SolidWorks Default Scene Background

Have you ever taken the time to look at all of the many background scenes available in SolidWorks?  Occasionally I run across someone asking how to set this Default background scene for opening files that were not created by that user’s templates.  If you make your own file, you can set the Part templates colors and scenes before you save the template.  That way any new file you make from scratch from that template will have all of the color and scene settings just like you set them.  But what if you open parts from another supplier or user that has different templates?  In SolidWorks, you can set this default scene to be applied to each and every file you open regardless of what you had in your template.

For example, I have a part template saved with the scene in the file set to ‘Warm Kitchen’.

I save this template, and the background for any new file I start using this template will be ‘Warm Kitchen’.  Next I access the Appearances, Scenes, and Decals Task Pane and navigate to the Scene folder of your choice and right mouse click on the scene you want to be your default scene and choose to ‘Set as default scene’:

Now I have a part on my machine that was not created by me.  Notice the scene is not ‘Warm Kitchen’ as this was saved prior to me setting my default to be from the point forward ‘Warm Kitchen’.

Now after I re-open this file after having set my default scene to be ‘Warm Kitchen’, the same file opens but with the new default background!

So follow those easy steps if you want all files to open to the same default scene without having to manually change this every time you open a file that you didn’t create.  Enjoy!

Brian Reel
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Thermal Analysis in SolidWorks Simulation

Thermal studies in SolidWorks Simulation are actually very easy to create.  In Simulation, just go to New Study and select Thermal.

                       

At this point you would need to assign a material to your part if you do not have one.  Once the material is assigned, you will need to add your thermal loads to your study.  In this sample case, we are going to perform the analysis on the End Cap of an underwater camera.  The analysis will determine the amount of heat lost to the surrounding seawater.  To simplify the model, the camera and lighting system are represented as a concentrated heat source.

We will select Heat Power first to simulate the interal camera and lights.  Once you select Heat Power, you need to select the faces that are affected by the heat.  In this case, we will select the internal hole.  I also need to select the units and the amount of power (600 Watts) generated by the camera and internal search lights.

Next, we need to select Convection to simulate the temperature of the outer faces of the End Cap.  The values we input simulate seawater conditions at the operating depth of 3,400 feet.

Once the Convection load has been entered, we can now mesh and run our simulation.

We can see by the results, the internal hole of the End Cap gets pretty hot at around 930 degrees. 
What happens if we change the design to use more of rib approach?  Does it affect how the heat is
dissipated?  Lets make the change and see.  All we have to do is change to the configuration that has the ribs present. Since we have already run this analysis once on the part without ribs, we can copy this study and all of the parameters.  Just right click on the Thermal tab at the bottom of the screen and select Duplicate.  This reduces the time to test different variable in your design.

Once the new study is created, just change the configuration to the one you want and mesh and run the study.

You can clearly see that the new rib design does a much better job of spreading out the heat so it is not concentrated in one area and greatly reduces the temperature in the End Cap.  The hottest area is now only around 360 degrees.

SolidWorks Simulation offers you a great deal of tools at your disposal to help you design better, more cost effective products.

3D Printing Innovator Drives Custom Trike to Land Speed Record

Brian Klock, Founder and President of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles, set a new World Land Speed Record while driving a unique trike on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah. Klock is well known for his innovative vehicle parts and motorcycle designs.

3D printing with a Fortus 400mc Production System from Stratasys is  
credited with playing a major role in the successful rapid development of that bike.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

 

 

Happy Holidays!

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

 

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Is My SolidWorks Model Constrained Properly?

One problem many face when running simulations is how to add fixtures and/or which fixtures properly constrain their model.  In some cases the answer is easily evident.  In the case of a hook attached to a wall, there should be a fixed geometry on the back.  In the case of a nail, the same fixture should be used, as shown below.

Unfortunately most simulations, if not all are not that simple.  While much of knowing which fixture is best comes with practice, there are methods to constrain an object with little to no fixtures in the simulation study.  These methods are “Use soft springs to stabilize model” and “Use inertial relief.”  These options are available in the Study Properties.

Using inertial relief helps to counteract unbalanced external loadings.  When this option is checked, SolidWorks will not give the error message of inadequate fixtures.  In most cases when used improperly, the study will simply fail.  When used properly another type of message is common which tells us what is happening.

This allows the study to complete and results will propagate as always.  As seen below, this model only has forces, no fixtures.

