SolidWorks is now providing free online training for the new SimulationXpress at this website. SimulationXpress represents a rebirth of sorts to CosmosXpress and the new direction which SolidWorks Corp is taking with the Cosmos product offerings for FEA. Check out the training site, not just for training, but also general information regarding this stress analysis application.
Category: Part
SolidWorks Drawings ER Blitz – SW Drawing Forum
There’s something going on over at the SolidWorks Drawings Discussion Forum. There has been an on-going project consisting of users working together to form a list of requests to improve SolidWorks’ drawing functionality. It all started out with a posted message that was simple, yet poignant by user RYAN W.
When is solidworks ever going to focus on drawings for a new release? Of all the parts in SW I think it needs the most improvement. When ever I find a bug or have a problem in SW it usually is in drawings. I think it would be great to have a new release focus on this area.
From there, the discussion evolved.  Users started going into what they would like to see added to SolidWorks’ drawing functionality. Others brought up bugs they found. Somewhere in the discussion, Dwight Livingston took the baton. He compiled list of eighteen improvements from everyone’s comments. It included requests such “Create option to attach the ASME symbol for ALL AROUND to the bend of a leader”, “Change SW tables to have basic spreadsheet functions, without MS Excel”, “Create option to add a new centermark to an existing centermark group”, and “Create feature to embed custom symbols in drawing files”, just to name a few.Â
This list has received considerable enthusiasm and has taken on a life of its own; it grew in scope and size in a second thread titled What Drawing Functionality Does SolidWorks Need to Improve?. Finally, Mr. Livingston formalized the discussion under the thread SolidWorks Drawings ER Blitz, with the intent to finish compiling the list of requests by Sept 17, 2008. By now, the list is over 40 individual items in about 15 categories. Some of the categories are DRAWING EXPORT, DIMENSION, HOLE CALLOUTS, GD&T, and SYMBOLS.
Now, unofficially, I can say that SolidWorks Corp is aware of this list.  It is my impression that it will not be ignored. That is not to say that every item will be dutifully explored and implemented right away. There are many factors that go into decisions as to which improvements to work on first and when to implement them. At the very least, SolidWorks Corp is listening.
Please check out the current list. If so inclined, please feel free to voice your own thoughts about items on this list and mention any new items that need to be added. What’s been bugging you? What bugs need fixing? Where does SolidWorks not allow you to detail something per ASME or ISO standards without some heinous workaround? Where is SolidWorks drawing functionality still lacking? What functionality can be added to increase efficiency?Â
SolidWorks 2009 is slated to introduce Slots functionality
At SolidWorks World 2008 (SWW8) we saw confirmation of a rumor. SolidWorks 2009 would have the capability to add slot holes to parts. This is a long sought after function that some would say has been missing along. As demonstrated, the slot hole was not a special feature. It was a sketch tool! Some may not initially like this, preferring slot holes to be their own discrete type of feature. Others may prefer creating slots with a special sketch tool.
The SWW8 demonstration showed the presenter starting a sketch, picking the slot tool. This allowed him to draw just a construction line with two LMB clicks. The slot form automatically formed as though it was a capped offset from the initial construction line. One more click set the sketch entities for the slot. It appeared to be easy and painless. I presume dimensioning of the slot within the sketch would be similar to current methods for similar sets of entities in the current version of SolidWorks.
The advantage to the slot function as a sketch tool is that user can actually create either an extrude or cut-extrude with the same tool. So, not only are slot holes supported, but so is their opposite and positive counterpart. As long as SolidWorks allows the user to dimension the slot hole on the drawing with the Hold Callout function, I do not have any major issues with this. A mild criticism is that this method is a kin to how holes were made in the earliest SolidWorks versions, long before Hole Wizard, and presumably even before those “legacy holes”. Perhaps this is just the first volley in a long series of improvements as we work our way to a Slot Wizard? Maybe not.
However, some users might be expecting slot holes to be a feature of their own. I cannot fully imagine how SolidWorks might accomplish this. Maybe special one-off sketches are required, with sizes regulated with a Property Manager, similar to Hole Wizard holes. Thinking of this, I can imagine that it would be nice to have some feature level control over slots so that they can be automatically sized when associated with a particular fastener within an assembly.
As far as dimensioning for slot holes on drawings, I did participate in early questionnaires regarding how this should be done. I dutifully pulled my advice from ASME Y14.5M-1994, with special attention to Fig 1-35(b). I also stated that I preferred centermarks to be at the center of slot by default (again referencing Fig 1-35(b)). This will allow the quickest and simplest scheme to specify a slot hole. This brings to mind a question. If Hole Callout does callout slot holes this way, what will it do for extruded shapes that use a slot sketch? There is no standard for this in ASME as far as I can tell, other than just directly dimensioning the feature.
