While editing an assembly, if you need to quickly hide parts that are ‘in the way’, simply press the Tab button.  The top component directly below your cursor will be hidden, if you click Tab again then the next part below the cursor will also be hidden, all in order.  For example, in this assembly below, with my cursor on the Ace of Hearts, clicking Tab will hide the Ace Card part, then by selecting Tab again, the King will be hidden and so on.

 To show hidden part.

In order to show hidden part(s) simply click Shift+Tab on the keyboard while your cursor is over where the hidden part is located in the graphics area. As shown above, any component directly below your cursor will be shown using Shift+Tab.  If there are multiple hidden parts, they will be shown in reverse order.  For example, below the card displayed is Queen of Hearts, clicking Shift+Tab will show the King.  Without moving your cursor clicking Shift+Tab one more time will now show the Ace.

This tip can also be used in combination with the ‘Isolate’ command in order to hide or show additional parts from an isolated selection set or current Display State.

When editing workflow or folder permissions for Enterprise PDM vaults, there are many settings that will be common to multiple groups. Rather than edit each group individually it is easier to select a series of groups and apply the settings once. After the common settings are applied it would then be appropriate to return to each group on an individual basis and set the unique permissions for a given group.

To set permissions for multiple groups first launch the Enterprise PDM Administration application. Navigate to the Group section on the left, right click on the Group section label and select ‘Open’ without expanding or selecting a specific group.

The list of Groups in the vault will be listed. Multi-select using the typical CTRL-select method common to most Windows applications. Once the groups are selected right click on a selected group name and select Properties.

The standard Groups Settings dialog is shown except the Group Name text will show <More than one group is selected>. Apply the Administration, Folder, State or Transition Permissions that should be common to the selected groups.

To do this right-click on the “Results” folder and choose “Create Body from Deformed Shape.”  You will then choose between the configuration icon or the part file icon.

If you have chosen to create a new part file, the new part file will be saved in the same directory as the original model under the name entered.  If saving an assembly the deformed shape will be saved as a multibody part file.  This functionality will save deformed bodies for studies involving solid meshes, shell meshes, or mixed meshes.

1) Simply create an assembly with your weldment part *(no other parts are needed) and run Interference Detection from the pull-down Tools/Interference Detection or from the Evaluate tab on the CommandManager.  Make sure to use the following option, ‘Include Multi-body part interferences’.

2) In the weldment part file you can use the Combine Feature to check between 2 structural members. From the pull-down Insert/Features/Combine, simply select the ‘Common’ option and select 2 structural members to check if there is any overlapping volume between them.  You can use the Preview button in the command and you will see if there is any interference.  If there are none, you will get the following message: “Unable to create single body common to the input bodies” which would mean that there is no interference.

Step 01) Find where your ‘Styles’ are stored – Composer File menu, Preferences, Data Paths, find the Profiles path for where your ‘Styles’ are stored.

Default location is:
(3DVIA Composer)  ”C:\Users\{user name}\Documents\3DVIAComposer\User\Profiles”
(SolidWorks Composer) “C:\Users\{user name}\Documents\SolidWorks Composer\User\Profiles”

Step 02) Open one of your ‘Style’ files with notepad or equivalent *.txt program.
(Note: ‘Style’ files have a .smgStyleSet extension)

Step 03) Search for a value of “Profile.Modifiable Value” (quotes removed)

Step 04) Change <Profile.Modifiable Value=”1″/> by change the “1″ to “0″ <Profile.Modifiable Value=”0″/>
Again a value of 1 means that the style can be changed, a value of 0 means that the style will be locked and read only.

This tip will work for 3DVIA Composer and SolidWorks Composer.
The ‘Style’ settings files are written in xml and can also be modified with an xml editor.

In the example shown in the image below it can be seen that the surface has a hole which does not run into another surface region. This can be easily patched by selecting the edge of the hole and tapping ‘Delete’ on the keyboard. A dialog box will be presented with the choice of ‘Delete Hole’ or ‘Delete Feature’. Selecting the Delete Hole option will delete any hole created with a sketch, the Simple Hole, or the Hole Wizard features and create a seamless patch.

An alternate method would be to create a Surface Fill feature over the hole. This always creates a seam around the Surface Fill feature which may not be desirable.

The image above shows the results of a Delete Hole feature and a Fill Surface feature. Notice that the seam on the left is from the Fill Surface feature while there is no seam from the hole which was to the right.

Of course, remember eventually you still need to manufacture the part.

You’ll notice that it lists the appearance in a hierarchy format.  Think of this list as an interactive table and click on the area where you want to add or modify an appearance.  For example, if you wanted to add color to just the face click to the blank area directly to the right of the face row. (red arrow in image)

1. In your drawing right-click to edit the sheet format.
2. Right-click on any point at the end of a line in your title block where you want the anchor to be and select “Set as Anchor
3. Choose the type of table your anchor will use.  See the figure below for table types.
   
4. Repeat as necessary to add additional anchor points for other desired table types.  You can also use the same point for additional table types.
5. Go back to editing sheet, add your table, and choose “Attach to anchor point.”  The table will position itself based on your anchor point.

