Archive for the ‘Solidworks’ Category

Design Tables in SolidWorks are powered using Microsoft Excel. With Design Tables and Excel, it is possible to manipulate:

Parts only

i. Feature state

i. Configuration of Split Part

ii. Properties

iii. Dimension Values

iv. Model color

Assemblies only

i. Component state

ii. Mate state

iii. Referenced Configuration

iv. Expand in BOM

v. Display State

vi. Assembly feature state (cuts)

General Parts and Assemblies

i. Dimension values

ii. Tolerance type

iii. BOM part number

iv. Configuration specific properties

v. Model color

vi. Linear and Radial Pattern Spacing and instances

Advanced Parts and Assemblies

i. Derived Configurations

ii. Lighting state

iii. Equation state

iv. Sketch relationship state

v. Mass properties

vi. Center of gravity

Create Model

Edit names of Features, dims and Mates

Insert Design Table and add affected Names, features, Dim and Mates

*You can choose auto-create and select properties that we will include in design table. You can also add it later inside the table

Create and isolate workable table

*Note that you can open the design table in MS Excel

Create Useful List and validate the data

Create useful equation/ formula

Hide all except for Workable table

Save and close the design table

Open the design table and change the data

Close the design table and update

Close the design table and update

Solidworks has a wrap feature. This feature wraps a sketch onto a planar or nonplanar face. You can create a planar face from cylindrical, conical, or extruded models. You can also select a planar profile to add multiple, closed spline sketches.

The wrap feature supports contour selection and sketch reuse. You can project a wrap feature onto multiple faces. The sketch plane must be tangent to the face, allowing the face normal and the sketch normal to be parallel at the closest point.

While the the Split Line tool projects an entity (sketch, solid, surface, face, plane, or surface spline) to surfaces, or curved or planar faces. It divides a selected face into multiple separate faces. You can split curves on multiple bodies with one command.

Have you ever encountered a surface in solidworks that is deformed or not smooth enough? This usually happen when converting it into a different file format. Well I have a sample that needed some work because some faces are not the way they should be.

(See fig .1)

1. First we should identify what causes the surface to deform, like the tangency of the curves.

Fig. 1

2. After knowing the problem which is the tangency of the curve use before, we should now create a new curve.

As you can see in (fig. 2.1) the difference between the new curves form the old. You could use any of the “curves command” like composite curve or curve through points. After creating the curve you can now delete the surface to be replaced by using the command “Delete Face”.

3. Now that the curves are all done we can now create a new face. We can now do the other faces

4. You could do it in the half part so we could just mirror it and knit it.

• All done!

One of the feature of Solid works is the Photo View 360 the visualization and rendering solution, it is easy and lot of fun to work in rendering design parts to make it more realistic with greater accuracy and appeal than ever before that can used for client presentation. It’s a highly interactive environment for viewing designs as well as for creating photorealistic renderings that can use for showcasing designs. It’s as easy as applying the appearances and scenes just drag and drop it onto that part. To change the color, pick on the parts and go to the advanced tab of the material and pick the color in the color options quickly to get some great looking and very appealing images of the design.

In a manufacturing Industy  producing a certain unit or product ,BOM is used for communication between manufacturing partners or confined to a single manufacturing plant containing  all components Description,Part Number, Quantity, Materials, etc..If there are many Sub-assembly, It is easy to have BOM in excel file to display  all the parts in  the assembly for easy navigation of components.
In Solidworks, there are templates for computed BOMS, weldment BOMs, and weldment cut lists. Each BOM template can have different data variables displayed in the BOM columns depends on the needs of the user. Just insert all the property or data need before saving as excel file.
For example, a BOM for engineers or designers might have the following columns:

• Part Number
• Description
• Part Number
• Quantity
• Material

A BOM for purchasing managers might have the following columns:

• Vendor
• Cost
• Material
• Part Name
• Part Number
• Quantity
• Unit of Measure

From the Bom Created in Solidworks  just Single Click the BOM so it is selected and then go to file-Save As ( or right-click on the BOM and choose Save As.) . Select save as file type Excel (.xls.).

Computer-aided design (CAD) makes it possible to convert old drawings⁶ (which are composed of simple vector entities such as lines, polylines, arcs, and circles⁵) to high-quality and detailed 3D models. This is a task that is carried out by companies that provide 2D to 3D drawing conversion services.⁶

An effective conversion from 2D objects to 3D models involves the following steps:¹

1. Establishing the base geometry.

Before data are imported to the 2D to 3D conversion module, they are first filtered. These data include dimensions, line type parameters, and layers.

2. Identification of projected geometry
3. Alignment of various geometric views (done using a basic translation technique)
4. Extrude (Boolean operation)

Extruding prevents the occurrence of errors and prepares a model for being used.