There is one major point of concern. How does this function translate into model assemblies? Does SolidWorks 2009 quickly identify the slot hole center when smartmating a fastener at that location? Right now, I always groan when I have to mate a screw to a slot because so much has to be done directly by me. Update: something as simple as a temporary axis at the center of slot hole will be enough to address this issue, I believe.
One minor question of mine is how would slot sketch entities be handled within a sketch? I think it would be best if they are recognized collectively as a slot, but can also be “exploded” into individual entities when other shapes based on the initial slot are desired.
I am looking forward to regularly using the new Slot functionality. It promises to be a great timesaver that is well overdue.
Ctopher’s Material Database – Update
The new ctopher’s Material Database is here! The long anticipated new update of my material database.
The new database version 070508 has been updated with more materials.
Because of conflicts with some of the materials between SolidWorks 2008 and older versions, we created two versions. One version is for 2007 and older and the other is for 2008 and newer. Both are included in the same file.
Also added is a text file with instructions.
Thank you to Matt and others for your help and contributions.
Chris (ctopher)
Download page: ctopher’s Material Database
(*.SLDMAT)
Product Review: Template Wizard (Part 2)
Template Wizard is a relatively new application from SolidWorks Templates by Kevin Van Liere. He spent about 2 years developing and improving it. It is designed to work within SolidWorks 2008, though it does have some limited functionality in SolidWorks 2007 SP4.0 or higher. This part of my article is a critique of Template Wizard’s specific functions and workflow. Ultimately, the most important question will be answered “42”. How easy is it to make a new Drawing Template with Template Wizard?
General Description and Workflow
This review is based on Template Wizard Version 2.5.3088.23714. As stated before, Template Wizard allows for the creation of SolidWorks templates. It is an add-in that runs from within SolidWorks. When running, its interface occupies the Property Manager in what is commonly referred to as the FeatureManager or Feature Tree Pane, along the left side of the open document. Settings and features are all selected from within this pane.
Once it is installed, Template Wizard appears as a pull down menu by the same name. Two options appear in the menu. “Create/Modify Templates” and “Help”. This is very simple and to the point. When selected, the Template Wizard pops up with some options to start a new template or modify an existing template. These options apply to drawings, parts and assemblies. However, if one selects anything other than Drawing Template first, the software gently reminds the user that it will work best if a Drawing Template is created first.
Template Wizard takes a step by step approach. As one goes through the nine general steps for creating a Drawing Template, Template Wizard establishes its settings and allows the user to build what will become the Sheet Format and Drawing Template. After that, it also flows right into the creation of part and assembly templates. One minor drawback to this step-by-step approach is that the arrows which take you from step to step (backward and forward) are small and barely noticeable in the upper right corner of the pane. The size of these arrow is controlled by SolidWorks itself (and not the fault of Template Wizard), but that doesn’t make it any easier to recognize. However, once one is familiar with the interface, there are no usability issues due to this minor detail.
Creating a Drawing Template
Step 1 is the Template Wizards start-up form itself (where the user is wisely guided to first create a Drawing Template). Once the choice is made and “Begin” is selected, a blank drawing is opened with Step 2 the Template Wizard appearing in the Program Manager.
Step 2 is very logical. It requests sheet size, type of projection, unit system (in/mm, etc), dimensioning standard (ISO/ANSI, etc) and other fundamental settings. As choices are made, they are immediately implemented.
Step 3 creates the border for the Sheet Format. I’m not sure how much work went in to designing and programming this step (great or slight?), but in my opinion, this one step makes the whole Template Wizard package worth its price tag! All the user has to do is set the margins, determine the number of zones and zone marker lengths; then click “Create Border”. This step allows the user to generate a fully defined and complete border in seconds! Advanced options also exist that establish other several settings. The border can also be saved as a block for use elsewhere.
Step 4 allows the user to add title block elements to their template. In my opinion, Step 4 is by far the most complex portion of Template Wizard. It may even be a little scary at first. There is a large selection of title block elements to choose from. One must select each element from a drop down list box and place it on the drawing using the element’s insertion point. It is fairly simply, but not immediately obvious, even with the on-screen description. Before attempting to use step, I highly recommend reading the Help. I especially recommend looking up “Pre-Designed Title Blocks” or “ASSY LOGO” in the Help to bring up images of the title block elements. Once the user has the hang of how to pick and place the title block elements, this step easy and extremely powerful. Template Wizard functionality does appear to be bumping into limitations of SolidWorks itself in this step. One example of this is that if the user attempts to directly edit text within the template (instead of using Template Wizard functions to make such edits), SolidWorks will crash. According to Kevin, this is a flaw in SolidWorks, but it is a flaw that pops up when using his application, so that may be a moot point. I will say that if Template Wizard is used as intended, such issues should be minimal.
