Helical Sheet Metal Modeling

Ever needed to model a helical shaped bent/twisted/rolled sheet metal part in SolidWorks?  Sounds like fun huh?  Actually it is pretty simple with a few little tricks and the Lofted Bends command. 

Start by creating a helix based on a height and revolution.  As I am working with a single part for auger flighting, I am creating my shape for 1 revolution with the intent of add multiple instances in an assembly for final welding.  Second, I will create two perpendicular lines as independent sketches on two perpendicular planes.  Now we can create our Swept Surface using the Helix as a guide curve.

Next, we create an opening for the shaft by creating a sketch to match the ID of the flighting.  We create a Surface Trim command to remove this surface data.

 

Finally we are able to create two 3D Sketches by selecting each edge of the helical swept surface and using Convert Entities for each one.  With these two open profile 3D Sketches we can create a Lofted Sheet Metal feature.  All we need to do is select each one, and chose a thickness to apply.

There you have it a sheet metal lofted part based on a helical swept path!  Enjoy!

Brian Reel
CATI

SolidWorks Slot Mates

SolidWorks has given us some great enhancements over the years. One that I am finding really useful lately is the slot mate. This was released as an enhancement in 2014 but it seems to have been forgotten. Lets take a look at how it works.

To create a slot mate:

1. Click Mate (Assembly toolbar) or Insert > Mate.

2. In the PropertyManager, expand Mechanical Mates and select Slot.

3. For Mate Selections, select a slot face and the feature to mate to it:

There are four options you have to choose from once you select the Slot Mate:

1. Free Lets the component move freely in the slot.


2. Center in Slot Centers the component in the slot.


3. Distance Along Slot Places the component axis at a specified distance from the end of the slot.


4. Percent Along Slot Places the component axis at a distance specified by

the percentage of the slot length.

 

 

For slot-to-slot mates, you can select only Free or Center in Slot.

 

There are a couple of restrictions when using the slot mates. The slot radii have to be equal and the slot sides have to be parallel or concentric. Slots must not be open ended or have multiple directions.

 

Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

How often do you use SolidWorks' Recognize Feature?

Whenever you get a file from a customer and they use software other than SolidWorks they may send you IGES or STEP files.

When you open it, SolidWorks will ask you, Do you wish to run Import Diagnostics on this part and Do you want to proceed with feature recognition?

 

If you select No for both, you will get an Import1 body.

You say to yourself, "How can I work with this?"

SolidWorks makes it easy for you. Rather than saying No to both, say Yes to both.

When you say Yes to the Import Diagnostics, you will get a dialog box stating you have gaps or faulty faces. Click Attempt to heal all.

SW will do it's thing and you will see this.

Go ahead and click on the green check mark (OK).

You will then be asked Do You Want to Proceed With Feature Recognition. Click Yes and the Feature Works dialog box pops up.

Selecting appropriate Recognition Mode:

Automatic will automaticall recognize and highlight as many features as possible.

Interactive will allow you to selectthe feature type and the entities that make up the features that you want to recognize.

Feature Type gives you the capability of standard or sheet metal features.

and

Automatic Features will generate the features you have choosen.

Go ahead and click on the green check mark(OK) and you have your results.

Now we are ready to rock.

 

Roger G Ruffin Jr.

Application Engineer

Computer Aided Technology, Inc

SolidWorks Filters

SolidWorks Filters: Users often turn on filters without intending to do so, why?

This usually happens when we type new names for features in the Feature Manager Tree.

The SolidWorks' graphics area can become active if you bumped the touch pad or mouse stick on your laptop. The letter "e" is a shortcut (in the graphics area) to filter for edges and this turns on the blue funnel on our cursor. It also makes it impossible to select a model face to start a sketch.

Checkout the following video to see how it works:

 

 

 

 

Have You Seen the NEW SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual?

If you haven't seen the NEW SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual, join us for a Product Development Forum Event near you.  SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual is a new tool that will help simplify your conceptual design process and expand innovation. Watch this short video to learn more. And, use the links below the video to regsiter for our Product Development Forum.

 

Product Development Forum Events:

• Wichita - May 6th - Register


• Kansas City, MO - May 7th - Register


• St. Louis - May 8th - Register


• Indianapolis - May 13th - Register


• Chicago Area - May 14 - Register


• Milwaukee Area - May 15th - Register

View the Full Agenda.

 

Jim TeDesco
Marketing Manager
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

How to change the order of parts on your SolidWorks BOM

A bill of material is a useful list of items that are currently in an assembly. The order the parts are listed in can be modified if need be. By default in SolidWorks the order is based on the same order the parts are brought into your assembly.

This order can be sorted by right clicking on the BOM and choosing sort.

Items can be manually dragged up and down in the BOM by grabbing the number that appears when the BOM is moused over.

You can even sort by the order the Balloons appear in the part. This must be done by clicking order sequentially when inserting the balloons. You then press the button "Select First Item". You pick the first item and the ballons will start from that item and go sequentially clockwise around the part.

Thanks,

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

 

SolidWorks Inspection is here!

If your Quality Control department is still using a labor intensive process to create inspection reports, then you have to look at this video to do that work in a fraction of the time!

 

SolidWorks Inspection now integrates completely into SolidWorks 2014 SP3.0.  Whether you have a single license or a network license of SolidWorks, you will be able to balloon the drawing and export all the dimensions out to a custom Microsoft Excel template for any industry.

 

Thanks

Ketul