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  • ecirwin 9:21 am on October 13, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: Dimensioning   

    I am trying to use model dimensions in my drawing, I prefer to use the model dimesion over using created dimensions. I don’t really want to debate that topic.

    I have a revolved feature that has several diameter dimension in it. On the drawing I want these dimensions to be in a view where you see the feature as a circle. The dimensions will show in that view, but they have leader lines and are tied to a horizontal position (in this case).

    Is there a way to have these dimensions look and act more like a diameter dimension in this view?

     

    • Brian 11:14 am on October 13, 2010 Permalink

      There’s no way to change them as far as I know.

      You will have to reimport them into the view you want. If you Shift-drag them from another view, they will only show horizontal or vertical.

    • salbu 11:31 am on October 13, 2010 Permalink

      I have an idea Right Clic on the dimension and than choose Display Options you can have Radius, Diameter or Liniar.Or you can recreate thr revolve feature in sketcher and set the display for dimension how you want.

    • ecirwin 12:11 pm on October 13, 2010 Permalink

      @Salbu – those options are not available for this type of dimension.

      @Brian – I was hoping there was some other option, but I think you are right.

    • CBL 6:57 pm on October 18, 2010 Permalink

      In SW2010 (and probably other versions) a diameter dimension can be adjusted within the Leader options of the dimension manager. Just select an option and grab the various blue dots to see what happens.

  • ecirwin 11:02 am on May 18, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags:   

    We are looking for a way to add a descriptor to each dimension value on a drawing. This is for inspection purposes so that we can refer to dimension “C” on the inspection document and it is easily recognizable on the drawing. Is there a way to type in the letter “C” in the Dimension and have it encircled or in a box or in a triangle or whatever?

     

    • RAD007 4:37 pm on May 18, 2010 Permalink

      Add a symbol to the dimension text:
      With the dimension selected, click in the text field of the property manager where you’d like the “TAG”. Then click the “More” button immediately below the field and select any of the flag symbols from the library drop down. “Flag Cir A-Z” allows you to select symbols just as you requested. You only have 26 different inspections symbols with letters. I personally use “Flag Squ 1-99″ which gives me 99 inspections.

    • CBL 5:02 am on May 19, 2010 Permalink

      See if the macro shown at http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=193453&page=1 suits your needs.

  • ecirwin 1:42 pm on April 30, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags:   

    Can you run SW2010 on Win7 Home editions, or do you have to have a Professional edition?

     

    • CBL 5:20 pm on April 30, 2010 Permalink

      Some people have been able to install and run SW on Home editions without problems. But if you have any problems (and you probably will) you will not get any support from your VAR other than “That is not a supported OS. We cannot help you”.

  • ecirwin 9:47 am on April 7, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags:   

    Silly question: Our drawing format is pulling a value for the part material ($PRPSHEET: “material”). How/where do I change this value?

     

    • Brian 11:22 am on April 7, 2010 Permalink

      In the part or assembly file that is placed in the first view on that sheet.

    • gupta9665 8:48 pm on April 7, 2010 Permalink

      What exactly you mean by change value. Do you want to link it to something different or you want to change the material. If you want to change the material then change it for the part/assembly which this drawing is referring to. Else edit the note ($PRPSHEET: “material”) and change to whatever you need.

  • ecirwin 1:37 pm on February 18, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
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    So I am evaluating adding Enterprise PDM to our tools. We currently use a system of folders and manually control everything. We are small enough that this is possible, but it is a little clunky and definitely not secure.

    Can anyone give me feedback on their experience implementing ePDM? Especially if you migrated from a folder type of management like we have.

    Of course the sales guys say it is easy. What are the pitfalls and issues they don’t tell you about?

    Thanks,
    Eric

     

    • afee451 11:37 am on February 19, 2010 Permalink

      We’re in the middle of this process right now, and overall things have been pretty painless. Migrating existing data isn’t all that problematic; its mainly about filling out the custom properties tabs in all the files. The only place things get hairy, is once you are under PDM works control, you will inevitably want to start tracking data you hadn’t been previously. This means either accepting incomplete meta-data on all your legacy drawings, or an incredibly tedious importing process as you have to add the new data manually. Also, get all the training that is offered. Our reseller ran a 3 day class on admin and use as part of the install that was invaluable. Hope this helps.

