SOLIDWORKS
From Artist’s Concept to Production Design
Often times, designs originate as a sketch on a napkin or as a marker rendering. Sketch Picture, allows you to easily capture this information and build a 3D concept, referencing this information. What is even more powerful is the ability
... ContinuedMultiple Display States for Configurations Speed Up Large Assemblies
Do you currently make assembly configurations just so you can see the assembly in different display states? Well you’re not alone. But now, in SolidWorks 2006, you won’t have to do it anymore. Now you can toggle between display states
... ContinuedLet your mates do the work!
Recently I spoke with a customer who has created a substantial library of custom part files. He described to me what a great time savings it was to have a standard libraries that users can simply drag and drop from.
... ContinuedDo you need data management?
I sometimes hear from users who express frustration with a lack of organization of their design data. When I ask how they are managing their data the typical response is standard windows folder or shared drives. So, how do you
... ContinuedSave your settings…
Whether moving from one machine to another or the next version of SolidWorks, the Copy Settings Wizard can be used to save and restore your SolidWorks Settings. The Copy Settings Wizard (see figure 1) is available from the Windows Start
... Continued3D Sketch and Loft
Product designers often require significant interactive control over the shaped they are creating. With improvements made in 2006, it is now possible to use a single 3D Sketch to create a loft Feature. In addition, you can dynamically edit the
... ContinuedFit Spline can overcome the mystery of splines
Often times I hear from engineers complains about the splines in their design tools that they are just too difficult to use. When probing deeper into their response, I discover that its not that they are necessarily difficult to use
... ContinuedU.S. Digital to increase sales by 30 percent
If you go to visit any designer you will notice one thing in common on the shelves around their desks. That’s stacks and stacks of component catalogs. These are the parts you buy to build your products. Often you spend
... ContinuedLet your titleblocks fill themselves out!
I often speak with customers who tell me how they have used SolidWorks to become more efficient in their design and documentation processes. I have found that even the simple tasks we take for granted can yield significant time savings
... Continued“These holes don’t line up” – Sound Familiar?
The biggest problem with 2D CAD software is still that when you go to assemble parts holes just don’t line up. If you are using 2D do you ever have problems with interferences due to misaligned holes or incorrect fastener
... ContinuedKoenigsegg Supercar
Here is a pretty cool article on the Koenigsegg supercar. I have seen Christian speak a few times and he is pretty inspiring. Can you imagine traveling at 240+ mph in a car? Everyone at SolidWorks is pretty excited about
... ContinuedTake control of your assembly cuts and holes with Feature Scope
Did you ever want to make an assembly cut or hole in which feature only affected certain components in the assembly? Many companies ask me about applying manufacturing features at the assembly level and how to manage what components will
... ContinuedSketch blocks – the “napkin sketch” that you can use to drive your design
SolidWorks “sketch blocks” is functionality that greatly expands the power of the sketcher. Sketch blocks can be used to simulate the kinematics of complex mechanisms as well as act as “skeletons” to help manage assemblies. The 4-bar linkage above is
... ContinuedIs RoHS compliance important to your company?
I was reading a recent article in Machine Design titled ‘Do your CAD designs comply with RoHS?’. The article begins: ‘Beginning July 1, 2006, the Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive mandates certain hazardous substances be significantly reduced
... ContinuedSmart Components Take Assembly Design Automation to a New Level
There were some awesome presentations at SolidWorks World on how to save time assembling components. Almost every time a component is assembled, other components (such as fasteners) and features (such as holes and cuts) are also required. Take for instance
... Continued