Review of SolidWorks and SolidWorks related products.
From SolidWorks Blog:
In SolidWorks 2013, The Auto Route tool includes an option to create a route based on existing geometry. To route along geometry, specify a start point, one or more planar faces, and an endpoint in the Auto Route PropertyManager. Routing automatically creates a route from the start point to the end point that runs parallel to the faces. You can specify the distance between the route and each planar face.
From the SolidWorks Blog,
SolidWorks 2013 won’t be officially unveiled until September 10, but over the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you sneak peeks at a few of the new features we’ll be shipping this fall. And here’s the first.
In SolidWorks 2013, center of mass is a selectable entity in drawings, and you can reference it to create dimensions. In a drawing, you can create reference dimensions between center of mass points and geometric entities, such as points and edges.
Zooming methods are the same as assemblies, with zoom fit, zoom home, panning, etc. Play is also available. I don’t know what it is about Play; there is just some inexplicable joy that comes from watching a model transition between views.
Configurations are also supported for parts. Switching between configurations is a breeze.
Same as other eDrawings releases, DimXpert dimensions are viewable in eDrawing part (.eprt) files.
Zoom tools work a little different for drawing. There is still pan, zoom in and out, zoom fit, and zoom home. Logically, you won’t have the ability to rotate a drawing sheet into 3D space.
When viewing a drawing, Play works the same in eDrawings for iPad as it does in other versions of eDrawings. Watching a drawing transition between drawing views is even more enjoyable than watching a model because the associated dimensions are displayed at each waypoint.
Drawing sheets are also supported. Switching between drawing sheets may be done through the Sheets tree.
eDrawings for iPad is very intuitive for anyone familiar with multitouch screens. One finger drag rotates the model. Two fingers pan. Pinching zooms. I’ve used this app on both an iPad and iPad 3. On either of these devices, manipulating the model orientation has great responsiveness that is as immediate as you may expect any iPad app to be. For example, switching between configurations and sheets using the tree is very quick.
Loading a file into eDrawings for iPad is also a snap. You can copy files to your iPad via your iTunes interface. Even easier, just email the file to yourself or someone else who has this app installed.
When downloading the model file through your email interface, you are automatically presented with the option to open it in eDrawings. If you accept, it is added to your User Files and opened. Very convenient.
eDrawings for iPad has enough functions to immediately make this a useful tool. It is very inexpensive when compared to similar applications that view native SolidWorks files on the iPad. The app is very easy to use. These points give this app a great combination of qualities.
eDrawings for iPad is available as of May 1, 2012 from the Apple App Store. Please find and install this app through App Store from your iPad device. Search word: edrawings. Or, follow this iTunes link. There is a lively discussion on Twitter under hashtags #edrawingsforipad, #eDrawings, or just plain search for edrawings. Also, if you wish, check out the SolidWorks.com introduction site
I’ve been wanting to write an article about the book Photorealistic Rendering Using SolidWorks and Photoview 360 for almost a year now. Between that time and now, I’ve become employed by SolidWorks, which makes writing reviews about SolidWorks related products somewhat self-serving. As such, I’m not going to do a full length detailed review. That being said, it is a great guide to learn the ins-and-outs of making photorealistic images from SolidWorks. One of the main consultants for this book is Rob Rodriguez, infamous for his photorendering skills.
The book’s approach to the subject is refreshing, in that it is written from the perspective of a photographer. Topics include basic elements, such a lighting, to more complex visualization settings for illumination. Also discussed are OpenGL, RealView, Surface Finishes, hardware, performance, scenes, decals, user interface, display states, configurations, mapping, output options, etc, etc. It does include a DVD-ROM!
It’s a great guide with a lot of detailed images as it takes you step-by-step through the process of creating photorealistic images with SolidWorks and Photoview 360.
The book is available in the SolidWorks Store. It is also now available from Amazon.com (image link above is via Amazon.com).
One more notable What’s New item from SolidWorks 2012 is the new Search Commands tool. Search Commands in the Search corner that allows you to quickly find a command by typing its name.
Simply start typing a common name in the Search Commands field and you will be immediately presented with possible matching commands. Not only that, if you click on the eye-glasses next to the command name, SolidWorks will automatically take you on a step-by-step path to the location of the command within the menu or toolbar interface.
But there’s more.
When searching for a command:
That’s right, Search Commands allows you to quickly add a found command to any toolbar within your user interface so you can keep at a favorite location for future use.
The customization doesn’t stop there. Multiple-letter shortcuts can be added to Search Commands! This can be done at Tools pulldown>Customize…>Keyboard tab in the Search Shortcut column.
As a bonus to even all of that, Search Commands is automatically accessible when the you strike the “S” key to bring up the Shortcut Bar. Whenever the Shortcut Bar is up, you can just start typing! Your entry appears in the Search Commands field and automatically initiates your command search.
This new tool helps new and occasional users find commands that they may never have used before or may have forgotten about because they don’t use the SolidWorks every day. Additionally, it can help experience users find commands on unfamiliar workstations, since many users like to customize toolbar layouts.
Dassault Systemes dives head first into uncharted waters with its beta release of a no-cost Linux based 2D CAD application called DraftSight for Linux, announced earlier this month. Though DraftSight for Linux is not open source, it is free to download and use, and the community of users will direct its development via 3D SwYm. There are two Linux versions available for download, Ubuntu and Fedora/Suse/Mandriva.
DraftSight reads and saves .dwg and .dxf file formats. It can read those formats from any version 2.5 and after. It can save to any versions from R12 to R2007-2010. It can also export to PDF, PNG, TIF, SAT and STL.
What makes this stand out in the Linux community is that DraftSight for Linux is the first non-GPL release of a 2D CAD application from a major corporation that is free for both commercial and personal use. Even ARES does not offer that! DraftSight for Linux will have a paid subscription service for educational and commercial customers who want phone support, network licensing, and access to API. Other than that, free activation of DraftSight for Linux is required to access certain functions.
The response from the community has surprised Dassault Systemes’ Aaron Kelly, Senior Director of DraftSight, who states,
Over 11,000 [downloads] since yesterday (3/16/2011). A little over 1,000 a day on average. 80% choose the Ubuntu download. I am surprised by this number as it is about what the MAC uptake was. These are not users we typically reach.
An article about DraftSight for Linux appeared on Slashdot, and threads are appearing on Linux related forums. (These have generated a substantial amount of traffic to SolidWorks Legion.)
Ubuntu 9.10 Gnome, Fedora 14 Gnome, Suse 11.2 Gnome, Mandriva 2010 Gnome and KDE, or higher versions, 32-bit
Now, there’s been some comment from the Linux community that DraftSight for Linux is not 64-bit. Leave it to the Linux community to address its own complaints! Check out this solution at Courira.ca for Ubuntu 64-bit users.
DraftSight for Windows and DraftSight for Mac OS (beta) are also available.