    • Scott 3:25 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink

      The company I work for is also in the process of going to EPDM. Our reseller is currently testing the migration of our legacy documents and it sounds like everything is going well. We will see in about 3 weeks when they do it on site and not in a test envirement.

      Just and FYI we are going from the free PDM that comes with SolidWorks.

  • ecirwin 7:52 am on August 31, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment  

    I am having an issue with converting solid sketch entities to construction. Since installing 2010 Beta 3, it is causing my SW 2009 SP4.1 to crash.

    New part, new sketch, sketch circle, escape from circle creation, unselect the circle, select the circle, choose the “Construction Geometry” from the pop-up menu. SW will pause for a few seconds and then crash.

    This convert to construction command has been an issue with 2009 since the begining. It hasn’t crashed SW, but it has caused it to pause for anywhere from 3-15 seconds, especially noticeable on slightly older hardware (2.5 years).

    Has anyone else had similar issues? Other computer in our office exhibit the pause, but not crash. The other computers do not have the Beta installed.

     

    • CBL 10:15 am on August 31, 2009 Permalink

      In SW2009, some ‘call commands’ (I don’t know the correct term) were changed. In the case of the ‘Convert TO Construction’ command, only the first time (per session) it is called should take an extra long time. Subsequent calls should be near instant.

      I am also running SW09-SP4.1 and SW10-SP3 Beta, and have had no problems … so far.

    • CBL 11:39 am on August 31, 2009 Permalink

      Here’s the SW forums thread which has more detail. See Jim Wilkinsons post.

      https://forum.solidworks.com/message/90860#90860

    • ecirwin 8:23 am on September 2, 2009 Permalink

      CBL,

      Thanks for the info. It appears that loading that .dll on my machine is causing SW SP4.1 to crash. I do believe that the install of the Beta 3.0 has caused this. Another identical machine exhibits the pause, but not the crash. The only difference being the Beta install.

      I am going back and forth with my service provider, who is going back and forth with SW. So far, there has been nothing useful. Everything from .Net framework toggling to Vista updates (already up to date). The problem persists.

    • CBL 9:32 am on September 2, 2009 Permalink

      First thing I would try is a Repair from the SW DVD.

      If that doesn’t work, uninstall SW2010 Beta.

      Try repair again.

      Uninstall and re-install SW2009.

    • ecirwin 9:56 am on September 10, 2009 Permalink

      The saga continues. Complete uninstall of all versions of SW and reinstall of 4.1, the crash persists. Uninstalled .Net Framework 3.5, installed 3.0 from SW DVD, still crashing. Now it appears that my computer is confused about which version of .Net Framework it is running.

      In Programs and Features (where you uninstall software) it shows .Net 3.5, but in the “Turn Windows Features On or Off” area, it shows .Net 3.0.

  • ecirwin 2:57 pm on June 24, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: Plane   

    Is there a way to change the default side of a plane? Meaning the side, or direction, that you sketch on that plane.

     

    • superpilun 4:11 pm on June 24, 2009 Permalink

      I’ve gotten around this annoyance before by drawing a construction line on that plane, then creating a reference plane 180° to that construction line and the original plane. I don’t know if there’s a more elegant solution.

    • gupta9665 7:20 pm on June 24, 2009 Permalink

      While Sketching press “Normal to” twice to flip the plane.

    • ecirwin 10:38 am on June 25, 2009 Permalink

      I think that superpilun has the right idea. My problem was that I was switching a sketch from a model surface to a datum plane and when it switched the sketch was backwards. I had to mirror the sketch and then recreated all the dimensions and constraints.

      This is another area where ProE has this figured out, but SW is lagging. Sometimes it is the simple things that make a big difference.

  • ecirwin 8:32 am on June 18, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags:   

    How do you combine multiple dimension values on a drawing? I have drawn a hole, not using the SW tool, and now want to show the dimensions of that hole in the drawing. There is a main bore through and countersink diameter to a depth. I would like to show all of these dimensions in a single dimension.

