How to convert image into real data?

Have you wondered how to get data from an image ? May be you were looking at stress - strain curve of a material and wanted to plug that into SolidWorks Simulation, or getting fan curves online to predict cooling effect on a circuit board. But how to get this data from an image you found online or engineering handbook?

A Ruler and scale measurement would be time consuming and bring back old school memories. In todays digital world you could use a software to generate accurate data. Sounds wonderful....icing on the cake ...software is FREE.

Engauge Digitizer works great for tracing curves, has image processing tools, inbuilt tutorials. Data can be exported to Excel, MATLAB and a host of other softwares. Software is available for multiple platforms Windows, MAC, Linux.

Thank Open Source activists for this wonderful tool!

Rajat Trehan
Product Manager - Design Validation
Computer Aided Technology Inc.

How to apply boundary conditions to match real world scenarios?

Getting the boundary conditions to correlate to actual
scenario is challenge analysts face on a daily bases. Having 3D geometry and
knowing how you want the product behave is only half the battle. SolidWorks
Simulation is only helpful if the user can realistically depict component
interaction.

With a little bit intuition and help from SolidWorks Simulation
users can generate these accurately. If you access study properties, you see
options called “ use soft spring to stabilize model” and “inplane effects”.
These two magic buttons help in getting real world answers.

Use Soft
Spring to stabilize model:
If there are not enough restraints in the model or if you are not sure where to
apply restraints you can check this option. By checking this box, user
instructs the software to apply artificial restraints in all 3 (x, y, z)
directions. Once, the problem has run check displacement results in x, y and z
directions. The direction that sees maximum displacement is the direction user
needs to apply restraints. Once we have enough restraints user can uncheck soft
spring option to get real life results.

Use Inplane
effect :This option helps users consider stiffness effects on
the model. Meaning, if loaded under tension the plane of loading will behave
more stiff or strong. Similarly if loads are compressive in nature the loading
plane will get weaker.

 

While these two options are helpful the software also has
restraint advisor. User can right click on fixture to activate the fixture advisor. The advisor asks
questions to get a basic understanding of the system being simulated. The
questions talk about how the parts are put together (fastners / weld etc). The
advisor makes suggestions based on user input.

The best technique to test how a component moves is to
look at displacement animations. If the system components do not interact
properly user needs to tweak the set up.

Hopefully this should give every analyst a sense of
direction in setting up simulations.

Rajat Trehan

Product Manager – Design Validation

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

Free SolidWorks Sheet Metal Training Kicks off the CATI Virtual Classroom

The CATI tech team has been working on a new way to get our customers the
training they need without the time and expense of travel to attend a class. After
a lot of research and development, we are happy to be launching the CATI
Virtual Classroom.

We are calling it CATI Virtual Classroom, because the
technology we are using allows us to run a class just as if you are in the training
room. You will see and hear the instructor and their presentation live. You
will be able to ask questions and give feedback. The students use our training
lab through the system, so you don’t have to configure your computer for class.
This way the instructor can see what you are doing and give feedback as you go.
The system is based on WebEx’s Online Classroom, which has won multiple awards
as the best in class solution for this type of training.

Because the class is attended from any location and no
travel is required, we have spread out the schedule for the CATI Virtual
Classroom. The class will be run in the morning or afternoon for 3 ½ hours
split about half for lecture and half for exercises. You can even review the
lectures if you like because they are recorded and made available online.

To kick off the CATI Virtual Classroom, the inaugural class,
SolidWorks Sheet Metal, March 23, 25 and 27th will be offered FREE to CATI
customers currently on subscription for SolidWorks. If you are interested go to
our web site and register now, because space is limited.

What does support mean to your organization?

As times are tough and every company tries to cringe for
money, one the places companies are tightening strings is subscription services.
If you have been using the software for some while, putting value for money
could be difficult.

We had a customer, l am going to call them ABC Company, who
bought Flow Simulation software. They started attacking higher end flow
analysis right off the bat. Their engineering goals required them to use higher
end computers having the processing and solving power to complete projects in
time.  Having just bought software their
budget for the month did not permit them to buy new machine right away. They
were forced to wait for 2 weeks before they could get the required money. This
meant two things (a) either cut back on deliverables on projects for 2 weeks
(b) delay projects by 2 weeks.

