Sheet Metal Gussets - Whats New in SolidWorks 2014

You can create Sheet Metal Gussets with specific indents that go across bends in SolidWorks 2014.

To add sheet metal gussets: 

Click Sheet Metal Gusset     (As shown below) or Insert > Sheet Metal > Sheet Metal Gusset.

 

In the Sheet Metal Gusset Property Manager, under Position, we will select the two planer faces that are green color.

We will use the edge (purple color) to be reference. This can be any linear entity in order to specify the alignment of the gusset.

The point is to be used for dimensioning.

If you pick the edge it automatically gets an endpoint as a reference. However, you can also choose another entity, such as a sketch point or an endpoint of a line or do a right click on the edge to get the below options from which we will select the Mid-point option.

There is also an Offset option if you wish to create an offset as shown below.

 

 

   In the below picture we can see the Gusset preview on the Midpoint

 

 

 

Under Profile:

For a gusset that is symmetrical relative to the bend face, select Indent depth and specify a depth.

For an asymmetrical gusset, select Profile dimensions. Either specify the depth (d1) of one gusset leg and specify an angle (a1) or specify the depth of each gusset leg.

To reverse the lengths of the legs, click Flip dimension sides.

Select a gusset type:

 

 

 

If you choose Flat rib, optionally, specify an Edge Fillet.

In our case we have selected the Profile dimension of 40mm with an angle of 45 deg and a Flat rib with 1mm fillet as shown below

 

 

 

 

  As shown below we can further add more dimensions and customize the Gusset.

 

 

 

 

   We get the Gusset as shown below in different views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stick Fonts - Whats New in SolidWorks 2014

You can use stick fonts when applying sketch text to parts or assemblies for laser engraving, water jet, and for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining.

Stick fonts are also called single line, stroke, or open loop fonts. Use the OLFSimpleSansOC regular font for all stick fonts as shown below.

 

 

 

 

Below is the output you get with this fonts.

Note: This font will only work for 2014 version. Even if you copy and paste the font, you won’t get the below result for 2013 and lower version of SolidWorks.

 

 

Customizing Command Manager - Whats New in SolidWorks 2014 Series

There are new command’s that get added to SolidWorks when a new release of SolidWorks comes. Here we will see one of the fastest ways to bring a command tool in the Command Manager.

 Select the Commands option from the pull-down menu located on the Menu Bar as shown below. (This option is available since SolidWorks 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

Now we start typing the name of the command and as shown below it narrows down the search automatically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we select the command and then drag it and drop it in the command manager toolbar as shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 Once done with drag and drop, you can see the command in the command manager as shown in the picture below.