     

    • CBL 9:14 am on June 18, 2009 Permalink

      You cannot combine multiple dimensions into one dimension, but you can link multiple dimensions into a note.

      You can also use the Hole Callout tool. Selecting the edge of the bore will produce a callout of just the bore size. Selecting the edge of the chamfer will give both bore and chamfer sizes.

    • ecirwin 11:37 am on June 18, 2009 Permalink

      I used a note as suggested above by CBL. Not the greatest solution, but better than the Hole Callout tool.

  • ecirwin 1:34 pm on June 1, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: Splines   

    I have created a spline with 4 points that is essentially an ellipse. No, I can’t really use an ellipse as a replacement. I need control of the curvature.

    Drawing a single spline with 4 points, gives substantially different results than drawing two splines, each with 3 points. I have dimensioned the curvature at the points (where the spline(s) cross the X and Y axes.

    For the single spline, the start point and the opposite point must be dimensioned differently to get the spline to be somewhat symetric.

    For the double spline, each point and opposite are dimensioned the same.

    Any reason for this? It just seems odd.

     

    • ecirwin 2:09 pm on June 1, 2009 Permalink

      Thought I would add some pictures showing the curvature. The first is the single spline.

    • ecirwin 2:10 pm on June 1, 2009 Permalink

      This is the 2 splines.

    • brian 8:50 am on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      I don’t do splines much, but I was just playing around with this and created a 4-point spline. It seems to remain symmetrical as I exercise it. One thing I noticed that is if I turn on “Tangent Driving” in Parameters, I lose the symmetry.

    • ecirwin 10:37 am on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      So, I tried what Brian outlined above. It seems that

    • admin 10:54 am on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      Wow this is messed up. The handles are vertical or horizontal and linked to each other to have the same value…. What do I get… WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Brian 11:17 am on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      I think it has something to do with the tangent weighting at the end points… But again, I don’t understand splines that well. Where is Matt when you need him?

    • mattl 12:15 pm on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      The endpoint has to have half of the value of the opposite point for the magnitude of the handle on the 4 pt spline. Makes no sense, but that’s the way it works. Still, even set up perfectly, it does not come out perfectly symmetrical.

      I’m pretty sure I’ve submitted something similar as a bug.

      You also need to be careful about breaking left/right symmetry on the handles. You have to use Alt-drag when you manually drag the spline handles to maintain symmetry.

      Come on, guys, get with the program, put the curvature comb cap line on and change from that blasted yellow color. :0)

      In short, I wouldn’t rely on a spline to mimic any analytical shape, nor would I hold my breath waiting for this to get fixed.

    • mattl 12:18 pm on June 2, 2009 Permalink

    • admin 12:26 pm on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      The link URL is dead Matt want to send me the file? Anyhow did what you said but still the upper and lower handles still do not work out Symmetry. Weird

    • admin 12:34 pm on June 2, 2009 Permalink

      Symmetry happens when the bottom handle is about 95% that of the top

  • ecirwin 7:26 am on May 15, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment  

    I have started a Compare Geometry session, but now I can’t get out of it. How do you stop it?

     

    • gol10dr 8:51 am on May 15, 2009 Permalink

      If I remeber right you need to go into the task pane and close it.

    • ecirwin 9:55 am on May 15, 2009 Permalink

      I found it. There is an extra little flag on the right side of the screen that has an equal sign and a question mark in it. Once you click on that flag, you can then close the Compare Geometry session.

    • gol10dr 12:00 pm on May 15, 2009 Permalink

      In the task pane? Yes, that is what I remember. Seems a bit odd. I submitted an interface change request under SR 1-1209345861. Before it was brought into the Task Pane, the “cancel” button was in a dialog box that was open in that upper right open tile. I think they should put in the X/check in the upper right.

    • ecirwin 12:40 pm on May 15, 2009 Permalink

      It is not in the Task Pane. There is a Flag on the Right side of the Screen, similar to the one for SolidJott. At least I don’t think that is the Task Pane. I thought the Task Pane was generally in the left side of the screen, where the tree is, unless you forced it out.

