Sheet Metal Bent Lofted Bends:New in SolidWorks 2014

SolidWorks 2014 introduces new sheet metal tools to make your design process easier than ever. You can create a Bent Lofted bend to create physical bends, rather than formed geometry and approximated bend lines in a flat pattern. Bent lofted bends form a realistic transition between two parallel profiles to facilitate instructions for press brake manufacturing.

 

As shown below starting SolidWorks 2014, you have the option to select the Manufacturing method, if it’s going to be Bent or Formed. Not only that if you select Bent as the manufacturing method, you now have the option to select the different Faceting options as shown in the red box.

For example as shown below if you select Number of Bends as the faceting option you can specify the number of bend lines (Facet value) in our case 10.

 

 

The other thing that’s new is you can control the Faceting options for each Bend independently. The options are shown by clicking on the Magenta color dot. In our case we select the Segment angle as the option and specify the value to be 25 deg.

 

 

  The result is shown below.

 

Shown below is the Flat Pattern using the Flatten command

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Configurations to Equations - What's new in SolidWorks 2014

In SolidWorks 2014, the ability to apply configurations to equations and global variables is enhanced. You can configure equations and global variables in the same way as you configure dimensions. Previously, you could only configure equations and global variables by suppressing or unsuppressing them in selected configurations. Now you can create variations of equations and global variables, and apply them to configurations using the Equations and Modify dialog boxes. You can also configure equations and global variables in design tables and in various PropertyManagers for parts and assembly features. You can then edit the equation and assign it to different configurations using the Equation or Modify dialog boxes. You can also specify a different unit of measurement for each configuration. You cannot use configurable equations and suppression/unsuppression in the same model.

Red Box- You can select a specific configuration for which you want to see the equations.

Blue Box- You can select if you want an equation for just this configuration, all configurations or can select specific configurations.

Green Box- You can select a Sketch Equation view filter.

 

If you created a model with SolidWorks 2013 or an earlier version, you must remove all suppressed and unsuppressed equations and global variables, before adding configurable equations and global variables. You must also remove design tables, then save and re-open the document file with SolidWorks 2014.

 

Hole Wizard - Slots - Whats New in SolidWorks 2014

You can now create Counterbore, Countersink and Straight slots directly from HoleWizard starting 2014 version of SolidWorks. Also as shown below you can see there is a better graphical representation of the type of holes in HoleWizard property manager.

 

 

 

 

 

1.    As shown above we select the Counterbore slot for Hole type, ANSI Metric for Standard and Hex Bolt – ANSI B18.2.3.5M for type.

 

2.    Now as shown below we pick M6 for Size, Normal for Fit, 40mm as Slot Length and Through All for End condition.

 

 

 

    Now we switch to Positions tab and place the slot on the top face. The slot comes with a centerline which can be used to place relations and dimensions as shown below.

 

 

 

   Not only can we place the slot horizontal or vertical but also at an angle as shown below.

 

 

 Below is the final result we get for a Counterbore Slot shown in Isometric and Top view.