaces... .but you only need to ‘touch’ just a few.

I also use it for operations where I may want to simulate a Coating or Tape application on a part. Just Copy the Surface and Thicken it as a new Body.

What you may be asking yourself is: "That sounds great, Darin, but there is NO ‘Copy Surface’ Command"... .and you’d be absolutely CORRECT!

Many users try to use the KNIT SURFACE command, but this doesn’t work unless the faces you select are adjacent to each other and can form a single, ‘knitted’ surface.

However, there is a simple trick to this one, and it lies in the OFFSET SURFACE COMMAND. Pick a face or faces, adjacent or disjointed, and select OFFSET SURFACES from the Surfaces Tab.

It will show the selection, and the title in the Property Manager will state “Offset Surface” until you set the distance to ZERO. Then the title changes to COPY SURFACE. That’s it! You can use this in context of an assembly, and while editing a part you can select faces of other parts and Copy the Surfaces. This will create Associative Surfaces in the part you are editing. This tool really has dozens of use cases.

#1 Move Sketches... EASILY

These features are presented in no particular order, but I do consider this one of the most hidden yet easy to use tools when you are unsatisfied with the location of your sketches relative to the origin or anything else.

Moving Sketches while in Edit Sketch mode is not always the easiest task, ESPECIALLY when they are Under Defined Sketches or those that are Copy/Pasted from DraftSight or other 2D applications.

Where most users run into trouble is that they feel, and I don’t disagree, that you should just be able to window select all the sketch entities and then just grab a point and drag the whole group. While this sounds logical, it has simply never been the case.

Then you could try the Move Entities command, but it doesn’t always snap to the final location as you might expect.

The following technique is completely effective and very easy to do, you just have to know the sequencing of the clicks.

First, Window select the sketch entities you wish to move.

Second, hold the CTRL key on your keyboard then Pick and Drag the selected entities from one of the points in the sketch.

CAREFUL NOW... The trick here is that a CTRL + Pick and Drag in Windows is a Copy... and that is ‘initially true’ here too. Note the Cursor with the little (+) next to it. If you let go of the Left Mouse Button FIRST, you will COPY the Sketch.

Instead, while in the middle of the ‘Copy Sketch’ operation, release the CTRL KEY while still holding your Cursor. The little (+) goes away and the entire operation turns into a MOVE command. Simply snap and release your cursor when your selected point is in the proper location, or snapped to the origin.

In summary, of the thousands of functions in the millions of lines of SolidWorks code, these are some of the more useful yet somewhat hidden functions I use frequently. I hope that you found something you didn’t know about that helps you improve your quality of designs, but most importantly saves you time and effort during your creative process.

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Darin Grosser is a SolidWorks Elite Application Engineer, Certified SolidWorks Expert and a senior member of the technical staff at DASI Solutions, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations throughout Michigan and Indiana. He is a regular contributor to the DASI Solutions Blog.

Want to see what's new in SolidWorks 2013? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Creating Section Views in SolidWorks 2013

One of the questions we have seen a lot in the Technical Support department today is about some of the new functionality that has been added in SolidWorks 2013. There are generally two questions that users ask and the first is "How do I use the new functionality?" and "Can I still use the tools that I have used for years past?"

Looking at one of the new tools in SolidWorks 2013 that we were given is a new Section View Property Manager. This is a great tool that now allows you to easily create an almost limitless amount of section view types.

To answer the first question, in this new tool we start by selecting the Section Cutting Line or Half Section type.

When we create a standard Section we are then given a popup that allows us to add one or several different offsets to the section view.

To answer the second question we also get asked if you can still create a section view the way you use to be able to by first drawing your section lines then choosing the Section View tool?

The simple answer is Yes but there is still some new functionality that you need to watch out for. You can create the lines or arcs that you want to use for your section and add in all the relations or dimensions to those sketch entities. When you are done you can use your Right Click selection on one of the lines and use the Select Chain option to easily grab all of the connected entities.

The new functionality comes in when you select the Section Line from the Command Manager and you are presented with the following options.

You will want to read this carefully and know that to get a "standard" section view that you are used to seeing you will want to choose the Foreshortened option. Also you want to be aware of the option in the lower left of the dialog for Don't show again. If you check this it will add this message to the Dismissed messages and the new default will be the option you choose when you dismissed the dialog box.

The only way to be offered the dialog box again is to make sure you clear out those dismissed messages.

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Josh Altergott is Support Manager at Computer Aided Technology, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. He is a regular contributor to the CATI Tech Notes blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

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Note-Building Machine: SolidWorks vs Infinite Monkeys

If you’re like most mechanical engineers, you’re probably not very good at typing. And even if you are, you probably don’t enjoy every minute of it. There’s a theory that an infinite number of monkeys typing for an infinite amount of time will eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare, or maybe the Notes block for your Drawing! Or, using your SolidWorks Design Library, you can save and reuse frequently-used notes (and other annotations). Then you can just drag-and-drop your way to creating that “NOTES:” block of manufacturing instructions that lives on just about every drawing. Leave the typing to the monkeys!

Here’s how: First, you’ll need to verify a setting in SolidWorks. Go to Tools > Options > System > Drawings, and make sure you uncheck “Disable note merging when dragging”.

Now, you can practice this with any two note annotations on a SolidWorks Drawing. Just drag and drop one Note onto another and you’ll see it appends the dropped note to the end of the Note you dropped it on!

It’s more fun when you make use of the Design Library. Right-click on your favorite note and choose Add to Library. You’ll be automatically pointed to the default file location for your Design Library notes folder, and you can choose a file name to save as.

Now, open up your Design Library from the Task Pane (on the right), and start drag-dropping onto your Drawing. You might want to get a note started manually by typing “NOTES:” and a line break, and clicking the numbered list icon on the formatting bar. Then drag a note favorite out of your Task Pane and onto the existing note. Take that, monkeys!

It also works nicely with a multi-line note. For example, if there are four things you need to tell people when they nickel plate a part, you can save them all into one library item and drag-drop it in together. Like this:

Not only is that much faster than an infinite number of monkeys typing for an infinite amount of time, it’s much more reliable. And less messy. CAPINC's two day Advanced Drawings course includes many great time-saving Drawings and Detailing methods like this one!    

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Jason Pancoast is Engineering Manager at CAPINC, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across New England. He is a regular contributor to their CAPINC University blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

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Improve Your Oil and Gas Design Capabilities with SolidWorks

In honor of this week’s Offshore Technology Conference, which features offshore resources for drilling and exploration, SolidWorks has released a video that details how to improve your oil and gas design capabilities such as plant design. This video outlines tools you need to respond to mission-critical challenges such as design efficiency and cost-conscious design.

SolidWorks can automate piping and tubing design with ease, speed and accuracy. Features such as 2D – 3D integration, design documentation, design validation through simulation, optimization will allow you to explore the possibilities of your models.

For more videos on SolidWorks solutions such as SolidWorks Simulation and SolidWorks Costing, check out the SolidWorks Demo Library.

Simplify Your Models Using the Intersect Tool

Has this ever happened to you?

Imagine that you get this super complex model with a lot of intricate internal details from your customer or supplier. The file size is huge and the rebuild times are long, considering that you only need it for any one of these reasons:

• Use your customer’s model as a reference for modeling a nest in a fixture or tooling. You need to remove all the interior details.
• Use your customer’s model as a reference for modeling an enclosure around it. You need to keep only the external faces.
• Insert your supplier’s model as one item in your assembly and BOM. You need to remove as many details as possible,
• Just need to 3D Print it for your customer. You need to remove all the cavities (completely “fill” the model).

The first thing you will try is, of course, using the Defeature tool (introduced in SolidWorks 2011). But what can be done when defeature does not produce the expected results?

Starting with SolidWorks 2013 the answer is simple: use the magic of the new Intersect Tool to fill any internal cavities and also merge all the solid bodies that touch (on faces) or intersect each other.

