Tech Tip

Topic: Tongue and Groove

The lip/groove command can be used to generate a tongue and groove feature.

Procedure: Use the lip/groove command twice, once on each side.

Notes: The lip/groove command controls all of the dimensions including taper angles and gaps.

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Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL

June 25, 2009 4pm - 8pm

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TECH TIP

TOPIC: SolidWorks Explorer Windows Sidebar Gadget

With the introduction of the Windows Sidebar in Vista, SolidWorks wanted to get their piece of the action. They accomplished this in the form of the SolidWorks Explorer Gadget. This gadget installs just as quickly and easily as any other Windows Sidebar Gadget and allows the user to quickly search all SolidWorks files and display the results in SolidWorks Explorer.

Procedure:
In order to use the gadget, it must first be installed, but once installed is very easy to use.

1.)
Installing the gadget is done using the Gadget interface, activated quickly by right clicking on the desktop and selecting “Gadgets”.

2.)
Once the gadgets screen is brought up, right click on the SolidWorks Explorer gadget and select “Add”.

3.)
After adding this gadget, it is ready to use by typing in a search name and pressing enter. The search results will come up in SolidWorks Explorer.

Notes:

1. In order to limit the search range, SolidWorks Explorer only searches the items listed in the Search Folders option of SolidWorks Explorer. These folders are added automatically by adding items to the Windows Desktop Search in Vista and to the Library in Windows 7.
2. This functionality will also search a Workgroup PDM vault, but requires login to the vault that is to be searched.

TECH TIP

TOPIC: Not sure how to design for manufacturing?

SolidWorks is amazing software, however it can still design parts that cannot be built or are very costly to build. Are you costing your company more money by designing expensive parts? Here is an example where the part contained sharp internal corners. This can be costly and unnecessary. Here is a tip to help you design better products for manufacturing. You already have it; it’s called DFM Xpress Analysis Wizard (DFM stands for Design for manufacturing).

Procedure:
Once you have modeled your part and would like to see if it can be improved follow these steps:

1.)
Just open a part file and go to: Tools/DFMXpress or select the Evaluate Tab in the Command Manager and select the DFMXpress Analysis Wizard Icon.

2.
SolidWorks does the validation, however the user must dictate some of the test criteria. “..Enter your test criteria, such as “minimum corner radius”. This tool also checks for other criteria as shown below:

3.
Just open a part file and go to: Tools/DFMXpress or select the Evaluate Tab in the Command Manager and select the DFMXpress Analysis Wizard Icon.

Notes:

1. It is never a bad idea to run your designs by an experienced machinist for tips on dimension technique that will save him time and make his job easier.
2. Try to design parts with standard holes and chamfers where possible.
3. Avoid extra smooth surfaces if not necessary and tight tolerances. Use 2 place tolerances where applicable.
4. Other features that can be verified are: minimum angular tolerance zone, linear tolerance zone, corner radius (turned part), and tool depth to diameter ratio etc.
   

TECH TIP: Selecting edges for surface sweep path

Using model edges for the path on a surface sweep saves time by eliminating the need to create another sketch. However sometimes the entire edge is not desired, only a small portion is required for the sweep. In this situation using “Selection Manager” enables the ability to use only a portion of the edge.

Procedure:

These two images show the creation of a surface sweep along the edge of an existing surface. The standard selection of an edge as the path is shown on the left, and the Selection Manager method on the right.

1. 
   Start the surface sweep command and select the profile as usual.
2. Right mouse click to invoke the Selection Manager option. Using the Select Group option, select the edge.
3. Prior to acceptiong the Selection Manager, drag the end of the path along the edge.
4. OK the Selection Manager and the Sweep command.

Notes:

1. Only drags along the selected edge are supported in this technique
2. The endpoint that is coincident with the profile must remain so.
3. Object snaps can be used to specify the endpoint of the dragged profile.

TECH TIP: Using Trim Entities sketch tool to extend sketched lines

CATEGORY: Part

The Trim Entities sketch tool can also be used to extend sketch lines.

Procedure:
When using the Trim Entities sketch tool pictured below,


there are five trim options as shown on the right. When using the Power trim option, the trim tool can be also be used to extend a line to the next entity.

The sketch below has its entities labeled to be trimmed or extended. This can be accomplished easily using the Power trim option with extend capability.

The first step is to start the Trim Entities tool and select the Power trim option. To trim entities using this option, press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor over the entities to be trimmed. Every line the cursor crosses over will be trimmed to the next intersecting entity. See sketch below.

After the trimming is done, continue to hold the left mouse button down, press and hold the Shift key, and drag the cursor over the line to be extended. The line will be extended until it hits the next sketch entity. See sketch below.

Tech Tip: Dimensioning to an arc-shaped cut of a cylinder

A warning may appear when trying to add a dimension in the drawing to an arc-shaped cut of a cylinder.

The feature was made by extruding a cut with the following sketch.

Procedure: One way to dimension the drawing is to expand the drawing view in the feature manager and show the sketch. A dimension can be added to the sketch entities and afterwards the sketch can be hidden.

Notes: Another solution is to create a section view. The section view can be dimensioned without a warning.