When one designs products with sheet metal, the industry uses the thickness values from a gauge table. For example, an 18 gauge is equivalent to a thickness of 0.0359 for a steel part. It is possible to use this kind of table in the sheet-metal function of Solidworks.
Continue reading “How to add the Thickness of Sheet-metal as gauge in a Layout”
By Sakineh Orangi – Simulation Application Engineer at SolidXperts
In SOLIDWORKS 2019, the Remote Load/Mass PropertyManager was redesigned to improve the user experience and it introduced distributed coupling. The Remote Loads/Mass PropertyManager allows us to apply remote loads, remote masses, and remote displacements for static, topology, and nonlinear studies. One of the ways to access the Remote Loads/Mass PropertyManager is to right-click on External Loads in the simulation tree of linear static, nonlinear static, or topology.
We select the faces to apply remote loads, remote masses, or remote translations and/or rotations.
We define the coordinate system used for the interpretation of the location and directions of the remote features.
After this step, we enter the coordinates of the reference node location in a local or global coordinate system.
In the case of the definition of remote force or remote distance, we check the Translational Components and enter the values of remote loads or remote translation in the three directions X, Y, and Z.
If there are any remote moments or remote rotations, we check Rotational Components and then enter the data.
Learn more about everything new in SOLIDWORKS from 2015 to 2019 by downloading our White Paper.
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Discover the shortcuts, mouse gestures, selection techniques, and productivity tricks that can help you work faster in SOLIDWORKS.
If you use SOLIDWORKS every day, you probably already know the basics: Ctrl + S to save, Ctrl + Z to undo, and Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V to copy and paste.
But SOLIDWORKS has dozens of lesser-known keyboard shortcuts and mouse modifiers that can make an even bigger difference to your daily workflow.
From holding Shift while sketching to using Ctrl + Alt to copy and mate components, these small techniques can eliminate repetitive clicks, reduce mouse movement, and help you keep your focus on your design.
We’ve compiled some of our favorite SOLIDWORKS shortcuts and productivity tips for sketches, parts, assemblies, drawings, and general workflow.
Note: Some commands and behaviors can vary depending on your SOLIDWORKS version, document type, or customization settings.
Before getting into specific modeling shortcuts, let’s start with a few techniques that can improve almost every SOLIDWORKS workflow.
Press S to open the customizable Shortcut Bar directly beside your cursor.
Instead of moving your mouse across the screen to reach the CommandManager or menus, you can keep your most frequently used commands right where you need them.
Even better, the Shortcut Bar is context-sensitive. You can create different shortcuts for:
Sketches
Parts
Assemblies
Drawings
For example, you could add Extruded Boss/Base to your sketch Shortcut Bar so it’s immediately available when you’ve finished sketching.
Tip: Don’t try to put every command on the S Bar. Keep only the commands you use frequently so it remains quick and easy to navigate.
The Shortcut Bar can also provide quick access to command search.
Instead of hunting through menus to find a command, type what you’re looking for and launch it directly.
This can be particularly useful when you know what you want to do but don’t remember exactly where SOLIDWORKS puts the command.
Ever finish a command and move your mouse all the way to the other side of the screen just to click the green checkmark?
Add OK to your Shortcut Bar.
Now you can finish commands without leaving the area where you’re already working.
It’s a tiny change, but if you confirm dozens of operations every day, those mouse movements add up.
If your mouse has programmable buttons, consider assigning frequently used keyboard commands such as:
Esc
Ctrl
Delete
This can reduce the amount of reaching between your keyboard and mouse and keep your dominant hand focused on your primary tools.
Have several SOLIDWORKS files open?
Hold Ctrl and press Tab to cycle through your open documents.
This is much faster than searching through windows or tabs with your mouse.
If a context toolbar disappears while you’re working, try holding Shift to bring it back to its original position.
This can be especially useful when working with selections and context-sensitive commands.
Sketching is one of the areas where keyboard modifiers can save an enormous amount of time.
When dimensioning an arc or circle, hold Shift to control whether SOLIDWORKS uses the minimum, maximum, or center-to-center condition.