Watch this video for a demonstration of this procedure:

  

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Alin Vargatu is an Elite Applications Engineer and CSWE at Javelin Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a regular contributor to the Javelin blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Trouble with the Curve? Not Anymore! How to Drive your SolidWorks Assembly Pattern with a Curve.

Have you ever experienced that SolidWorks moment when you'd like to see a part feature available in an assembly? Patterning is one such wish I've had and recently revisited when a customer asked me about creating a Curve Driven Pattern in an assembly.

Now, some users may spout off a quick 'No' to such a question, but those of us that spend our 20 hours of screen time per day torn between the rigors of supreme CAD functions and Call of Duty while consuming excessive amounts of energy drinks and cold pizza may have found a beacon of hope in the Feature Driven Component Pattern command.

So how does one achieve such magnificence in their SolidWorks Assembly?  Well, to be honest, it does require a little massaging from an underlying Part level Curve Driven Pattern Feature, but there are multiple ways this could be tackled.

Let's use this conveyor example to show a few options. In this example, I want to pattern a Sub-Assembly that contains the leg and a foot plate part. My goal is to use a curve to pattern this Sub-Assembly around the curved conveyor rail within this Top Level Assembly.

 Exhibit A: Curve Driven Pattern in the Curved Rail part.

One way to do this is to create a Curve Driven Pattern in the Rail part. This can be something that may really exist in the part or may be a dummy feature that we fill in later using the power of feature order. Here I've established a curve for my pattern associated to the curved rail, and patterned a simple hole. Think of it as: wherever there is a hole, there will be a leg assembly aligned to that hole. Now if you don't need a hole in the rail, you could follow the Curve Driven Pattern feature up with some type of feature that will remove or fill in the holes (Extrude-Boss, Delete Face, etc.).

Back to the main assembly. Use the Feature Driven Component Pattern command to pattern the Sub-Assembly and your driving feature is the Curve Pattern from the Rail Part.  Done!

Exhibit B: Curve Driven Pattern in the Leg Part. Similar to exhibit A, here we are going to pattern the leg along a curve. In the leg part, capture the curve needed as a sketch (you may want to edit in context and Convert Entities from the Rail part or use a sketch you've drawn at the assembly level). Now use that sketch in the leg part to do a Curve Driven Pattern of the body. Again, we probably don't want the actual body instances left in the leg model, so you could follow that pattern feature with a Delete Bodies Feature that will remove all the instances created from the pattern.

Again, back to the main assembly. Feature Driven Component Pattern the Sub-Assembly needed and use the Curve Pattern from the Leg part as your driving feature. Done!

More flavors of these methods could be used as well. You could also use this for other patterns not available like Fill, Sketch, and Table.

I hope this was helpful, but if you're still thoroughly confused due to a buzz from your favorite energy drink, you can check out this little video I put together showing Exhibits A and B. Enjoy!

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Brian VanderPloeg is an Applications Engineer at Fisher/Unitech, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. He is a regular contributor to the Fisher/Unitech blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

 

Artaic is revolutionizing mosaic art with help from SolidWorks

Last September I wrote about Day2Night Ladies Footwear, a SolidWorks customer I first met when we invited some 2011 Mass Challenge finalists to visit SolidWorks headquarters in Waltham, MA. If you’re not familiar with the Mass Challenge, it’s a Boston-area organization that connects early-stage startups with the people and resources they need to get started. One of those resources is a space where entrepreneurs can work until they can afford offices. The space includes a few computers with SolidWorks installed (SolidWorks is a sponsor). Startups must apply to be included in the program. In 2012, 1,237 startups applied and only 125 were accepted--that’s a lower acceptance rate than many Ivy League universities.

As I mentioned, we invited a few of the 2011 finalists to visit us last year, and Ted Acworth from a Boston company called Artaic was one of the attendees. If you’ve never heard of them, Artaic specializes in creating large-format mosaic designs and murals out of one-inch tiles—using robots designed in SolidWorks. For now, Artiac is the only company in the world doing this, and they are revolutionizing a 3000-year-old art form. Ted and the company were featured on the Wired.com design blog yesterday, and if you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to do so.

Ted told me that he is actually a mechanical engineer by training, and remembers first hearing about SolidWorks in 1994 before it had even been released. He had been using Pro/Engineer at NASA, and was at Stanford University when SolidWorks first hit the market. He said that the Stanford team began using SolidWorks almost immediately because it was so easy to use. Fast-forward to 2013, and Ted and the Artaic team are now using SolidWorks to design robots that can create a mosaic over 10X faster than a human.

The Craft of Artaic-Innovative Mosaic from Artaic on Vimeo.

When the Artaic team is planning a new mosaic, they first create an image of what the final product should look like, lay it out, and then scan it into a CAD program (which was also designed in-house). That program converts the scanned image into a pattern of one-inch colored tiles, then checks against Artaic’s on-hand inventory to see if any color substitutions may be necessary.

Once the layout process is complete, the robots can start creating the mosaic. During fabrication, the mosaic is assembled in one-square-foot sections. Each section is labeled, and when fabrication is complete, all of the sections are shipped to their destination, where they are assembled by workers into the final arrangement. Since it’s a print-to-ship operation, there is very little waste.

Ted told me that Artaic’s use of technology gives them a productivity advantage of 10x-100x over traditional hand fabrication, and as a result, the team is able to work against deadlines that would normally be impossible. For example, he told me how a restaurant in Boston contacted him with a request for a mosaic five days before opening their new flagship location. Artaic was able to start work almost immediately, and workers were installing the first sections within 24 hours of initial fabrication.

While most of Artaic’s work ends up in places like hotels and cruise ships, they have gotten some interesting projects recently. For example, the founder of iRobot commissioned a mosaic for his home’s bathroom, and Artaic also created a portrait mosaic of Segway creator Dean Kaman, which was presented to him as an award.

Ted considers Artaic to exist at the intersection of R&D and fine art, and is using SolidWorks to make custom artwork available to a wider array of customers than would have been possible even twenty years ago. I have included a few example of Artiac’s work in this post, but I would encourage you to visit their website to see some of the other examples. When he visited our office, Ted actually pointed out a prime location in the lobby for a custom mosaic with the Dassault Systemes logo. Who knows…we may just take him up on it one day.

Learn More About SolidWorks Using the Built-in Tutorials

I find that the best way to learn about the tools available in SolidWorks is by using them.

And one way that SolidWorks helps you to do this is by including an extensive selection of tutorials on a wide range of tools. These tutorials are fully incorporated into SolidWorks and are available in the SolidWorks resources tab of the task manager, or under the Help menu.

The tutorials are not only great examples of how to use the tools available to you in SolidWorks, they can also be used to try out some of the tools that you may not have used before such as Routing or Simulation. There is also a large section of tutorials for the newest additions to the software such as the new user interface for the Section Tool and Orientation Dialogue Box.

The tutorials are organised into easily navigated groups so that you can get straight to the relevant subject area.

By hovering your mouse cursor over the tutorial links, each of the tutorials will describe to you a rough timing for completion and also an overall description of what you will achieve upon completion. 

Then to open the tutorial, simply click on the one that you want. Each Tutorial will start with an overview describing the process to be followed.

 

The tutorials then describe exactly what the process is for the lesson, guiding you through step by step and helping you to understand not only what you are doing, but also describing why. There are clear instructions that include images of the process that is being carried out so that you can check your progress.

 

When opening the SolidWorks tutorials, your SolidWorks window automatically resizes to allow room for the tutorial window to be shown at the same time. And the interaction between SolidWorks and the tutorials doesn’t end there.

 

In the instructions for carrying out the tutorial, if you need to use a tool, both the name of the tool and what the button for that tool icon looks like in SolidWorks are given. If you are unsure at any point of where that tool is in SolidWorks, you can simply click on the button in the tutorial text and it will be highlighted in the SolidWorks user interface.