SolidWorks is an example of an application that is helpful in having successful projects. An article in PRLog provides the following advantages of SolidWorks:²

• Easy sharing of project data across different stakeholders
• Effective collaboration with AutoCAD platform
• Safe transition from 2D CAD to SolidWorks 3D
• Excellent promotion tool for your designs
• Easy clash detection and fewer errors
• Significant savings in design life cycle time

SolidWorks supports various file formats such as DGN, DWG, DXF, TIFF and JPG.²

Before, in the earlier days of mechanical engineering, drawings were referred to as “blueprints.” These blueprints were made using a chemical-printing process that produces drawings on blue-colored papers or blue lines on white papers. Mechanical engineering has now progressed and has been using better ways of developing and viewing designs. With the advent of new technologies, it has become easier to produce complex 2D drawings and convert them to 3D models.³ What certainly attracts the attention and curiosity of people are beautifully made 3D models. The more attention they give, the more your sales boost.^4,6

For more information about CAD services, please read more.

Solidworks usually give us the standard sizes of thread through toolbox. And from smart fastener command we can easily create screws, nuts and washers we need. Screws from toolbox are configured in different standard sizes defends of what we choose during creation.

But do solidworks will give us the screw with correct flute? Or a well detailed screw? Of course not! Because the program need to save memory, simply means creating additional feature means additional memory to be consumed. And this really affects the speed of the program.

It is a fact that in cad designing we do not need a well detailed screw to have a good design. But as wealways say – there is always an exemption.  Sometimes we need to show thread flute for presentation or maybe there is a need for us to show it due to some reasons. This article is just a little tutorial on how to
create a thread flute on a screw we got from solidworks toolbox.

Figure 1 shows a standard socket head cup screw (M5x0.8mm) from toolbox.

Figure: 1

Before proceeding, here are the things we need to know before we can create an exact screw threadflute: (1) Type of thread (2) Major diameter (3) Pitch (4) Root depth

Below is the procedure in creating a thread flute:

1. Create a reference plane. Plane distance should be the equal to thread pitch.

2 . Sketch a profile based on the prefer thread type.

3. Make a cut for thread root diameter

4. Create a helix. Helix pitch should be the same on thread pitch.

5. Make a sweep using the previously created thread profile and the helix as a guide curve.

6. Cut to make a chamfer on screw end

After the 6 steps are done you can now see the thread flute on screw from solidworks toolbox .

(figure2)

Design environments for mechanical CAD are now automated to lessen the time that designers use to do their tasks. Drawings and design concepts are bases for making 3D animation, 3D graphic, 3D background, or 3D logo design. Currently, 3D modeling is widely in use with CAD. CAD design involves 3D mechanical animation models, which are some techniques that are more preferable than others in 3D modeling. 3D design CAD experts use SolidWorks for 3D modeling. Design engineers convert 2D mechanical designs to 3D models and animate, and they follow drawing standards. In product development, 3D modeling services offer working models of products that designers are developing.

Reference:
Dillip Kumar Barik. “Mechanical Cad Design and 3D Modeling Services.” Online posting. 22 Mar 2010. ArticlesBase. 20 July 2010 <http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/mechanical-cad-design-and-3d-modeling-services-2026899.html>.

For more information about CAD services, please read more.

3D Modeling, Drafting, Product Design, Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks

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2D drawing

- An indirect and incomplete representation of an engineering product or system, subject to interpretation and error¹

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3D

- A real object or true depiction of real image¹

3D computer graphics

- Graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data… that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images³

3D computer graphics software

- Programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery⁹

3D model

- The product of 3D modeling²

- An object that is constructed on three planes²⁷

3D modeling

- The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object… via specialized software²

- The construction, manipulation, and storage of geometric objects to represent objects… around us or virtual objects¹⁷

3D printing

- A form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by successive layers of material⁶

3D rendering

- The 3D computer graphics process of automatically converting 3D wire frame models into 2D images with 3D photorealistic effects on a computer⁵

3D wireframe

- Extension of 2D drafting¹²

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Assembly modeling

- Technology and methods used by Computer-aided design and Product visualization computer software systems to handle multiple files that represent components within a product¹⁵

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Computer-aided design (CAD)

- The use of computer technology for the design of objects, real or virtual¹²

- A combination of both hardware & software that helps architects, engineers and related professionals in the real estate & manufacturing industry worldwide¹⁸

- An important industrial art extensively used in many applications, including automotive, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetics, and many more¹²

- A major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential geometry¹²

- Especially important technology within the scope of computer-aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle¹²

- One of the many tools used by engineers and designers and is used in many ways depending on the profession of the user and the type of software in question¹²

- One part of the whole Digital Product Development (DPD) activity within the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process¹²

Computer-aided geometric design (CAGD)

- The design of geometric models for object shapes, in particular¹²

Computer animation or CGI animation

- The art of creating moving images with the use of computers¹⁰

- An artful blend of creative vision and technology³¹

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Design intent

- How the creator of the part wants it to respond to changes and updates⁴

DWGgateway

- A free data translation tool that enables any AutoCAD software user to open and edit any DWG file, regardless of the version of AutoCAD it was made in⁴

