SolidWorks Toolbox

By Joe Greco

You know a program has “made it” when independent users start developing add-ons and supplemental help. So it is with SolidWorks,which has a wide assortment of individuals and companies developing everything from macros to websites loaded with useful tips. We decided to assemble the best tools and tips in one place.

Tools in Macros

SolidWorks users know that with every new release they can expect many new commands; however, even several hundred new enhancements do not cover everything every user wants. Because of this, some users take the initiative and create their own utilities to fill in the gaps. Usually done in the form of macros, they then generously make these tools available to others at no cost.

Macros tend to fall into three areas. Some add new functionality that didn’t exist before, while others simply enhance an existing feature.Finally, there are others designed to reduce steps. The macros on http://mysite.verizon.net/mjlombard/ fall into all of these categories. This is a site run by a SolidWorks user named Matt Lombard.Once there, be sure to click on Macro Library link on the left, which displays the macros categorized by type—there are macros for parts,assemblies, and drawings. By selecting View All at the top of the screen, even more macros are displayed. Some of the macros were created by Matt, some by others.

The Point Cloud macro found on this site is a good example of functionality that doesn’t come built into SolidWorks. It allows users to read in point cloud data from a text file and then automatically place the points into a 3D sketch.

Out-of-the-box SolidWorks can find the center of gravity of a component, but the macro simply called “CG” extends this capability by allowing a user to place a 3D point at this location, as seen in Figure1 (below). Another example of a feature-enhancing macro is called eqcurves.swp. True, SolidWorks has both equations and curves, but you can’t create an equation to define a curve; this macro uses Excel andVisual Basic to do just that.

An example of a step-saving macro on this site is rectangle.swp. Created with users in mind who frequently design symmetrical parts, it automatically creates a rectangle centered on the origin and then prompts you for the horizontal dimension.

Another useful site to check out is http://swtools.cad.de/macros.htm.This German/English site has some of the same utilities found at the previous site, but it also has its own wealth of tools. As is often the case, the macros here don’t have the most intuitive names, but if you need to copy document settings from one document to another, then download at mac_copydoc. There’s even a macro called PAC4SWX for users who have to print, convert, or batch run macros.

Another good site for useful macros is http://www.centare.com/swapilibrary.html.Bob Hanson, who used to develop software on his own, joined Centare when it acquired his “Simple"product line (Simple PDM, Simple eRouting, and Simple Stats) in early2004. Some of the macros on this site are a bit outdated, but still prove useful for SolidWorks 2003 and 2004 users, while others are brand new.

Figure 1: After Matt Lombard’s CG macro is run using the Macro toolbox in theupper right, a 3D point is added to the model, shown in green. This image alsoshows some ofthe code for that macro, superimposed in the lower left.

Tips for the Trade

The quantity of new tools found in every new SolidWorks release opens the door for advanced users to uncover new tricks and share what they find. To follow are some websites I found that contain useful tips.

One of the best sites I found was located at http://www.scottjbaugh.com. Once there, click on the Tip and Tricks link on the right. One of the most useful tips on this site is theTooling Split tip, which also features seven images. Most of the tipson this site come from Scott Baugh, but other users have also kicked in; for instance, Matt Lombard offers excellent advice in “Trouble Shooting a Crash Prone System.” (Incidentally, Matt’s site referred to earlier also contains useful tips and insight. Click on his Rules of Thumb link on the left to see them.)

Mike Wilson’s site at http://www.mikejwilson.com/solidworks/solidworks_files.htm is loaded with SolidWorks files and animations that show you how to make certain tasks easier and how to achieve various effects. For instance, one part shows how to easily make an object follow a sketched path as seen in Figure 2 (below),while industrial designers could learn a lot from downloading the OneSurface Wonders and Scooby files.

Figure 2: One of the many useful files found on http://www.mikejwilson.com/solidworks/solidworks_files.htm.

This one demonstrates how to create a belt by having a featurefollow a curve.

One of the top SolidWorks users in the world is Ed Eaton of the DiMonteGroup. A regular at SolidWorks World, many of Eaton’s CAD presentations are available online at http://www.di montegroup.com/tutorials.htm,along with tutorials created by other SolidWorks experts at this industrial design company (see Figure 3, below).

You can find practical tips that are divided into six categories by going tohttp://www.capinc.com/techtipssw.htm. They are Assembly, Modeling,Drafting, SolidWorks 2003, General, and Hardware. I would put most ofthe tips here in the beginner to intermediate level, but I think even an advanced user will find browsing this site interesting if not useful.

Another site to explore is http://www.solidworktips.com and click on the tips section on the left. This site is valuable because the tipsare submitted by users. Most of these tips are old, but after browsing through them, you’ll find there is still some useful information there.