Also contained within the instructions are links to open SolidWorks models that can be used for the tutorial content.

All of this combines to make the tutorial set that is built in to SolidWorks a valuable knowledge resource for learning more about the software that you use.

***

Duncan Crofts is an Applications Engineer & CSWE at TMS CAD Centre, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller in Scotland. He is a regular contributor to the TMS CAD Centre blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks Premium? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Revision Clouds in SolidWorks 2013

This article originally appeared on SolidWorks Legion.

Revision clouds is a new annotation type in SolidWorks. The main purpose for revision clouds is to allow you to call attention areas where a revision was made on a drawing. Though revision clouds are not the same as comment clouds in eDrawings, you may also want to use it to highlight comments for redlines, if you wish. Revision clouds are likely the most entertaining annotation, as you can also get artsy and make actual cloud shapes just for the fun of it.

Making a revision cloud is easy. Open up a drawing in SolidWorks 2013, goto the annotations tab on the CommandManager. Nearby Revision Symbol, you'll find Revision Cloud. The PropertyManager allows you choose cloud type, Rectangle, Ellipse, Irregular Polygon and Freehand. You can also control the maximum size of the cloud puff radius, line type, line thickness and layer. Color can also be controlled via the layer or by using the Line Color tool in the Line Format toolbar. Here's some examples.

Elliptical cloud around a dimension

 

 You can group the dimension and cloud together

 

Once grouped, the cloud and dimension will move together

 

Example of a rectangular cloud

 

Example of an irregular polygon cloud

 

Example of a freehand cloud with a different line style

 

Want to try out the drawings capabilities in SolidWorks Premium? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Using SolidWorks Sub-Weldments

Something that has been confusing to students in my Weldments training classes is the proper way to create Sub-Weldments so that they retain all the work you have done creating properties for the cut-list items.

As of SolidWorks 2012 this is definitely possible but you have to do it in a specific way. The thing to remember with this is that the actual bodies do not store any properties, only the Cut-List Item folders do. So of course you have to do an “update” to your cut-list at least once before proceeding

Here are the steps for successfully creating a Sub-Weldment:

1. Create your weldment as normal.

2. Update the cut-list and add any additional properties to the folders.

3. Ctrl+Select the BODIES you want to make into a sub-weldment (either from tree or from screen with bodies filter).

4. Right+Click, CREATE SUB-WELDMENT.

5. Then update the cut-list again (this is important).  You will end up with three levels in the folder and the properties will be inherited into the Sub-Weldment.

This will even take the properties with the sub-weldment if you save it out to a separate part file (using right+click, "Insert into New Part" on the sub-weldment).  They will also be tied/related back to the original weldment file for updating!

Of course, as an alternative to actual “sub-weldments” done this way you can always just make a weldment, make another weldment, and then stick them into an assembly together.  The above method is nice because it keeps it all in one multi-body weldment part file rather than having to manage an assembly with multiple parts.

***

Randy Simmons is an Application Engineer at 3DVision Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.  He is a regular contributor to 3DVision Technologies' Blog where you will find new ideas to improve your productivity with SolidWorks products.

Want to try out the weldment capabilities in SolidWorks Premium? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Jon Santacoloma Revs Judges' Engines at the 2012 International Design Awards

Sustainable and renewable energy has become the way of the future. Before long, we may even be living in a world similar to the Jetsons (robot housemaid not included).  Many car companies, such as Honda and Toyota, are developing hybrid and electrical cars to help us move away from fossil fuels. As the need for gas decreases, electric car drivers need a new way to rev their engines – compact AC charging units.

Recently awarded third place in the 2012 International Design Awards in the Sustainable Living/Environmental Preservation-Alternative Energy Source Equipment Competition, Jon Santacoloma, a SolidWorks customer from Spain, has designed the 5PRV-H single phase AC charging unit for residential applications. The charger can power up to two electric vehicles.

The IDA jurors evaluated architects and designers from over 65 countries in every industry ranging from interiors and fashion to products and graphics. Winners, including Santacoloma, receive publication of their work in the 2012 International Design Awards Book of Designs, year-long coverage on the IDA website, and promotion to over 100,000 design professionals and clients worldwide.

We congratulate Jon on his achievement. We can’t wait to use the charger when we get our first electric cars!

Connect With Certified SolidWorks Users Online

For a few years now we have offered users who possess a SolidWorks Certification the option to be listed in an online directory.  At SolidWorks World 2013 in Orlando we announced some new functionality that would allow users who choose to be listed in the directory the additional option to also list their LinkedIn Account.  This allows for those users to be contacted directly by anyone who finds them in the directory. 

So if you are a independent contractor looking for work, or a company who has Certified SolidWorks users on staff, and would like potential customers to be able to contact you, here is a good way to make that happen.

In order to appear in the directory you need to enable that option in your SolidWorks Certification Center Profile.  Once you enable that option you can then connect your LinkedIn profile to your account.

Download the attached PDF file that will walk you through how to both enable your on-line directory listing, as well as how to connect your LinkedIn Profile.

Download Online Directory And LinkedIn Listing

Romotive turns your iPhone into a programmable robot with help from SolidWorks

(Soon to be) San Francisco-based Romotive recently announced Romo, a programmable robot that uses your iPhone or iPod Touch as its brain. Using a simple app-based interface, kids as young as eight can program Romo to perform a wide variety of tasks, as well as communicate with other people around the world. Romotive's design team used SolidWorks to create Romo, and a recent feature video on CNN.com shows the software in use during the design process. You can see it here (SolidWorks at 1:40):

Like another SolidWorks customer, Aldebaran Robotics, Romotive sees Romo as having possible theraputic applications for children with autism. In some situations, it's easier for autistic children to interact with robots than people due to their predictable range of responses, non-threatening appearance, and comfort with repetition.

We at SolidWorks are excited to see companies taking new approaches to the field of robotics, and with a price of only $149, Romo could help get a whole new generation of kids excited about a career in the field. You can learn more about Romo on the Romotive website.

 

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business, speed up the innovation process and get to market faster? You can request a free trial on our website.

 

Q&A: Keeping up with the U.S. Department of Defense Design Requirements

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented a standard practice called MIL-STD-31000, that requires proper technical documentation to build, repair and maintain critical tools and equipment. I spoke with Rich Eckenrode, president of RECON Services Incorporated, Ed Miller, senior client executive, Federal at SolidWorks, and Yannick Chaigneau, senior territory technical manager at SolidWorks, to discuss the DoD’s initiative to require that technical data packages leverage 3D CAD models to store and provide specifications for individual components and product assemblies for procured products. These specifications will enable buyers to access product manufacturing information, technical manuals and cost estimation details throughout the product’s entire lifecycle.  Below are some excerpts from my interview.

How has model-based engineering evolved?

Eckenrode: Drawing standards have changed dramatically over just the last 20 years; tolerances applied are being looked at differently; quality assurance planning and practice has changed. In the early stages of CAD technology, the 2D drawings were still the master even though they were derivative of the 3D CAD models. Then software allowed designers to create 3D annotations called Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) inside the 3D model. This led to Model Based Definition (MBD) and Model Based Enterprise (MBE) which allows the 3D annotations to be reused in manufacturing plans and documentation such as maintenance manuals.

What is Model Based Definition (MBD)?

Eckenrode: MBD is a 3D annotated model and its associated data elements that fully provide the product definition in a manner that can be used effectively by all downstream customers in place of a traditional 2D drawing. The types of information it conveys includes GD&T, component level materials, assembly level bills of materials, engineering configurations, design intent, etc.

Model Based Enterprise (MBE) is a fully integrated and collaborative environment founded on 3D product definition detail and shared across the enterprise; to enable rapid, seamless, and affordable deployment of products from concept to disposal.

Why is the DoD adopting MBD/MBE?