Using soft springs will simulate an array of springs of equal stiffness completely surrounding the model.  This can give us a good idea of what type of stresses and displacements will happen.  If this option should not be used, it is usually fairly apparent.  In this case, an alloy steel arrowhead subjected to a 5 N force in one direction and an opposing 1 N force, there is no way that the part should suffer from large displacements.  However, when using soft springs, this error was given.

If we select “No,” the highest stress is found to be almost 25.5 MPa, while when using inertial relief the stress was a little over.1 MPa.  Obviously they both can’t be right.  Further analysis needs to be done to verify which if either are actually close to reality.  This could include analytical mechanics of materials.  While both options are very valuable to help build studies correctly and reach the desired accurate results, they should never be considered the easy quick approach to applying fixtures. 

Chad Whitbeck - CSWP

Applications Engineer
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Jamming With 3D Printers at the University of Chicago

No, not the guitar-playing jamming…  In the world of material science, “jamming” is what occurs when the volume available to a bunch of grains in a granular material (such as sand) gets so small that the grains jam into each other, effectively getting stuck. Depending on the shape of the grains, the material will display different characteristics such as strength, flexibility and friction. Got it? Moving on…

Heinrich Jaeger is a Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago and runs a laboratory for investigating experimental condensed matter.  Several of their projects involved showing how granular jamming could be put to practical use.  He and his students want to learn what the ideal shapes are for these randomly packed grains or particles for the characteristic(s) that they want to optimize.

Traditionally, they would explore different shapes based on their previous experience. In the past, they were essentially limited to shapes that they could find and/or have “armies” of graduate students prepare by hand.

The use of 3D printing became essential for their research.

Professor Jaeger’s lab became the first lab on the University of Chicago campus to have a 3D Printer.  The printer they chose was a Stratasys Objet Connex350 multi-material 3D Printer.

>>CLICK HERE to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

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SolidWorks Training Files

At Computer Aided Technology we have a long list of classes that we teach. When you take these courses there are case study files and exercises that are pre-installed on the training machines. After you have finished the class you might want to work through some of the files again. Luckily SolidWorks has a link on page 3 of every training manual we offer where the file set can be downloaded from. After you head to solidworks.com/trainingfilessolidworks find the course you would like the files for.

Run the executable file and accept the EULA.

 

Finally unzip the files to a location you are familiar with, such as your C drive.

 

Thanks,

Jordan Nardick, Elite AE
Applications Engineer
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

 

What it takes to make a mirrored part with flatten capabilities in SolidWorks

There are two ways to make an opposite hand version of a part; a good way and a not so good way.  The “not so good” way is to put the part in an assembly and use mirror components to create it.  The only thing I do not like about this method is that you have to create an assembly file to make this happen.  The final result is the same either way you go with it.

The other way that most people may not know about is through Insert>Mirror Part in the part file.  Usually this option is grayed out.  To make it available you must preselect the Plane/Face you wish to mirror about, then go to Insert>Mirror Part.  SolidWorks will then ask you what you want to include in the new mirrored part.  The item you must check is “Break link to part”. 

 

That is the only way you will get the full functionality of the sheet metal features in your new part.

 

If you do not check it then all you will get is the solid body in the new part.

 

Ketul
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Medical Researchers Use Stratasys 3D Printers to Develop Low Cost, Highly Accurate Surgical Tools

Advanced medical training requires particular tools for specialized procedures. Sometimes this training carries risks to the patients and doctors alike. At the University of Minnesota Medical School, the urology department is taking advantage of 3D printing to create models of both the surgical field and the specialized tools required to learn advanced techniques.

Researchers at CREST, the Center for Research in Simulations and Education Technologies at University of Minnesota Medical School, are using Stratasys 3D Printers to design an alternative solution. CREST is producing realistic, anatomic models from PolyJet and FDM 3D printing materials based on actual patient imaging studies.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

 

 

 

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

 

 

 

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Personalize and 3D Print Yourself a Porsche Cayman!

Prominent auto manufacturers are currently designing the latest driving sensations with help from Stratasys 3D printers.  Auto fanatics of all ages can now rejoice in the delight of "owning" a Porsche Cayman.  The Cayman is now within reach for anyone with access to a 3D printer.

Porsche posted a short video on its YouTube channel that displays a 3D printer building a Cayman S layer-by-layer with the encouragement for fans to "create, print, and colorize" their own particular model.  Many have already begun to share their results.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

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