When setting up a model in static simulations, I often run through the bolt/pin process to create connections that will transfer loads to joining bodies, defining the connection by selecting the appropriate geometry on the holes we are using for the pin/bolt and running the simulation.  But what happens when we want to analyze the actual connection itself to verify if the bolt/pin is going to withstand the stress generated by the model conditions?  How can we determine whether or not the designed geometry of the bolt, its material, grade and preload will pass or fail?  SolidWorks has a very useful tool for defining a pin/bolt check plot to look at just this.

By looking at the axial, bending and shear forces acting on each bolt/pin within the assembly defined through the simulation study, SolidWorks compares this with other parameters (strength and area) to calculate axial, bending and shear load ratios to equate a combined ratio.

The inverse of this sum is then used against the defined factor of safety in the bolt/pin definition to give a pass/fail output.

 

To take a look at how this tool can be used to determine model geometry and the required bolt, material and grade to use, I have set up a simple assembly with two configurations; 8 mm and 10 mm diameter bolt studies to analyze.

 

 

In this particular model, I have multiple bodies being bolted together in series; this must be defined in the advanced option in the bolt property manager.  Select the advanced option located in the lower portion of the property manager and select the cylindrical wall of the body/bodies that are in series of the connection (figure 2).

 

 

We all know that from time to time we tax SolidWorks for everything it has. Whether this is during a simulation, rendering, editing an assembly or working on a model, we demand a lot from software to get the calculation done and give us the visual results we need. This can be especially true if you are not using Enterprise PDM which downloads the SolidWorks file directly to  your machine when you check out.This would be the best way to gain a real performance advantage. The problem is, not every company has this phenomenal Product Data Management tool. Therefore this tech tip is based on optimizing your SolidWorks system options so you can get the most from your system and software. These changes have been tested and verify by study from CATI and Desktop Engineering to improve performance. Since these settings are not always needed so I will show you how to setup two different settings files that you can easily switch between them based on the level of performance you need.

The first setup will be a  copy of all of the current setting you use. This will have all of the settings just the way you like them for everyday use. Let’s get started!

 

Navigate to our SolidWorks program folder and then to the Solidworks Tools folder. You will see the Copy Settings Wizard, click it.

You will be prompted with the Copy Settings Wizard. We will use this wizard to save our current settings and to restore the settings we wish to use. (ie Normal or Optimized) Since we have the settings we want for our normal mode, select Save Settings and click next

The next page prompts us to choose a name and location for our settings file. Choose a name that will distinguish how the settings are configured. I choose “Normal” followed by a date in case I create more in the future. Next choose a location that you can find easily when you want to switch your settings. This will be the same location that we will save the “Optimized” settings when we create them. At this time you can also choose to include or exclude any of the check box items.

Next, click Finish and now your settings have been saved.

**Note** You will follow these same steps after you configure your settings for optimizing performance.

 

Below you will see a series of thumbnails. These are of all of the system options that should be switched (highlighted in red) in order to get the most performance out of your SolidWorks software. Just click on the image to see it in full size.

                    

Now that you have optimized your system settings in SolidWorks, use the Copy Settings Wizard to save them. **Don’t forget to rename them “Optimized” **

You’re All Done!

Now you have two configurations for your system settings that can be easily changed to make the performance you require. Simply start up the Copy Settings Wizard and load whichever setting fit your needs!

 

For more information, check out the White Paper

Test your EPDM and Project Management knowledge with a new certification test developed by SolidWorks.

Certified Enterprise PDM Administrator

The following description is from the SolidWorks website:

“A Certified Enterprise PDM Administrator (CEPA) is an individual who has successfully passed an advanced examination in SolidWorks Enterprise PDM administration skills and is ready to manage a SolidWorks Enterprise PDM implementation on behalf of his or her company.

Once SolidWorks Enterprise PDM has been deployed within an organization, it must be properly maintained by qualified individuals who will be responsible for daily maintenance tasks and for any subsequent configuration changes. By assigning a CEPA qualified individual to this task, employers can be confident that their site is being managed by an individual with proven skills in administrating SolidWorks Enterprise PDM.”

I took the test back in May when it was offered in a Beta version and I thought it was well developed. Half of the test points come from the hands on portion and the remainder is the typical True/False and multiple choice questions covering EPDM (40%) and Project Management (10%.)