Miller: The Technical Data Packages (TDP) used by the suppliers to document product specifications traditionally consisted of a 2D model which did not track or include all the data needed throughout a product’s lifecycle. 3D models help visualize all dimensions of a specific project and include assembly instructions, maintenance and repair information.  This saves engineering time and reduces manufacturing errors. MBD is also part of ASME Y14.41 and has already been adopted by industries like aerospace, automotive, defense and medical, and continues to grow.

Eckenrode: Many weapons platforms used by the DoD have lifecycles of 50, 90, and in the case of the Browning machine gun, more than 100 years. When trying to repair older systems, missing or incomplete TDPs can cause users to spend extra time and money re-designing a model. In some cases, potential suppliers decided not to bid on projects if they were not sure whether they could produce all the parts or satisfy modern manufacturing requirements and quality controls due to antiquated or ambiguous 2D information.

Chaigneau: Today we also have the technology that allows us to take advantage of the 3D technical data in new ways. Models can also be used for rapid prototyping and CNC, which can help reduce manufacturing errors. People can now access 3D from mobile devices, and in some cases the data can also be manipulated (zoom, rotate) to get different perspectives.

How does SolidWorks help comply with DoD’s initiative to provide full transparency into design components?

Chaigneau: Using SolidWorks, customers can create models that have MBD in the form of 3D annotations. The 3D model provides the government or any company with engineering, manufacturing, or inspection practices that contain or utilize CAD data, with information that can be reused throughout the product’s lifecycle in applications like manufacturing planning and documentation, and technical manuals.

Designing with SolidWorks solutions makes it easier for users to extract information to comply with the government’s regulations, while increasing opportunities for suppliers. If the government requests quotations with an MBD format, SolidWorks users have the ability to easily share TPD for an accurate cost estimate. Tools like SolidWorks eDrawings, SolidWorks Enterprise PDM and SolidWorks Composer help users visualize various aspects of a specific project.  Solidworks also a number of 3^rd party solutions partners to support the MBE philosophy.

More information is available at:

• www.mel.nist.gov/msid/sima/mbe/2010/MIL-STD-310000.pdf
• http://model-based-enterprise.org/default.aspx

View and Annotate SolidWorks Files Anywhere with eDrawings Viewer

Imagine this scenario: you’re working from home and a team member asks to you to review their product designed in SolidWorks. You do not have access to your work computer, which has SolidWorks, but you need to provide feedback quickly to keep the design process moving. How do you view the file?

Thankfully, SolidWorks has a FREE solution to help you out. The eDrawings Viewer allows you to open eDrawings files, get dimensions, and collaborate with others by using the mark-up capability. This means you can annotate the design on the spot and share your thoughts with your team without worrying about working remotely.

The eDrawings Viewer is easy to download – you can find it on the SolidWorks homepage under the Products tab. Just click on Free CAD Tools: the second item on the page is the eDrawings Viewer. To download, just click “Download eDrawings Viewer FREE” and, presto, you’re done!

To see if the program installed correctly, check out some cool designs from our customers Donn McKinney and Teversham Engineering.

Breaking a sheet metal loft so it shows bend lines

Lofted bends are great way to create specialized sheet metal parts where you need a high degree of transition from one profile to another – think square to a circle duct work. 

The lofted bend requires two open contour profiles for it to work, with no guide curves or sharp corners, so there are limitations. 

 

The problem comes when you want to see the bend lines. SolidWorks has rules for the sketches in order to see bend lines. 

• The sketches must be parallel
• The sketches must have the same number of corresponding lines and curves

Looking at the previous image, we’re going from one sketch entity (an arc) to three (straight line - arc - straight line) = no bend lines.

How can you get around this problem? 

Easy--drop everything down to a single sketch entity via the Fit Spline and the straight line - arc - straight line are now a single spline entity.

Go back and edit the Lofted Bend feature and you now have the option to control the number of bend lines or Maximum Deviation.

And your flat pattern will now show the bend lines.

 

***

Steve Ostrovsky is an Applications Engineer at TPM, a SolidWorks reseller with locations in North and South Carolina.

Want to try out the sheet metal capabilities in SolidWorks Premium? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

 

Free SolidWorks Certification for Subscription Service Customers

Are you looking for a way to test your skills in SolidWorks or maybe you are in the hunt for a new job and want to make yourself more marketable, then trying one of the SolidWorks Certification Exams is a good way to do that. SolidWorks has been certifying their users since the product first came to the market and has continued to add a variety of different certifications over the years. What many people do not know is that one of the advantages to keeping your license active on Subscription Service is that SolidWorks put out a codes that will allow you to take the test for free.

The best way to access the codes for the free SolidWorks certification is to go to the SolidWorks Customer Portal this can also be found by going to http://www.solidworks.com and selecting Login in the upper right hand side of the site. Once you log into the Customer Portal you can go to Certification in the Community section.

 

Note: If this is your first time logging into the SolidWorks Customer Portal and there are locks on many of the links you need to go to the Register My Products and enter in your SolidWorks Serial Number.

Once you select the Certification link it will take you to the SolidWorks Website and the you need to select the link for Certification Offers for Subscription Service Customers.

At the bottom of the page it will list all of the current offers and when the codes will expire. Make sure you read all of the notes at the bottom of the page.

You want to check the site on a regular basis for any new codes or offers that might be going on.

Good luck with your certifications

Josh Altergott, CATI Support Manager

 

***

Josh Altergott is Support Manager at Computer Aided Technology, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. He is a regular contributor to the CATI Tech Notes blog.

You can learn more about SolidWorks certification programs and SolidWorks Subscription Services on the SolidWorks website

Moving from 2D to 3D: why haven't you made the switch?

Over a year ago, I ran into a friend who is a mechanical designer. As a SolidWorks employee, I had to ask which CAD software he used.  To my surprise, he told me that he actually still liked working with paper and pencil, but the younger engineers in his small office used SolidWorks.  I found it hard to believe that anyone was still using paper and pencil, and investigated more.  He said drawing by hand helped him think better than drawing on a computer.  I encouraged him to try out SolidWorks again, as it would help him work more efficiently, and noted that 3D CAD had come a long way since last he tried it.

I ran into him again recently, and I inquired about our last discussion. To my surprise, he told me that he's now using SolidWorks and loves it, and we discussed how far along 3D software has come since his first experience with 3D CAD.

That made me wonder--how many other people out there are still using a 2D CAD system because they took a look at 3D a decade ago, decided against it, and haven't looked again since?

I remember my first experience with 3D CAD.  I worked in a computer lab in college, where we were using a common 2D package.  I still remember the day that we loaded and first tried 3D CAD.  It was NOT the 3D CAD of today…not even close, and there was not much you could do with it besides build 3D wireframes extruded from 2D; no solid models, just low-res wireframes. In those first 3D packages, you had to think ahead about how you would build the model, and if you made a mistake, it was back to square one!  I’m sure some of you remember this.

When I'm using SolidWorks, drawing in 3D is MUCH easier than drawing in 2D was back then.  3D solid modeling tools have advanced so much over the last few years, that it’s almost too easy do create a new product.  Solid modeling makes it easy to edit models in 3D. You can tackle a design from many different directions, and still come up with a common result.  Changes are simple to make, and you can go back to any part of the design to make changes.

I have to admit, still surprises me to see so many engineers still using 2D tools. And having seen so much advancement over the last few years, I can only wonder will it look like in 5 years.  I believe one day we will see 3D completely take over the entire design process.  Best-in-class companies are already adopting 3D direct to the shop floor (drawing-less shop floor), and I hope in the next few years we will see this as a common practice. 

At SolidWorks, we make it as easy as possible to move from a 2D environment to 3D. Our resellers work with you as partners to help make sure you get the right tools for your company, and they provide all of the training and support you need to get up and running. If you're using a 2D CAD system and want to try out SolidWorks, you can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

So I’m curious…who out there is still using 2D CAD?  What’s holding you back?

