The SolidWorks Blog

Climbing Ladders With SolidWorks: Don't Just Stress About Strength

I love this time of year in New England--the weather, apple picking, the colors as the leaves turn.  But what I don’t love is the half a trillion leaves that fall into my garden that I then have to blow/rake and pick up.  But they don’t just fall on the ground; they fall into the gutters causing clogs and mini floods the next time it rains.  So last weekend I braved up and got out the ladder to clear them out. 

I’m in a new house, so it’s the first time I have done these gutters, and I was struck by how my extension ladder could be both as rigid as a rock or as flexible as rubber (okay maybe a slight exaggeration), depending upon the angle of the ladder and how much it was extended.  Idle speculation lead me down to my basement office, and in a few short minuntes, I had a test model ready to go in SolidWorks Simulation.  In order to get a more representative result, I also created a model of myself on the ladder, to add some extra weight.

As you can see I used weldments for both the ladder and myself, with my weight set to 190 lbs [you wish - Ed.]. This is because I am not interested in the detailed stresses in the ladder; rather, I want to know why it become so flexible as it extends.  The stiffness of the ladder is related to its natural mode of vibration, so my first test was to see what effect extending the ladder had while keeping the maximum elevation at 4m.

The Three Ladder Configurations tested

Setting up the problem in SolidWorks Simulation was very simple; all you have to do is restrain the ends of the ladder and hit run.  And this is where it gets interesting.  If you look at the first natural mode for the ladder (see below) we can see as the ladder extends the frequency drops, indicating a reduction in stiffness. 

	First Mode	Behavior
No Extension	5.0 Hz	Twisting
Half Extension	4.0 Hz	Twisting
Full Extension	2.7 Hz	Hogging-Sagging

But the real analysis ‘gold’ comes from looking at the mode shapes.  For the ladder with no or only half extension, the first natural mode is a twisting mode, and for the fully extended ladder it is a hogging/sagging mode.

The reason this is important is because this mode is excited by the movement of a person up the ladder.  So the greater the force in the excitation direction, the greater the movement of the ladder.  The amount of twisting force applied as you go up a ladder is relatively small as at the most you weight moment arm is half the width of the ladder, but the force in the last case is well aligned to the natural mode so even if you do not move up the ladder one step every 1/3 of a second to induce resonance, the ladder will tend to move a lot mode due to this force alignment.

So what would happen if I moved up this ladder by two rungs at one rung per second??  To understand this I need to carry out a dynamic analysis.  And the results are telling; even though I am away from the first natural mode, the ladder will flex at a peak of 35mm, but when I stop moving, the movement quickly dies away.

So what have I learned from this simple test?  Firstly, don’t just consider strength; if the operational load moves or varies, look at the flexibility of you design.  A frequency study can qualitatively tell you how flexible your design is, but a dynamic analysis will tell you exactly how your design will perform under variable loads.

I also learned that I hate ladders, and that the local handyman can clear out my gutter next time..

Want to see how SolidWorks Simulation applies to more real-world situations? Check out our Simulation Screencasts:

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Big Ass Fans Move Big Volumes of Air With Help from SolidWorks

Whether you’re trying to cool off your living room, restaurant, industrial plant or business, you’ll probably need a “big ass fan” to circulate high volumes of air and get the job done right. Big Ass Fans, a Kentucky-based manufacturer, produces high-volume, low-speed ceiling and vertical fans with a sleek design. To decorate your home, for example, Big Ass Fans offers the Haiku, a fan with a minimalist look that’s 80% more efficient than other small ceiling fans. For larger rooms and small commercial spaces, the stylish Isis may be a better fit and, despite its diameter of up to 10 feet, this fan weighs less than 100 pounds. How does Big Ass Fans create a product that can move air in spaces ranging from small rooms to large industrial spaces? The answer is simple: SolidWorks.

After using AutoCAD software and 2D design techniques to produce fans for industrial applications, Big Ass Fans decided to make the switch to SolidWorks to expand their business into commercial and residential markets to increase efficiency and improve development. As a result, the manufacturer cut design cycles by up to 50 percent. SolidWorks Simulation enabled Big Ass Fans to streamline production through rapid prototyping. From a design, simulation, and manufacturing perspective, the software addresses all of the company’s needs: from fabrication to making aluminum castings and plastic injection-molded parts.

Using SolidWorks, Big Ass Fans created a product that generates energy savings for an eco-friendly and wallet-friendly environment. Before cranking the heat this season, consider installing a Big Ass Fan to be comfortable in your space.

Read more about how SolidWorks and Big Ass Fans can help you do that in a case study on the SolidWorks website.

New in SolidWorks 2013: Dowel Holes

A new hole type finds its way into the Hole Wizard for SolidWorks 2013.  The much anticipated Dowel Hole now allows users to create this unique feature with characteristics that are unique to this type of hole.  This includes things like the fit characteristics. 

You can learn more in the video below, and visit our new SolidWorks 2013 website to learn about the other new features, as well as find a reseller seminar near you.

