No more Virtual Components by default…
In SolidWorks 2010, there is a new option relating to creating new in-context components in an assembly that may reduce the blood pressure of many SolidWorks users. The new option is “Save new components to external files”. If selected, SolidWorks prompts you to name and save new in-context components to external files, like it used [...]
Probe in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
In working with one of my clients today, I discovered a hidden gem within SolidWorks Flow Simulation CFD software. My client asked me if we could walk around the model and probe temperatures at certain locations, like you can in SolidWorks Simulation FEA software. The answer is yes. But the tool is well hidden. With [...]
Vote for your favorite enhancements online!
Each year, SolidWorks asks you to vote on the top ten enhancements you would like to see in a future release of the software. They introduced a new Brainstorm tool for SolidWorks World 2009, and they have brought it back for 2010. It lets you submit your favorite enhancement ideas, and allows other SolidWorks users [...]
I’ve got the power!
In my webcast today on Event-Based Simulation I showed how SolidWorks revolutionizes the way controls and CAD modeling work together. This approach allows you to directly integrate your models with the behaviors you desire, bringing mechanical and electrical design to the forefront while maintaining machine controls flexibility. EBS accomplishes this in a novel way: instead [...]
SolidWorks Enterprise PDM is the BOM!
I just ran a webinar that shows how BOM’s created in SolidWorks CAD software are passed intact to EPDM, reducing rework. “Named” BOMs, which can be used beyond the engineering organization, are now associated with the SolidWorks assembly. This means that if a designer changes a part, the BOM is automatically updated. In addition, named [...]
Create a new view in a Drawing
Have you ever wanted to to change the orientation of a view in a drawing after you have inserted a view? There is a little know function that allows a user to rotate / pan or zoom in a model view in a drawing. Typically one can use this function to add a dimension to [...]
Be a CTRL Freak: Part 2
One of my customers contacted me and gave me a great CTRL key tip when it concerns the user interface. It turns out that you can add a toolbar on top of docked toolbars without docking it, just hold the “CTRL” down and drag any toolbar from graphical area to the empty area of a [...]
Interesting Corner on Welded Frame
Have you ever wanted to have a nice equal mitre cut on the corner of a weldment? This is possible since SolidWorks provides tools to group weldment profiles together in one feature. The try this out yourselves, create a 3DSketch of your frame structure, insert a weldment feature, then insert a structural member. Select the [...]
What’s new in CircuitWorks 2010?
“To design the future effectively, you must first let go of your past.” – Charles Givens. How true, but where do we begin on our quest to design the next generation of products and solutions that we all depend upon? How do you consider the mechanical and the electronic parts of your designs when you [...]
Be a CTRL Freak: Part 1
There is a tremendous amount of productivity to be gained when implementing the use of keyboard shortcuts in SolidWorks. The ones I use most commonly are below: Ctrl+TAB+ Cycle between documents-forward Ctrl+SHFT+TAB+ Cycle between documents-backwards I use these when I an working on a drawing and I need to go back to the part to [...]
