Mike Puckett's Blog

Solidworks 2009 Wrap-Up.....

August has been a busy month here at MikesCadBlog.com / 20+ posts in about 25 days, all dealing with new functionality in Solidworks 2009. 

My overall opinion of this upcoming release is that I'm anxious to get service pack 0 installed.  After using the beta and pre-release versions, you get used to using some of the new functions, and then having to go back and use 2008 without them, is a bit frustrating.  A few other SW bloggers have made the same comment on Twitter.  When all is said and done with 2009, I think most people will enjoy the stability, and the performance fixes compared to SW 2008.  While 2008 was ground breaking on the interface side of the software, its impossible for anyone to say it didn't have any performance issues.  Solidworks 2009 takes a fair amount of new functionality, and wraps it up with substantial performance upgrades which will make the program that much easier to use.

At Solidworks World 2008 C.E.O. Jeff Ray promised us performance improvements, and they have achieved that.  Drawings and large assemblies are the big benefactors of this new credo.  Is there still work to be done? Yep, and thats the best part. SW should remain on its toes to keep developing the software.  A software package should never reach a fully developed stage, technology and end user needs simply won't allow for that to happen.

In my mind, what was most evident with this release is the amount of user driven enhancements, and subsequent changes to functions that SW thought it had done right.  I have hit on it a few times, but the new magnification tool in 2009 is a perfect example of where SW and a group of beta testers took a novel idea, and turned it into a useful tool.  There were other instances where features in 2009 were changed based on direct feedback of the beta testers.  Without that beta program, and all the people that devoted their time to it, the end result would not be what the rest of the users will receive on their DVD's next month.  That is the sole reason why beta programs are beneficial to everyone, and doing away with it would be disastrous to the end product we all use.  But please, could someone at Solidworks come up with a better way of submitting issues than the current interface being used?  Hopefully SW will continue this sort of interaction with core users to further refine the development process of future versions.  While the direct interaction of SW employees in beta was nice to see, let's hope more of them get involved next year, and in the mean time, they get out of the cubicles in Concord, and visit some customers to see how we all use the software.  Come on guys, you have large budgets, start buying some plane tickets and get out there. 

During August, I only touched on the highlights of whats new in 2009.  Other blogs have devoted a good amount of time to covering other features, as well as covering different functions of features you may have seen here.  Because of that, be sure to click through the links of the various blogs found to the left of the screen.  Many of them did some excellent write ups, and even some excellent videos on new features that your bound to learn from.  In fact Ricky Jordan produced some very well done videos explaining new functions, all while migrating his site to his own hosting!  To me video is the best medium to communicate this kinda stuff.

I have been asked numerous times, and have received emails asking when 2009 is going to be released.  I'm not sure even SW has a hard date, but what I have heard is to expect DVD's to ship at the end of September.  That really doesn't mean much though, because thats when they normally ship.

So in the meantime enjoy 2008 during its final days as it will soon be getting its last and final service pack.  Next up for myself, and a few of the other bloggers is a trip to Barcelona Spain on September 16th for the Official Solidworks 2009 Press Event.  Myself, Matt, Josh, Jason and a few other misfits will once again occupy the back rows of the press room, and try to not fall asleep listening to the old cad media people talk about themselves!  Good times and reports are sure to be had!   

Solidworks 2009: Draft Analysis Tool

Solidworks 2009 revamps the way that a few of the analysis tools work in the software.  Of particular interest is the draft analysis tool.  In past releases you were able to perform the analysis, and then exit the tool but no longer have access to the results.  Solidworks 2009 moves the draft analysis feature off the tools menu, and places it on the view menu.  There may be some confusion as to why, but it makes sense.

The tool itself is now found via: View > Display.  Once inside the tool, it functions as normal.  Once you click the ok button however, the colors from the draft results, and the numerical query feature is still available.  In fact, you can start a sketch, and complete features while still having the draft results present:

Be aware that once you toggle the draft analysis button off, you will have to re-do the analysis to get the results back.  Lets hope that in the future this could become a feature of sorts that could be toggled on and off somehow so as to always be available.

It's Time To Vote....

Most, if not all of life's serious matters can be settled by voting in an online poll.  In fact, hard hitting topics like "Will you buy People magazine with the Brad and Angelina baby pics", and "I would rather be President than win 8 gold medals", are discussed and voted on at this SITE.

So make your voice heard, and realize the impact of your online voting power today.  Don't let those big corporate thugs get away with charging more for an issue of People just because Brad Pitt's baby is on the cover, we won't stand for it any longer!

Solidworks 2009: Create A Split Line In Simulation

If you do Simulation work, setting up your model for the Simulation is critical.  In this example we have a block with a mounting tab:

We want to figure out if that tab can withstand the necessary pressure that is going to be loaded onto it.  We would typically apply a pressure load in the following manner:

The design of the part though calls for the load to only be applied on the tab portion of the part.  At this point you would normally exit Simulation, and go create a split line.  In Solidworks 2009, you can create that split line while in the Simulation tab:

Lets create our split line on the back face of this part:

The first step is to convert entities on the tab. and then close the sketch with a line.  The result is:

At this point you click the create split button in the property manager and you will now have a separate face in which to apply your load:

Who Wants Free Chicken Strips?

