One of the most commonly asked questions I get from customers and clients using SolidWorks is:

- How do I manage and update my data (legacy or otherwise)??

Imagine the situation:

- You have thousands of SolidWorks files created over a number of years

- You have no idea what custom properties those files hold

- You want to update those files with the correct custom properties in a timely and efficient manner.

I don’t know about you, but facing that situation would have me tearing my hair out!

Well, IC3D Middleware is the answer….

IC3D Middleware is developed by IC3D, a sister company of Intercad, who specialise in providing software solutions, recruitment, and top-end hardware among others.

With IC3D Middleware, and the intuitive Workflows Manager, you can define simple workflows to first read what custom properties your files hold, and then write your custom properties back into those files.

Creating workflows is easy using the workflows manager

The output is given to you in a comma-separated values (CSV) file, which makes for easy viewing and modification within Microsoft Excel.

Quickly understand existing properties and add new ones as necessary

Please see this short video on Youtube for a demonstration of IC3D Middleware.

IC3D Middleware will help you assess and analyse your legacy or production SolidWorks data, as well update it, for use with a PDM system such as SolidWorks EnterprisePDM, or link to an ERP/MRP system.

For more information please feel free to contact me at prasad.bhonsule@intercad.com.au

SOLIDWORKS® solutions focus on the way you work every day, with an intuitive, integrated 3D design environment that covers all aspects of product development and helps maximize your design and engineering productivity. Over 2 million designers and engineers worldwide use SOLIDWORKS to bring designs to life—from the coolest gadgets to innovations for a better tomorrow.

With the 23rd release, SOLIDWORKS 2015 adds new tools and capabilities to help inspire innovative design and grow your business. Check out all the details and see how SOLIDWORKS 2015 can make a difference for you by registering and attending a launch event near you. For more details on the Launch events and to register goto: http://intercad.com.au/solidworks-2015/

This Intercad tutorial shows how to model a remote control using organic shapes in SolidWorks using the Power Surfacing add in

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For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

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• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
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For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

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We apologize for the inconvenience, but due to scheduled site maintenance, the web page you are attempting to access is currently unavailable.

For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

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For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SolidworksPressReleases/~3/UXo_WHD9Qmw/174_article2004_31_ENU_HTML.htm

We apologize for the inconvenience, but due to scheduled site maintenance, the web page you are attempting to access is currently unavailable.

For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SolidworksPressReleases/~3/uh_9Z7StuNw/174_article2004_30_ENU_HTML.htm

We apologize for the inconvenience, but due to scheduled site maintenance, the web page you are attempting to access is currently unavailable.

For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SolidworksPressReleases/~3/jsCYbzMMQ4s/174_article2004_29_ENU_HTML.htm

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For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

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For access to additional information about SolidWorks, please visit:

• SolidWorks on 3DS.com
• SolidWorks Facebook Page
• SolidWorks YouTube Channel
• SolidWorks Twitter

Or to contact SolidWorks directly:

• Email:
• Sales – sales@solidworks.com
• General – info@solidworks.com
• Phone: US CANADA (800) 693-9000 | OUTSIDE US CANADA +1 (781) 810-5011

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SolidworksPressReleases/~3/DfQPbS5pC04/174_article2004_26_ENU_HTML.htm

As more and more business realise the advantages of CAD-embedded simulation, as well the benefits offered by data management systems, it’s equally important that these two separate but related realms are brought together effectively.

In this post, I would like to briefly go through why you should (and how you can!) effectively manage your SolidWorks Simulation result files within SolidWorks EnterprisePDM

First, why manage Simulation data?

• Improve traceability and auditing of your design validation workflow – Who did the simulation, when was it done, what were the results
• Introduce a more collaborative environment – Your manufacturing team will be informed of any simulation work, and any potential design optimisations as a consequence
• Enable improved assessment of risk and make design decisions more effectively – The key stakeholders in the business have a much better view of the design process and are able to make informed decisions.

Sydney, Australia (September 16, 2014) – IC3D, a leading provider of hardware and software solutions for the Manufacturing, Architectural and Engineering industries, has today introduced the latest version of its steel structural design and management software, IC3D Steel™ for SolidWorks®.

Distributed locally by Australia and New Zealand’s leading SolidWorks partner, Intercad, IC3D Steel 2.0 introduces a raft of features centred on improving project flow and management, and simplifying organisational tasks like notating bolt lists and depicting virtual bolts in a design.