This gives you more control over exactly what you’re dimensioning without having to restart the command.
Hold Shift while creating sketch entities to temporarily enable grid snapping.
This is useful when laying out geometry quickly and you want predictable positioning.
SOLIDWORKS automatically adds sketch relations as you create geometry.
But sometimes you don’t want them.
Hold Ctrl while sketching to temporarily disable automatic relations.
This is particularly useful when creating geometry that needs to remain unconstrained until later.
When working with splines, hold Alt while dragging a spline control.
This lets you modify the controls symmetrically, making it easier to create smooth, controlled curves.
When creating geometry in a 3D sketch, press Tab to cycle through the available XYZ sketch directions.
This is much faster than stopping to manually change the sketch orientation.
Select your sketch geometry, then hold Ctrl while dragging it to another location.
SOLIDWORKS creates a copy instead of moving the original.
Need to reposition a group of sketch entities?
Select them and hold Shift while dragging.
This lets you move the geometry without recreating it.
You don’t always have to select two entities individually to create a sketch relation.
For example, selecting the intersection point of two lines can allow you to apply a perpendicular relation quickly.
Similarly, selecting the intersection of two splines can help you apply a tangent relation.
Look for opportunities to select the geometry’s intersection instead of selecting each entity separately.
Need to divide a line into multiple equal sections?
The Segment tool can split sketch geometry into a specified number of dynamic segments.
Because the segments remain associated with the original geometry, they can update when the length changes.
This can be especially useful for creating evenly spaced geometry.
When using the Line tool, double-click to finish the current line chain while keeping the Line tool active.
This is a simple way to create separate line chains without repeatedly activating the command.
Trying to figure out why a sketch isn’t behaving the way you expect?
Right-click an entity and choose Select Chain.
This can help identify where connected geometry stops, making it easier to find gaps or disconnected entities.
SOLIDWORKS provides visual feedback while you’re sketching.
Pay attention to the relation icons that appear beside your cursor:
Yellow indicates that a relation is about to be created.
White indicates a visual guide that won’t create a relation.
Understanding these visual cues can help prevent unwanted sketch relations.
Working with customers, suppliers, or drawings that use different unit systems?
SOLIDWORKS can display both Metric and Imperial units simultaneously in the status bar.
This can save you from constantly switching document units or manually converting measurements.
Select a feature in the FeatureManager design tree and hold Ctrl while dragging it.
SOLIDWORKS creates a copy of the feature.
This works particularly well for repetitive features such as holes, bosses, and cuts.
Hold Shift while dragging a feature to move it to another location.
This can be a much faster alternative to recreating the feature.
Need another plane parallel to an existing reference plane?
Hold Ctrl and drag the existing plane.
SOLIDWORKS creates a new plane based on it.
Having trouble selecting a transparent face?
Hold Shift while selecting the face.
The same modifier can help you select through transparent geometry when Select Through Transparency is disabled.
Hold Alt while dragging an appearance or scene from the Task Pane.
Instead of simply applying it, SOLIDWORKS opens the advanced appearance or scene settings.
This is useful when you’re looking for more control over the result.
Need to quickly rotate your model?
Use Shift + Arrow Keys to rotate the view in 90° increments.
Use Alt + Arrow Keys to rotate the model clockwise or counterclockwise.
Use Ctrl + Arrow Keys to pan the model without reaching for the middle mouse button.
The reference triad isn’t just for clicking.
Hold Ctrl, Shift, or Alt while interacting with the triad to change the model’s orientation in different ways.
When dragging a formed feature onto a face in sheet metal, press Tab to flip its direction.
This lets you change the feature orientation without restarting the command.
Assemblies are where some of these techniques can produce the biggest productivity gains.
Hold Alt, then drag an edge or face from one component onto another.
SOLIDWORKS automatically creates a compatible Smart Mate.
Want to place another copy of a component while mating it at the same time?
Hold Ctrl + Alt and drag the component.
This combines copying and mating into one operation.
Hover over a component and press Tab to hide it.
Press Shift + Tab to show a hidden component again.
Need to find something you’ve hidden?
Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab to temporarily display hidden components as translucent geometry.