New in SolidWorks 2013: Expanding Process Costing and API Support

SolidWorks 2013 provides automatic manufacturing cost estimation to support more manufacturing processes and improves access to cost data for downstream manufacturing systems.

• Machined part costing with increased capabilities for turning and mill/turn, improved process recognition, and multibody support
• New APIs to access cost data in the 3D model for downstream manufacturing
• Easily estimate the cost of designs to create more accurate quotations and stay in budget

You can learn more in the video below, and visit our new SolidWorks 2013 website to learn about the other new features, as well as find a reseller seminar near you.

SolidWorks’ Users Ignite the 2012 MassChallenge Competition

The world is full of great ideas and MassChallenge is helping novice entrepreneurs make their ideas a reality. MassChallenge’s global accelerator program and startup competition is designed to give entrepreneurs the momentum needed to launch and succeed.

Each year, through a partnership with SolidWorks and FISHER/UNITECH, the MassChallenge is able to provide its teams with access to SolidWorks 3D CAD software to help accelerate their design process; SolidWorks' suite of tools enable MassChallenge teams to virtually test their ideas against real world conditions - eliminating costs traditionally associated with bringing a product to market. This partnership is just one way MassChallenge empowers a cross-collaborative environment to help entrepreneurs solve problems better and faster. 

The HelmetHub helmet dispenser, designed in SolidWorks, stands alongside existing bikeshare stations to ensure that helmets are available for participants.

This year, 1,237 applications from 35 countries and 36 states were submitted, and the MassChallenge judges had the difficult job of narrowing them down to the 125 highest-impact startups. The selected startups were invited to participate in a three-month accelerator program providing intensive mentoring and access to resources including free office space, legal support, and targeted introductions to customers and funding sources.

More than 300 expert judges were involved in 900+ hours of deliberation to refine the list of the highest-impact startups to the top two percent. The 26 finalists will compete to be one of the 10-20 startups to split $1,000,000 in cash rewards.  The winning startups will be announced at the MassChallenge Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

The Leveraged Freedom Chair, designed by Global Research and Innovation & Technology in SolidWorks, features a unique drivetrain to help people with disabilities navigate rough terrain all over the world.

Seven companies from the final 26 are using SolidWorks to help bring their ideas to life in the industries of High Tech, Energy & Clean Tech, Life Sciences/Healthcare and Social Impact:

• Black Island Wind Turbines provides customers with the toughest wind turbines to survive in 200+mph marine environments.

• Bounce Imaging saves lives by letting soldiers and first responders view hazardous environments remotely and at a low cost.

• Dynamo Micropower has developed a novel microturbine that is fuel-flexible, robust and more efficient than small diesel.

• HelmetHub Corporation promotes safe cycling practices among bikeshare users with its helmet vending solution that dispenses and allows for the return of helmets.

• Global Research Innovation & Technology’s (GRIT) Leveraged Freedom Chair uses a novel drivetrain to offer people with disabilities unparalleled mobility on rough terrain. 

• Strong Arm Technologies, Inc. developed a solution to take the force of a load and disperses them to stronger more stable areas of the lifters’ torso. In doing so, Strong Arm helps workers lift safer and with less effort by constraining users into a proper ergonomic lifting posture.

• WindGap Medical Inc. makes a miniature, temperature-insensitive alternative to the EpiPen ® addressing a pressing need in a growing market.

The Day2Night convertible heels provide women with long-lasting comfort, giving them different heel options to accomodate different events and activities throughout the day.

This year’s list of highest-impact startups joins the ranks of other SolidWorks’ users in the MassChallenge Hall of Fame like Roof for Two , Day2Night Convertible Heels and Artaic.  

Check out the MassChallenge website for the full list of the final 26 startups. Although we all wish the best of luck to all the competitors, which SolidWorks’ customers do you think have what it takes to win?

Save $200 when you register for SolidWorks World 2013 by October 26

It's hard to believe that the first early-bird deadline for SolidWorks World 2013 is coming up this Friday. In case you've forgotten, SolidWorks World is being held January 20-23 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort in sunny Orlando, Florida. If you register in the next few days, you can save $200 on the regular registration cost.

The usual deals apply as well. You get three registrations when you pay for two, and as always, CSWPs and CSWEs save an additional $100.

Want to learn about the benefits of attending SolidWorks World? You can find them here.

Want to see which vendors will be exhibiting? They're over here.

Need help convincing the boss to let you go? We can help with that too.

PS--be sure to follow SolidWorks World on Twitter for regular news and updates.

SolidWorks Enterprise Licensing Made Simple

You’ve anticipated installing a newer version of SolidWorks Enterprise PDM for the last month. You’ve let everyone know of the impending update. You’ve downloaded the latest service pack from www.SolidWorks.com. You’ve made backups of your SQL databases. You’ve ensured the archive folders have been backed up. You performed the upgrade procedures from the Installation guide PDF to the ‘T’ (pg. 92). After the upgrade is completed, you test your first client to the upgraded server and you see:

No licenses available!