“IC3D Steel was first conceived as a dedicated steel design tool for SolidWorks. We built upon SolidWorks’ parametric modeller and its core Weldments Design function, to build a ‘structural workflow’ application that is perfect for building and detailing with steel. Our aim is to make the design process quicker, simpler and error-free,” says IC3D Software and Consulting Services Manager Mike Gilliland.

“Following extensive feedback from our customers and user groups, we’ve now further refined the software with additional functionality that makes it easier for designers and design teams to manage their projects within a specified workflow, and given them additional tools to simplify organisation within projects.”

In IC3D Steel 2.0, projects are organised individually, all relevant files are associated automatically, and files are stored logically for easy retrieval, backup or archiving. Important project meta-data such a customer’s details, project number and document-numbering scheme can be configured at project setup. IC3D Steel uses this data whenever it creates or updates a document in the project; meaning drawings can be consistently labelled for additional security.

“Other new features address the complexity inherent in steel fabrication projects,” says Gilliland.

“For example, with steel designs generating up to ten times as many bolts, nuts and washers as steel members, the usual performance of SolidWorks can become compromised as assemblies become very large,” he explains.

“IC3D Steel 2.0 features ‘virtual bolts’ in each of its joint details to manage the problem, so work is unaffected no matter how many bolts are used in the design. A new ‘Bolt List’ report generates a complete list of these fasteners for ordering, and this can be broken down into individual joints or summarised for the whole project.”

Gilliland says the new features don’t come at the cost of steepening the learning curve.

“SolidWorks already has the best user interface in the business and IC3D Steel builds on its core functions to effectively shorten the learning curve. Existing features such as the included Steel Tutor and Steel Wheel provide a readily available learning resource and mode switching environment without disrupting the design process.”

For more information on IC3D Steel 2.0 visit http://intercad.com.au/ic3d-steel/

As we approach the last quarter of 2014, Solidworks is gearing up for release of the 2015 addition to its colourful suite of engineering capabilities. To celebrate this Intercad is throwing a party, and you are invited!

Intercad’s Innovation day is an event is a fun interactive way to get acquainted with the new features, as well as meet people from many different walks of life who all design and create with Solidworks, and are brought together by this event to share their ideas and stories.

The event is held in 15 locations around Australia and New Zealand and is presented Intercad’s expert staff who live and breathe Solidworks on a daily basis. With locations such as the Carlton Brewery in Melbourne, or the Coopers Ale House in Adelaide, there is bound to be a crowd, so register now and secure your seat in the Solidworks event of the year brought to you by INTERCAD.

SOLIDWORKS® solutions focus on the way you work every day, with an intuitive, integrated 3D design environment that covers all aspects of product development and helps maximize your design and engineering productivity. Over 2 million designers and engineers worldwide use SOLIDWORKS to bring designs to life—from the coolest gadgets to innovations for a better tomorrow.

SOLIDWORKS 2015 will help you speed through your designs with powerful new features, substantial performance boosts, and an enhanced user experience. You can quickly document your designs for manufacturing and assembly, share project information across your global team with minimal effort; and integrate your design processes with downstream production operations to help lower costs and accelerate time-to-market.

SOLIDWORKS 2015 is packed with engineering and design performance boosts to help you get your work done faster and easier. The user experience puts your focus on design, not “CAD overhead” to get you the information you need, in record time.

Focus on design, not the modelling software for faster design iterations. New features accelerate your design process with reduced geometry creation steps.

• Sketch Endpoint Contextual Menu reduces number of picks and clicks, saving time and effort
• Fix/Pin Part lets you easily manipulate subsets of complex mechanisms
• Equally Spaced Patterns allow you to determine how to space patterns and keep spacing updated
• Center Mates provide faster positioning and locking of components

Get the information you need faster, and keep designing. Improved overall general performance, faster analysis, and streamlined approaches give you the data you need to make decisions and keep designing.

• Intermediate results in nonlinear analysis and fatigue in linear dynamics let you know quickly if your design is right
• Frequency analysis graphs for greater insight into the impact of changes on vibration performance
• Provide exact manufacturing information with the Fill pattern instance count
• Ignore small volumes in interference detection to reduce repetition

Simulate Multiple Design Scenarios. Quickly evaluate the effects of various load combinations on your model.