You can then select the components you want to show.
Hold Ctrl while dragging a component to create another instance.
This works within an assembly and can also be useful when copying components between assemblies.
Hold Shift while window-selecting components to add them to your existing selection.
Hold Ctrl while window-selecting components to invert the selection.
Components already selected become deselected, while unselected components are added.
When you’ve carefully selected multiple components, right-clicking can sometimes interfere with your selection.
Hold Shift while right-clicking to help preserve your current selection while accessing context commands.
Instead of manually selecting every instance of a component, use Select Identical Components.
For example, if your assembly contains dozens of instances of the same bolt, you can select them all at once—including instances inside subassemblies.
Frequently selecting the same group of components?
Right-click your selection and choose Save Selection.
SOLIDWORKS creates a selection set that you can return to later.
This is especially useful for large assemblies where the same group of components needs to be selected repeatedly.
Need to understand why a component is moving—or isn’t moving?
Use View Mates on the component to see which mates connect it to other components.
It’s a great troubleshooting tool when working with complex assemblies.
If a bolt, shaft, or other component keeps spinning when you don’t want it to, use Lock Rotation on its concentric mate.
You can also right-click the Mates folder to lock the rotation of multiple concentric mates.
The Multi-mate function lets you mate multiple components to a common reference in one operation.
Look for the paperclip icon when creating mates.
This can significantly speed up repetitive assembly work.
If several components already have mates between them, select them together and Ctrl + drag them into the assembly.
SOLIDWORKS can copy the group while preserving the relative mates between those components.
This is particularly useful for repeating mechanisms or hardware groups.
Patterns can be extremely useful, but excessive use of patterns can affect assembly performance.
If a pattern is creating unnecessary overhead, consider whether it can be simplified or, where appropriate, dissolved/decomposed.
Reducing unnecessary feature calculations can make large assemblies more responsive.
The productivity tricks don’t stop once your model is finished.
Use the View Palette to quickly drag standard model views onto a drawing sheet.
It’s often faster than creating and positioning each view manually.
Double-click the boundary of a drawing view.
When you see the four brackets around the view, it is active.
Any notes you create while the view is active can automatically attach to that drawing view.
This can save a surprising amount of cleanup later.
You don’t always have to return to the model to find the perfect orientation.
You can manipulate the 3D orientation of the model directly within the drawing view boundary to create the angle you need.
When working with cameras or walkthroughs, use combinations of:
Ctrl
Shift
Alt
Middle Mouse Button
These modifiers give you additional control over camera orientation and movement.
One of the most powerful productivity tips is also one of the easiest to overlook:
You don’t have to use SOLIDWORKS exactly as it comes out of the box.
Go to:
Tools → Customize → Keyboard
From here, you can assign keyboard shortcuts to commands you use frequently.
You can also customize your Shortcut Bars and mouse gestures to create a workflow that matches the way you actually work.
For example, if you use the same three commands dozens of times every day, give them easy-to-reach shortcuts rather than repeatedly searching through menus.
The best SOLIDWORKS shortcut isn’t necessarily the one everyone else uses.
It’s the one that eliminates a repetitive action from your workflow.
The biggest productivity gains in SOLIDWORKS don’t always come from learning another complicated feature.
Sometimes, they’re as simple as holding Shift while sketching, pressing S instead of searching through menus, or using Ctrl + Drag to duplicate something you’ve already created.
Try incorporating a few of these shortcuts into your daily workflow. Once they become muscle memory, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without them.
And if you’re ready to take your SOLIDWORKS skills even further, the Solidxperts team can help with certified training, technical support, implementation, and consulting.
Want to become a SOLIDWORKS expert? Contact our team to learn more.
Any questions? Need help? Ask one of our experts.
Whether you’re ready to get started or just have a few more questions, you can contact us toll-free:
By Elene Teolis – PDM Application Specialist
The following steps will guide you through the installation of SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard and its basic minimal operational configuration settings.
This document will cover the following points:
1.1. Ensure the server meets the computer requirements. See Hardware and System Requirements – PDM STD.
1.2. Have your PDM Standard License Number on hand.
SOLIDWORKS PDM licenses must be released by SOLIDWORKS in order to be activated on a server.