 

-Cliff-

 

Replicating History: Teversham Engineering's Project to Rebuild the First Computer using SolidWorks

Today’s computers are lightning fast – they can enable you to do anything from communicating with your team remotely to performing complex calculations to improve your designs. Since its invention, the computer has helped scientists solve complex problems. Teversham Engineering in the United Kingdom is using SolidWorks to recreate digital technology of the past – the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, used by researchers at Cambridge University. As part of the EDSAC project, Teversham is building an authentic replica of one of the most important early British digital computers, originally designed in 1947 and built in 1949.

Using one surviving chassis, Teversham Engineering was able to record the original dimensions and remodel the computer in SolidWorks with ease.  Through the production of the replica in SolidWorks, Teversham has seen how powerful and adaptable computing has become since the 1940’s.

SolidWorks eDrawings has enabled engineers to share designs for sign-off. Through the email-enabled software, project volunteers have instant access to the dynamic 3D models, which they can rotate, zoom and annotate.

“Many volunteers are especially interested in the visual look of the replica – does it look like the original photographs? Seeing their excitement as they passed the iPad around the table was great to see”, said Alan Willis, Managing Director at Teversham Engineering.

Check out Teversham’s eDrawings designs of the EDSAC replica to see how far we’ve come in terms of digital technology.

Don't have eDrawings? You can download it from our website.

Download Teversham Engineering EDSAC eDrawings

Download Teversham Engineering EDSAC Chassis eDrawings

The Magic 8-Ball in SolidWorks

After hearing on the radio the other morning that economists are again predicting a recession, I decided that in an effort to save money, I would make my own economist. For those of you unfamiliar with a magic 8-ball, it is a plastic ball with a window on the bottom. Inside, floating in liquid, is a 20-sided shape with various fortunes written on each face (such as “Signs point to yes” or “Ask again later” and so on). As if modelling up this 20-sided shape called an “Icosahedron” wasn’t challenging enough, you’ll soon see the fun I had trying to populate all the faces with text!

 

Okay, I know what you’re saying. What if I wanted a glimmer of hope? What if I wanted my economist 8-ball to give a different answer? What if I wanted to change the text on ONE face to say something different? Using the method described above it can’t be done, because I’ve dissolved the text. I would have to create a new feature. But, there is a better way: Library Features (stay tuned). This better way also will ensure that my text is positioned every time and also means the text will be consistently oriented (with the triangle pointing down).

***

Jim Peltier is a CSWE at Javelin Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a regular contributor to the Javelin blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Introducing My.SolidWorks

Around the world, there’s a never-ending drive for increased productivity. For design teams, this means constant pressure to create more and better designs in less time.  This isn’t news, of course–it’s the reason SolidWorks was created, and it’s why we improve the product every year, with new capabilities and new ways of creating better designs faster.

Over the years, we’ve found that most users stick with a regular subset of the tools in SolidWorks. For most of you, there are lots of unexplored capabilities and techniques you’ve probably never applied. When faced with the need to use a new feature, a little help can sometimes go a long way in achieving just what you’re looking for in a design. 

The SolidWorks community website is a great place to turn for the insights you need to get the most out of SolidWorks.  With discussion forums, blog posts, online help and more, a visit to the SolidWorks community site will usually result in an answer.  And in cases where it doesn’t, it’s easy to pose a question – one of your fellow users can likely offer an advice.

To help build on that spirit of collaboration, we’re happy to announce the official release of My.SolidWorks.com. My.SolidWorks is a new online experience that makes engaging with the SolidWorks community easier than ever.  My.SolidWorks gives you a single place to find insight and expertise from all over the SolidWorks community. It lets you connect, discover and share anything and everything SolidWorks. 

If you’re in need of a quick answer to a question, My.SolidWorks provides immediate access to forum posts, online help, YouTube videos, blog posts and more. You can also search all of those sources for answers with a single click.  All of the relevant results are delivered on one page, making it much easier to get in, find an answer, and get back to your design.

We know that some of you visit the SolidWorks forums regularly, either to stay on top of updates and examples, or to help others with their SolidWorks questions.  If you want to keep your skills sharp or offer their expertise to others, My.SolidWorks represents a single place to engage about everything SolidWorks.

All My.SolidWorks users can benefit from bookmarking useful articles and the option to personalize the kinds of articles that are shown in your view of the community.  And My.SolidWorks makes it easy to share useful articles with others.  It provides a great value to your team and to you.

Anyone can use My.SolidWorks via a web browser at http://My.SolidWorks.com.  You’ll get the most capability when you’re logged in using your SolidWorks customer account. Customers with an active SolidWorks Subscription get additional value by accessing the content tied to a subscription also appears in My.SolidWorks.  We will be adding mobile capabilities--as well as an add-in to SolidWorks--soon. 

My.SolidWorks is available now – sign in or sign up today!

 

New in SolidWorks 2013: Change Your Life with Search Options

One of the great things about SolidWorks is that each new release is chock full of new functionality and improvements. The challenge of knowing where the settings are located that govern the behavior of all that functionality, unfortunately, becomes larger and larger.... until SolidWorks 2013.

In SolidWorks 2013, we have the same Options dialog that we've had in the past, with tabs and categories and all manner of controls, but we also now have a way to quickly find what we want -- it's called Search Options.

Say I'm working on a file from someone who didn't use the same document properties I want; maybe the arrows in sketches aren't to my liking. In the old days, I'd have to remember where those specific settings were located, or go through the Help and find it that way. In 2013, I can just type in the word "arrow" in Search Options, and immediately I'll have a list of each and every setting (both System Options and Document Properties included). What's more, I can click on that list and the Options dialog will jump to the described location for me, so I can literally click through and visually search for the page of settings that I want, with SolidWorks highlighting my keyword match on each page as I go:

Thus, on my third click in the list, I find the arrow settings I was looking for. Simple!

If you are a CAD administrator or a person who supports SolidWorks at your company, Search Options can make your life a whole lot easier. I won't leave home without it!

***

Jeff Setzer is a Product Manager at Graphics Systems, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across Wisconsin and Illinois. He is a regular contributor to the Graphics Systems’ blog: SolidNotes.com, your source for SolidWorks, Simulation, Data Management, & Product Communication Tips & Tricks.

Want to try out SolidWorks Premium? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Stripping a Coated/Plated Part in SolidWorks

In response to a comment from a past Coating/Plating Parts blog article, here is a simple technique for removing a few thousands of an inch from a finished part to simulate the stripping of a finish. The task is very similar to adding a finish to the part, except in reverse. The tools will be the same as the method Jason shared, only used a bit differently. The tricky thing about stripping the part is ensuring that you leave any non-finished faces, such as reamed or threaded holes, at their final size.

Please read through the steps below and watch the video for step-by-step instructions.

SolidWorks Simulation Time Saver: Sub Modeling

The faster we can simulate, the more options we can validate. With the 2013 SolidWorks release, submodeling was introduced for the Simulation Professional and Simulation Premium packages. Submodeling transfers the displacements from a global model to the border of selected submodel bodies. This is available for linear or nonlinear static studies.

The value of submodeling is that if we are very interested in a specific portion of a larger assembly, we only need to re-run a portion of our simulation model.

As you might have learned in our Intro to Simulation course (CAE 205), displacement is not nearly as sensitive to stress with respect to mesh size. The benefit is that we can run our global model very coarse and then we can re-run our submodel on its own with a very fine mesh to capture fine details in our model.

In addition to mesh changes, we can make modifications to the sub model geometry. However, we should be aware that if our local changes will substantially affect the global stiffness of the whole model, we should go back and validate on the full model after iterating. I will show you how to check this in the video below.

Continue on to the video and the rest of this tutorial: 

Setting the record straight on the future of SolidWorks Mechanical CAD

At SolidWorks World 2013, we announced that we planned to bring a new product, called SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual, to market later this year. SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual will be a new tool for conceptual mechanical design that is complementary to the SolidWorks Mechanical CAD product you use today. It allows you to capture ideas digitally, quickly create 3D concept models, get feedback from internal and external stakeholders, and easily manage multiple concepts before committing engineering time to build. It is the first product we are launching on the Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, and we are excited to get it in the hands of select customers in summer and general launch in Q4 of this year.

