Tag: CSWP

April Content for SolidWorks Legion

SolidWorks Legion has a contest going on for the month of April 2010.  The basic idea is to simple.  To enter the contest, leave comments for any new articles on SolidWorks Legion, and any SolidWorks Legion articles that I link via Twitter with my fcsuper account for the month of April 2010.  For full rules, see the announcement article.  Available to win is a CSWP test voucher, “signed” book by Sir Richard Branson, and a insulated SolidWorks mug.  Have fun!

June SW Legion Contest analysis (Part 3) – No July Contest

There will be no July SW Legion contest.  I’m planning on something a bit bigger for August and September, so for now, I’ll take a month’s break from contests.  June SW Legion Contest was very successful. As promised, I’m going to discuss some of the variety of entries. There are many ways to approach modelling in SolidWorks.  This the June SW Legion Contest is proof of that.

One of the more interesting scalene ellipsoid model entries was technically not a solid model.  Rather, it was a Surface-Loft, with three sketches (each with an ellipse in the proper proportions), by Ian Vivero.  This was the most functional of all scalene entries because it effectively used equations to drive the shape with one dimension value.

Of the scalene submissions, Matt Lombard’s was the simplest, with one Loft and one cleaver 3D sketch.  The problem is that I was not able to confirm its scaleneness.  The shape did not fall exactly along ellipses in all three directions.  This entry relied on the default SolidWorks choices for a lofted shape.  It was very close, however.

Two entries used exactly the same methodology: a simple revolve of a half circle that was then scaled in the appropriate proportions in X, Y and Z directions.  Very simple and cleaver.  These submittees were Cam Shute and Gary Liptrot.

Another cleaver entry that also had only three elements was by Arash Erfanian (unofficial winner who earned a CSWSP-FEA test).  This entry was one Sweep feature with one 2D sketch and one 3D sketch.

Other entries that were equally cleaver, but with more elements.  This included one entry that used another method with Surface-Loft and mirror features.

Two entries relied of the fact that I did not word my contest properly.  True to my word the one legitimate entry does represent the official winner of the contest, Sandeep Pawar (who chose a CSWP test as the prize).

And the June SW Legion Contest winner is… (Part 1)

The June SW Legion Contest asked the brave ones among us to provide the very simplest ellipsoid within Solidworks.  It turned out that the rules where a little too general.  In my excitement to announce this contest, I failed to specify that I was looking for scalene ellipsoids, not just any old sphere.  I also left off the detail that I wanted a fully defined solid model.

Due to this oversight, I will be awarding two CSWP tests this month.  One test will go to the person that technically fulfilled the initial requirements.  The second test will be awarded to the person that produced the simplest scalene ellipsoid.

June SW Legion Contest has received eleven entries from ten individuals.  A couple of entries were just for fun.  One was a PDF of a model created in AutoCAD, and the other was a simple sphere submitted by a fellow blogger (who himself is giving away CSWPs, so does not need another one from me).  Technically, his entry would’ve tied with the other entry that used the same method to create a Prolate spheroid.

The easiest way to make a sphere or similar object in SolidWorks is to have a single sketch of an arc that is then revolved.  We have one serious entry that used this method by Sandeep Pawar.  He has requested the CSWP test.  Best of luck, Sandeep, and congratulations!

I have further review to undertake in order to declare a victor for the search for the simplest scalene ellipsoid SolidWorks model among the entries.  I have four very compelling entries which I’m currently looking over.  More details to come.