NEWSUG Meeting Minutes

September 6, 2005, 5:00 p.m.

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

 

While this report generally covers the meeting events, they have been arranged into a logical sequence and refined with the purpose of making them helpful rather than precisely representing the demonstrations as they happened.

 

23 people attended this meeting.

 

Click on these links for easy navigation.

Adding Text Stamp to Models

Saving your SolidWorks Settings

Sheet Metal Complications

Sheet Metal Overview

Next meeting

 

Announcements – Bob Braun

Midwest SolidWorks User Conference, sponsored by Graphic Systems, September 13-15.

 

Midwest SolidWorks Regional User Group Meeting, SW & SWUGN, October 13-14.

 

The need of NEWSUG Board Members was raised, and the typical time requirements (1-2 hrs. a week), and expectations were discussed.  Attendees were asked for volunteers.  Hopefuls were directed to contact Bob Braun or Dan Sheber.

 

The question of NEWSUG member interest in vendor contact by e-mail was discussed.  Anyone who wants vendor e-mail should send an e-mail to newsug@newsug.org.

 

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SolidWorks Tips – Rob Bartz

Adding Tool Number Stamp to Parts

 

In the manufacturing environment it is sometimes necessary to put part or identification numbers on manufactured pieces.  When this identification needs to go in a specific location, it should be located in the drawings. SolidWorks allows us to put a 3D text entity in our models to be later used in our prints for this purpose.  Here are the steps to do this.

 

  1. Create a sketch on the surface of part where you want the stamp located.

 

  1. Then select Tools, Sketch Entities, Text. (Figure 1)

 

  1. In the Sketch Text Dialog Box, you can enter your stamp text, as well as manipulate the font. (Figure 2)

 

  1. Next Cut-Extrude the sketch, specifying the depth of the stamp in the Cut-Extrude dialog box. (Figure 3 & 4)

 

  1. Select the OK check box, your Sketch Text will now appear as a 3D entity. (Figure 5)

 

Figure 1

 

Figure 2

Figure 3

 

Figure 4

Figure 5

 

This technique will also be valuable when you need to add text to a design

 

Text can also be added to curved surfaces.

 

  1. Create a Plane  tangent to the outside of the curved surface, that you wish to add text to, then open a sketch on that Plane (Figure 6)

 

  1. Then select Tools, Sketch Entities and Text. Enter your text in the Sketch Text Dialog Box, as before, emboss or extrude it and select OK.

 

  1. Next, select the Sketch from the design tree.  Select Insert, Features, and Wrap. (Figure 7)

 

  1. In the Wrap Dialog Box you can choose your desired parameters. Deboss to cut your text, Emboss to extrude your text, and set the distance or depth. Select OK, and your text is complete. (Figure 8)

 

 

 

Select: ToolsΰSketch EntitiesΰText

 
 

Plane

 
  Figure 6

 

 

 

Select: InsertΰFeaturesΰWrap

 
 

Select the sketch in the design tree
 
 Figure 7

 

Enter your design parameters here, and Green Check
 
 Figure 8

 

 

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Backing Up Your Settings

Sometimes it is convenient to be able to save your SolidWorks settings.  This SolidWorks Tip will give you an overview on how to save your current settings and to restore them. This operation is only functional when there are no active SolidWorks sessions in progress.

 

Figure 1a

 

1.      To begin to copy and save your current settings go to Start, All Programs, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Tools, Copy Settings Wizard. (Figure 1a)

2.      Click: “Save Settings”.  (Figure 2a)

 

Figure 2a

 

 

3.      Then choose a network directory that is backed up, for your Settings storage, and click: “Finish”. ( Figure 3a)

Figure 3a

 

4.      Your settings have now been copied to the network directory that you chose.

 

 

5.      Once saved, the next step is to restore your settings when needed.

 

 

 

 

Restoring  Your Settings

 

 

            Figure 1b

 

  1. To begin to restore your saved settings, go to Start, All Programs, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Tools, Copy Settings Wizard. (Figure 1b)

 

Figure 2b

  1. Click  “Restore Settings”, then “Next”(Figure 2b)

  2. Select a file location, or choose the default if it applies, then click “Next”. (Figure 3b)

 

Figure 3b

  1. Click “Current User”, then “Next”.

 

 

              Figure 4b

 

 

  1. Clicking finish on the pop-up in Figure 5b will complete the operation and restore your settings.

 

 

 

Figure 5b

 

 

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Sheet Metal Complications – Carol Beard

 

There are some basics we need to know about sheet metal.  SolidWorks may refuse to perform a bend, and then give us a message such as “bend too complicated”.  Basic knowledge will help us troubleshoot or avoid such problems. When performing certain sheet metal bend features, the user must be aware of how SolidWorks duplicates sheet metal functions.  Models need to have a bend relief that cuts across all bend radii. This avoids tearing the sheet metal during construction.

 

 

A simple bend like this is easy.  There is nothing to prevent the bend from traveling straight across the part.

 
 

 

When bends intersect, there is an issue at the intersection.  You must allow a relief that cuts across the full radii of all the bends
 
Relief at intersections

 

 

This bend needs to avoid including material in the extended straight piece, or the bend at the tip can not happen.

 
 

 

 

 

Relief at miter flange corners

But these edges interfere.

 

When forming a box, a relief at the bend junction is not enough.  This part has a relief at the intersection of these bends.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

For descriptions of how to use SolidWorks automatic features that will help you, use your SolidWorks Help Topics, and Search for:

  • Break Corner/Corner-Trim
  • Miter Flange
  • Auto Relief
  • Trim Side Bends

 

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SolidWorks Sheet Metal Overview – Paul Verhagen

 

Traditionally SolidWorks sheet metal designs required you to model a solid of your piece and then shell it out. Now you also have the option of using the SolidWorks sheet metal features directly. Starting with a single face and building the part as needed is now the most efficient way of model building in SolidWorks.  By using these features you fully harness the functionality of SolidWorks.  

 

1.      Starting with a sketch of one side of your sheet metal piece.  Activate your sheet metal features by converting the sketch into a sheet metal piece. This is done by selecting the “Base-Flange” icon on your sheet metal toolbar.

 

 

Base-Flange Icon
 

 

 

 

2.      This will open the Base-Flange dialog box. In this box you will be able to enter the overall parameters of your sheet metal design.

 

 

Bend relief type
 

Material thickness
 

 

3.      This will create your initial sheet metal “Base”, from which you will develop your final design. You can then add flanges, using the sheet metal features toolbar. Select the “Edge- Flange Icon”, and then click on the edge of the “Base” that you would like the flange to be on. This will activate a 3D outline of the proposed flange, (Figure 1c), and also the Edge-Flange dialog box. It is always a good idea to name features and group features whenever possible.

 

Edge-Flange Icon
 
 

 

 

 

 


 

Figure 1c

4.      Enter your design parameters in the dialog and select green check and your sheet metal flange will be created.  (Figure 2c)

 

Flange length
 

Bend angle
 

Completed Flange
 
                 

 

 

 

 

 

For detail descriptions of how to use SolidWorks sheet metal features, use your SolidWorks Help Topics, and Search for:

  • Sheet Metal Parts (which will list an array of features)
  • Sheet Metal Toolbar

 

 

Next Meeting

The next NEWSUG meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2005.  The focus of this meeting will be on Equations and Configurations.

 

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