SOLIDWORKS Premium. Better Designs Mean Better Products.

SOLIDWORKS Premium is more than CAD—it's an integrated suite of specialized tools which work seamlessly together to let you model, visualize, simulate, validate, communicate, cost, document, and better prepare your designs for production. SOLIDWORKS design tools let you efficiently transform concepts into practical, executable designs, and leverage advanced automation capabilities to handle repetitive manual tasks.

Download Whitepaper and Learn how SOLIDWORKS Premium enables you to:

• Communicate and collaborate easily throughout the process
• Check product manufacturability at each stage
• Automate code generation for machining and production
• Easily generate complex surfaces and shapes
• Output photorealistic images and animations

DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER to learn how you can accelerate your design process and improve product quality with SOLIDWORKS Premium. REQUEST A QUOTE on SOLIDWORKS Premium 3D CAD software

3 POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2D CAD AND SOLIDWORKS

As designing software for engineers, both 2D CAD and SolidWorks fell under the broad discipline of CAD/CAM.

A little about CAD/CAM – While CAD stands for Computer Aided Design, CAM, on the other hand, stands for Computer Aided Manufacturing. The first is a software supporting designing of a new product or modifications, so to speak. The second is about using computer for controlling the operations of a machine. Overall, both CAD and CAM improve productivity, enhance quality and reduce the time required to make a product.

Let’s discuss about 2D CAD  now. It is one of the very first CAD software that has been a market leader for over thirty-five years; about the same time that it has been in existence. Though great in 2D Drawings, 2D CAD’s  limitations lie in its 3D capabilities. And so, is mostly used by architects and civil, aeronautical and other engineers requiring some sort of a drawing.

SolidWorks, on the other hand, is a solid modeler design software. Parametric in nature, SolidWorks is a product of Dassault Systemes. As a user-friendly CAD, CAM and CIM software, it supports designing of complex parts, assemblies and drawings.

The main difference between the two rests in their 2D and 3D capabilities. While 2D CAD’s main purpose is to assist draftsman in late 70’s when they had to create a lot of drawings, SolidWorks on the other hand focuses on the 3D design aspects. This makes SolidWorks 3D CAD Design software a pioneer in 3D Designing. Second line of difference can be found in Assemblies, wherein SolidWorks comes out a winner hands-down. It assists brilliantly in assembling designed parts in both 2D and 3D.

Also, when talking about Simulation and Analysis, SolidWorks comes with many different workbenches such as motion analysis, stress analysis and flow analysis, giving it an edge over 2D CAD

As you can see, SolidWorks is a clear winner in the battle of application with 2D CAD . Perhaps, it is time for you look out for a SolidWorks software for sale.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE SUBMODELING USING SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION ?

SOLIDWORKS Simulation comes with powerful virtual testing environment that helps product engineers in efficiently evaluating structural product performance under a variety of physical scenarios.

Furthermore, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is fully embedded within SOLID WORKS 3D CAD and therefore enables engineers to evaluate products mechanical resistance, natural frequencies, product durability as well as test heat transfer and buckling instabilities.

Submodeling is based on the St. Venant's principle. The St. Venant's principle states that the stresses on a boundary reasonably distant from an applied load are not significantly altered if this load is changed to a statically equivalent load. The distribution of stress and strain is altered only near the regions of load application.

Talking about Submodeling, it offers a swift and easy way of zooming in on a component of interest. Because it creates a sub-study using displacement results of the parent study while isolating the part you need to be focusing on, it renders ease of operation with quick results.

You can use Submodeling on SOLIDWORKS Simulation to the fullest by removing away the rest of the assembly which may not be required anymore and use finer mesh for gaining accurate results, more so without raising the solution time.

Submodeling is available in Simulation Professional and above and requires a parent study. It comes with plenty of advantages, and it is the optimal way to gain quick results that are high in quality.

