Disqus - Latest Comments for brianmcelyea

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

brianmcelyea — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:05:23 -0000

Lisa,

Sorry I haven't responded sooner. I have been out of pocket lately, and am now trying to get caught up on emails.

I know it's probably too late, but I would try to create simplified configurations of all the subassemblies and parts. For example, if you have a subassembly that has a lot of components that are not shown at the top level, create a new configuration and suppress those hidden components. If you have a complicated part, suppress some of the features that do not show up at or really affect the top-level, such as fillets, internal ribs, etc.

Brian

Re: What Really Happened in Concord

brianmcelyea — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:10:45 -0000

Well, this was more of a press event for the upcoming release, like what they had last year in Barcelona.

They have had a few events in Europe, including a SWUGN Summit and a smaller 1-day World conference (within the last one or two years, I believe).

If you are a member of a local user group, maybe get together and hit up Richard Doyle to see about trying to get a SWUGN Summit in your region next year...

Re: 3 Ways To Model The Same Thing

brianmcelyea — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:27:44 -0000

All of the methods but one shown in my post above and including the groove in the main revolve are equally easy to modify with a double click on the sketch or feature or a click and drag with Instant 3D on. The only exception is for the offset cut; AFAIK, that one would require going into the feature definition to change the location.

Re: 3 Ways To Model The Same Thing

brianmcelyea — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:46:20 -0000

As far as modeling reflecting real world procedures; I would not necessarily agree with this. If you modeled everything as it would be actually be made, you would start with a billet and start cutting away - not that there is anything exactly wrong with that, either. I've actually done a few models this way when dealing with structural shapes, and know others that have too.

I suspect that in this particular case, most folks would just model the groove in with the original revolve...

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

brianmcelyea — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:52:21 -0000

You can change a part into a weldment with a few steps...

So, I take it that you didn't create it using weldment tools? I'm also assuming you mean the relationships between the features...

If you have the part created as one body, you can break the bodies out manually by editing the respective feature definitions and uncheck the "Merge result" box. This will create the multiple bodies.

To get the Cut List, you will have to add a Weldment feature at the beginning of the Feature Manager.

Re: What Really Happened in Concord

brianmcelyea — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:53:02 -0000

Steve,

We got a coffee cup and water bottle. Things you would maybe see at user group meetings as doorprizes...

We also got a student copy of SolidWorks 2009, which I gave to a coworker who homeschools their children.

Re: What Really Happened in Concord

brianmcelyea — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:54:26 -0000

No problem, Matt. Go ahead. :)

Re: 3 Ways To Model The Same Thing

brianmcelyea — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:41:49 -0000

Agreed...it would be nice if you could access the offset from a double-click. Enhancement request?

Re: 3 Ways To Model The Same Thing

cserran — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:52:01 -0000

Same here, but I really wish there was a way to edit the offset without going into the feature.

Re: 3 Ways To Model The Same Thing

brianmcelyea — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:47:19 -0000

Me too! I am using it more and more...it really cuts down on work features.

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

rmansfield — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:59:56 -0000

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your help. I kind of knew in the back of my mind that I would have to do that, but I was hoping I was wrong. Once again, I appreciate your timely response.

Rodney

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

brianmcelyea — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:39:58 -0000

Rodney,

Since this involves material deformation, I don't think that SolidWorks has a easy way to show this. So the end CAD result that you want will determine what you need to do.

If you are after a truly accurate model, I think you would have to actually form the part in the shop and then use some measuring and surfacing to rengineer the ends in SolidWorks.

The way I would approach modeling this is just to have a simple model with smaller ends like so.

(Download file here.)

It doesn't look as realistic, but I think suffices for a CAD model/drawing.

You could post this question on the site mentioned in the article above, http://solidjott.com/, and you might get some more tips...

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

MARTINJERRY — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:12:36 -0000

Brian
Thankyou
Worked perfect. Good tip
Thanks again

Jerry

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

brianmcelyea — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:10:09 -0000

Are you trying to print from the model or a drawing?

