HOW TO USE SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION CLEANING UTILITY TO THE FULLEST?

SolidWorks Simulation is included within SolidWorks 3D CAD Design Premium package. It offers core simulation tools which assist well in testing your designs and enhancing the quality of your decisions. One of those tools is SolidWorks Simulation Cleaning Utility.

It is a slightly lesser known tool that gets installed with SolidWorks Software. The benefit of this tool is that you can use it to permanently delete any simulation data, including results information and simulation setup from any of the SolidWorks assembly file or part file. For all we know, disk space is almost always a limitation and hence, needs to be cleaned for optimum and efficient utilization.  

Here we discuss how you can use the SolidWorks Simulation Cleaning Utility tool to the fullest. Before we do, we must mention that you would need to create a back-up of your file, and ensure your file is not open in SolidWorks.

To open the tool, browse to its default location, which is in the C-Drive, namely, “C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Simulation\Utilities. Then, double-click on the Simulation Cleaning Utility executable.

Post that you will need to follow these minor steps. Browse for the file, select the type of data you wish to delete and finally, click on the Clean File button.

This will help you get rid of all the unwanted files, provided you select and manually delete them. To learn about more such cool features of SolidWorks it is advisable to take up SolidWorks Simulation Training at FEA Training Consultants. 

HOW TO USE SOLIDWORKS 3D INTERCONNECT WITH SHEET METAL PARTS?

Holding high relevance in the manufacturing industry, Sheet Metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metal working. Its significance is evident in the diligent manner in which sheet metal parts are designed using Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software, such as SolidWorks 3D CAD Design.

With the help of SolidWorks 3D CAD Design, you can not only design solid sheet metal parts but also convert 3D models into sheet metal models directly and put in your bend radius, thickness and k-factor. In this blog, we will discuss how you can use SolidWorks 3D Interconnect functionality with a range of non-SolidWorks files, including sheet metal parts.

First, prepare for the 3D Interconnect by adding bends using Convert To Sheet Metal Feature. Now, to begin, open the required file. Once open, you would require to establish the fact that it is a sheet metal part. Before doing that, it would be convenient to change the measurement settings to inches. Then, convert the part to sheet metal by selecting the command from the tool bar on the left-hand side.

You would need to collect the radius of the bend in order to create right bends according to the pre-defined geometry. As you receive the new version of the file, save it with the old file. All you need to do is place the new file with higher ‘dot version’ in the same folder as that of the original. The software will automatically see if there is a new version of the part in the folder and enable you to use it.

 You will receive an indicator featuring an option to update the file as shown in the above image. Select it and roll back to see the features in it as well as the visual geometry. Then, measure new material’s thickness which would be different than the previous, in most of the cases. Then, finally, override the thickness to the new measured value. Further up, allow other features rebuild by selecting them. Before you close off, clear all the residual bends and recollects. That will do the trick. 

To learn more about designing sheet metal parts using SolidWorks 3D CAD Design, we suggest you sign up for a SolidWorks Sheet Metal Training. 

THE RIGHT WAY TO REVISE DRAWINGS IN SOLIDWORKS ELECTRICAL

SolidWorks Electrical comes with an integrated library database that provides numerous symbols and over five hundred thousand manufactured parts which you can use in your design.

Overall, SolidWorks Electrical schematic design capabilities ease the process of developing embedded electrical systems for both machines as well as other applications. This is something it does by using single-line and multi-line schematic tools which assist you in planning your electrical systems.

Here, in today’s blog, we shine some light on the method of revising drawings and projects in SolidWorks Electrical.

Considering that you are using one of the standard project templates that are installed in Electrical, you would be able to see, on the very first page, a revision block.

If the project is in the initial revision, you will find the revision number to be zero. You can add revisions at the individual drawing level or even at the book level.

We say, begin at the project level by right-clicking on the Document Book. Once selected, a revision box will open. Feel free to add information in any of the boxes that has dots. If required, you can also click Customize to alter any of the data fields.

Next step is to click on Validate for finalizing the revision. Follow that up with a click on Verify, which will lead to a dialog pop-up asking whether you want all the book documents to be set to similar revision. Click yes in case you want them to start at zero. Then, click Okay and proceed. 

You will find the Print Book option on the screen next. Use it to print your drawings or export them to a PDF. Whichever option you choose, your revision block would update accordingly and you can freely move on with your design.

There, you see, adding revisions to your project and drawings is a pretty easy task. All you need to do is simply follow the above procedure.

To learn more about SolidWorks Electrical, feel free to take up SolidWorks Electrical Training at FEA Training Consultants.

SolidWorks 2016 and 3D Printing

SolidWorks 2016 and 3D Printing

3DPrinting has caught on to industry and the home user.  It allows the user to create any shape and any part using an additive technique that ensures minimal waste.  The creative freedom is endless.  SolidWorks has always been a front runner in innovation and allows designers to integrate with 3D printers seamlessly.  

Consider the following plastic cover part:

In order to access the 3D printing menu go to file > Print3D. 

Within the 3D printing menu the designer has the ability to manipulate the part to accommodate the 3D printing process.  With the printer selected, you can set the bottom face and 3D printing volume.

The designer is also able to manipulate the part by moving, rotating and even scaling the part to best fit the print volume.

Creating a part in the real world is different than from a virtual environment.  Surfaces that are offset or free floating will require supports to be built into place during the manufacturing process.  By going to the preview tab you can allow the software to run a check to see which surfaces require supports.  This is similar to the pre-existing draft analysis tool. 

Furthermore, you are also able to visualize the final product that includes the striation lines that are made during the additive printing process.  Striation lines are lines you see on the finished product due to the process of adding on layer on top of another.  

SolidWorks Tutorial:Pi Day Candle Holder - DIY

SOLIDWORKS DIY (TUTORIAL): PI DAY CANDLE HOLDER

Pi Day is a celebration of the mathematical constant pi, 3.14159 or symbolized simply as π.  Pi  Day occurs on March 14^th and when written in MM, DD, YY format gives 03 14 15 or Pi!

What better way to celebrate Pi Day than to model your very own Pi Day candle holder.  This Pi day candle holder is designed to project the symbol π when lit. 

Let’s start with the solid modeling.  I have created my candle holder profile using a revolve function.  The profile is arbitrary.

Next, we apply a shell command.  In this case I have applied a shell of 3mm and have presented the results as a section view.

Orient yourself to the top plane and sketch the Pi symbol as shown. This will form the outline of the light projected from the candle.

Drawing the Pi symbol is not a trivial task, therefore we can place a picture of the Pi symbol onto the sketch plane for us to trace.  Access this tool by going to Tools> Sketch Tools > Sketch Pictures

Resize and trace the image as shown.  I have sketched the Pi symbol using lines and splines.

Create a reference axis from the center of the Pi symbol to the center of the flame by selecting two points.  Create one point on the Pi sketch and another point on a separate sketch approximating the center point of the flame.

Then use the extrude cut feature and be sure to cut along that reference axis to get your profile.

Use a circular pattern to repeat your cut as frequently as you like.  You are now done modeling!

Save your file as a STEP file.  This file can be used by commercial 3D Printers to print your part for you.  Consider printing ABS plastic so your product is more resistant to heat.

Congratulations you are now celebrating Pi Day in style!