Step 5 directs the user to pick the Revision Table anchor. Given SolidWorks 2008’s little quirks, I HIGHLY recommend choosing the upper right corner of the border. It seems for some reason some functionality for creating Revision Tables has been reduced in 2008, making this necessary. Very poor decision on the part of SolidWorks Corp., but I digress. Template Wizard does insert the Revision Table once this anchor is selected.
Step 6 is a small step in which the user makes selections regarding fonts, annotations and display of tangent edges. This step almost feels like an after-thought. Perhaps these choices could be moved into Step 3 instead, or perhaps expanded to cover more settings that users may be interested in controlling?
Step 7 allows the user to save the drawing template (as it appears on screen) as a Sheet Format. My only complaint here is that non-standard nomenclature is used. Instead of referring to this function as “Save Sheet Format”, it has a button to “Save Page Design”. I asked Kevin about this. He made the choice to use this terminology because inexperienced users did not understand “Sheet Format” and how it is different from “Drawing Template”. However, this choice may be confusing for experienced users. Perhaps a statement in the on-screen help may allow Template Wizard to make this matter clear, especially if new terms are being created.
Step 8 is where the user actually saves their Drawing Template.
Step 9 allows the user to continue on to create templates for parts (models) and assemblies. Template Wizard can carry over some information from the Drawing Template to these templates, such as unit settings and custom properties. It also allows the user to control several other settings. This function uses an intuitive and straightforward step-by-step approach to create those templates similar to how it works for drawings.
Conclusion
Template Wizard is a very well researched and useful product with a very low price tag. Overall, it is easy to use and very comprehensive. Kevin states, “I really put my heart into it to make it as good as I could.” This dedication really shows in the end product. The software is still a little rough around the edges in some places [as of 2008], though much of this seems to come from limitations or bugs within SolidWorks itself. Given all factors, Template Wizard is well worth its price. New and experienced users will benefit from this application. Really, in my mind, the best customer for this software is anyone who has the responsibility to create templates for a new company or a company that has just started using SolidWorks. The next best customer is one who wishes to improve already existing Drawing Templates. I recommend Template Wizard for all such cases.
Product Review: Template Wizard (Part 1)
One of the areas where SolidWorks lacks is in the creation and editing of engineering drawings. Specifically, there is very poor support for drawing templates. One person has taken a stab at filling this gap in SolidWorks functionality. Kevin Van Liere of SolidWorks Templates has created Template Wizard.
The goal for Templates Wizard is to make it easy for the end user to create and edit drawing templates. According to Kevin, SolidWorks Corp. does not acknowledge that their lack of functionality with drawing templates is a problem. Also not provided by SolidWorks Corp. is a best practices guide for templates during SolidWorks training. He developed Template Wizard due to these facts and out of pure frustration.
He says that his target is end users, of course. In particular, new users will find Template Wizard most helpful, though he does feel existing users will benefit as well. I am inclined to agree, especially at the current list price of {outdated}. Due to the low price, he stated that some VARs have contacted him about purchasing seats of Template Wizard to provide it to their clients for free as part of an overall package. For the price, this is likely one of the most accessible professional SolidWorks Add-ins available.
The Add-in creates templates for drawings, models and model assemblies. It allows the user to create such templates from scratch. In the case of drawing templates, it also allows the user to create a SolidWorks drawing template based on an AutoCAD template. Additionally, it will edit existing SolidWorks drawing templates to add fields and functions that might be previously lacking.
The focus is on the actual templates themselves. For example, Template Wizard intentionally does not go deep in to settings, such as centermark sizes. It does provide general control by the selection of ANSI, ISO, etc. However, for the most part, it offers the pure experience of creating the template itself. I think that task is daunting enough without getting into the numerous individual settings available within SolidWorks.
Part 2 of this article will go into the details of Template Wizard, focusing on its work flow and specific functions. It will include a (hopefully) thorough critique of the Add-in.
For the record, this review is unsolicited by SolidWorks Templates; I contacted SolidWork Templates. This review is based on a free short term license that was provided to me by SolidWorks Templates solely for the purpose of this review. That license is revoked upon completion of this review. No guarantees by me were granted to SolidWorks Templates regarding the outcome of this review. I did discuss my negative findings with Kevin regarding specific functions prior to release of this review. All of my findings (positive and negative) will be openly presented in Part 2.