Yes, I did misspeak on the 1:1 setting; it is 100%

There is not a way to ensure a print of 1:1 from the modeling environment ARAIK, but if you are printing from a drawing, the 100% setting should print your drawing 1:1 scale for the selected paper size (i.e., D-size drawing to D-size sheet).

If you are wanting a 1:1 print of the model, you can put a full size view of it (1:1 scale) in a drawing and change the drawing sheet size to encompass it and then print at 100% with the custom sheet size specified in the printer settings.

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

MARTINJERRY — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:51:58 -0000

APPARENTLY MY DRIVER/PLOTTER IS OLD. I DO NOT HAVE THE SCALE 1:1 OPTION. MY ONLY CHOICE IS 100% BUT THIS SCALES TO FIT A FORMAT SIZE?

Re: New SolidWorks Help Site - SolidJott!

brianmcelyea — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:43:50 -0000

The HP drivers have always worked fine for me plotting to large format from SolidWorks. You can set 1:1 scale in the printer driver settings.

Re: Oil Rig Replica. You Could Use 3D CAD… Or Four Million Matchsticks

brianmcelyea — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:42:20 -0000

Wow...it's beautiful! But, WOW...

Re: ALL NEW SolidWorks Community (Forum)

brianmcelyea — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:51:19 -0000

Thanks to Websense, I just see a big white nothingness where the YouTube goodness should be! I will have to try to remember to check them out at home...

Since changing jobs, I can't log into the forums with the profile that I had been using. I am reluctant to create another one as I would lose connection with what little bit of history I have there.

Re: Paper Pilot Game In The Press

Tool die design — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:21:43 -0000

Hi Brian
Thanks for the information and advise.

Re: Paper Pilot Game In The Press

brianmcelyea — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:12:40 -0000

The workflow between 2D & 3D is definitely different. It takes some time to retrain your brain, but I think that you will find that designing in 3D will become easier and faster. I liken it to working in the real world - you design and build each part just as you would in real life. I definitely recommend taking some training, such as the SolidWorks Essentials courses to help.

The online tutorials are very good, but when trying to make the jump from 2D to 3D, it helps to have someone there to ask questions of (of course, there are really good online sources too, like blogs such as this one and the SolidWorks forums).

With SolidWorks you will also end up with multiple files; I think that is something you will have to deal with with almost any 3D modeler. SolidWorks added Virtual Parts (in 2008 I believe) that will allow you to create part files that exist only in the assembly environment (i.e., there are no actual part files), but I have noticed that there are a few issues with PDM and virtual components. You would still have a separate drawing file.

If you only need to provide the actual drawing file, you can save a SolidWorks drawing as "detached" which will allow you to send only that file and everything still be viewable. There is also the ubiquitous PDF...

Re: Paper Pilot Game In The Press

brianmcelyea — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:12:13 -0000

Re: Free SolidWorks Certification - Offer Extended!

brianmcelyea — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:26:28 -0000

They changed the CSWP a couple of years ago. It is no longer a proctored 8-hour exam, it is a 3-hour exam that is taken online, similar to the CSWA and all the other exams.

If you look closely, it is now called CSWP-CORE, and I believe that the advanced discipline problems that you choose from at the end are no longer there (note that I haven't taken this new 3-hour exam). They seem to be breaking the advanced disciplines out into their own exams.

There is now Surfacing and Sheet Metal certifications as well as Simulation, and I believe there is a Mold certification in the works.

Re: Free SolidWorks Certification - Offer Extended!

caddesign911 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:13:49 -0000

I believe the 3 hour exam is for the CSWA, not the CSWP - which is for professional. The CSWP is much more difficult.

Re: Paper Pilot Game In The Press

Tool die design — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:25:09 -0000

Hi Brian, Thanks for the reply.
I did some designs using Inventor, but the file size was very huge, editing and modification is not easy ( I must say I am completly new in any 3D software ). I can't send any seperate file or detail drawing to customer instead I need to send the whole complete file. I am not sure SW has the similar problem.
I am currently using 2D software, I felt it is time to change to 3D, but feel very time comsuming compare to a 2D.

Re: Paper Pilot Game In The Press

brianmcelyea — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:32:37 -0000

While I do not do any tool design, I would think that SolidWorks would be more than capable of doing the job.