Contact SolidXperts Technical Support to have your PDM Standard license released.
-Telephone: 1-877-824-3379 or 1-877-876-5434, ext. 150
-Email: support@solidxperts.com
The installation files for PDM Standard can be found on the DVD or in the SOLIDWORKS Portal.
2.1. Run ‘Setup.exe’ as an Administrator
2.2. Choose which Server Products to install
2.3. SNL Server Options
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard licenses are floating. The available number(s) must be entered in this field, separated by a comma.
2.4. Component Installation Summary
2.5. Validate the information – Install now
Once the server component installation is complete, the Archive Server Configuration tool starts automatically to continue configuration.
3.1. You must change the location of the archive server files so that they are located on the disk intended for the data (as prepared in the first section “Server Preparation”).
3.2. Choose a password for the default Admin user
3.3. Choose a password the SA user will need to connect to SQL.
3.4. Keep administrators only for “Administrative access” and keep the default options for “Attach access”.
The Archive Server configuration is complete.
4.1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager
4.2. In the “Server Administrator” tab, choose “Edit”
4.3. Choose “Select All”
4.4. Choose “Activate/Reactivate” your product licenses
4.5. Validate the information of your License Server
5.1. Start the PDM Administration tool
5.2. Right click on the server name – Create a new safe
5.3. Enter a name for the safe
5.4. Keep the default values for the location of the archive files.
5.5. Select the SQL instance created for PDM Standard installation, leave the suggested name for the database.
5.6. Add the License Server: Enter Port 25734@”name of your server”
5.7. Choose a default language
5.8. Check the default password (the password used will be the one set when installing the PDM Archive Server).
(Uncheck the option and choose a new password if you do not want to use the default password)
5.9. Choose Quick Start for SOLIDWORKS
5.10. Leave all the options checked by default
5.11. Click on “Finish” to create the safe.
The creation of the safe is finished.
5.12. The name of the vault now appears in the PDM Administration Tool. Right-click on the server name and refresh if the name does not appear.
For a standard PDM vault, the vault symbol appears in grey.
You are now ready to create a local view on the client workstation and start working with your new PDM Standard vault.
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By Elene Teolis – PDM Application Specialist at SolidXperts
How to Install SQL Express in Preparation for Installing SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
*Your windows and menus may vary slightly depending on the server operating system.
1. Server Preparation
1.1. Make sure the server meets the technical requirements: View SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
Make sure that .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.0 are installed, if necessary, configure the “Application Server” role on the server:
1.2. Prepare file structure
– If possible, create 2 partitions. Reserve the C: drive for applications and another for the data.
– Create a folder structure in the disk to receive the data as specified below:
Suggested file structure
*SQL cannot save its data to an external disk or hard disk storage (NAS or SAN).
2. SQL Server Express Installation
The installation of SQL Server Express is done by following the instructions in the PDM installation guide. Here are the steps followed for a typical SolidXperts installation.
– SQL Express can be found on the DVD or in SOLIDWORKS downloaded files.
2.1. Start the installation as an administrator.
\SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP0\PreReqs\SQLServer\sqlexpr_x64_enu.exe
2.2. Choose a new installation.
2.3. Accept the license terms.
3. Option Selection: Choose Database Engine Services.
4. Instance Configuration
– If it is a new installation, choose Default instance.
– If SQL is already installed, choose Named Instance and enter a name.
4.1. Server Configuration: Leave default values for service account names.
4.2. Database Engine Configuration
– Select Mixed Mode.
– Create a password for the SQL System Administrator.
– Specify the SQL Administrator à Click Add Current User and add the Domain Administrators group (domain admin) and/or the local Administrators group.
– Change the following directories to conform to the file structure created in the server preparation step.
– Start the installation by clicking on Next.
Installation complete
5. SQL Express Configuration
5.1. Launch ‘SQL Express Configuration Manager’
– In IPAll, clear the value in Dynamic TCP Ports.
– Set the TCP Port to the static port number that you want the SQL Server Express instance to follow:
– Restart the SQL Server Service for the new instance.
