Inspiration and design ideas can spark at any time leaving some to the mercy of napkin sketches before the idea may disappear. Okay, some instances may not be that dramatic but none the less, napkin sketched ideas are just as easy to create in DraftSight as it is by hand. DraftSight is an easy to use tool for 2D part design that operates in .dxf and .dwg formats which can be shared for collaboration or sent to manufactures.
Read MoreIn symmetric assemblies, the right and left sides may use the same parts that are mirrors of each other. Instead of creating a new part and spending the time to model and detail the mirrored part file, SolidWorks can mirror the part in relation to the parent model. This means any changes that are made to the parent will also change on the mirrored part.
Read MoreThe same exact part can be produced with a variety of manufacturing methods. This can vary based on desired material, part complexity, quantity, etc. If you have a part that you plan on producing in mass quantities, and do not plan on making many changes, then injection molding could very well be the manufacturing method for you!
Read MoreIf you’ve ever been involved in the manufacturing of a product, you’ve likely heard the term CNC used. This stands for computer numerical control and is a very common method of manufacturing parts, still used today. CNC manufacturing is a method of subtractive machining in which a blank piece of material is milled away to create a desired part. This is commonly done with the use of CNC milling or CNC turning.
Read MoreIf you’ve worked with sheet metal then you know the importance of sheet metal properties such as bend deduction, bend allowance, gauge thickness, K-factors, bend radius, etc. If you design a part with incorrect properties, it will not be manufactured as intended. This is especially notable when working with sheet metal assemblies and the error will stack up, creating parts that do not fit together correctly at final assembly.
Read MoreOver the period of 8 class sessions, I had the opportunity to be enrolled in a course to learn more about not only the benefits of using GD&T, but the correct ways to use it. GD&T stands for geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. A very basic definition of it is to define the geometry of mechanical parts with the use of symbols, definitions, and rules. This blog, being in a series of blogs, will cover just a basic introduction into why GD&T is useful and to clear up some misconceptions.
Read MoreSolidWorks has incorporated a feature to allow the user to save a color scheme of an assembly or part without affecting other configuration design colors of a part or assembly. This helpful feature is known as a Display State. At Perception Engineering, Display States are used to identify which parts need to be updated and which parts are good as it. When working with an assembly of 100+ parts it is helpful to visualize what is and isn’t done within the project.
Read MoreGlobal variables are valuable time savers when it comes to using SolidWorks. They can save you loads of time when modeling. Not only can it save you time when modeling your parts, you can also use this tool in your assemblies to make updates to multiple parts with the change of a single global variable. If you’ve never used global variables before, check out this blog that goes over the basics before continuing.
Read MoreWhen designing in SolidWorks, there is always something you can do to help increase your efficiency. One such tool is the use of global variables. If you create parts that go through many stages of updates, global variables can save you time. Not only can it help save time, but if set up properly it helps reduce the chance of missing or incorrectly updating a component or feature.
Read MoreProjects are starting to stack up, deadlines are fast approaching and passing by, tasks are being missed and forgotten about. If any of this sounds familiar you are going through what most any team does when they reach a certain capacity; a lack of project management. There are many services you can use to help you manage any future projects and workload. Here at Perception Engineering, we like to use Asana to help keep all the fires at bay. Best of all, if you’re working with a team of 15 or smaller, it’s free!
Read MoreIt’s that time of the year again. With the new year right around the corner, a new version of SolidWorks is coming right along with it, SolidWorks 2020. With improvements to performance, updated features, streamlined workflows, and much more, SolidWorks 2020 is going to help companies conquer the new year that lies ahead of them. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at what exactly SolidWorks 2020 is offering with this new version.
Read MoreChances are, you’ve needed to create an assembly with numerous components with irrelevant geometry such as wires, glue, or oil. Giving each individual wire a part number can be overwhelming and unnecessary when searching for files in your directory. With SolidWorks Virtual Components, you are given the ability to create parts that exist only within an assembly. This feature is also very useful when in the early stages of a design and parts are being made on the fly for unofficial revisions and it is not determined whether or not they will require a part number.
Read More3D printing was founded in 1981 when Hideo Kodama produced the first published existence of the prototyping method with the use of photopolymers and stereolithography. This sparked a revolution of various methods of rapid prototyping methods that were categorized as 3D printing. Within 15 years, there were technologies created using DMLS, FDM, SLA, and SLS. Learn more about those methods here. Throughout the following years the technologies were refined while even more were introduced. In 2014, HP introduced Multi-Jet Fusion printing.
Read MoreManufacturing is debatably the most important step in the creation of a product. Designs and concepts mean nothing if no part is produced in the end. It’s important to have the manufacturing processes done in the most efficient way, safely, and with as few errors as possible. This could range from reducing errors in the machining itself to reducing errors in the assembly of products. With Delmia from the 3DExperience platform introduced by Dassault Systemes, these worries will be a thing of the past.
Read MoreIf you work with large, complex assemblies in SolidWorks then it’s likely that you’ve experienced lengthy rebuild times. Or, worse yet, a set of unwanted updates that occurred while rebuilding a part or assembly. Fortunately, SolidWorks has a feature known as the Freeze Bar which can help with both issues.
Read MoreSimilar to the shortcut bar, mouse gestures are used to save time looking for specific buttons during a designer’s time within SolidWorks. It has the ability to group commonly used buttons in one single feature wheel so changing from one command to the next can be done instantly. This blog will highlight where to update and change buttons on the feature wheel as well as how to use it.
Read MoreIf there’s one thing in the engineering and designing world that is constant, it is that products need to be designed quicker and more accurate each day. With the ability to design quick comes less lead times, quicker concepts in front of the customer, and ultimately more products going out the door. With every second in design being crucial, cutting down on mouse movement and wasted time trying to find the one desired command in the sea of buttons is key. Thankfully, SolidWorks has the perfect solution with the “S” key. This blog will highlight the capabilities of this tool.
Read MorePart mates are a significant feature in SolidWorks that literally hold everything together. Most of the time a simple coincident or concentric mate is enough to get the job done. Other times you need mates that can give you more detail or more freedom. SolidWorks offers an advanced mating selection menu that seems very intimidating at first, but if used correctly, can change your whole assembly.
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