Since that announcement, we have received a few questions from SolidWorks customers regarding SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual’s underlying technology, and how it might differ from the current SolidWorks Mechanical CAD product. There have also been some questions about comments made last year by Dassault Systèmes CEO Bernard Charles about SolidWorks’ continued use of the Siemens Parasolid kernel, which has been used since the first release of SolidWorks in 1995.

SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual is the first of many planned complementary products that will be built on the Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Products on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform will use components developed internally by Dassault Systèmes.

SolidWorks Mechanical CAD, currently used by over two million engineers and designers around the world, will continue to leverage the Parasolid kernel. There is no plan to change the kernel. The complementary nature of SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual reinforces our commitment to SolidWorks Mechanical CAD. As we have stated previously, we will continue to develop and improve SolidWorks Mechanical CAD, and have no end-of-life plan for the tool that so many of our customers use and depend on today.

How do I learn how to use SolidWorks?

Here at SolidWorks we often get asked the same question: “Where can I find materials to help me learn how to use SolidWorks?” Well, we have many resources for SolidWorks users of all levels to check out.

If you’re a fan of textbook learning, you can find ample books online at the SolidWorks Merchandise Store or Amazon.com such as the SolidWorks 2013 Basic Tools Part I and Part II. In addition to the variety of SolidWorks books that are available online, you can take a look at our video tutorials which provide instructions on different design needs such as building parts and assemblies.

For additional online reading that teaches you all of the ins-and-outs of SolidWorks, you can also check out some of our older blog posts tagged as “Tips and Tricks”.

If you’re looking for more personalized training and support, you can contact your local reseller: http://www.solidworks.com/sw/purchase/varlocator.htm.

Moreover, please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions about using the software that we haven’t covered in the resources mentioned above. Which part of SolidWorks do you want to learn about?

Forget the Cavity search--use the Intersect command for filled volume (SolidWorks 2013)

The Intersect tool in SolidWorks 2013 is very powerful with many different uses.  In the following exercise, we'll use Intersect to quickly create a filled volume from negative space in order to determine the amount of liquid in a bottle.  The fill volume can then be quickly adjusted based on updates to the bottle.  All of this can now be done without the use of the Cavity tool or Assembly files.

 

1. Open a part file of a bottle similar to the one in this example (above).
2. Place a plane at the fill line.
3. Start the Intersect tool (available on the Features tab of the CommandManager).
4. Select the body of the bottle, plus the fill line plane.  They are added to the Selections box of the Intersect tool PropertyManager. 
5. Choose Intersect button that becomes active below the Selctions box.
6. Note three regions are created.  De-select “Merge Result” in the Options group box since you do not want to combine the fill volume with the bottle itself.
7. Choose OK (green check mark button).
8. You now have 3 solid bodies in your model.  One is the fill volume.  The other two are of the bottle being split by the fill line plane.  You can use Combine to re-unify the two bottle bodies, but it is not necessary for this exercise.
9. It is now possible to make changes on the bottle and immediately see the result on both the model and the fill volume. 
10. You can also view separate states of the model to highlight various elements.  Let's edit the Intersect feature to accomplish this.   Right-click on the feature in the Feature Tree and select Edit Feature in the Short Cut Menu.
11. Use the Regions to Exclude list to control what is shown in the model. In this case, select Regions 2 and 3 (the regions that make up the bottle) to exclude
12. Choose OK to accept and apply.  Now you have a model of just the fill volume.
13. Edit the Intersect feature again.
14. Use the Invert Selection button under the Regions to Exclude.
15. Choose OK to accept and apply.  Now you have a model of just the original bottle, but with easy access to fill volume if you need to see it again.

Fill volume only

 

Want to try out SolidWorks 2013? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Related articles

Utilizing Intersect tool in SolidWorks 2013

The Final Frontier: How Copenhagen Suborbitals Took Off with SolidWorks

SolidWorks World 2013 technical presentations are now available on our proceedings website

New "Bounding Box" in SolidWorks 2013 (it's not just for weldments!)

Editing Legacy Electrical Data with SolidWorks Electrical

Did you know that SolidWorks Electrical contains a full set of 2D drafting tools for editing electrical drawings?  Here are just some of the features that will help you easily maintain your legacy data while also reaping the benefits of creating your new designs faster and better with SolidWorks Electrical.

User Interface:

The “Drawings” tab has many familiar drafting tools to quickly change or add details to your drawings.  All of the obvious ones are there: lines, arcs, rectangles, circles, text, etc.  You’ll also find tools like move, copy, offset, stretch, and mirror.

One of the most common drafting practices found in electrical drawings is the use of symbols or “blocks.”  SolidWorks Electrical can read, edit, and save 2D blocks.  2D users have grown accustomed to managing their drawings with layers and SolidWorks Electrical has that too.

Another thing that makes me feel comfortable when utilizing SolidWorks Electrical is its use of Grid, Ortho, and Object Snaps.  All those things you’ve learned from using 2D tools, like DraftSight, will help you quickly edit drawings in SolidWorks Electrical. 

Import/Export Capabilities:

As mentioned above SolidWorks Electrical can read 2D symbols and blocks.  In fact, it has a great wizard that allows you to import multiple DWG or DXF files.  As you import these files, you have the options to swap older legacy symbols or blocks with new ones that you have developed.  You can also swap title blocks or update attributes on the fly as you open the drawings.  You can also save these settings in an import configuration file for future use.  If you need to continue to provide DWG/DXF files for suppliers, SolidWorks Electrical can export to those formats as well as the widely used PDF format viewable in Adobe Reader.

When I first delved into the features available for editing legacy DWG/DXF files, I was pleasantly surprised.  I was already convinced of the cost and time saving benefits of SolidWorks Electrical, but my customers need to know they can continue to leverage years of legacy data.  I was excited to find out that SolidWorks Electrical can not only provide new and intelligent tools for improving the process of creating electrical schematics, it also supports maintaining and utilizing your legacy electrical drawings.

***

Scott High is the Technical Services Manager at 3DVision Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.  He is a regular contributor to 3DVision Technologies' Blog where you will find new ideas to improve your productivity with SolidWorks.

Want to try out SolidWorks Electrical? You can request a free trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

Got 22 Minutes? Why not learn something new about SolidWorks?

So, who decided that all classes or meetings should be an hour long anyway?  Most meetings here at SolidWorks take an hour…sometimes just 30 minutes (these are my favorite).  But, I wonder if anyone ever did a study on the ideal meeting time?!  I previously worked at a company that had 15 minute stand-up meetings.  These were good, but they always ran over the 15 minutes.

We have found that a good SolidWorks webinar only needs to take 22 minutes.  The timing of the webinar breaks down this way: 10 minutes for an overview and identifying the challenges, 10 minutes for a product exploration (product demo), and a couple minutes for stuff like intros and the conclusion.  So far, we have received extremely positive feedback on the timing.  People feel like they get enough information and they don’t have to sit through 30 or more minutes of gibberish and fluff (I think that’s a technical term).

We have heard very positive feedback from you about the webinars, particularly around “useful information” and “great presenters,” but I think there must be some who just like them because nobody wants to sit through an hour long presentation? Like this guy.

I remember sitting in on a webinar recently, where it took almost 10 minutes to introduce the 5 presenters…seriously.  I logged off after 11 minutes.

So, if you are interested in learning more about our products, and don’t want to spend an hour doing it, you should check out the Upcoming SolidWorks 22-Minute webinars page here

Also, we record all of our webinars and place them here (you may have to register): SolidWorks 22-Minute Recorded Webinars page

If you're interested in webinar topics we have not presented yet, please let us know (comments below are fine).  We will be sure to find an expert, and put 22-minutes on his/her calendar.