Being a fundamental component of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Submodeling is a necessity to learn and understand. When in Toronto, you have the benefit of receiving the required training at FEA Training Consultants, which has the award-winning certified instructors with years of experience. The instructors brilliantly cover the entire process from meshing to results evaluation for parts and assemblies. 

Difference between SOLIDWORKS Premium, Professional and Standard

Difference between SOLIDWORKS Premium, Professional andStandard

Congratulations on your decision to look into SOLIDWORKS 3DCAD design software package!

SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD design software solutions include SOLIDWORKS PREMIUM, SOLIDWORKS PROFESSIONAL, and SOLIDWORKS STANDARD providing engineers, designers and manufacturers with the design, simulation/verification, manufacturing, file management and collaboration tools they need to develop and manufacture innovative products and equipment—all in one package

The entire suite of SOLIDWORKS (SOLIDWORKS Premium, SOLIDWORKS Professional, and SOLIDWORKS Standard) covers design, simulation/verification, cost estimation, manufacturability checks, CAM, sustainable design, technical communication and data management.

The main difference between SOLIDWORKS Premium vs SOLIDWORKS Professional vs SOLIDWORKS Standard depends on their respective functionalities.

SOLIDWORKS Premium:

SOLIDWORKS Premium is the flagship product in the SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD family. You can find all the capabilities included in SOLIDWORKS Professional along with powerful simulation and design validation as well as advanced wire and pipe routing functionality, advanced surface flattening capabilities and environmental impact analysis.

SOLIDWORKS Professional:

SOLIDWORKS Professional includes all the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Standard to increase design productivity. The additional functionalities include file management tools, advanced photorealistic rendering (SOLIDWORKS Visualize), automated manufacturing cost estimation, eDrawings Professional collaboration capabilities, reverse engineering tools, automated design and drawing checking , automated task scheduling and batch processing, Tolerance analysis, ECAD/MCAD collaboration tools, sophisticated components and parts library.

SOLIDWORKS Standard:

Get up to speed and unlock the benefits of this powerful design and manufacturing solution. With SOLIDWORKSStandard, you can share data with your suppliers and customers who also use SOLIDWORKS. Create designs faster and more accurately, including 3D models of complex parts and large assemblies, 2D drawings, and assembly bills of materials (BOMs) needed by manufacturing. Eliminate design errors and rework before designs get to manufacturing by using automatic interference checking. Work directly with non-SOLIDWORKS CAD data and eliminate the need to translate files using SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect. Communicate design ideas more effectively using tools to create, publish, and view photorealistic images and videos of your designs. Create CNC tool paths using industry-leading CAM tools (SOLIDWORKS CAM) that include an intelligent database of machining rules and even the ability to automatically create CNC programs for your design.

Whether you choose between SOLIDWORKS Premium or SOLIDWORKS Professional or SOLIDWORKS Standard you can be assured that SOLIDWORKS is the most popular 3D CAD tool in the industry and the best 3D CAD tool for integrated partner products. You can do anything you need to do in designing, manufacturing (now including CAM) and managing products and never have to leave the SOLIDWORKS environment.

Looking to buy SOLIDWORKS software or need to know the SOLIDWORKS license price? Contact your local SOLIDWORKS Reseller today!

How to install SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses?

SolidNetwork License

Now that we are into SOLIDWORKS 2016 many of us are busy upgrading our SolidWorks software.  SolidNetWork License Manager is software that manages multiple licenses on a server.  Typically the server administrator will install this program on the server to manage the licenses amongst client computers.  The program that manages the network licenses is known as Flex Net.  Let’s examine a typical installation.   

To begin we need the SolidWorks installation file folder.  This can be provided to users by a DVD sent by mail or by going to the SolidWorks Customer Portal and downloading the files directly.  The benefit to using the Customer Portal is that users will be provided with the current service pack available.  

Log into the customer portal by providing the proper credentials.  Once inside to go Support > Downloads > Select SolidWorks 2016 and download the files.

The default SOLIDWORKS download location is located in Documents > SolidWorks Downloads > SOLIDWORKS 2016 x64 SP01.  Run Setup.exe.