I'm not sure if I can get any further off topic than this, but here is a way for you to score some free Chick-N-Strips:

To receive one (1) free three-count order of Chick-n-Strips while supplies last, eligible participants should visit participating Chick-fil-A locations from 10:30 AM until close on Sept. 1, 2008 wearing atleast one visible article of clothing that contains any football team logo or collegiate logo and mention this Promotion.

The catch? You have to live in one of the following states:

AL, AR AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY.  You also have to be a legal resident.  And remember, Eat More Chikin!

Solidworks 2009: Merged Materials Databases

For those users of the Solidworks Simulation products, you may be used to having two completely different material databases.  One thats used in Solidworks, and another that was used in the Simulation products.

Solidworks 2009 merges these databases into one easier to use interface:

The database is read-only and has preset appearances, but there is the option to add your own custom materials as you wish. 

Solidworks 2009: Negative Value Dimensions

Further changes to sketching in Solidworks 2009 now includes the ability to utilize negative value dimensions.  Lets take a look:

We start with a slot sketch on a face.  Dimensioning it to the edge produces the 1.5981 value.  I want that slot to actually hang off that edge by .500

By editing the dimension, and typing in -.5, the slot will now move to the following location:

Another option to flip that alignment is to click the reverse direction button in the property manager of the .500 dimension which is under the primary dimension header:

Clicking the arrow will reverse the direction of the .500 dimension:

While were on the topic of dimensioning changes, it is now also possible to use zero value dimensions.  The vertical line on the right side of this sketch is shown at .100:

By changing that dimension to 0, it basically makes that line collinear with the edge, but  makes it a little more clear:

Certainly a very basic new function, but so is the slot tool, and how much of a time saver is that going to be?

The overall functionality of this new feature has quite a bit of room to grow.  Based on the feedback of beta testers in the beta forums, I would be surprised if this feature didn't see some enhancements this year.

Solidworks 2009: Simutation Tabs

Solidworks 2009 removes the old tab on the feature tree for Simulation studies, and adds them at the bottom of the screen.  It also splits the feature tree to show both the simulation studies, and the feature tree:

You will notice at the bottom of the screen there is a tab named Study 1.  When you click this tab, it will split the feature manager and you will now have the stacked feature manager.  You can drag that split to create more space if necessary.  Click the model tab, and the split feature manager goes away.

Adding a second study will add a second tab:

The tabs are also where you will want to drag and drop items from study to study.  If your fixture is going to remain the same, you would simply drag it from one tree, and drop it on the tab of the other study.

One of the best benefits of this new tab layout is that your tree is no longer cluttered with multiple studies like it was in older versions.  In 2009, all you see is information about the currently selected study.

Many other enhancements to the overall simulation interface look is covered in the whats new book.

Solidworks 2009: Sensors

In Solidworks 2009 you will have the ability to have sensors that will monitor your model, and warn you if certain factors are triggered.  You can set up sensors to monitor four different areas:

1. Mass Properties: Mass, Volume, and Surface Area
2. Interference Detection: To monitor the interference between components you select
3. Measurement: Monitor certain dimensions you select
4. Simulation Data: Will keep an eye on simulation results like stress, strain etc.

For ease of discussion, we will run through a very simple example of setting up a mass properties sensor to make sure a part remains below a certain weight.

First we will start off with a mount for a marine product.  The shop needs a block to mount a GPS antennae to.  Since this is a marine product, it will be made out of stainless steel to avoid corrosion.  The mount cannot not exceed about 75 pounds based on where it is being placed:

As you can see, we have met our threshold.  Being a requirement of this part, we will now set up a sensor to monitor this weight requirement.  First we will right click the Sensors folder in the feature tree, and click Add Sensor:

Now in the Sensors Property manager, we will tell it that we want to monitor the mass, and that if it exceeds 76 pounds, to alert us:

 

We accept the settings, save the file and go to lunch.  While off eating our lunch, a sales guy goes up to engineering and changes the material of the mount from stainless steel to brass, because brass will look nicer on the boat.  He asks one of the apprentice engineers to make the change real quick so he can get manufacturing a new drawing.  When the apprentice changes the material in the tree, he gets the following warning:

The pre-defined sensor is telling him that the weight of the part exceeds what is acceptable.  Now when the original engineer returns, he needs to make a few modifications to the part so the sales guy can have his pretty looking material.  He adds a few cuts to the part, and after rebuilding, the sensor turns off the error:

As shown in a very simplistic example, sensors can be used to monitor critical values to help make sure design intent is maintained.

Solidworks 2009: Ghost Images

How many times do you get a fillet with an error, and you open it up and Solidworks tells you the fillet is missing one edge?  How often can you actually remember what that fillet was filleting?  Solidworks 2009 is here to help.  Lets take a look.

In this image, we can see a very nice fillet on two of the rectangular holes cut through this brass part:

Now a few months down the road, a change is made to remove one of the rectangular slots.  Guess what happens:

You now have a fillet feature with rebuild errors.  Well instead of calling your VAR and waking up the application engineer, you edit the feature, and Solidworks 2009 will help you out:

Solidworks will give you red dashed lines showing where the missing edges used to be.  This will hopefully jar your memory into what the original intent was, and you can quickly fix it.