The SolidWorks Flow Simulation can give you a message stating that authorization has failed. This is because on the client machine the License Manager was opened and the License Order tab was selected. This changes a registry setting that needs to be corrected. Below is the work around for this and it has been corrected in 2010 SP3 which should be released in the middle of April.
Here is the workaround – please be sure you are comfortable editing the registry prior to attempting this procedure. Consider making a backup of the registry beforehand, in case you make a mistake. Read more…
National Instruments and SolidWorks Collaborate on a Virtual Prototyping Solution
National Instruments has begun shipping the production release of NI SoftMotion for SolidWorks, a pioneer mechatronics tool that helps mechanical and control engineers work together to lower the cost and risk of motion system design. Seamlessly connecting NI LabVIEW graphical system design software and SolidWorks® 3D CAD software, the new virtual prototyping solution helps engineers and scientists design, optimize, validate and visualize the real-world performance of machines and motion systems before incurring the costs of physical prototypes.
NI SoftMotion for SolidWorks requires SolidWorks Motion Simulation, included with SolidWorks Premium, SolidWorks Simulation Professional and SolidWorks Simulation Premium. Additional LabView modules may also be required.
National Instruments has an extremely information website with webcasts, whitepapers, getting started guides, etc. Check it out: http://www.ni.com/digitalprototyping/
As mentioned in a previous blog posting, Rockwell Automation is collaborating with SolidWorks on a very similar solution that will integrate RA Motion Analyser software with SolidWorks Motion Simulation. This software should be available later this fall. More info can be found at http://www.ab.com/motion/software/analyzer.html and http://www.rockwellautomation.com/partners/dassault.html
I was watching TV the other day, saw some radio-controlled helicopters and thought, “I want one!” So $200 later, I’ve got a fully capable heli in my untrained hands. Not sure why I ever thought I knew the first thing about how to fly a chopper…
Much to my dismay, it was destroyed within 1 minute of installing the battery. Not very encouraging. Back at the hobby shop, I spent nearly $40 in repair parts. This time, though, my natural copter ability didn’t let me down. I managed to hover. It was an amazing show of skill that lasted almost 2 seconds before a wall got in the way, resulting in the “wallet reach”, a crushed ego, and the reinforcement that I have no idea how to fly a helicopter. Things worked out better for my buddies who now have a funny story to tell.
There’s got to be a better way, a cheaper way, maybe a virtual way?
SIMULATION
Right, can’t believe I didn’t buy the simulator first. For starters, it’s fun. When I crash I don’t do the “wallet reach” I hit reset. I can’t imagine what it would have cost to learn to fly with the real heli. I’m sure I’ve crashed at least $100,000 worth of remote-controlled choppers. Best of all, within one week of simulation practice I was able to hover my real model through an entire battery.
The simulator cost $100. I had already spent $80 after flying (if you call it that) for a total of 3 seconds. It makes so much more sense to try things virtually before committing to the real thing, and it’s so much cheaper.
Anyway, I wanted to share how we’re using simulation everywhere. Time to get back to it. I’ve got to figure out the Idle-Up mode, inverted flight.
