Things you probably didn't look at in the Solidworks File Menu

Good Afternoon Everybody,

I thought I'd take a little time to share with you some "things you probably didn't look at" in Solidworks. Today, I'm focusing on the FILE MENU! I hope you enjoy.

Command #1 Print3D

If you office network has a 3d Printing device you can send models directly to it.

Command #2 Publish to 3DVia.com

This will allow you to create and publish your SolidWorks content to your very own person little cloud of Solidworks data to display on the 3dVia app available on IPAD. Great for showing your customers just how tech savvy you are.

Command #3 Derive Component Part...

This command only appears if you are in an assembly in the file menu. I'd never used it until today. It's greyed out unless you have a part selected. But when one is,you'll be able to created a drived part straight away from the assembly, without going back to the part level.

Solidworks Maze Walk-through with path

Below is a video of how to create a Walk-through path based on a simple spline sketch.

 

Enjoy

Nick Jansen, CSWP

CATI

Can you create a drawing of a virtual part in SolidWorks

I just had this question the other day. "My vendor is sending me assemblies with virtual parts in them But I need to do some drawings of the individual pieces for mounting location and what not. How can I create drawings of this parts.

Solution #1. I went to SolidWorks Knowledge Base.

Knowledge base Article S-056442

How can a drawing be created with a Virtual component?

Drawings cannot be made directly from virtual assembly components.  Drawing view by design require a file to reference.  To create a drawing view of a virtual component, right mouse button on the component in the assembly FeatureManager® and choose “Save Part (In External file)”  after completing the save operation , add a drawing view of this part or create a new drawing with this part.

In there we find A, and I mean A solution

Solution #2 Drawing View Properties

Trying the option of Hide/Show Components for the view can work. But, I would not recommend it you'd have to select from the viewport or the tree. It might take too much time. Let's try something different.

Solution #3 Create Configurations

By creating configurations you can easy in the assembly pair down what you need, but one big drawback configurations add to file size of your assemblies. I'd rather not give my assemblies any bloat if I don't need to. Let's look elsewhere.

Solution #4 Display states

Display states are just a easy to create as a configuration, but instead of suppressing the components you would hide them. Displays states can be used in a drawing view the same as a configuration so we are in good shape. Quickly you can select the virtual part you want a detail of right mouse button click and invert your selection. Then hit hide you display stat is complete. Best of all no added file size because it's not saving the tessellated model ( ask me that one later).

Cheers,

Bob McGaughey, CSWE

CATI

Register for the SolidWorks Workflow Performance Seminar

Join the CATI and SolidWorks Teams at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe to learn from our technical experts how the SolidWorks product portfolio seamlessly integrates to manage the complete design process – from concept to production. We'll take an in depth look at how SolidWorks, SolidWorks Simulation, SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, 3DVIA Composer and SolidWorks Sustainability allow different team members to work together in real-time.

>>Register Here!

When and Where:
DATE: Thursday, May 24th, 2012 
TIME: 8:00AM - 1:00PM 

Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022

Breakfast & Lunch served

Contact marketing@cati.com if you have any questions.

>>Register Here!

We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Jim TeDesco
Marketing
Computer Aided Technology, Inc. 

 

How to change custom properties of multiple Solidworks parts in one step.

Afternoon everyone,

I was in a session with a great group of engineers in Northbrook, IL yesterday. I was giving a what's new from SolidWorks 2007-2012. And I got a really good question in the middle of a Bill of Material demo. "Bob, can I change the material of five parts in this assembly without opening each on up in its own window?" After a half a second pause I almost said no, and moved on. When I realized, "Yes Robert, you can do that." Here's how.

Property Tab Builder

Property Tab Builder is a stand-alone utility you use to create a customized interface for entering properties into SolidWorks files.

The tabs you create with Property Tab Builder appear in the SolidWorks interface on the Custom Properties tab in the Task Pane. You create different tab templates for parts, assemblies, and drawings.

You can also enter properties on the Custom and Configuration Specific tabs in the Summary Information dialog box in SolidWorks.

In companies with multiple SolidWorks users, typically one person, such as the lead user or administrator, creates the customized tabs for everyone to use. In this help file, the administrator is referred to as "you"; people who use the tabs in the SolidWorks interface to enter properties are referred to as "users".

Once you build your custom property tab for your files you add the location under Tools/ Options/ System Options/ File Locations/ Custom Property Files. Once you have these installed you can then select multiple parts at the same time and set they description, revision, and even material. Thanks for the great questions

Bob McGaughey, CSWE

CATI

Ed Honda, 40 years in Plastics engineering and more

Ed Honda is the owner of Honda Design LLC. Ed has been involved in plastic product development with various Chicago-area manufacturers for over 40 years. He has developed a comprehensive knowleadge base of plastics related design. This comes from development and implementation of hundreds of plastic components, and active participation in dozens of design related projects in consumer, commercial and military applications. Ed was kind enough to take some time and sit down with me, to share his vast knowledge.

What difference do you see over the years in the plastics industry?

3D CAD and injection molding simulation have taken a lot of the speculation and guesswork out of the design and development of plastic components and assemblies.  Being able to validate the part design, the fundamental tooling approach, and processing for the shop floor before allocating any resources to 3D printing or SLAs, prototype and/or production tooling, and molding trials- empowers the designer with significant abilities to get a product to market quicker and more cost-effectively.

What do you think a mold maker or part manufacturer ideally should be doing, to optimize their designs?

Since mold makers and custom molders are providing manufacturing services, as well as quality components and assemblies, it’s important for them to bring human experience and knowledge to the table. However, with all the engineering simulation tools now available, being literate and competent with injection molding simulation software is like adding another experienced member to the design team.  

Are you excited about SolidWorks Plastics?

I’ve been using SimpoeWorks, the full-featured predecessor to SolidWorks Plastics, for three years now. It has been an integral tool in validating and refining my plastic component designs by allowing me to include tooling and processing requirements into the component design as well. The ability to be able to work with both design and simulation-based refinements within the native SolidWorks environment at a mouse-click is smooth, efficient and, well, great! 

What services do you offer through Honda Design LLC.?

I offer forty years’ experience in the plastic product development and manufacturing industries. I work with companies in the Midwest and both coasts, developing products for the consumer, commercial, and military markets. I’m also well-versed in secondary processes such as decorating, painting, and assembly of plastics.

 Injection molding simulation services has become a large part of my business. Using SimpoeWorks for component design troubleshooting- before and after a production mold has been built, has helped my company grow the last two years. 

How do we get hold of you?

Email: ed@hondadesignllc.com

Phone: 312.391.0500

Website: www.hondadesignllc.com

Thanks Ed for your time. And good luck with all future endeavors.

Rajat Trehan

Product Manager 

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

Pinning Your Recently Open Documents in 2012

SolidWorks has added a new function inside of your File menu. If you hold your cursor over one of you recently opened documents you will see a thumb tack on the right side. This allows you to keep your own favorites list of recently opened documents. Next to the thumb tack you will also see a folder. This will allow you to open the directory where this file is located. Making it super easy to get deep into your project folders without having to manually map to the folder. This is just another way of putting tools at your fingertips. When you have a minute check out this feature and the many other improvements ing 2012.