Javelin / TriMech Author
Alin Vargatu, CSWE
The case against using the /3GB switch on 32-bit Windows
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on December 20, 2010For those of us who are still using older workstations running 32 bit Operating Systems, applying the so called /3GB switch to get more memory allocated to SolidWorks is the first thing we consider when opening large files or running complex Simulation studies. There are a lot of people for whom the /3GB switch is working fine. If you are one of the “unlucky” ones, who are getting all kind of problems in SolidWorks after applying the /3GB switch, please read this article which explains why that happens: The case against using the /3GB switch on 32-bit Windows
New in 2011 – You can now link model configurations between drawing views
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on December 13, 2010
One of the modules that received the most enhancements in the 2011 version of SolidWorks is the Drawing Environment. Most of the new functionality is well documented in the “What’s New” document (Help menu/What’s New) and in the Help file. Paul Marsman, a regular contributor…
You have upgraded your software. What about upgrading your users too?
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on November 10, 2010I have just finished teaching the SolidWorks Refresher course and I was so amazed with the reaction I got from my students, that I wanted to share it with you. They were ecstatic with the new stuff they learnt. You should have heard the exclamations: Wow, if I would have known this last month, I would have shaved 3 days from my project. This shortcut saves me 5 clicks. I didn’t know that that is possible. Most of them where either self taught or started using SolidWorks in 1997-2004. Some of them had more experience working with the software than I have. The drawback was that they were using SolidWorks 2010 the same way they learnt it back in 1997. Looks like this problem is not localized…
SOLIDWORKS Extend Surface command does not work with my model?
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on November 10, 2010
You are a tool and die designer and your customer has just sent you an IGES file containing a solid with a complex face which has to be used as reference for your embossing die. In order to create your punch and die inserts, you…
Introducing Guest Bloggers from the SolidWorks Blogosphere – A new series of articles
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on November 8, 2010
This month we are launching a new series of articles exploring the stars of the SolidWorks Blogosphere. Once a month we will be introducing you to a SolidWorks blog and invite the owner to post an article on a topic of his or her specialty….
Modeling Challenge: What is the fastest way to calculate the volume of water in a bottle?
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on September 30, 2010
A very interesting question received from a customer: Alin, I have this bottle model and I would like to know how much water it can carry. I know how to use the “Mass Properties” tool for getting the volume of the bottle itself, but how…
Let’s get picky and use the Selection Manager
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on August 16, 2010Dan Johnson asks this question in the SolidWorks Forum: I am trying to create a handle that is part of a scanner body and I made my curves using a 3D sketch. When I try and make either a loft or boundary surface, I try to grab just one curve in my 3DSketch, but it wants to grab the entire 3DSketch. How do I select just 1 curve for my profile? I tried the right mouse click, selection filter, but it grabs the entire 3d sketch too. Can anyone help?
A History of SolidWorks Commands
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on August 16, 2010
This is a CHALLENGE for all you history buffs out there. And no, I am not talking about the Roman Empire or who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte, but about finding out when – in what version – various SolidWorks commands where implemented. At this time, there is…
How to create the “axis” of a bent hole?
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on August 5, 2010
Bronek Bednarz from L-3 Wescam showed me a sheet metal model (similar to the one shown in fig. 1) and asked a very interesting question: I need to place bolts in these bent holes, but – since the holes are no longer cylindrical – I cannot…
The power of Display States in SolidWorks 2010
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on July 29, 2010Johnny Eberle was asking in the SolidWorks Forum: I am trying to create a view of just one part of weldment with a few other parts, which are modeled in an assembly. I can’t figure out how to isolate the few components that I need to show. Any ideas? Fortunately, new in SolidWorks 2010 are Display States at part level. One of the advantages of this new functionality is controlling the body visibility of any component at the assembly level. When you combine display states at the part level and at the assembly level, you have full control on drawing views, as is demonstrated by this video (no audio provided):
How to link a drawing note to the material property of a body
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on July 29, 2010Jason Rackley was asking this question in the Solidworks Forum: Is it possible to link a note to the material of a body in a drawing (note)? I have a multi-body part with different materials assigned to each body. In my drawing of the part I would like to attach a note to each body and link the note to the material of that body so that the note will automatically change when the material changes. The answer is YES, but with a twist, taking advantage of the weldments functionality, weldcuts tables and ballons – as you can see in this video (note there is no audio in the video):
Tool and Die – Emboss Punch Design Topic: When Extrude to Surface does not work…
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on July 28, 2010As a former Tool and Die designer I came to appreciate the power of SolidWorks when designing Embossing Dies. Most of the times, I would use the face of the part sent by my customer for either “Extrude to Surface” or “Cut with Surface” commands as a reference in designing my embossing punches and die sections. There are situations when this approach does not work. One workaround, involving the “Thicken Cut” command is presented in this video (no audio provided):
“Fast Rebuilt” Technique for SOLIDWORKS Patterns (when even a bodies pattern is too slow)
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on July 28, 2010Sometimes conventional patterning techniques are not the fastest. In this example we tried standard feature and body patterns for stacking 100 pots and found out that the rebuild time was unacceptable. Remember, we need a “smart” multibody part with a parametric stacking pitch. Watch this video for a workaround:
How to check if a SOLIDWORKS Face is Planar / Flat
By Alin Vargatu, CSWE on July 26, 2010
How can you check if a face is planar or not?