Does SolidWorks support Dual Monitors?

Every engineer is waiting for the day when we can have 2 parts open on separate screens inside SolidWorks.  With SolidWorks 2012 that day has arrived.  Solidworks has some new workspace option found under View, Workspace.  Part of this increased functionality allows a user to tile their parts on screen so you can view 2 parts on the same screen.  So to get parts on separate screens, you can set solidworks to span across both screens, and then by tiling your windows  you end up with 2 parts on 2 screens.  Give it a try.

Feature Tree filter not working

Have you experienced any glitches with the filter at the top of the feature tree not finding items in you assemblies.  I recently went thru this issue for a customer an they found a rather unique work around for this issue.  Try isolating the part using the isolate command, then shut off the isolate command.  Regenerate you model, and try the filter function again.  This may not work everytime, but it did work for our customer!

CATI Design Innovation Summit Model Mania Winner

Congratulations to Jason Hyde of SMC Corporation for being the overall winner of the Model Mania Contest at the Design Innovation Summit Events!  Jason won both the Indianapolis contest as well as the overall prize of the trip to SolidWorks World 2012 (sponsored by Objet).

Congratulations to our regional winners.  Each regional winner took home a SpacePilot Pro courtesy of 3DConnexion.

Indianapolis, IN - Jason Hyde 14m52s - Overall Winner
Palatine, IL - Aaron Eiger 15m32s
Hartford, WI -Brent Racine 19m56s
St. Louis, MO - Craig Sarti  19m59s

Thank you to everyone that participated.

 

Jim TeDesco
Marketing
Computer AIded Technology, Inc.

 

What's New In SolidWorks 2012 Live Events

Join us to see What's New in SolidWorks 2012 Live! For those that couldn't make it to the Design Innovation Summit, we have added 4 What's New Live events to our schedule.

Event Information:

Dates	Location	Time
November 15, 2011	Overland Park, KS Marriott Kansas City Overland Park	9am-12pm	Register
November 16, 2011	Madison, WI Sheraton Madison Hotel	9am-12pm	Register
November 18, 2011	Green Bay, WI Hilton Garden Inn Green Bay	9am-12pm	Register
December 1, 2011	Rockford, IL Courtyard Marriott Rockford	9am-12pm	Register

>>Click Here to be taken to the event page on CATI.com

 

Jim TeDesco
Marketing
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

CATI Demo Gallery Update: SolidWorks, Simulation, 3DVIA, EPDM, and Objet 3D Printer Videos

The new CATI Demo Gallery is full of great videos on a variety of topics ranging from SolidWorks 3D CAD to 3D Printing and everything in between.

Highlights:

• SolidWorks - 3D Design


• SolidWorks Simulation - Analysis


• SolidWorks Enterprise PDM - Data Management


• 3DVIA Composer - Product Documentation


• Objet 3D Printers - Rapid Prototyping & 3D Printing

>>Click here to view our videos

 

Jim TeDesco
Marketing
computer Aided Technology, Inc.

QUADRO VS. GEFORCE

Here is a great read on why to choose a "workstation" grade computer and a "workstation" grade video card. Mind you NVIDIA produces both products- the Quadro series and the GeForce series. Contrary to popular belief, there is a huge difference and in the end you get what you pay for.

 

Download Quadro_vs_GeForce0309

 

Todd Werginz

Technical Analyst

Computer Aided Technology

The Best Pumpkin Chucker

If you like good old fashioned ballistics we you need to watch this video about using SolidWorks Simulation to create a Pumpkin Chuckin Catapult. This looks like alot of fun

Also for some great ideas check out this site.

http://www.trebuchet.com/

For a good start in the your SolidWorks adventure check out his model from 3d Content Central.com

Download

 Have fun,

Bob McGaughey, CSWE

CATI

 

Importing UG files into 3DVia Composer

Composer is an awesome tool and one of its greatest strenghts is its versatility across different platforms.  Provided you have a license, you can import most cad packages.  The list includes SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm) as well as: 

- SMG
- CATIA
- 3DXML
- ACIS (.sat)
- IGES (.igs)
- STEP (.stp)
- VDA (.vda)
- Pro/E (.prt, .asm, .xpr, .xas)
- Universal 3D (.u3d)
- 3D Studio (.3ds)
- Stereo lithography (.stl)
- VRML 2.0 (.wrl)
- Alias Wavefront (.obj)
- XAML

Notice, there is no UGII on the list.  Currently, Composer does not directly support this platform.  There is however, a way still to import such file types should you ran across the need to.  To do this, simply export the Unigraphics format into a neutral CAD format like ACIS, IGES, or STEP and then import that into Composer.  Simple enough!