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eDrawings Professional

- An e-mail-enabled communication tool for reviewing 2D and 3D product design data across the extended product development team⁴

Electronic design automation (EDA or ECAD)

- A category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits²⁶

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Features

- Building blocks of the part⁴

- The shapes and operations that construct the part⁴

FeatureWorks

- Feature recognition software that lets designers make changes to static geometric data, increasing the value of translated files⁴

Flexibility

- The ability to change angles or animate images with quicker rendering of the changes²

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Group

- A starting point for discussions and collaborations²⁸

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Innovation

- A vital ingredient of business success²⁹

Interoperability

- The key issue which integrates various CAD CAM CAE tools¹

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Kinetic design

- Aesthetic design of physical movement³²

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Level sets

- A useful representation for deforming surfaces which undergo many topological changes²

Lighting

- An important aspect of scene setup²

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MACRO (merge and correlate recorded output)

- Anything more than a single command¹⁹

- Rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence should be mapped to an output sequence according to a defined procedure²⁰

Macro program

- Computer programs that capture the user’s actions as if it is recording the user²¹

MoldflowXpress

- A mold design validation tool that was built into a solid modeling environment⁴

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Parameters

- Constraints whose values determine the shape or geometry of the model or assembly⁴

Polygonal modeling

- An approach for modeling objects by representing or approximating their surfaces using polygons⁸

Print3D

- A 3D printing feature that allows users to convert their 3D CAD model to a .STL file and then have it sent to specialty manufacturers for quote⁴

Procedural modeling

- An umbrella term for a number of techniques in computer graphics to create 3D models and textures from sets of rules⁷

Product design

- The efficient and effective generation and development of ideas through a process that leads to new products³⁰

Pro/ENGINEER

- A parametric, integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE solution created by Parametric Technology Corporation¹³

- The first to market with parametric, feature-based, associative solid modeling software¹³

- An integral part of a broader product development system developed by PTC¹³

- A piece of software that falls within the category of CAD/CAM/CAE and site alongside other similar products currently on the market¹³

- A feature based modeling architecture incorporated into a single database philosophy with advanced rule based design capabilities¹³

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Skeletal animation

- A technique in computer animation, particularly in the animation of vertebrates, in which a character is represented in two parts: a surface representation used to draw the character… and a hierarchical set of bones used for animation only¹¹

Solid modeling

- A consistent set of principles for mathematical and computer modeling of three dimensional solids¹⁴

SolidWorks

- A 3D mechanical CAD… program that runs on Microsoft Windows and was developed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks… a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes⁴

- A competitor to CAD programs such as Pro/ENGINEER, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, and CATIA⁴

- A parasolid-based solid modeler⁴

SolidWorks Flow Simulation

- A tool that tests fluid-flow simulation and thermal analysis so designers can conduct tests on virtual prototypes⁴

SolidWorks MoldBase

- A catalog of standard mold base assemblies and components⁴

SolidWorks Motion

- A virtual prototyping tool that provides motion simulation capabilities to ensure designs function properly⁴

SolidWorks Simulation

- A design validation tool that shows engineers how their designs will behave as physical objects⁴

SolidWorks Simulation Premium

- A design validation tool that caters to designers without engineering background⁴

SolidWorks Sustainability

- A product that measures the environmental impact of designs while they are modeled in SolidWorks⁴

SolidWorks Toolbox

- A library of parts that uses “Smart Part” Technology to automatically select fasteners and assemble them in the desired sequence⁴

SolidWorks Utilities

- Software that lets designers find differences between two versions of the same part, or locate, modify, and suppress features within a model⁴

SolidWorks Viewer

- A free plug-in for viewing SolidWorks parts, assemblies, and drawings⁴

SolidWorks Workgroup PDM

- A PDM tool that allows SolidWorks users operating in teams of 10 members or less to work on designs concurrently⁴

Sub-forum

- A great place to share your experiences and do your Q&A with other users²⁸

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Technical drawing or Drafting

- The academic discipline of creating standardized technical drawings by architects, interior designers, drafters, design engineers, and related professionals¹⁶

- Integral communication of technical or engineering drawings and is the industrial arts sub-discipline that underlies all involved technical endeavors¹⁶

- Means of clearly and concisely communicating all of the information necessary to transform an idea or a concept into reality²²

- Drawing plan, rendered to scale, used to communicate direction and specifics to a group of people creating something²³

- Formal and precise way of communicating information about the shape, size, features and precision of physical objects²⁴

- Universal language of engineering used in the design process for solving problems, quickly and accurately visualizing objects, and conducting analysis²⁴

- A graphical representation of objects and structures²⁴

- Expression of bodies by lines²⁴

- Skill, a vocation²⁵

Tessellation

- The process of transforming representations of objects, such as transforming the middle point coordinate of a sphere and a point on its circumference into a polygon representation of a sphere²

- A significant contributing factor to the resulting aesthetic and visual quality of the finished work²

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