Thanks.

-Cliff-

 

Allowing SolidWorks to Perform

For the 4th year in a row Adrian Fanjoy and I have done one of our favorite SolidWorks World presentations, "Allowing SolidWorks to Perform".  The presentation was well received and we thought it would be a good idea to share the information with more than just the SolidWorks World attendees.

We will be publishing our presentation thru a series of blog articles so check back often to see what we have added to the series. We have also included a set of links at the bottom of this article that will take you to all past and future articles.

To get the series started we are starting with Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of putting together this information.

Introduction

From the standpoint of performance in a SolidWorks modeling environment; large assembly modeling is the most strenuous endeavor. As users of any CAD software can understand large assemblies can easily take a workstation to the limits of its capability. In working with several customers and from our past testing Adrian and I have determined many different means of improving performance for SolidWorks. This year we structured our testing a little differently so we could quantify the improvement and determine what improvement is worth the investment.

Our testing was different this year in that we were given a large assembly from Racine Railroad that we are now able to show. We also moved away from our benchmark macro to a custom built API that runs the model through many aspects of SolidWorks measuring our performance in a manner that has never before been done. In our tests we isolate individual changes in our hardware and modeling environment and measure the time difference of running the API against a Typical, Practical, and Optimal system. This allowed us to measure the effect of a single change and then compare that to other changes to determine where to invest time and resources to improve SolidWorks performance.

Please realize that the results that we are presenting in this document are specific to our environment, models, and tasks performed. While we are certain that you can expect similar results when making such changes, the magnitude of your performance increase will definitely be different than ours. When working with large assemblies the benefits that you realize may be more or less than ours. Overall you should see an improvement but realize that we cannot determine what other environments may hold, thus we will not guarantee the effect these changes will have in any environment other than ours.

Tests

To determine what changes make the most significant difference in hardware and modeling performance we ran our model through a custom SolidWorks API created by Bob Hanson (CATI/InFlow) that performed operations common in a typical designers day (ie. modeling, rotations, rebuilds, opens, closes, saves, etc...). We tested many specific aspects in the categories of hardware, system configuration, and modeling methodology.

Environment

To run tests of this nature and insure that the integrity of the testing was maintained we needed a system that was extremely adaptable. BOXX Technologies provided that workstation. The 3D BOXX 4920 Extreme Workstation gave us the ability to test a wide range of configurations without jumping from one workstation to another which would have made maintaining consistency in our configuration almost impossible. This ability to adapt allowed us to run tests that ranged from:

• 1 core to 6 cores
• 3.42GHz to 4.43GHz processor speeds
• 2GB to 32GB of RAM
• 5 different Nvidia graphics cards
• 5 different hard drive types

Model

Our model was given to us this year by Racine Railroad Products and was the ideal assembly to use for performance testing. It is a combination over 10,000 components with many layers of subassemblies that gave us the flexibility to perform all of our testing. The model, as seen below, is their Safelok Applicator & Remover, A.K.A. SAR Machine. The machine both applies or removes the Safelok clip used mostly in concrete railroad tie scenarios; although there are wood tie applications as well.

The stats for this assembly are:

• 10559 total components
• 9693 parts
• 866 sub-assemblies
• 1292 top level mates
• 15093 bodies

In total the dataset takes up 1.92GB of disk space and has 4854 files.

Baseline or Typical Machine

For our baseline test we chose to run the API in a manner that we felt was consistent with typical environments that we see with customers and this will be referred to as our Typical Machine in all of our testing.

The core aspects (These never change)

• SolidWorks 2013 SP0
• WIN7 64bit OS

Hardware

• 1 - i7 processor with 2 cores @ 3.4GHz
• 8GB RAM
• OS and assembly storage on the same 7200RPM hard drive

Configuration

• SolidWorks options set to defaults
• Files are stored locally
• Several Add-Ins are turned on
• Operating system visual settings are set to default

Modeling methods

• Image quality set optimally
• High level of detail in some components
• Large number of top level mates
• Assembly is fully resolved

With our environment configured as above our benchmark ran in 4:43:44. Most of the comparisons that follow in our blog articles will be compared to this Typical machine.

In the subsequent articles in this series we are going to explore each test that we did. We will put the tests in no particular order with the exception of we will be posting all of our hardware tests followed by modeling tests. We will finish with 2 optimal configurations to see what the effect can be when you combine all of the improvements together into the same environment and model set.  Occasionally we will veer off track and discuss a side topic here and there as well.

I hope you find these articles informative and helpful. Please check back to the CATI blog as we will continue posting our series of articles that goes further into the details of each of our tests. All of these articles will be stored in the category of Free SolidWorks from Performance Constraints and links to each with their release date are listed below:

• FSWPC-13-#1 Introduction (3/19/13)
• FSWPC-13-#2 RAM (3/21/13)
• FSWPC-13-#3 Processor Cores (3/26/13)
• FSWPC-13-#4 Processor Cores for Simulation and PhotoView360 (3/28/13)
• FSWPC-13-#5 Processor Clock Speed (4/2/13)
• FSWPC-13-#6 Hard Drives (4/4/13)
• FSWPC-13-#7a Graphics Cards-SolidWorks Functionality (4/9/13)
• FSWPC-13-#7b Graphics Cards-Hardware Comparison (4/11/13)
• FSWPC-13-#7c Graphics Cards-Model Complexity (4/16/13)
• FSWPC-13-#8 Files stored in an older version (4/18/13)
• FSWPC-13-#9 OS Visual and User Settings (4/23/13)
• FSWPC-13-#10 SolidWorks Options (4/25/13)
• FSWPC-13-#11 SolidWorks Image Quality (4/30/13)
• FSWPC-13-#12 SolidWorks RealView Graphics (5/2/13)
• FSWPC-13-#13 SolidWorks  Level of Detail (5/7/13)
• FSWPC-13-#14 SolidWorks Mates and Flexible Subassemblies (5/9/13)
• FSWPC-13-#15 SolidWorks Defeature (5/14/13)
• FSWPC-13-#16 SolidWorks Envelope (5/16/13)
• FSWPC-13-#17 SolidWorks Large Design Review (5/21/13)
• FSWPC-13-#18 SolidWorks SpeedPak (5/23/13)
• FSWPC-13-#19 SolidWorks Save as Part (5/28/13)
• FSWPC-13-#20 SolidWorks Large Assembly Mode (5/30/13)
• FSWPC-13-#21 Optimal Configuration and Conclusion (6/4/13)

***

Josh Altergott is Support Manager at Computer Aided Technology, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. He is a regular contributor to the CATI Tech Notes blog.

Want to try out SolidWorks? You can request a free SolidWorks trial on our website.

Want to see how SolidWorks can help you win new business and get to market faster? Request a  SolidWorks demo today.

The Final Frontier: How Copenhagen Suborbitals Took Off with SolidWorks

It’s no mistake that a New York Times headline from last September read "Space Tourism is Here". While the human race has already reached the final frontier, the majority of people have probably never ventured into space, let alone traveled beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. With the recent upspring of private companies focused on building crafts for human space flight and new developments in technologies and composite materials, SolidWorks has been able to lend a hand towards helping companies like Copenhagen Suborbitals.

Designing an open-source manned space rocket and capsule for suborbital space flight, Copenhagen Suborbitals believes that the sky is the limit, quite literally. Eager to share his story, Kristian von Bengtson, founder of Copenhagen Suborbitals, blogs regularly for Wired magazine. Some of you SolidWorks fans may even notice that his models and simulations are pulled from our software.

Using SolidWorks Professional, SolidWorks Premium, and SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Copenhagen Suborbitals has built the capsule geometry, exported the drawings for laser cutting, and conducted FEM analysis of structures to see if they meet flight requirements. SolidWorks, combined with sketching capabilities, is one of the most important tools in the early research and development phase and the production phases of von Bengtson’s project.