 

Brian Adika

Tech Analyst, CATI

Solidworks crash or system slow down

If you are a win7 user then this applies to you.  It doesn't matter if you clean your system regularly, uninstall solidworks and start with a clean slate.  Over time your computer will start to run out of memory regardless of all those things.  This can happen quicker if you uninstall and reinstall programs often.  There is a folder (C:\windows\winsxs) in the windows structure that keeps track of all the programs that were installed and nothing gets deleted from it.  I have looked through many blogs that tell you how to reduce the file size safely.  Microsoft doesn't recommend it, meaning they can't guarantee the application will work correctly. However many people have found them to work.  There are several ways so just do a google search for "winsxs".

The best recommendation to make is to reinstall windows.  Perhaps create an image of your drive and that way its quicker to get your machine back to its orignal state.

Ketul

Rolled Edge Flanges

A common feature in the sheet metal industry are rolled edge flanges on a cylindrical parts.  With all the great sheet metal tools that SolidWorks has to offer, that is one area the software has strugggled in the past.  SolidWorks has never had the capabilitys to create a part as such and still be able to create a flat pattern from it.  With the introduction of SolidWorks 2012, that has all changed.  SolidWorks now has a new feature available in sheet metal that will allow you to create “Rolled Edge Flanges”.  Its called “Swept Flange”.  With this new feature, you now have the ability to create complex sheet metal parts and create  flat patterns that go along with them.

Take a look at the example below...

Just like any sweep feature, you need to create both a profile and a path sketch (Note: with a sheet metal part, the path needs to be an open contour).  Once you have your sketches, simply utilize this new swept flange feature located in the sheet metal features...                                         

The results are just as you would expect...

However, as good as this new swept flange feature is, there is a slight problem when you go to show the flat pattern.  You will get an error stating that this part cannot be unbent...

Fortunately, there is a workaround.  The problem isn’t necessarily a problem with the geometry, but rather a problem with what SolidWorks thinks should be the fixed face/edge.  If you edit the flat pattern feature, you can clearly see what face SolidWorks is trying to keep fixed...

To get this flat pattern to work correctly, you will need to select an edge to remain fixed; Just as you would if this was a rolled cylinder without the flanges...

Once you tell SolidWorks what edge is to be fixed, the flat pattern will work as expected...

SolidWorks does have a handful of SPRs out there that address this very issue on similar parts as you see here in this example.  So if you run into a similar issue, look to see what SolidWorks is trying to keep fixed when flattening the part.  Most likely, this workaround will resolve the issue.

Even with the workaround, the addition of this new “Swept Flange” feature greatly enhances the sheet metal capabilities in SolidWorks.  You can now create more complex sheet metal parts than ever before.

 

Nathan Brunner, CSWP

Technical Analyst

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Getting What You Paid For

In some cases where you have either upgraded or purchased a higher level of SolidWorks you may be missing some features. In most cases you probably have what you should but here is a way to fix it if you don’t.

For starters we need to open the installation manager. The most consistent way is to go to your control panel, add/remove programs (for XP) or programs and features (for Vista, Win7). Locate SolidWorks and choose change. This will launch the Installation Manager as seen below.

 

You may need to select your package type from here:

 

Next review your package inclusions and make sure they are all checked. Below is a sample of premium and it is currently missing Routing and Tolanalyst.

Once chosen SW will install them. In respect to the SNL based licenses, SolidWorks defaults to installing premium options to cover whatever license types might be on the network license. This doesn’t mean you actually can use them. Same thing would apply to a Stand Alone seat set to Premium, sure you will be able to install the options, but your license type will determine if you can use it. So don’t install anything you don’t have you will only be taking up space on you machine.