If you see this, we might need to review the installation procedures one last time. On the bottom of page 92 under the heading ‘Client Licenses’, there are two brief paragraphs explaining what might have happened:

A database upgrade to a new major version resets the license count to 0 users. After the upgrade, you must install a valid license for multiple users to log in.

When upgrading from an older service pack, for example Enterprise PDM 2009 SP1 to Enterprise PDM 2009 SP2, your existing license code is still valid. The license file must have been missed.

As stated above, you must have a new license file for every major release (i.e. 2012 to 2013) but it is not required for upgrades within a release (2012 SP0 to 2012 SP4). If you do receive the above message, it is advised that you retrieve your license file as quickly as possible. You can do this immediately with your company login to www.solidworks.com. It does not require a technical support ticket through your local reseller.

To obtain your license, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.solidworks.com and select ‘Login’.
   
   
   
   
2. Click the icon for customer portal and provide your customer log in information.
   
   
3. Select ‘My Products’ for a listing of your registered products. Note: If you have not registered your SolidWorks Enterprise PDM software yet, you must do so before retrieving your license file by clicking the ‘Register My Products’ link.
   
4. Select the licenses file for the product you are installing (step 1). In this image below, the 2012 product is selected. Then click ‘Get License’ (step 2). You should next see a message indicating that the license file is being sent to your email.
   
5. Within a few minutes, you should receive an email with your license file attached. Save this to a location on your machine for easy access in the next step.
   
   
6. The last step is to load the license file into SolidWorks Enterprise PDM. To do this, we launch the SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Administration tool, log into our vault, double click the ‘License’ node(step 1). When the ‘Set License’ window appears, click the ellipsis button and browse to the text file from the email (step 2). Click ‘OK’ to apply and double click the ‘License’ node. You should now see licenses available in the bottom list (step 3).
   
    
   

At this point, you should be able to log into your client vault view and not receive the message regarding zero licenses available! A few considerations when updating:

• With the impending release of the new 2013 products, you are no doubt planning to update one or more product lines to the 2013 versions. In regards to SolidWorks and SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, SolidWorks Enterprise PDM must be at the same version or newer than SolidWorks. The SolidWorks Enterprise 2013 add-in will be compatible with SolidWorks 2011, 2012, and 2013. If you upgrade SolidWorks and not SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, SolidWorks 2013 files may not be compatible with SolidWorks Enterprise 2012 and is not supported in this setup.
• When updating a SolidWorks Enterprise environment, ALL clients and servers must be on the same year and servicepack release. As such, you must update all components simultaneously to prevent any outages in your environment and replicated sites. You will NOT be able to log into a vault view if the client differs in version from the server.
• When deploying large amounts of clients, you can use Group Policy to deploy the client to users. This can be found on page 57 of the Installation guide PDF.

***

Royce Cole is a Certified SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Professional and Support Technician, and application engineer at DASI Solutions, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations throughout Michigan and Indiana. He is a regular contributor to the DASI Solutions Blog.

Customizing SolidWorks Flyout Toolbars

The other day while watching a video on some of the new SolidWorks 2013 features, I noticed that one of the Flyout Toolbars for Annotations had a command for Cosmetic Threads that I did not have in my Flyouts, so I set about going to find out how to make the same change. I looked in all of the standard places first, Help, Knowledge Base, etc. and found no real straight forward answer. So I resorted to my other bag of tricks, below is what I found and I think I will add this to my other collection of Redneck Workarounds.

So here is what we started with first we Customize the S key to add the Annotation Flyout Toolbar.

We can see that when we look at the Annotations Flyout that there is no Cosmetic Thread.

To get our Cosmetic Thread we will again go back to Customize, show the Annotation toolbar and add the Cosmetic Thread to the toolbar.

 Now we go back to our S key and you will see that we now have our Cosmetic Thread.

Note the location in the Flyout and it is the same location that we dropped the command into the toolbar in the earlier Customize.

We have tested this with several other Flyout Toolbars and we were able to add and or reorder buttons to several other toolbars with the same steps listed above.

Good Luck and I hope this helps in customizing SolidWorks. You can learn more about SolidWorks 2013 on the website (no registration required).

***

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.

New on Born to Design: Franck Muller designs the world's most complex watches with SolidWorks

Swiss-based luxury watchmaking company, Franck Muller, is known for making complex watches with hundreds, sometimes thousands of tiny moving parts. In an industry steeped in tradition and precision, see how SolidWorks® software is enabling their engineers to bring new innovations to an old world craft.

See what goes into designing the world's most complex watches in our newest Born to Design feature video.

New in SolidWorks 2013: Optimize Designs for Sustainability and Materials Costs

SolidWorks 2013's new Raw Material Financial Impact Tool quickly evaluates the financial and environmental impacts of a raw material change in real time to enable more informed design decisions.

• Optimize designs for environmental impact and material cost
• Find the best design based on green initiatives, material requirements, and carbon footprint impact

You can learn more in the video below, and visit our new SolidWorks 2013 website to learn about the other new features, as well as find a reseller seminar near you.