“This little program has more uses that a bowl of rice pudding and looks wonderful on the screen when the boss walks by. Here’s what I like about SolidWorks Explorer and some additional things to keep in mind.” …
Keep Reading: How to Take the Pain Out of PDM with SolidWorks Explorer | SolidSmack.com.
Published by Josh [...]
“If you’ve been using SolidWorks 2008 for any length of time, you’ll notice that the RealView setting, along with other view settings, are front and center on that dang on-screen toolbar.” …
Keep Reading: SolidWorks LightCards in RealView Light up Your Life | SolidSmack.com.
Published by Josh Mings on 5/5/08 on SolidSmack
“In SolidWorks, you may use the Design Library to store everything from common features to standard assemblies, but what it’s rarely used as, is a library of surface features; surfaces that can be used to aid design. This may feel a little soupy if you’re unfamiliar with surfacing in SolidWorks, but I think you’ll be [...]
“Computer errors pretty much feel like being hit repeatedly in the face. Errors in a SolidWorks parts and assembly feel like the repeated face hits but with missing the face and popping you square, and very annoyingly, in the ear.
But look here. There are ways to get rid of those errors quickly and dodge a [...]
Posted in Align/Check Sketch for Feature, Assembly, Check, Dimensions/Relations, FeatureManager, Repair Sketch, Sketch Tools/SketchXpert, SolidSmack | Also tagged Assembly, Check, Check Sketch for Feature, Dimensions/Relations, FeatureManager, Repair Sketch, SketchXpert |
“Yes, it happens to all of us. We’re cruising along with the mouse, clickin’ this way and that, and typing some notes with the keyboard. Life is simple. Then, we take our hand off the keyboard for a sip of coffee or a little stretch and… suddenly our finger shoots straight into our eye with [...]
“Here’s some super quick tips to get your from a PDF to a Solid and a method that’s sure to make it more fun.” …
Keep Reading: How to Create a Layout in SolidWorks with Sketch Pictures | SolidSmack.com.
Published by Josh Mings on 6/4/08 on SolidSmack
“The System Options have a few setting that are not always used, but could make you quicker if they were. After this you’ll be moving faster in sketches, dimensioning and finding parts and features than you ever were before. Go greased Zebra, go.” …
Keep Reading: SolidWorks Tips – 5 System Option for Fast Performance | [...]
Posted in Options, SolidSmack | Also tagged Options |
“Here’s an easy approach to stop the rot that plagues typical methods of no design practice or too many design practices. I imagine you have your own tricks too, so hit the comments and tell everyone what you and your company do to take on the task of creating the perfect design practice.” …
Keep Reading: [...]
“The Sketch Layouts Icon has always reminded me of a old shack falling over. Not the best analogy since this functionality can actually provide a better structure for the shack that is your assembly you spend countless days creating. So, trust me, it a good foundation, just watch for those weird lookin’ termites (co-workers) that [...]
“Before we start, I must say, please check out The SW Geek, Alex Ruiz’s, coverage on BOM’s this week. You will walk away a smarter, more adept person with the ability to argue all the benefits of a SolidWorks BOM. This post will hit on some key points he’ll discuss and lean in on the [...]
“One issue with 3D CAD drawings, in general, that continues to confuse me is how a drawing can be more complicated than an 2D AutoCAD drawing. That’s crazY, with a capital Y and a lowercase c-r-a-z.
Logically, if you have a 3d model, you would think there would be fewer drawing views because the 3D allows [...]
Posted in Drawing, SolidSmack | Also tagged Drawing |
“Some of you have a bunch of tips for new users, and some of you wish those people would stop the flow of info for a few minutes while you catch up. So, I stopped, sat down and wrote out my top 12 favorite SolidWorks tips. The first tips I thought of that I would [...]
Posted in Component Pattern, ConfigurationManager, Design Library, Dimensions/Relations, Drawing, Mate, SolidSmack | Also tagged Component Pattern, ConfigurationManager, Configurations, Design Library, Dimensions/Relations, Drawing, Mate |
“Should it matter what you do?
Today, I’m going to say ‘yes’ to that question. What you slap across the screen can affect performance. So, let’s talk about some of the initial options you have in SolidWorks that make your models suck the ever-living resources out of the pit of ‘puter processing power and what you [...]
“Getting just the right detailed drawing view of a model can take immense amounts of time. More than they really should for products designed in 3D. When you open a drawing and nothing is there but the dimensions, that can really make you throw blunt objects.
So, you stare real close at the computer screen. It [...]
Posted in Drawing, SolidSmack | Also tagged Drawing |
“However, there’s other features out there and probably a few you have in your own 3D CAD tool belt as well. What is the most obscure combination of features you use? Here’s some simple ones I use that have 3 out of 4 engineers (at my office) thinking a bit differently.” …
Keep Reading: SolidWorks Tips [...]
Posted in Features, SolidSmack | Also tagged Features |
“SolidWorks comes with the ability to assign almost every command to a keyboard shortcut. However, there’s no keyboard shortcuts for Mates. Here’s two macros for the most common mates and how to reduce the amount of that annoying mouse button clickin’ to speed up your assembly construction.” …
Keep Reading: SolidWorks Tip: How to Speed up [...]
“And perhaps you are perplexed by the question that faces many… “Should I upgrade to SolidWorks 2009?”
Over the next month or so, the installation DVD will show up. However, you can rise against the mail delivery system and download it right now from the SolidWorks customer portal.
Then what? Do you upgrade the old version or [...]
“There is really an endless amount of interesting object you can make with SolidWorks and a lot of interesting and unusual way to get there. Some readers on the Most Obscure Feature Combo post had excellent ideas and I even got a few via email. This crazy spiral, by Jeff Mowrey (@idesignhaus on Twitter) of [...]
“It is weird… an interface has changed the way I work, and it happened nearly overnight. The difference is most noticeable when I transition back and forth between SolidWorks 2007 and SolidWorks 2009. Have you noticed that? If not, the new interface introduces some changes that may leave you wondering how to use these to [...]
“What’s cool about SolidWorks 2008 and 2009 is using RealView when you’re modeling. A nice background scene makes the experience all the more special. Unfortunately, you typically need the PhotoWorks Scene Editor to add Scenes with different backgrounds. (PhotoWorks is a SolidWorks add-on available in Professional and Premium versions.)
Well, it just so happens, that you [...]