Click next and then modify now to install your selections.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

SolidWorks 2011 SP5!

Hey all, 

2011 sp5 is out.  It is now possible to 'Exclude from cut list' property of a WeldmentCutListFolder (Cut List Item) through the API, change transparency of sub-assembly component/part from top level assembly, the global contact no longer fails between certain shell edges and shell faces, and the flat pattern of simple lofted bend sheetmetal part is no longer distorted.  For a complete list of fixed SPRs, see the following link.

https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/subscription/ServicePackMaintenanceNotes.html

Just set up the filter as follows.

Brian Adika

Technical Analyst

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

 

Why do I see "< MOD-DIAM>" instead of the Diameter Symbol?

Every so often we see cases where we see strange syntax instead of the diameter symbol or other similar items. See image. Most often this issue can be quickly resolved by simply shutting SolidWorks down to the desktop, giving it a few seconds rest and then restarting SolidWorks and reopening your file. If this doesn't work then a complete reboot would be the next thing to try and if that still doesn't work?! Then it's time to capture this behavior with SolidWorksRx and send that zip file package in to support!

Simulation and Motion Optimization

SW Motion is a great tool to understand kinematics of a mechanism. The  2012 version of Motion has a great new feature. If you use actuators and sensors to control the movement of a mechanism, you can optimize the entire design virtually. Typically, to get the system correctly configured would take many trial and errors on an actual machine or many hours of hand calculations.

 

A user can simply input sensors as a variable and the optimization tool to study range of motion. In addition constraints can be given to ensure SolidWorks motion find an optimum design for you. Check out this video…let me know how this will help your design processes.

Rajat Trehan

Product Manager - Design Validation

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

Time to check you graphics card driver

With the release of SolidWorks 2012 SP0.0 and companies updating to 2012 most people forget to check and make sure there graphics card driver is updated to its latest version.  So after you install the new version of SolidWorks  check to make sure your using the latest graphics card driver as well.  

This can be done a couple different ways but the easiest in my opinion is to utilize the SolidWorks RX tool. To run the RX tool follow the path below.

Start Menu-All Programs- SolidWorks 2012 – SolidWorks Tools - SolidWorks RX

Once you have it running simple check the diagnostic tab at the top and look at the first status marker. If your driver is up to date you will see a green check mark like the image below.

 

If for some reason you do not have a green check mark then you mostly likely need to update to the latest graphics card driver. If you do need to update simply follow the link provided by the SolidWorks RX tool or check the SolidWorks website at https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/videocardtesting.html

One final note on updating your graphic card driver is to download the new driver then uninstall the old driver, reboot your computer and install the new driver.

 

Nick Jansen, CSWP

Application Engineer

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Broken-out Section Views

Sometimes you may want to show a broken out section view in a drawing to see the inside of an assembly.  The broken-out section view tool that you have in the view layout tab can be difficult to control and doesn’t show well in an isometric orientation.  This can easily be done by creating an assembly feature cut.

I this case, I want to see the inside of the grill…

First create a sketch where you would like the cutout:

 

When you create the assembly cut, you have the ability pick and choose the components to be cut by using the feature scope.

 

Final results:

 

Now you can see the steaks cooking on the grill…

Enjoy,

Nathan Brunner, CSWP

Technical Analyst

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

SolidWorks 2012 SP0.0 is available for download

Good Afternoon

SolidWorks has released SolidWorks 2012 SP0.0 for download today.

If you are currently active on subscription/maintence you can download the software from the SolidWorks Customer Portal (https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/downloads.htm).

You can also learn more about the 2012 release of the software by watching the video on the SolidWorks Website (http://www.solidworks.com/launch/register/solidworks-2012-b.htm).

You can also attend one of the CATI Design Summits that are going on throughout the Midwest this October to see What’s New in 2012. To register for one of these events go to http://www.cati.com/events/design-innovation-summit/cati-design-innovation-summit.php

Thanks and Enjoy SolidWorks 2012

Josh Altergott

CATI Support Manager