Lars Peterson, Senior Applications Engineer at Hawk Ridge Systems, is the designer and creator of Webinar Wednesday. During our first year, over 6000 attendees watched over 100 free webinars- Hawk Ridge Systems is proud to share our knowledge of SolidWorks with our SolidWorks Community. Tune in every Wednesday for something new about SolidWorks 3D CAD Design.

 

The project was so tough there had to be a simple solution. How do we coordinate our SolidWorks webinars so everyone from customers to employees can remember when we have them? I’ve always been a fan of alliterations as a mnemonic device so it was no surprise when it came to me that I was on to something - Webinar Wednesday™.

The idea was a morning session for existing Hawk Ridge Systems customers to learn more about the products they owned. Then an afternoon session for us to demonstrate the features of the SolidWorks software solutions we provide in a demo format.

Now a weekly project doesn’t sound like too much, but with only 2 weeks off (Thanksgiving and SolidWorks World) that is 50 weeks of webinars, at two every Wednesday that’s 100 eLearning and eDemos to coordinate, create, and deliver. Actually it’s only 99 we did have the one occurrence of the marketing coordinator flying into my office with the panicked…”Where’s Waldo” moment only to find one of our presenters was actually at an onsite implementation. A tragic double booking on an otherwise spotless record.

After one year we’ve had 3366 attendees at our live events and 2898 viewers of our recorded postings. So overall it has been a huge success at getting in front of our customer base to help provide some of that “value added” service you’ve come to expect from Hawk Ridge.

This of course has been a great experience for Hawk Ridge Systems as well. We have had many of our SolidWorks engineering staff join our team of content creation and presentation. This not only gives them better demo skills, but they learn more about the 3D CAD products we provide. And an educated user base is always a relief to our technical support staff.

 

I’ve also learned from our customers, our weekly poll lets us know how we are doing and what you’d like to see. One complaint about how elementary my animation webinar was prompted me to create a SolidWorks Animations Part 2 to show more advanced ideas.

So for the many people who have logged in to watch these webinars thanks for coming and please come back for more!  For those who haven’t attended, drop on in and see why so many of your fellow SolidWorks users stop by every week to enjoy Webinar Wednesday at Hawk Ridge Systems.

Aaron Magnin is a Certified SolidWorks Elite Applications Engineer, teaches a wide variety of Hawk Ridge Systems training classes in many locations, and presented at the recent round of Hawk Ridge Systems Night Schools on Weldments & Sheet Metal.

Since I’ve been able to get my hands on 3DVIA Composer, I’ve noticed two changes in my life. The first change happens when I purchase any product that requires assembly. More often than not, the accompanying documentation is difficult to understand, and illustrations can be utterly misleading. Knowing the quality documentation that 3DVIA Composer can produce has completely spoiled me, and now when I’m presented with anything less I find myself cursing in frustration. This was never more evident than in the past holiday season… but that's another story.

The other change in my life is that using 3DVIA Composer encouraged me to look at problems in a different light by introducing me to different tools. As you probably know, 3DVIA Composer has different end goals, and for that reason, different toolsets to accomplish those goals. One such tool I encountered in 3DVIA Composer is known as “magnetic lines”.

Magnetic lines are a dream! This tool makes aligning balloons a breeze, and I immediately began to ponder when this functionality would be brought into SolidWorks. Sitting around waiting for SolidWorks’ development team to read my mind rarely works, so I voted on an enhancement request. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one that wanted this because magnetic lines are now available starting in SolidWorks 2012.

With the magnetic lines functionality, you now have a flexible and convenient way to align balloons. Don’t take it from me though – there’s a quick way to become familiar with this new functionality. In the SolidWorks “What’s New” tutorial set, you’ll find 4 short tutorials that pertain to magnetic lines. To get to these tutorials in SolidWorks, go to the Help menu > SolidWorks tutorials, then in the tutorial window, select “What’s New Examples”:

I think you'll find that these examples are very intuitive, so there is not much for me to add.  It should be noted that when auto ballooning you will find the option to automatically insert magnetic lines.

The one thing that might prove to be somewhat difficult is uncrossing leaders after adjusting the location of a magnetic line. This next drawing is a mess!

 

 

The best way to clear up an issue like the one above is to approach the problem on two fronts. First, ensure that when using the auto balloon method, the layout selected is as close to where the magnetic line will be placed. In this case, a ‘Top’ or ‘Left’ layout would probably work best. After that, while still in the auto balloon property manager, sequence the items to your liking (new to 2012). Once that is completed you may still need some small adjustments or some manual item renumbering, but in the end your balloons can look as amazing as this:

Magnetic lines are just one of the added enhancements in SolidWorks 2012 that make life a little bit easier.  One of my other favorites is Command Search - a great new feature that Christopher Ma talks about in Tricks for Command Search in SolidWorks 2012. 