Anchors are intended to keep table locations consistent and can be saved in your sheet format templates.  Individual tables cannot be saved in such a way and must be inserted every time.

]]> An anchor will provide a consistent and specific target location for your tables when creating them in a drawing file or for your drawing templates.  To add an anchor in your drawing follow these steps:

1. In your drawing right-click to edit the sheet format.
2. Right-click on any point at the end of a line in your title block where you want the anchor to be and select “Set as Anchor
3. Choose the type of table your anchor will use.  See the figure below for table types.
   
4. Repeat as necessary to add additional anchor points for other desired table types.  You can also use the same point for additional table types.
5. Go back to editing sheet, add your table, and choose “Attach to anchor point.”  The table will position itself based on your anchor point.

Anchors are intended to keep table locations consistent and can be saved in your sheet format templates.  Individual tables cannot be saved in such a way and must be inserted every time.

]]> http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/30/create-an-anchor-for-a-table-in-solidworks-drawings/feed/ 0 http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/29/right-manager-in-solidworks-composer/ http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/29/right-manager-in-solidworks-composer/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:35 +0000 Cody Armstrong http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/?p=7929 Right Manager in SolidWorks Composer allows you to control the content published from SolidWorks Composer.  It allows limited SolidWorks Composer capabilities to those viewing the SMG file in the SolidWorks Composer Player.  Some examples of these capabilities would be allowing viewers to add annotations and markup actors, or allow the use of Cutting Planes. There are two ways to establish rights using the Right Manager:

1.) Right Manager for the active file can be found by going to File > Properties > Document Properties.

2.) Right Manager for all future files by going to File > Properties > Default Document Properties.  There you will see on the left hand side an option for “Right Manager”.

This is where all rights are established for viewing the SMG file.  Simply check the appropriate boxes and click “Apply”.  After doing this the viewer of the SMG file will have these additional capabilities.

Hold down the CTRL key and drag on one of the spheres on an existing plane as shown below in the diagram.

 The plane PropertyManager will appear so you can define and insert the plane.

]]> In SolidWorks parts and assemblies there is a method to quickly create an offset plane without having to use the Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane command.

Hold down the CTRL key and drag on one of the spheres on an existing plane as shown below in the diagram.

 The plane PropertyManager will appear so you can define and insert the plane.

]]> http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/26/ctrl-drag-in-solidworks-to-create-offset-planes/feed/ 0 http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/24/featureworks-hole-wizard-solidworks-toolbox-in-enterprise-pdm-vault-views/ http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/2013/04/24/featureworks-hole-wizard-solidworks-toolbox-in-enterprise-pdm-vault-views/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:00:36 +0000 Bill Mitchell http://www.ddicad.com/blogs/techcenter/?p=7908

If a user has SolidWorks Toolbox stored in an Enterprise PDM Vault it is necessary to always have a locally cached version of the SolidWorks Data folder on the client. However, the SWBrowser.mdb database used by Toolbox is also used by the Featureworks add-in as well as the Hole Wizard feature. If a locally cached version of the SWBrowser.mdb file cannot be found the user will receive the following warning when SolidWorks launches:

This warning message will appear even if SolidWorks Toolbox is not enabled for start-up since the FeatureWorks add-in is always enabled with SolidWorks Professional and Premium and the Hole Wizard feature is available in all versions of SolidWorks.

The quick-fix for this issue is to log into the Enterprise PDM vault view, navigate to the SolidWorks Toolbox folder and use the ‘Get Latest Version’ command to reload the Toolbox data to the local cache. When SolidWorks launches again it will be able to find the SWBrowser.mdb file it requires.

WIN + “+” = Magnifying Glass zoom in*
WIN + “-” = Magnifying Glass zoom out*
WIN + E = Windows Explorer
WIN + D = Show Desktop
WIN + L = Lock Windows
Win + Tab = Cycle through the open application using Aero Flip*
WIN + P = Projector and video output settings*
WIN + X = Mobility Center – Several convenient controls such as projector, WiFi, etc.
WIN + Up Arrow or WIN + Down Arrow = Toggle between window states, Maximized, Restore and Minimized
WIN + Shift + Left or Right Arrow = Move window to another monitor
WIN + 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 = Launch the corresponding application on the Task Bar
WIN + T = Task Bar navigation via arrow keys

Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + Drag = Copy
Ctrl + Tab = Cycle through the open documents within an application
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Zoom in on Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Zoom out of Web Page or Office Document*
Ctrl + Click on Application Icon = Cycle through the open documents within the application
Ctrl + Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run application as Administrator
Ctrl + Alt + Delete = Windows options including: Lock computer and Start Task Manager
Ctrl + Shift + Escape = Windows Task Manager

Shift + Drag = Move
Shift + Click on Application Icon = Run a new instance of an application
Shift + Roll mouse wheel away from you = Go back to last Web Page
Shift + Roll mouse wheel toward you = Go forward to next Web Page

Alt + Tab = Cycle through the open applications
Alt + F4 = Terminate the active application

*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for presentations.