Once you run Setup.exe, the user will have the option to

-Create an individual installation

-Create an administrative image

-Install server products or download the install files

For installations which SOLIDWORKS currently running on the computer we have the options to Modify or Repair the current installation.

When it comes to managing the SolidWorks Licenses on the Server, the user will want to install Server Products > Install SolidNetWork License Manager.  This is the program required to manage the licenses amongst client computers.

In the next step the user will be asked to enter in the serial numbers.  The installation will commence and once it is complete you will have SolidNetWork License Manager on the server to manage the licenses amongst the client computers.  

How to use SheetMetal in SOLIDWORKS?

SHEETMETAL IN SOLIDWORKS

Sheet metal and weldments are two very popular tabs for the manufacturing industry specifically with metal.  Both tabs have their merits.The reason why designers turn to sheet metal function is for flat patterns. Flat patterns are 2D representations of the sheet metal object that can be cut and then bent back into shape. In order to explore this feature let’s get acquainted with a simple sheet metal object starting with the following box:

We will model this simple box by first starting a sketch on the Front Plane.

 

Using the sketch tools lets draw a rectangle centered about the origin. Please ensure to have the sheet metal tab active. If it is not active simply right click on any tab (Features, Sketch, etc) and select Sheet Metal

Once the sketch is complete, switch to the sheet metal tab and select Base Flange/ Tab. This feature will allow the designer to turn the sketch into a sheet of specified thickness. It will also automatically convert the part into a sheet metal part. 

Next, let’s create a plane to sketch the box profile.  A plane can be created by selecting Features & Reference geometry. Once reference geometry is active, select a line and vertex as shown to fully define the plane. 

Once the plane is defined, sketch the desired box profile.  Ensure that the sketch is fully defined. It may also be noted that this is an open profile sketch.

Next, let’s select the Mitter Flange function to create the walls of the box. Once the function is active, select all four edges to ensure the box is enclosed on all sides.  Parameters such as flange position, gap distance, offset, etc allow designers to manipulate and adjust the box walls until it is as desired.

The box is now complete!  Users may notice that at the end of the feature manager tree is a “Flat Pattern” icon under suppressed state. By simply un-suppressing the Flat Pattern, the designer has access to the completed flat pattern. This flat pattern may be used to cut the shape out of raw material before bending it back into our box.

Sheet metal features in SOLIDWORKS makes designing quick and easier for designers.  Sheet metal is available for all versions of SOLIDWORKS; Standard, Professional and Premium.

SolidWorks 2016:Splines and Surfaces

New functionality to splines and surfaces in SOLIDWORKS 2016

 Consumer Products can be challenging to model with complex surfaces and the use of sketched splines.  SolidWorks 2016 adds new functionality to splines and surfaces to make modeling consumer products faster and easier.

Consider the following Jug:

This is an image of a jug and we would like to create a 3D model based on this image.  We start by first sketching the neck side profile of the jug:

New to SOLIDWORKS 2016 is the ability to choose between B-Splines as well as Bezier curve types.  Using B-Splines, we click to place our control points:

Following the control points, it is a good idea to turn on the “Show Curvature” option that allows the designer to visualize the curve.  

With this in mind the designer may now click and dynamically drag the control points so they fit the form of the jug.  Now the curvature of the handle portion was approximated with a spline. 

 

The designer may now select the spline and select the convert to style spline from the fly out menu.

  

In doing so, we have a one to one conversion since the resulting style spline will be a B-Spline with degree 3.  The designer may how adjust the control points to modify the curve to match the side handle profile.  With style splines it’s easier to create curves that are fast and easy to manipulate.

Having created the main surface and a few more control surfaces, the designer needs to trim all the surfaces to get the consumer product shape.

In SolidWorks 2016, SolidWorks Trim Surface is easier to use with new preview tools.  By selecting “show excluded regions” the software shows the surfaces that will be excluded from the trim.  