    • admin 2:39 pm on May 15, 2009 Permalink

      No the right is called the task pane the left side is the ‘feature manager’

    • gol10dr 6:56 am on May 18, 2009 Permalink

      SolidWorks responded and issued an SPR (496220) for this odd behavior. Since the utilities task pane can hide, it is not intuitive to close the took when running. It should at least have an “x” in the upper right corner of the graphics area.

    • gol10dr 6:56 am on May 18, 2009 Permalink

      SolidWorks responded and issued an SPR (496220) for this odd behavior. Since the utilities task pane can hide, it is not intuitive to close the tool when running. It should at least have an “x” in the upper right corner of the graphics area.

    • ecirwin 12:01 pm on May 18, 2009 Permalink

      Nice to see SW is listening and will eventually do something about this semi hidden close button.

  • ecirwin 3:56 pm on May 14, 2009 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment  

    Does anyone know of a good place to find a tutorial on creating an Assembly Layout. I am trying to do some Top-Down Design, but I am getting crazy quirky things happening. The last thing was that I was trying to change some dimensions in a Block, but the dimension I clicked on, was not the dimension that was changing. This Layout thing is not very easy to figure out. I need some help!

     

  • ecirwin 1:39 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: Point, ,   

    Why can’t I reference a Reference Geometry/Point in a sketch?

     

    • JeffM 2:03 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      Can you be a bit more specific? Ambiguous questions lead to ambiguous answers.

    • ecirwin 2:23 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      I created a datum point that I wanted to use as a reference while creating a sketch. For some unknown reason, I cannot use that datum point while sketching. That is one of the main reasons I would create a datum point.

    • MarkKaiser 2:34 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      Here’s how I would do this (if I understand your question correctly).

      1. Create a master sketch with datum point via sketch point tool.

      2. Make sure this sketch is visible while making new sketches.

      3. Inference ‘datum point’ with cursor while sketching or use add relations tool to make relationships to ‘datum point’.

      Helpful?

    • JeffM 2:36 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      If you created the datum point as a sketch point, you should be able to reference it. How did you create the datum point?

    • ecirwin 3:14 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      The point is not created within the current sketch, or any sketch. The point is created as a “Reference Geometry” feature. It is created like a Plane or Axis is created, be selecting model geometry. In this case I created a point that was located at a certain percentage length along a particular model edge.

      ~E

    • MarkKaiser 3:18 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      OK, in your view pull down menu, do you have points selected to show? Also click the point in the feature tree and make sure it is set to shown.

    • ecirwin 3:23 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      I can see the point, I just cannot tie Sketch geometry to it. When I select the endpoint of a line, I cannot select the point to apply a relation. Nor can I drag the endpoint to the point and create the relation that way.

      Maybe this seems likes an easy thing, and it sounds as though it must work for some of you. This is not the first time I have had this issue. It makes me wonder wheat “Points” are for, if I can’t reference them. Do I have to use a 3D Sketch in order to reference a Point?

      ~E

    • Chris Serran 3:29 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      I’m seeing this as well in 2008 SP5.0
      It looks like you’ll have to use a 3D sketch with a point as a workaround.

    • MarkKaiser 3:32 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      It works best for me when I am normal to the sketch plane I’m working on, and I drag the endpoint of a line onto the reference geometry point. It then creates a relationship. I am not able to select the point if I try to use add relations or I am not normal to the sketch plane.

    • ecirwin 3:42 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      It appears that I have finally managed to communicate the issue and it is repeatable. A quick try of Mark’s solution of the view being normal to the Sketch plane and dragging geometry to the Point, seems to work. Very odd that you cannot select the Point and the geometry you want to reference it too.

      ~E

    • admin 4:28 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      SPR/SR did anyone submit one?

    • superpilun 4:45 pm on December 15, 2008 Permalink

      It’s very likely that the intended use of a Reference Point is different from that of a sketch point, hence the unexpected behavior. What people use the Reference Point for, I have no idea, I never use it.

      An easy workaround for this is to create a 3d-sketch, and point a sketch point right on top of your Reference Point. Then you can hide the Reference Point. You can now add relations to the 3d-sketch point as usual without having to be in a “normal-to” view.

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