Need help with SolidWorks sheet metal design? Check outhttp://www.sheetmetaldesign.com for loads of handy tips, calculators,tables, and sample parts.

A brand-new venture is http://www.3dcadtips.com. After setting up an account and logging in, one finds tips for a variety of 3D programs,including hundreds for SolidWorks. These well-organized tips are fromSolidWorks Express (http://www.solidworks.com/swexpress), a bimonthly online newsletter published by the SolidWorks Corp.

Speaking of SolidWorks newsletters, there are also independentcompanies that publish them—you may want to check them out for helpfultips and insightful articles. ConnectPress has two online publications called SolidWorks Community (http://www.swcommunity.com) and SolidDigital Digest (http://www.d-digest.com/soliddigitaldigest). An independent SolidWorks user, Phil Sluder has SW Tips/Tricks athttp://www.triaxialdesign.com/tip_tricks.html, published a few times a year. The August 2004 issue had some excellent PhotoWorks 2 tips, whileJuly’s issue focused on adding logic to equations.

Always Something New

Whether you are new to SolidWorks or are closing in on your tenthanniversary of using it, there’s sure to be a website offering you something you didn’t already have.

Joe Greco is a contributing editor. Send comments to [email protected].

Editor’s Note: It is with profound sadness that Desktop Engineering reports that, as this issue was going to press, we learned that longtime contributing editor Joe Greco passed away suddenly. Joe will be remembered as one of the leading and most respected voices of theCAD users community, impressing readers, editors, and software publishers alike with his no-nonsense and earnest approach to covering the CAD/CAM universe. Joe leaves behind his wife Heather and countless friends throughout the design community. Thanks, Joe. We’ll miss you. —DE

Product Information

SolidWorks SolidWorks Corporation

Concord, MA

solidworks.com

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Commercial Outlets Offer Affordable Support for SolidWorks

A number of commercial developers and publishers offer SolidWorks tipsand training support. Here’s a sampling of three such outfits.

Cadpo is an e-learning technology and services company that specializesin engineering and manufacturing. Among its offerings is onlinetraining in SolidWorks and COSMOSWorks through its i.get.it series oftraining courses.

Cadpo’s courses are said to offer measurable and customizable featuresthat help managers structure company, department, and individualtraining. For example, managers can create an individual andgroup-based sessions. They can also schedule and track trainingclasses, seminars, workshops, assessments, and self-paced training. Interms of measurability, managers can produce reports to determine auser’s progress through courses and review assessment results.

Because i.get.it training is Internet-based, users can start and stopmid-lesson, and access their training any time of the day or night nomatter where they are. They can also take tests to assess theirstrengths and weaknesses.

Cadpo’s i.get.it e-learning is based on a subscription model. Online demos andvideos are available on the company’s website.

Conceptual Product Development offers the Doctor Walt series of bookson SolidWorks. These technical books offer step-by-step instructionsaugmented with screen captures to simplify the learning process. Thethree-book series ranges from introductory to intermediate to amust-have guide to assembly modeling.

The intermediate-level book covers part modeling and assemblies. Itoffers exercises using design tables to drive part configurations;simulations of assemblies, development of more complex injection moldedparts, and sheet metal design.

The work on assembly modeling covers both “top-down” and “bottom-up"techniques, with special attention given to the use of derived partsand the interplay of mating relationships. The user is guided throughthe development of simulations, explosions, and the construction ofassociated assembly drawings with Bills of Material.

Pricing ranges from approximately $48 to $65, depending upon the book.

SolidProfessor in San Diego develops computer-based multimedia trainingfocusing on SolidWorks. Among its current offerings is SolidWorks Core Concepts. This 5-hour series covers the essential skills for creatingSolidWorks parts, assemblies, and drawings with an emphasis on doing itquickly.

Planned for release soon is SolidWorks Advanced Concepts, a follow-upto Core Concepts. This series for more experienced users covers complexgeometry creation, surfacing, design tables, and sheet metal design.

SolidProfessor also offers the SolidWorks 2005 Update Training course.This 3-hour course is designed to help you take full advantage of themany new enhancements available in SolidWorks 2005.

On the SolidProfessor website, a new user-supported TipsandTrickssubsection is under construction. Pricing ranges from $99 for the 2005Update Training to S299 for Core Concepts. The company also offersnetwork solutions for corporations and academic institutions.—DE

Cadpo Westminster, CO

cadpo.com

Conceptual Product Development

West Caldwell, NJ

docwalt.com

SolidProfessor

San Diego, CA

solidprofessor.com

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