 

Christopher Ma is a Certified SolidWorks Elite Applications Engineer, and a frequent presenter at Hawk Ridge Systems Webinar Wednesday.

Have you ever wondered where the heck that one command is located in the software?  Tired of hunting through drop-down menus?  Close your Google search window;  SolidWorks 2012 has added to their search bar with a command search function.

All you have to do is simply type in the name of the command in the search bar, making sure to use the new “Commands” search.  This will give you a list of results which match your search.  From the results you can either a) click on the command itself to launch it, b) drag the icon to the Command Manager or other toolbar so it’s now always available, or c) click the glasses icon for “Show Command Location” next to it.  If you click the glasses button SolidWorks will move your mouse to where the command is located, opening any menus and sub-menus necessary, and point at it with a handy arrow.  Note that if you pick a command that is not applicable in your current context, i.e. the Shell command when you have no solid bodies, you will not be able to navigate to it.

You can also assign shortcuts to the commands, so when you type the shortcut in the command search it will isolate just that command.  You can find this by right-clicking any toolbar and going to Customize > Keyboard Tab

 

With these shortcuts, you can access a command without even leaving your keyboard.  Just type “W” or “S” on your keyboard, type the shortcut of your command, and hit enter.  Mouse?  We don’t need no stinkin’ mouse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawk Ridge Systems was named the #1 SolidWorks Reseller Worldwide at SolidWorks World 2012.

Kelly Scott is a Senior Applications Engineer, and is a Certified SolidWorks Instructor who teaches regularly at Hawk Ridge events.

A common issue I see when working with customers is long rebuild times on their parts.  Commonly due to the large number of features in their feature history or the complexity of their design, the time it takes for a rebuild can become an exercise in patience.  These designs can range from small plastic molded parts, to large scale machined and casted parts, but what they all share is the wait time for features to rebuild.

So what can be done about this?  Well, in SolidWorks 2012, they have implemented functionality users have been asking for: Feature Freeze.  This feature allows for you to set a point in your feature history where SolidWorks 2012 will not rebuild any previous features.  If you decide later you need to change them, you can simply go back and remove the Feature Freeze.

Feature Freeze has been disabled by default in 2012, and is enabled through the System Options.

The Feature Freeze Bar will appear at the top of the Feature Manager.

The behavior of the Feature Freeze Bar works much like the Rollback Bar, but you roll down instead of up.  Once dragged to the desired position, your features will be updated to show they are no longer being rebuilt.

Now any rebuilds that occur will only affect the features that come below the Feature Freeze Bar, significantly reducing the rebuild times of your models as you continue your design.

I would highly recommend any users who have been struggling with long rebuild times to give this feature a try and see how much time you will save yourself, along with your sanity.

John Peros, Hawk Ridge Systems Product Manager for Enterprise Product Data Management (EPDM), is a speaker at various engineering conferences and events. John also presents EPDM at Webinar Wednesday eLearning and eDemo weekly webinar sessions which Hawk Ridge Systems offers every Wednesday.

 

SolidWorks EPDM Tip #1: Template to use Multiple Serial Numbers

I was at the Pacific Design and Manufacturing show in Anaheim this year helping out in the SolidWorks booth and while there, I was approached by an Enterprise PDM user who had an interesting situation.  Basically, his company has a couple different types of “Projects” and when a new project comes in, they would like to use a template in EPDM to create the folder structure and some start documents for that specific project.  As we know, the templates in EPDM are a fantastic tool for doing this however they had one major issue, multiple serial numbers.

When I say “serial numbers” in this case I am talking about the auto-incrementing numbers that EPDM can create and assign to files or folders.  In this case, they had different sets of “serial numbers” that were actually being used as the project number.  What this customer wanted was to have 1 template which would prompt the user for the type of project and then based on that input would provide the appropriate input form for the project (appropriate input form meaning the input form that used the correct serial number).  Unfortunately, this is a limitation of the template manager in Enterprise PDM in that you can’t use the input from one form to drive a secondary form. 

The user told me that once he realized that, he tried to create one input form that housed all the different project types on tabs and the tab for the proper project was activated by a drop down selection of project type.  This unfortunately brings up another limitation on EPDM in that if you have multiple serial numbers on a single data card, all serial numbers will bump even if only 1 is visible.  This was leading him to the last resort of creating a template for EACH type of project which obviously isn’t acceptable as it would make choosing the right one quite a chore for the user.  Our only option at that point was to turn to the API.