When you start the test you will download a .cex file to use to install a vault that is used for the hands on portion. You will run a task that will fail and then you will troubleshoot and fix the problem. It was challenging but it was a realistic problem. You can gain a lot of confidence by solving it.

So let your boss know that you know what you’re doing! Besides, if you pass you get a certificate suitable for framing.

Pierce and coincident, aren’t they the same thing?

They are the same in that they are both sketch relationships, but that’s about as far as that goes.

SolidWorks defines a Pierce Relation as a relation that makes a sketch point coincident to the location at which an axis, edge, line, or spline pierces the sketch plane.

Okay…so what does that mean?

Let’s take a look.

I’ve created a spline on my top plane and a circle on my front plane.  If I choose to make the circle and the spline coincident the center of the circle will move on the sketch plane to be coincident with the spline but not touch the spline.

Let’s look at this from a few different angles.

From a view normal to the sketch plane we can see the coincident relationship.

I can move the circle on the sketch plane and it continues to maintain a coincident relationship to the spline.

But if we look from a different angle (let’s say the top), we see a much different picture.  The circle may be coincident with the spline when looking at the sketch plane, but it doesn’t actually touch the spline.  The spline does not pierce the circle at any point.

However, when I add a pierce relationship, which is a 3-dimensional relationship, the circle is now moved to a location where the spline pierces or passes through the Front plane, our sketch plane.

Neat, huh?

Okay, but if we look at our spline we can see it pierces or passes through our sketch plane at a number of places.  How do we select the exact location where we want our circle to have a pierce relationship?

It’s easier than you may think –

By selecting the spline closest to where it passes through the sketch plane, the circle will move to a place where the spline pierces closest to that location.

Super neat, huh?

Okay, so why does all this matter?

Well having a pierce relationship is nearly critical when creating a sweep.  Here’s rule of thumb, when you create a sweep, create your path first and your profile second.  If you create them in the opposite order you will not be able to create a pierce relationship between the two sketches.

Take a look below.  I’ve created a profile, a path, and two guide curves.  I’ve set up my profile using coincident relationships with the path and guide curves.  Notice the profile also has vertical and horizontal relations.

Whoa!  Not good folks, not good.  Let’s see if we can fix this a bit and get better results.

Using the same set of sketches, I’ve updated the relationships on the vertices of the profile to pierce the path and guide curves.  I also changed the horizontal and vertical relations to perpendicular and parallel.

Why did I do this?  Look at the result, much better.  Phew!

By using relations that don’t restrict the profile (horizontal and vertical are restrictive) it allows the profile to rotate independently along the sweep.  By using a pierce relationship at the vertices, it also allows the profile to move along the path and maintain a pierce relationship yielding a much better result.

Pierce and Coincident, the same thing?   They are the same as much as apples and oranges are the same.  They may both be fruit but that’s where the similarities end.

 

 

 

 

 

SolidWorks 2013 is finally here and it’s loaded with great enhancements, including those that will help with the overall performance of such powerful software.   One of these features is a great addition to the already existing “Assembly Visualization” tool that you can find in the evaluate command manager within an assembly.  Before, you were able to sort and view your assembly by custom properties,  now 2013 allows you to take a look at your assembly by Graphics-Triangles, which creates a tool to analyze why you might have slow performance within an assembly due to a complex geometry.

Once you have your assembly open, click the Evaluate Tab and find the Assembly Visualization Tool, or from the Tools drop down> Assembly Visualization.

 

From here you have the option to define an array of columns with different definitions: filename, mass and quantity are created by default.  Click the arrow directly to the right of mass to create your own column by choosing either to add a new column or redefine the mass column.    Since we are trying to review the assembly by complexity of geometry within parts, click ‘more’ and from the properties menu select ‘Graphics-Triangle.’

 

 

 

You can now sort the columns by clicking on the title of the desired column to sort; for this example, click on the Graphics-Triangles to sort from highest to lowest.  Now you are able to select the parts that have the most complex geometry to simplify, review or whatever might meet your needs.

 

 

To learn more about what’s new for 2013, reserve your first look!!

http://symsolutions.com/SolidWorks-2013-Launch-Events.html