They called CATI technical group for help. We ascertained
their goals and ensured having a higher end machine would be appropriate. We
set up a machine at our office, the customer could log into at his will. They
could get into the machine and solve their tests getting results they needed.
This was a temporary solution until they get a machine. This helped customer
to move the project at a desired pace and meet their time lines. Having
delivered on time they won more business. So the software paid for itself in
the first two weeks.

The subscription service ensures you get software updates
and access to our technical expertise. Having a support team that responds
dynamically to your needs is important in current times. We understand you are
not faced with similar situations everyday, and you work hard to meet your
goals. Let us help you get there!

Rajat Trehan

Product Manager – Design Validation

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

CATI's Facebook Page

For those of you who are into Facebook, and those thinking about jumping on the bandwagon, CATI has established a FaceBook page with the very original name of Computer Aided Technology, Inc. That's what happens when a ME from Purdue is in charge of marketing, you get accuracy, but not a lot of flash.

The page contains information and discussion for CATI's customers and others who are interested in SolidWorks, Product Development and Design.
 
I have been a dabbler with Facebook for quite awhile, mostly to monitor my teenagers to make sure they aren't getting into cyber trouble. I have enough gray hairs on my head to make me a bit wary about the concept of telling the world everything about myself, but the benefits of social networking are starting to grow on me.

There is definitely a place for building communities of people that share common interest and can share experience and knowledge. Facebook is a very nice medium for this.

So far, on the site you will find, a feed from this blog where you can comment  and contribute to the discussion, links to interesting content. The page has fans from the CATI and SolidWorks tech groups, SmarTeam and ... my kids. That is the nature of Facebook.

Join in and make sure to tell us what you think.

Using Simulation 2009 not able to mesh parts ?

If you recently
upgraded to Simulation 2009 and cannot mesh parts that were created using
SolidWorks 2008, irrespective if they are simple or have complex geometry, we
have a solution for you. This problem is typically seen in x64 bit environment.

You may need to clean out your Windows temp folder because
of the presence of a corrupt temporary meshing file that is leftover from
failed meshing in earlier service packs of 2009 Simulation.



Please clean out your temp folder using the following procedure:



- Close SolidWorks and open SolidWorks RX by going through the Start menu. Go
to the System Maintenance tab and enable the first three checkboxes (clean
backup directory, temp directories, Windows temp directory) and uncheck
everything else.

- Click on "Start Maintenance"



If this still does not resolve the issue, try searching your local hard drive
for files with the name "fmesh.boiteb8" and
"fmesh.noboiteb8". If you find any, you may safely delete them since
they are temporary files used for meshing. These files may become corrupt and
their presence can hinder meshing other models.

 

NOTE: This
does not happen for every install of Simulation 2009. It only occurs if the
previous installation was corrupted, or from left over files from previous
service packs.

Rajat Trehan

Product
Manager – Design Validation

Computer
Aided Technology Inc.

SolidWorks World is a geek fest for all interested in design.

SolidWorks
World is a geek fest for all interested in design. This year 4300 people showed
up in sunny Florida to up their design skills. Sir Richard Branson interviewed
live on stage explaining how design needs to be user friendly rather than
simply meet functional requirement.  John
Hirschtick (co-founder of SolidWorks) showcased his travels to New Balance shoe
manufacturer and Sony Ericsson design centers. Using these two examples, he
explained the uses of rapid prototyping and simulation to improve design
processes.

One
of the sessions I attended was on the Disney Excellence Model. People at Disney
are extremely courteous, that explains why they can charge three times the
normal cost for their services. The idea is to keep guests engaged and show an
instant value for money. What Disney hopes for: “guests book their next
vacation before leaving town”. In a time when everyone is trying to squeeze
their budgets, here is a company that charges you more, and wants you to pay
for the next vacation well in advance. 
Talk about aiming high! This tells us companies that create value and
are committed to the customer experience will prosper in the new age.

Presenting
at SolidWorks World is an experience to cherish. People from all walks of
engineering try to ask questions relative to their environment. To me that
means one needs to be on his toes to make sure they understand the nitty-gritty
while not losing out on the big picture. The environment created by SolidWorks
is filled with enthusiasm to learn and the focus always remains on improvement.

SolidWorks
has always shown deep understanding and solidarity towards the current market
scenario. In their endeavor to help, they will be giving out free software to
people who want to learn and get back on the job scene. They called this their
own stimulus package. This shows SolidWorks’ commitment to improving skills
through design centers all over the world.