• Define primary load cases that link to loads, fixtures, and connectors of a static study
• Quickly define secondary load combinations from primary load definitions
• Track results for primary and secondary load cases

Work quickly and easily with the enhanced user experience. Improved graphical interface presents a clear view of critical data to help you focus on design.

• Understand design dependencies with a new graphical map of references
• Switch model orientation faster with the new view selector
• Navigate complex assemblies easier with highlighting of hidden components
• Enhanced move face makes it easier to make quick changes

Share project information across your global team with minimal effort. Easily manage product structures up front in the design process, and then quickly document designs for manufacturing and assembly. With access to information from everywhere, all stakeholders stay connected to quickly move product development forward.

Collaborative Sharing for faster development and decision-making. Easily access social collaboration and online data management tools.

• Use the new 3DDashboard to easily aggregate data from any source to help you make design decisions faster
• Easily access eDrawings®, DraftSight®, and SOLIDWORKS CAD files
• Create private design communities to capture project requirements, concept ideas, design decisions, and critical feedback from colleagues, suppliers, and customers
• Share designs with customers or project managers

SOLIDWORKS Treehouse helps you manage product structures up front. Enable top-down design by visually creating assemblies.

• Manage product structures at the beginning of design projects
• Import existing assembly files for graphical visualization
• Easily develop new product structures using an intuitive user interface
• Leverage existing bill of materials for faster new project creation

Web2 for SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM adds mobile connectivity. Connect to SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM from any location.

• Access your design information from any device
• Browse folders, view file information and thumbnails, search, and change file states
• Support for key file types, including Adobe® PDF, Microsoft® Word, Excel®, and PowerPoint®

eDrawings for fast, reliable, convenient sharing of 3D models and 2D drawings. Easily share data across multiple CAD environments and collaborate more effectively.

• 3DEXPERIENCE platform connection to communities and collaborative spaces on Windows®, iOS®, and Android®
• Visualize 2D and 3D models in 3D ContentCentral® and MySolidWorks through eDrawings WebGL
• Redesigned user interface with easier access to common features, improved productivity, and well-adapted for Windows touch screen devices
• Support for SOLIDWORKS Plastics and SOLIDWORKS Electrical
• Support for SOLIDWORKS MBD with eDrawings Professional

Arc Dimension.

If you select an arc then select smart dimension the result will be the radius of the arc.

If you want the length of the arc you need to select one end point, then the next end point, then the arc itself, and finally select he location to place the dimension.

If you want the horizontal or the vertical dimension of the arc simply select the first then the second point of the arc then dimension location.

If you want the distance from a vertical line and tangent of the arc, select the vertical line hold the SHIFT key and select the circumference of the arc.

One of the most commonly asked questions I get from customers and clients using SolidWorks is:

- How do I manage and update my data (legacy or otherwise)??

Imagine the situation:

- You have thousands of SolidWorks files created over a number of years

- You have no idea what custom properties those files hold

- You want to update those files with the correct custom properties in a timely and efficient manner.

I don’t know about you, but facing that situation would have me tearing my hair out!

Well, IC3D Middleware is the answer….

IC3D Middleware is developed by IC3D, a sister company of Intercad, who specialise in providing software solutions, recruitment, and top-end hardware among others.

With IC3D Middleware, and the intuitive Workflows Manager, you can define simple workflows to first read what custom properties your files hold, and then write your custom properties back into those files.

Creating workflows is easy using the workflows manager

The output is given to you in a comma-separated values (CSV) file, which makes for easy viewing and modification within Microsoft Excel.

Quickly understand existing properties and add new ones as necessary

Please see this short video on Youtube for a demonstration of IC3D Middleware.

IC3D Middleware will help you assess and analyse your legacy or production SolidWorks data, as well update it, for use with a PDM system such as SolidWorks EnterprisePDM, or link to an ERP/MRP system.

For more information please feel free to contact me at prasad.bhonsule@intercad.com.au

SOLIDWORKS® solutions focus on the way you work every day, with an intuitive, integrated 3D design environment that covers all aspects of product development and helps maximize your design and engineering productivity. Over 2 million designers and engineers worldwide use SOLIDWORKS to bring designs to life—from the coolest gadgets to innovations for a better tomorrow.

With the 23rd release, SOLIDWORKS 2015 adds new tools and capabilities to help inspire innovative design and grow your business. Check out all the details and see how SOLIDWORKS 2015 can make a difference for you by registering and attending a launch event near you. For more details on the Launch events and to register goto: http://intercad.com.au/solidworks-2015/