Now, I don’t even for a second pretend that I know how to write API; however, I do have a good grasp on what is possible for someone who knows what they are doing.  The following is what I suggested for the user and I can foresee this being very helpful for multiple applications:

Create a template input form for all Project Types.  The first thing on this input form is a drop down list that specifies the type of project.  For the rest of the fields on the card, you can set them up in any number of different ways depending on the information you need but at least one of the next fields will be a field for the project number.  The last portion of this data card would be a button (called “Get Project Number” or something similar) which would be linked to the API you are going to write.

As for the API, it would take the value of the “project type” from the drop down list and match it to the name of a serial number and then fill in the next value from that serial number in the “Project Number” box.  This forces the user to pick the type of project AND grab a serial number and will allow multiple types of projects to be driven from 1 template.  I spoke with our in house programmer here and he told me a program like that would be very easy and about 50 lines of code to write.  The great thing is this could be applied to any situation where different numbering schemes are in use like part numbers, eco numbers, document numbers, etc.

If you have any questions on EPDM, check out the Hawk Ridge website on EPDM.

Todd Domke, Product Manager for SolidWorks 3D CAD, is a Senior Applications Engineer with Hawk Ridge Systems. Todd is a Certified SolidWorks Instructor and teaches regularly at Hawk Ridge events, including the recent Hawk Ridge Systems SolidWorks 2012 Rollout.

As promised, here’s Volume 2 of the “Greatest Hits” of What’s New in SolidWorks 2012.

1. Command Search

Command Search allows you to quickly find commands that are either hard to access, or not on the standard toolbars. Launch commands, drag and drop commands, or just highlight command locations in pull-down menus or toolbars directly from the search results. New users will get up to speed faster with Command Search, and all users can more easily customize the SolidWorks user interface to streamline your workflow.

2. Motion Optimization

Motion Optimization automatically uses motion study results to create sensors and refine machine aspects such as motor size, bearing loads, and range of travel. Dynamically adjust any input and immediately see changes to constraints or goals. Engineers can optimize designs in a fraction of the time by refining the mechanism configuration to suit stock motors and actuators, ensuring range limits or bearing loads are not exceeded.

3. SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Integrated Search

Enterprise PDM Integrated Search gives you the option of searching from within your current Explorer window— no separate dialogs needed. Access favorite searches or open the full search tool for all options. This reduces screen clutter by streamlining the number of open dialog boxes.

4. 3DVIA Composer Enhanced Lifelike Experience

Enhanced Lifelike Experience enables you to add part-to-part shadows, ambient occlusion, and shadows to 2D panels with precise control for a more 3D appearance. A glow effect can also be added to highlight specific areas of interest. Take precise control over your 3DVIA Composer renderings and set your company apart from the competition by adding a more lifelike appearance to your product documentation.

5. SolidWorks Sustainability

Sustainability has a new, advanced user interface that allows you to more closely model processes, with parameters like recycled content and duration of use. You also have access to the latest Sustainability Extras materials as soon as they become available—without waiting for service packs or new releases. This will allow you to more accurately model your products with new “what if” scenarios and better support for unique and custom materials, beyond the standard SolidWorks material database.

Watch for upcoming articles where we’ll go into more detail on some of these great new enhancements and innovations.

Todd Domke, Product Manager for SolidWorks 3D CAD, is a Senior Applications Engineer with Hawk Ridge Systems. Todd is a Certified SolidWorks Instructor and teaches regularly at Hawk Ridge events, including the recent Hawk Ridge Systems SolidWorks 2012 Rollout.

You’ve probably heard that SolidWorks 2012 is now available for download and it may have even landed on your desk by the time you read this. What’s that? You don’t exactly have the free time to go over all 179 pages of the What’s New document to find out which features are going to make your life easier? Well, allow us to break it down for you with a quick “Greatest Hits” version.

1. Costing Tool

SolidWorks Costing automates manufacturing cost calculations for sheet metal and machined parts. Modify your design or switch part configurations and instantly see the new, updated manufacturing estimate. Default templates are customizable to simulate your specific manufacturing environment. Designers can use this tool to make more informed decisions based on cost throughout the design process, continually modeling different scenarios and to automate your quoting process to increase manufacturing sales opportunities.

2. Large Design Review

Large Design Review is the fastest way to open and interrogate a large assembly. Capabilities include walkthrough, sectioning, and measuring, as well as the ability to open any assembly component. Engineers can instantly open and review massive assemblies for any purpose without the need for a high-powered computer or any special file preparation.

3. Magnetic Lines and Balloon Enhancements

Magnetic Lines allow you to automatically and precisely arrange balloons on a drawing. Balloons will snap to Magnetic Lines and can be moved from one Magnetic Line to another. Create and place balloons precisely where they need to go, while spending less time detailing and aligning your drawings.

4. Feature Freeze

Feature Freeze lets you control whether specific features will rebuild or not. Additional features can be added without having to rebuild earlier ones; at any point, features can be unfrozen. This will dramatically speed the design of complex models where rebuilding of specific features is not desired.