To request an updated license select the “License Setup” tab and click the “Request License” button.  Here you will have to fill out some contact information and then choose which email delivery method you would prefer.  If you are a Microsoft Outlook user simply select the “Outlook” button and it will automatically compose an email with the necessary info.  Simply send this email to register@camworks.com. If you are not a Microsoft Outlook user then you will select the “Other” button after filling out the contact information.  This will create a .txt file in the C:\CWLicenseManager folder (You will be prompted with a dialog box showing the file name). Simply attach the .txt file to an email and send that email to register@camworks.com.

After the license request file has been sent, CAMWorks will send an email with an attached license file.  This .LIC file must then be downloaded and stored on the machine using CAMWorks.  The last step in the process is to browse to this license file in the CAMWorks License Manager.  Open the CAMWorks License Manager and select the “License Setup” tab.  Here you will see the option to “Configure node locked (Standalone) license file”.  Click “Browse” and browse to the .LIC file that was sent by CAMWorks.   After clicking “Apply” you can check the status of the license on the “Status” tab of the CAMWorks License Manager.  If successful, you will see “Succeeded”  under “Status”.  The CAMWorks license should now be updated.

NOTE: Administrative Permissions are needed to request or read in a new license file.  This can be done by right clicking the CAMWorks License Manager and selecting “Run as Administrator”.

My recommended SolidWorks settings are:
Set larger icons for easier identification under Tools/Customize/Toolbar Tab, select the Option Large icons.

Make your previews pop on screen, as the default yellow can be hard to see, from Tools/Options/Colors> Temporary graphics, select the color:

When using Shaded with edges display mode, know at a glance if the faces of a model are tangent by adjusting Tools/Options/Display/Selection: Part/Assembly tangent edge display, select the option As Phantom.

My recommended Windows 7 Settings:
From a Right Click on the Windows Desktop, you can select ‘Screen Resolution’, and the resolution can be adjusted to your preference.  However more importantly on this same dialog, there is another option, called ‘Make text and other items larger or smaller’; that allows you to adjust the scale of the screen fonts.  So for Windows and every program in Windows, all text fonts shown for menu’s and pull down’s will be larger regardless of your screen resolution.

To make your mouse cursor stand out I recommend making it larger and black, find this setting in
Control Panel\Ease of Access\Ease of Access Center\Make the mouse easier to use; or from the Mouse Properties Pointers Tab.

And finally make it clear when selecting dialog box items through the Control Panel/Appearances and Personalization/Change window colors and metrics, Change the colors for both ‘Selected Items’, for the current Selection, and ‘3D Objects’ for the parent selection.

By default there are a few common component marks (M1, M2, … for motors. Q1, Q2, … for circuit breakers, S1, S2, … for buttons/switches) suppose you want to include the page number with each component mark, something like “Pg08 – Pn M1″.

Note: This change is normally best done before starting a project so all schematic symbols use the newly applied component mark

From the ‘Project’ menu tab, click the down arrow below ‘Configurations’ and select ‘Project’. Once you’re on the Project Settings window, switch to the ‘Mark’ tab. Click on the Formula Manager button for Component Mark.

You can pick from the Predefined formulas or you can create your own. Lets create own own.
“Pg” + FIL_TAG +” – Pn ” + COM_ROOT + COM_NO

Any text that you are adding needs double quotes (“), plus signs (+) between fields and you can select and add available variables from the list on the right.

Once the new Component Mark is created, test by inserting a new schematic symbol onto your drawing.

Many times it is a necessity to have multiple versions of SolidWorks installed on a computer serving as a Task Host for Enterprise PDM. One common problem with this type of Task Host is that an older version of SolidWorks may be set as the default application for SolidWorks file types. Since the older version of SolidWorks will fail to open the newer SolidWorks files the task requested by EPDM will fail.

Here are two adjustments that administrators can add to any Convert Task to help address this issue:

- Navigate to the specific Convert task in the Enterprise PDM Administration application.

- Open the task and select the ‘Output File Details’ settings section.

- Select the ‘Advanced Scripting Options’.

- Add the following statement to the script as shown: swApp.Visible = True

This will force SolidWorks to be visible during the conversion which can be helpful to see if the task properly launches the required client-side version of SolidWorks.

- Select the appropriate version of SolidWorks to use from the highlighted pull-down menu.

- Using the <Use default> option may cause the wrong version of SolidWorks to launch. Specifying the correct version can prevent a task failure due to future file version issues.

A quick alternative to using the cross-hair is to hold down the ALT key and then select anywhere on the table to move it around your sheet.  This ALT drag technique also works on drawing views.  Just hold down ALT and select anywhere inside the drawing view border to drag it.

To add a new type of wire while on a multi-line schematic:
1- Click the “Draw single wire type” button
2- Click on the ellipisis button “…” next to the wire name
3- In the “Wire style selector” window click on the “Manager” button
4- Select the group (electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic) then click the “Add” button
5- Right click over the new wire to edit it’s ‘Properties’ like name, color, diameter, gauge and Voltage.