Copenhagen Suborbitals has used eDrawings to share new designs and get ideas from others. To see the latest capsule design, you can download it here: Download Copenhagen Suborbitals capsule in eDrawings. Feel free to offer your own suggestions, if you would like via the eDrawings file.

New on Born to Design: Design That Matters uses SolidWorks to help save newborns with jaundice

The team at Design That Matters brings innovative solutions to underprivileged communities in developing countries. Using SolidWorks to develop their Firefly phototherapy machine, they found a way to bring affordable jaundice treatment to newborns in developing countries.

You can see the complete video on the Born to Design website.

How Design Has Changed The Way We Drink

This Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year. The day is usually celebrated with a drink of choice, but did you know that design plays a big role in actually shaping the way we drink?

A great deal of design-thinking goes into making the packages what they are today – just think back to the old-school glass Coca Cola bottles and thick plastic water bottles and how different the packaging is today. There have been many changes to packaging that take advantage of new technology, research findings and general industry trends. But why does design evolve and what types of technology can make this all possible?

SolidWorks took a look at the beverage industry, considered specific packaging changes, and found there are multiple reasons why the designs have changed over the years. For example, individual beer cans still serve as the best way to preserve beer by not allowing sunlight and air to spoil the taste, as well as a convenient single-serve package that lets the consumer properly portion his/her intake. Bottled water companies have found a way to make same-sized water bottles with up to 40% less plastic than before, therefore saving money and the planet. Although the process of figuring all this out and adjusting accordingly may sound complicated and costly, 3D design tools like SolidWorks can be used to simplify the design process in the early stages and help bring ideas to reality and products to market at a much faster rate.

With SolidWorks Simulation, designers and manufacturers have the ability to review and make design changes along the way, reducing or eliminating the need for rework and improving product quality. Simulation analysis tools provide users with valuable knowledge so they can determine whether changes to the packaging design, material selection or processing conditions will have a positive impact on the ability to easily manufacture, ship and store their products. In addition, certain SolidWorks applications such as Sustainability and Costing can help determine pricing options for part manufacturing and its effects on the environment. Pretty cool, right?

Looking more closely at what it takes to make the bottles and cans that hold our favorite beverages more effective and consumer-friendly, SolidWorks developed an infographic that outlines the innovation process that goes into packaging design. Take a look here and let us know what you think.

Designing a Standing Desk with SolidWorks

Are you spending most of your day sitting in front of the computer? Does your back, neck and rear end get tired? Or maybe you’ve noticed the weigh scale slowly creep higher and higher. Over the years of technological advancement, we’ve become more efficient, more productive and more lazy. From a health perspective, sitting all day is horrible for the human body. There are many different studies that show how our sedentary lifestyles are affecting our wellness. Here is one article with a poignant message about how sitting is killing us (http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/sitting-kills/).

So as I’m at a computer 8 hours a day, I try to keep moving as much as possible. Get up and walk to a garbage can, walk for 1/2hr at lunch, bike to work, etc. But what about the time sitting in front of the monitor? How about working from a standing position! There are many models of stand-up desks out there but I had some criteria. It must work in my existing cubicle space, it must be adjustable so I can sit or stand (depending on my mood) and it must be cheap. I didn’t really find anything out there on the market.

Therefore it was time to turn to the Javelin solution. A custom-made standing desk contraption using SolidWorks 3D CAD to assist with the design, eDrawings app for the iPad for detailed drawings in the production shop (my apartment balcony), and the Stratasys Objet 30 rapid prototype 3D printer to create a monitor mount adapter.

I did end up buying an adjustable monitor mount with a quick release lever for raising and lowering my monitor. This makes it easy to switch from sitting to standing to sitting.

But there was a problem.  The mounting bracket featured the standard Vesa hole pattern of 75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100mm. But my monitor only had mounting holes at 200mm x 100mm. Sure there were adapters available but what’s the fun in that!

Time to design a bracket and make sure it all fits properly.

And why not create a prototype on the Objet printer. I wonder if the prototype would be strong enough to work? Let’s run a Simulation study using the yield properties of the Objet materials.

This may actually work!  Displacement was only about 0.13mm and we have a factor of safety at 2.71. Time to print!

Well would you look at that… fits like a glove.

So that finishes the monitor mount. But how do we raise and lower the keyboard and mouse.  Can’t really have a permanent fixture because I like the current height of the desk when I’m sitting. Plus there really isn’t much room. How about a collapsible “tv tray” stand?

Fully collapsible for easy storage…

Alright, time to build this thing. If only I had a workshop in my small apartment. The balcony will do. I’m a big fan of producing less waste so I sent my models and detailed drawings to my iPad and opened them up in eDrawings. This is a great little app that works on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. And there’s two versions to choose from, eDrawings and eDrawings Pro.  Be sure to grab them from the App Store!

Everything looks good in my SolidWorks model. Perfect height and minimum space required.

And the finished project works great! You’ll see my head popping up above the walls several hours a day…

 

Remote vs. Distributed Mass in SolidWorks Simulation

One of the more important and yet challenging aspects to using Finite Element Analysis is constructing a usable model.  This model, whether found natively in a CAD package, imported from a CAD package, or constructed within a dedicated FE package needs to be both efficient and provide accurate results.

When certain models contain a great amount of detail we need to remove the extraneous details while preserving the integrity of the model.  However some "details" represent entire sub-systems.  For example, to the left, is a very simple welded frame. Atop the frame, though, is a model of a small Honda engine. (Thank You 3DContentCentral!!)  I'm only interested in the displacements and stresses of the frame, not the engine.  What is an engineer to do!?!

If we were to solve for the beams and only take the applied weight of the engine we would be neglecting inertial effects as well as any moment around one of the beams' axes.  And so, while a normally applied load to the mounting plate sitting atop the horizontal member may be "close enough" our numerical tools permit us to analyze this system with greater detail.

The question then becomes, using SolidWorks Simulation, what method should be employed?  Our choices are: a remote load/mass that replaces the engine as well as its center of gravity and mass moments of inertia or a "distributed" load that represents the mass of the engine.

In the former, I can use SolidWorks to calculate the mass and the mass moments of inertia (Tools, Mass Properties). In the latter I need only know the engine's mass. (Additionally, since I will use the Gravity boundary condition I could apply the mass * acceleration = weight as a normal force.... but that's too easy!) If the model I intend on removing from the problem is not modeled with detail then guessing the mass and CG is perhaps my only recourse.  My preference would be to include as much information about the model I'm eliminating from the problem.

"What's the difference?  They both include the mass." Not entirely true. A Remote Mass is attached to the face selection via rigid bars and thus adds stiffness to the model. One needs to provide the mass AND the CG. (There is an easier way)

The Distributed Mass is uniformly applied to the selected entity without said rigid bars. Think of it as being "melted" to the face it is applied to.

Both Remote Load/Mass and Distributed Mass can be found by right-mouse clicking the External Loads folder of your study. Additionally, and more easily, a Remote Mass can be created by right-mouse clicking the component from the Parts list of the study. 

 The Remote Mass becomes its own folder.  The solid body still requires a material as well as having Gravity turned on as a boundary condition.

How do the results compare between a distributed mass and a remote mass?  Let's compare results using SolidWorks Simulation's easy-to-use Compare Results tool. Firstly, the bending moments. Followed by the shear diagrams. And next displacement results. Lastly, stress comparisons.

As you review the above results you may be saying to yourself, "C'mon Chris, they're so close... does it really matter?" I'll leave that up to you.  But you will note that the moments introduced by the remote mass could not be calculated correctly if you use a distributed mass.  And that's the point: there's more than one way to solve this but there's a more correct way to arrive at the results.

Chris Schaefer is a Simulation Specialist at Graphics Systems, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations across Wisconsin and Illinois. He is a regular contributor to the Graphics Systems’ blog: SolidNotes.com, your source for SolidWorks, Simulation, Data Management, & Product Communication Tips & Tricks.