Furthermore, the preview option for Trim Surface can also be switched to show only the surfaces left after applying the trimming feature.  If the Trimming feature yields a solid body, a new “Create Solid” option is now available to allow users to create a solid directly from the trim without any additional operation.

Following the main trim, the designer can now apply smooth asymmetrical fillets on the base:

And complex variable fillets on the handle with control points:

Followed by a mirror function and shell operation to get the final jug product:

The additional functionalities to splines and surfaces in SolidWorks 2016 are meant to make modeling consumer products with complex shapes easier and quicker.

Sketching Improvements in SOLIDWORKS 2016

IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLIDWORKS SKETCHING 2016

 Sketching is perhaps one of the core functionalities in the SolidWorks software.  Sketches allow a user to create 2 dimensional entities that may be used to create complex features.  It is a tool that helps the designer shape the part into the correct geometry.  With SolidWorks 2016 there have been improvements to the sketching abilities to make modeling easier.

Consider the following Valve

By opening up the base sketch used in the revolve feature to create the valve body we have the following sketch:

HIDE SKETCH DIMENSIONS:

Sketches become more complex with the addition of geometrical features.  There may be times when the dimensions constraining the sketch become cluttered to view in the graphical area.  In SolidWorks 2016 there is a new tool to hide sketch dimensions.  This is found under Tools> Hide/Show/ Hide Sketch Dimensions. By applying this filter to the graphical viewing area, it makes it much easier for the designer to inspect the current state of the sketch.

MIDPOINTS:

When a designer is dimension or adding relations to a sketch, the midpoint is a useful entity to have available.  Midpoints are now automatically selectable without explicitly defining a midpoint entity.  This change helps expedite the sketching process allowing designers to fully define a sketch in fewer steps than before.

SMART DIMENSION:

In addition, it is no longer necessary to select the smart dimension icon before clicking on the entities that require dimension.  Instead, designers can now select the entities of interest and a fly out menu will appear beside the mouse.  Designers may now select the Smart Dimension icon from that menu and the software will provide the appropriate dimension for the entities selected.  

INSTANT 2D:

Another useful tool is Instant 2D which is a feature that allows users to modify the value of a dimension with a single click.  Instant 2D can be found on the sketch toolbar.

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.  

Whats new in SolidWorks 2016? - Weldments

SolidWorks Weldment has been a valuable addition to any structural shape.  Structural sections come in stock sizes and weldments make assembling them into functional parts easier and faster.  SolidWorks has been steadily adding functionality to weldments throughout the years to help designers be more efficient.  Let’s find out what’s new for SolidWorks 2016.

Consider the following bus shelter modeled in weldments:

The three top members are still missing therefore we can use the Structural Members feature in weldments to add the parts.  

With Structural Members feature selected you may navigate your library to find the correct structural member to apply to the top of the bus shelter.  New to SolidWorks 2016 is an improved sorting algorithm that will display the sections listed in descending order.  This will avoid time wasted simply searching for the right tube size.  Furthermore, two of the most recently used sections will appear at the top acting as a dynamic favorites menu, therefore there will be no need to keep searching for the same tube is it is a common size for your part.

Once you create your sections, you will also notice that SolidWorks now provides a more descriptive text for the structural member created.  In previous versions we were left with a generic text but now we have an idea of what size the member will be at a glance.  In 2015 SolidWorks introduced the endcap feature for weldments.  This new release builds upon that endcap functionality.

When end caps are created they may have a designated thickness direction such as external or internal.  New to SolidWorks 2016 is the ability to further customize the end caps by specifying an offset distance.

In addition, SolidWorks has added a few shortcut hot keys to increase user speed.  By pressing and HOLDING the TAB key, any structural member highlighted by the mouse cursor will automatically be set to hide.  This allows users to hide structural bodies very quickly.

To undo the hide, users may press and HOLD:  TAB + SHIFT.  Hovering the mouse over where the structural member used to be will make it reappear.  

The new functionalities added to SolidWorks 2016 Weldment was designed to make modeling and designing more streamline, consistent and efficient.