5. Enhanced Equation Editor

The Equation Editor has been completely revamped for easier navigation and use. Syntax highlighting is especially useful for trouble-shooting equations. Multiple views include Variable and Equation View, Dimension View, and Solve Order View. These new capabilities can be used to create equations faster and understand equation order more easily.

Watch this space for Vol. 2 of What’s New in SolidWorks 2012 “Greatest Hits”, coming soon.

Lars Petersen, Senior Applications Engineer at Hawk Ridge Systems, has over 12 year experience in SolidWorks 3D CAD. He is a Certified SolidWorks Professional and Instructor, among other technical SolidWorks certifications.  

Wow! Occlusion, that’s cool! …What is it?

Occlusion- to Occlude …D’oh! Lets try again…  Occlude (ə-klūd') v.– 1. To close, shut, or stop up 2. To shut in, out or off.

SolidWorks 2012 has introduced a new setting to the already cool RealView, Ambient Occlusion. Ambient Occlusion is blocking some of the ambient light in your SolidWorks scene. Dang these 50¢ Words… back to the web… Ambient ( ăm ' bē-ənt ) adj. – Surrounding or encircling.

In SolidWorks the ambient light basically comes from everywhere. It lights up the model evenly from all directions. The reason a directional light is always around is to provide a shadow so you brain thinks it’s looking at a 3-D model. RealView came along and added some pop with real time reflections. But something was still off about that magic everywhere light. That was until now.

Now the ambient light gets blocked out by geometry. See how the edge of the watch face has a shadow all the way around, really giving it that illusion of depth. Also the parabolic shape to the inside of the watch cover seems less washed out and just more realistic then it does with the RealView rendering. Keep in mind these illustrations are just screen captures. What would have taken a bit of time to set up and render just a few years ago is just now just the on screen view.

Try it and see, load up 2012, and open an assembly. Make sure RealView and Ambient Occlusion are turned on in your heads up display. And presto a cool quasi rendering in no time and then go to the View, Screen Capture, Image Capture.

 Now you’ve got a nice looking picture of your design on your clipboard. Go ahead and paste it into your Word Document, or Photoshop, or whatever. You don’t have to play with lights or preview windows or nuttin’. Simple rendering for the masses at last!

And it’s different than just a rendering it’s a brand new choice, SolidWorks has always been for technical drawings, the render package with SolidWorks Professional (PhotoWorks and now PhotoView 360) has always tried for photo realistic images. This ambient occlusion stuff gives you more of a technical Illustration.

Notice the last shot again is just a screen capture of the same camera view the rendering is using. The last view has an almost Anime or Heavy Metal Magazine look to it as if it was painted by an artist. As with any new technology it does have some growing pains. It does take a second or two to recalculate when rotating the view. It seems to slow moving components in an assembly if the tool is on during the design process. In Beta I also noticed, especially when opening the file, the graphic display would have ghosts or colors blacked out. Luckily each of these was easily solved with a simple rebuild.

All in all I have to say I really, really like new graphic setting. Especially since I create a lot of the SolidWorks imagery for our website.  Instead of having to turn on PhotoView 360 and spend an hour tinkering with all the settings I can just do a print screen and get a professional quality image in literally seconds.

David Israel is a Senior Applications Engineer at Hawk Ridge Systems in Southern California. He has a BS in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley and has several SolidWorks certifications including Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP), Certified SolidWorks Instructor, Certified 3DVIA Composer Professional, Certified SolidWorks Simulation Instructor, and Certified Enterprise PDM Support Technician among others.

SolidWorks 2012 introduces yet another utility to help you manage working with large assemblies: Large Design Review. This new functionality allows you to quickly open very large assemblies while still providing you with tools that can help you to review your assembly design thoroughly. In Large Design Review mode, you can: use the FeatureManager design tree, use the Measure tool, create cross sections, hide and show components, and work with walk-throughs.

This great new enhancement follows other large assembly management tools, such as Large Assembly mode, making use of lightweight components, and SpeedPak.  All of these tools, when used effectively, can make the user experience faster and more efficient.

One of the more interesting new tools available only with Large Design Review mode is the ability to take snapshots of the graphics area to create images that can be saved in the assembly file itself. Essentially, this is a screen capture that records the state and orientation of the assembly at the time of the snapshot so that you can return to it at a later time for further review. Snapshots can be created by going to View > Lights and Cameras > Take Snapshot, or by pressing Alt+Spacebar.  The snapshot will be saved on the DisplayManager tab of the Manager Pane.

The Large Design Review mode introduced in SolidWorks 2012 is just another example of how SolidWorks continually strives to save you time and effort so that you can focus on making your designs better!