I’m manually adding my SOLIDWORKS World 2016 Instagram videos here for posterity.
Instagram recently gave users the ability to download their data in compliance with new European regulations. Since videos typically don’t come over during automated crossposting, I’m manually adding them here for posterity. There’s no new message other than SOLIDWORKS World 2016 had a lot going on, just like every other SOLIDWORKS World conference. The videos have potato quality. This is apparently from multiple Instagram compressions (both in upload and in the subsequent download too).
SOLIDWORKS World Top Ten list for drawings – review for 2011 thorugh 2013; including implemetnatation rates and release years.
A few years ago, I reviewed SOLIDWORKS World Top Ten lists specifically for Drawing ideas. These articles not only showed a unique view of the Top Ten that is typically unavailable, but it also provided implementation status (implemented or not). It’s time to update those statuses.
In looking at these Drawings Top Ten idea lists, there’s about 75% implementation rate for the years 2011 thru 2013 as of SW2019. As time allows, Top Tens from later years may be shown in future articles.
Since SOLIDWORK 2012, new symbols were added to the SOLIDWORKS Symbol Library with each release. This is not intentional. This fact is an artifact of an increased focus on Drawing functionality in SOLIDWORKS since that time. So, just as a curiosity, I’m going back to see what was added, and roughly when. It’s not going to be precise in some cases because not every addition to the library showed up in the What’s New.
Note that this list does not include symbols created as part of new annotation tools, such as Location Label, Flag Notes or Movable Datum Targets.
There is an older article that covers symbols which were added from 2012 to 2014 called New stuff in SolidWorks 2014 (not mentioned in “What’s New”): Symbols. It covers the introduction of inspection symbols, functional symbols (such as Rho and center of mass) and introduction of drawing view symbols.
Additionally, in 2014, several JIS weld symbols were added and supported in the Weld Symbol annotation for JIS drawing standard.
Finally, an updated version of the JIS Chadding symbol was added
Spotface symbol for hole callouts was replaced. The previous version of the symbol relied in the current font of the document, so text within the symbol only lined up properly for one specific font. This new version simply followed ASME specifications and ignores the document font.
Though not in the What’s New, several Inspection Symbols where added.
A lot of new symbols where added to support ISO drawing standards, plus one new ASME symbol.
ASME symbol called Conical Taper, which can be found in Modifying Symbols category:
Draft symbols were introduced.
More ISO Tolerencing symbols were added.
SOLIDWORKS has a file called GTOL.SYM from which the Symbol Library is derived. This file is an editable text file. Here’s a couple of sources on how to edit this file to create your own symbols:
Although there is no guarantee of implementation, you are welcome to submit requests for new symbols via the Enhancement Request link within your Customer Portal. Make sure your submission includes any standards or other specifications to which your symbol must comply, the purpose of the symbol, and other information about the symbol to help us understand its use.
More information about submitting Enhancement Requests may be found at SOLIDWORKS corporate blog.
Austin, TX has long been on my todo list for work travel. There are a lot of great SOLIDWORKS customers in the Austin region. Come last week, my long awaited plans came to fruition. This was a busy trip.
My presentation at the user group meeting covered the topic of Model-based Definition in the context of SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS MBD. It’s a topic I’ve presented many times. (NASWUG, NSWG and SWW17)
Jeremy Browning also presented a lively demonstration that evening on how to model in a manner that utilizes SOLIDWORKS tools with maximum efficiency and resiliency.
Thank you to Nadia Shea and Jeremy Browning for their efforts of support during my visit. Also, thank you to Steve Calvert for his efforts, including the change of the date for their user group meeting to suit my travel.
While in town, I was able to indulge local flavor (literally); perhaps a bit too much.
There was also a chance to take in a few of the regional sights and sounds from time to time, of course.
However, the focus of these trips is to interact with SOLIDWORKS customers. This allows us to learn from our users about how we can improvement our products to better suit their needs in future releases. In this regard, this trip was a great success! Thank you to everyone who meet with me and participated in the local SOLIDWORKS events!
Here’s some highlights from SOLIDWORKS World 2017:
And, yes, SOLIDWORKS World 2018 will be returning to the Los Angeles Convention Center for 2018. In case you missed some of the fun that LA has to offer this year, you’ll have a second chance to indulge in 2018!
Here’s some of my experiences at SOLIDWORKS World 2017:
And some more fun afterwards:
An older resource for many things related to SOLIDWORKS API is AngelSix. Luke Malpass, founder of AngelSix, has written many SOLDWORKS macros. He has also written a couple of macros books.
As of last year, many of their macros and books are now available for free on fasetto. More info is available on AngelSix’s SOLIDWORKS page. The books apply to SOLIDWORKS 2008 and 2009, but much of the information is still relevant now.
AngelSix is also known for BatchProcess. BatchProcess is available for a 50-day trail.
Another API resource now on AngelSix is SolidDNA, which is a level of API that claims to make SOLIDWORKS API easier to use. Here’s a video tutorial that describes about to use SolidDNA:
