InspectionXpert for SolidWorks review

Refresh ProjectInspectionXpert for SolidWorks is an inspection report automater and ballooning application that runs within SolidWorks FeatureManager pane.  Its tight integration with SolidWorks has earned it SolidWorks Gold Partner status.

InspectionXpert helps users to automatically generate inspection report forms in conjunction with automatically ballooned inspection drawings.  The user can choose to create an inspection report for every dimension (for First Article), or choose particular dimensions to inspect, such as those identified with the rounded outline box.  InspectionXpert displays identified information in something called Characteristic Tree (it includes dimensions, geometric tolerances, notes, hole callouts, weld and surface finish symbols extracted directly from the SolidWorks drawings).  Report forms created from the Characteristic Tree are created in Excel.

Inspection data points within the Characteristic Tree can be saved directly inside of the SolidWorks Drawing for added convenience.  InspectionXpert has a project refresh function that may be used if dimensions are added or if a drawing is changed.

InspectionXpert can be particularly useful for Incoming Inspection, Manufacturing, and other groups by allowing them to generate accurate and highly specialized reports based on information directly pulled from the SolidWorks drawing.  This seems like a good solution that can simplify and streamline the inspection process.

Senseless Sunday: the long and the short word

  • The word hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia means fear of long words.
  • Flint, Michigan is the largest city in the U.S.A. to have just one syllable in its name.
  • An urban legend defines a twit as a pregnant gold fish.   Gold fish do not get pregant.  They lay eggs that get fertilized afterwards.  A twit is also not a comment on Twitter.  That is a tweet.

SolidWorks World 2011 Top Ten requests

Each year, SolidWorks users vote on the changes they’d most like to see included in SolidWorks.  This year, voting was conducted in a special area on the SolidWorks forums.  For the amount of attention this list gets, it should be noted that the top vote-getter on the Top Ten List didn’t get much more than 120 total votes.  There are several important requests in this year’s list.  There are also some that leave me wondering, “what’s the big deal?”

Top Ten Freeze FeaturesTop Ten List

  1. Angle mates that don’t flip at random (Yes, we need this!)
  2. Better utilize processor cores (Yes, of course!)
  3. Option to dangle instead of deleting (A cool option that could be useful.)
  4. SolidWorks should cleanly uninstall itself (Done! …supposedly in 2012.)
  5. Freeze Features (Again, done! …supposedly in 2012.)
  6. Enhanced Equations Input & Editing & Linking (Again again, Done! …supposedly in 2012.)
  7. Convert a Solid Body into a Surface body without having to delete, offset, or knit faces (Ok, cool idea, but aren’t there more critical changes needed?)
  8. Make the ideas section (in the forum) available all year, not just for SWW (huh?)
  9. File compatibility between versions (Every year this is on the list.  Every year this is not implemented.)
  10. Pressing Escape key should immediately return control of the interface (This ESC key request again?  Yes, but let’s move on already.)

What’s New? for SolidWorks 2012 (a most tasty & complete list from SWW11 )

2012Some say the world will end in 2012.  There are a lot of books being rushed to market right now that make some amazing claims about what’s going to happen just 22 months from now (Dec 21, 2012).  SolidWorks Corp seems gleefully oblivious to all of this hoopla, as they have put a lot of effort to bring new capabilities to SolidWorks 2012.  Here  are some highlights.

There’s a few generic user interface capabilities to be added:

  • A pushpin function will be added to allow users to put choice drawings, models or assemblies in a quick access flyout menu.
  • Users can now switch between units of measure via a selection tool added to the status bar.
  • A new command filter search will be added to allow users to search for SolidWorks commands on-the-fly (has opposed to stumbling around the Help file).
  • Selecting an item in the graphics view will highlight it and zoom to it within the feature tree (finally!).

Sheet metal will see several improvements:

  • Users will be able to choose faces to ignore in flat patterns.
  • Swept flange feature will be available.  They will be flattenable.
  • Tangent Flange position function.
  • Users will be able to set flanges parallel to a sketch.

Improved equations dialog boxBig news about equations:

  • Improved equation editor, with solve order and sort.
  • Global variables are now editable via the equation editor window.
  • Auto-rebuild for immediate implementation of changes.

On drawings:

  • BOMs will be insertable without having a pre-selected view.
  • Exploded views will be an option in the View Pallet.
  • Balloon order sequencing will be available, with the ability to number around a view from any start location.
  • Magnet Lines!!! (someone at SolidWorks Corp. was listening)
  • Unused View Label letters will be automatically reused.
  • Ability to add center marks to entire view.

Assembly will have a new Design Review mode that allows users to open and explore large assemblies without all the overhead lag.  This function will include the ability to conduct walk-throughs.

In an apparent extension of functionality added with SustainabilityXpress, SolidWorks 2012 will give users the ability to conduct manufacturer part costing.

New motion sensors will be added for actuator forces, baring loads and travel limits.

And now, the much hyped changes to be made in SolidWorks 2012:

  • Feature Freeze (they are going to try implement it again).
  • Complete Uninstall, with new options that allows for more control.  Also, uninstall function will be available from Admin Image.
  • Files will be cleared from memory when they are closed.
  • Dual monitor support will allow SolidWorks to span across two displays in a logical manner.

My road to becoming a presenter at SolidWorks World

My presentation at SolidWorks World 2011I have now been to four SolidWorks World conferences.  My first was in 2008.  As with most attendees, my first time was overwelming.  So much information is packed into such a short time frame.  There are three general sessions and up to 11 opportunities to learn in breakout sessions. 

The real value in SolidWorks World are those breakout sessions.  Nowhere else is it possible to learn from first hand interaction about so many different SolidWorks related topics in one place.  Yet, the topics aren’t just about SolidWorks itself.  One of the most helpful sessions I’ve attended was about how CAD can work within an FDA regulated environment.

This inspired me.  I wanted to present my own breakout sessions to share my knowledge.  What could I talk about?  Well, I know drawings very well.  In 2008, I submitted my first presentation proposal on drawings for SolidWorks World 2009.  It was rejected.

In the meantime, I started presenting locally at the SolidWorks User Group meetings.  I did two presentations (written about here and here) that covered SolidWorks World 2008 at the Tri-Valley SolidWorks User Group and the Silicon Valley SolidWorks User Group.

I also started presenting at the SolidWorks User Group Network Technical Summits.  In Los Angeles, CA in 2008, I gave a presentation on advanced drawing tips and tricks.  In San Jose, CA in 2010, I gave another well received presentation on advanced SolidWorks customization techniques.  If someone cannot make it to SolidWorks World, I recommend attending a Technical Summit when is in their area.

I didn’t submit any breakout session proposals for SolidWorks World 2010.  It turns out that I ended up being a co-presenter of sorts for the Stump the Chumps II breakout session.  Jeff Mirisola organized this presentation.  My role was small, but this was my debut on a breakout session stage at SolidWorks World.

I was again inspired to submit my own breakout session proposals for SolidWorks World 2011.  To my delight, both of my proposals were accepted.  However, I soon realized that my time would be limited again.  I had to make the hard decision to withdraw one of my proposals.  This allowed me to focus on making sure my one presentation was high quality.  My presentation was Establishing CAD standards within a SolidWorks Environment, written about here.  (I’ll talk more about the content of my presentation at a later time.)

My presentation was well received.  I was approached by many individuals over the next two days at SolidWorks World 2011 to thank me for the presentation.  This was an unexpected bonus that made the whole endeavour very rewarding.  I’ve given back to the same community that has benefited my growth so much.  I hope that I will be able to give two presentations at SolidWorks World 2012!