Entries Tagged 'SolidWorks Tips' ↓

Today’s SolidWorks Video Tip shows an example of how you can use ScanTo3D to extract surface data from mesh files.  This example was inspired by a file I recently helped fellow Blogger Mike Puckett with.  ScanTo3D is part of SolidWorks Premium.  It allows users to open Point Cloud and Mesh data in various formats with a toolset that enables users to construct solid or surface models based on triangulated mesh data.  Click on the image below to access the video tip.

Stay tuned….more to come!

This SolidWorks Video Tip shows the use of multiple trim tool features in the Split command.  The example shows the creation of a simplified polyurethane tool using the Combine and Split commands found inside the SolidWorks Part environment.

I have finally solved the audio lag issue that you might have noticed in previous videos that include voice over.  The video is over 9 minutes long, so be patient, it might take a little longer to load.  Click on the image below to watch this Video Tip.

Stay tuned…..more to come!

When working with any parametric modeling package references are something a user constantly has to be aware of.  Often times when you make modifications to a model, child features based off of entities changed can fail to regenerate properly due to the nature of the changes made.

SolidWorks 2009 introduces some time saving enhancements that will help users better understand missing references.  Check out the Video below for more.

Stay tuned….more to come!

SolidWorks 2009 has been out long enough now that most of the “major” enhancements have probably been talked about on quite a few sites across the web.  Here’s an enhancement that I have noticed hasn’t gotten much press.  That enhancement is the ability to restructure Bills of Materials (BOM) in Drawings.

This video tip will show a simple example of this new capability that for some companies could be a game changer.  I know that is an awfully big statement, but think about a situation where for assembly speed reasons, sub-assemblies are used in SolidWorks, yet build procedures call for parts and assemblies to be grouped differently.  This functionality can support these instances.  I’ve only tested it on a few assemblies, but it seems to work very well and is pretty easy to pick up.  Click on the link below to see the Video Tip.

The Convert to Sheet Metal feature is a new tool available in SolidWorks 2009 that allows you to quickly create Sheet Metal parts from an existing solid model.  Click on the link below to see this new tool in action.

The voice over is getting better….still some room for improvement though!

Stay tuned….more to come!

This SolidWorks Video Tip shows off an option that is easy to miss when applying Tangent Relations between Splines and Lines.  If you right click on a Tangent Relation between a line and a spline, you have the option to flip the direction of Tangency via the “Flip Relation” option.  As the video will show, this option can also be applied to Equal Curvature relations between lines and splines.  The image below shows the “Flip Relation” option.

This is the first video tip I have produced that includes VOICE.  I ask you to bear with me on this as my microphone and Camtasia settings still need a little tweaking.  Towards the end of the video the voice gets a little ahead of the video.  Click on the link below to watch the video.

Stay tuned….more to come!

Here’s a great little video tip showing off the Numeric Sketch Input function that is brand new inside SolidWorks 2009.  By changing a couple of settings, some sketch entities can automatically create dimensions as you sketch and you have the ability to input your desired dimensions as part of this process.  The Numeric Sketch Input options are only available for the Line, Circle, Rectangle, & Slot sketch tools.  Below is a screen shot of the Rectangle command.

Note that you have to have the “Add dimensions” option enabled along with the Tools->Options property shown below.

Click on the video link below to see this new feature in action.

As I mentioned in my SolidWorks 2009 Enhancement Highlights, the Materials Database has been overhauled.  Today we are going to take a closer look at the enhancements to the Database AND Interface along with some other tidbits.  Let’s get started!

Many users in the past have defined materials using custom properties.  In SolidWorks 2008 the ability to link the SolidWorks Material to custom properties was added which allowed for some efficient uses when it came to drawing production.  At the beginning of this video tip you see how to set that property.  Since the material library is much more complete now, I believe the importance of knowing about this option is greater than ever.  The image below shows a preview of the property linking.

The Materials database now opens in a separate window.  The SolidWorks Materials in the database are read-only.  You can create Custom Materials which are fully customizable.  One of the enhancements to the interface is how easy it is to use a SolidWorks Material to create Custom Materials with simple Copy/Paste operations.  Creating Categories and folder structure is now much easier as well.  If you use SolidWorks Simulation (formally called COSMOS) you probably are very familiar with the fact that the SolidWorks based Material list was not NEAR as extensive as the materials library found in the Simulation products.  That is no longer the case.  The SolidWorks based Materials have now been TRULY unified with the Simulation library which results in a MUCH larger material selection straight out of the box for SolidWorks Users.  Those materials of course can be used in Simulations as it has in the past.  The point is that there is no longer a need in the Simulation interface to look for a more expanded set of materials.  The Favorites tab in the Materials database allows you to now control the items listed in the SolidWorks FeatureManager for quick selection (without having to open the database window).  Previously this list was based on recent materials used.  Below is a screenshot of the Materials interface.

Click on the image below to view the Video Tip.

Stay tuned….more to come!

I’m sure if you have read any of the SolidWorks Blogs in the past couple of weeks, you have probably heard of the new Custom Properties Task Pane window in SolidWorks 2009.  The interface for this window is completely customizable.  SolidWorks includes an application called Property Tab Builder that allows you to design the interface so that you can enter custom properties in Parts, Assemblies, and Drawings in a manner that best matches your company’s engineering processes.  A screen shot of the Property Tab Builder is shown below.

Some GREAT news with this is that you can COMBINE this new functionality with the new Title Block Wizard in Drawings.  This Video Tip focuses more on how the two can interact together rather than how to build the Task Pane or Title Block Window.  I will have posts in the coming weeks that will reveal more details on how you can setup these new features.  Click the image below to watch the video.

Stay tuned….more to come!

SolidWorks Developer Greg Leuenberger has posted an EXCELLENT video showing off MANY of the details of PhotoView 360.  You can click on the image above to view the streaming version or click HERE to download a zipped version of the video.

The video is a little over 28 minutes long…which is perfect for viewing during a lunch break!  Watching Greg’s video has made me want a workstation with an 8 core processor!  You’ll see what I mean when you view the video! 

Stay tuned…more to come!