The server is ready to install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard.
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The results open in Microsoft Excel in a .tmp file.
From Microsoft Excel, you can (Save As) in the format of your choice.
b) Option 2: Export search result
This will export to a .csv file (Type: Comma-Separated Files).
The .csv file will open by default in Microsoft Excel.
It is possible to open the .cvs file with Microsoft Bloc-Notes or any other note editor.
With 25 years of experience and more than 250 certifications, SolidXperts teams can help you become true 3D experts! An additional question? Need information?
SolidXperts team is always there for you!
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By Elene Teolis – PDM Application Specialist at SolidXperts
To establish a connection between the different components of a PDM installation, it must be ensured that communication is possible via the following ports:
PDMWorks Enterprise Archive Server Uses TCP and UDP 3030 Ports
SQL Server uses TCP port 1433 and UDP port 1434
Web server uses HTTP port 80 and HTTPS port 443
SolidNetWork License Server Uses TCP Port 25734
1- Start Windows Firewall
2- Select Inbound Rules and click New Rule
2.1. – Rule type
– Select Port ˃ Next
2.2. – Protocol and ports
– Choose TCP
– Enter the ports to allow ˃ Next
2.3. – Action
– Allow the connection ˃ Next
2.4. – Profile
– Check Domain and Private ˃ Next
2.5. – Name
– Enter a descriptive name for the rule ˃ Next
PDM – TCP IN
PDM – TCP OUT
PDM – UDP IN
PDM – UDP OUT
3- Select Outbound Rules and click on New Rule
3.1. – Rule type
– Select Port ˃ Next
3.2. – Protocol and ports
– Choose TCP
– Enter the ports to allow ˃ Next
3.3. – Action
– Allow the connection ˃ Next
3.4. – Profile
– Check Domain and Private ˃ Next
3.5. – Name
– Enter a descriptive name for the rule ˃ Next
PDM – TCP IN
PDM – TCP OUT
PDM – UDP IN
PDM – UDP OUT
4- Define the Incoming Traffic Rule for the UDP protocol by following the steps in point 2.
– Protocol and ports: choose UDP
5- Define the Outgoing Traffic Rule for the UDP protocol by following the steps in point 3.
– Protocol and ports: choose UDP
You have now successfully opened Windows Firewall ports for SOLIDWORKS PDM! If you want to learn more about new features in SOLIDWORKS from 2015 to 2019, download our White Paper.
SolidXperts teams can help you become true 3D experts! An additional question? Need information?
SolidXperts team is always there for you!
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Steven Murphy – Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE)
So you want to learn SOLIDWORKS? Well, you are in luck- SolidXperts has your back! Whether you are learning SOLIDWORKS as your first Computer-Aided Design (CAD) package or augmenting your software portfolio, this guide will go through the information you need to get you up and running in no time!
Good News: you are not the first person to learn the software! SolidXperts is helping people just like you to learn the software on a daily. The SOLIDWORKS community can also provide a ton of valuable material to augment your learning experience. Here is a list of the resources that you should become familiar with:
The most important resource for getting up to speed quickly on SOLIDWORKS is the online and in-person training courses provided by SolidXperts. These classes are designed to teach new users not only how to use SOLIDWORKS, but to understand the thought process behind design intent. You will work with SOLIDWORKS Experts who will personally cater to your learning style. The “SOLIDWORKS ESSENTIALS” class is the best way to get to where you want to be.
Did you know that SOLIDWORKS has built-in Tutorials to teach you the software? Located under Help (1)> SOLIDWORKS Tutorials (2) > Getting Started (3), there are a series of hands-on tutorials that will walk you through learning the basics of the program.
Well, you already found this blog, so you are on the right track! From walkthroughs to tutorial videos to Q&A threads, the SOLIDWORKS community is here to help you succeed. No matter your skill level, there is tons of value to be gained from interacting with other users who have the same questions as you!
Provided by SOLIDWORKS, MySolidworks contains many training paths (each training path is composed of many individual topic videos) targeting a specific workflow of the software. Use these to your advantage to learn about areas of the software that is relevant to your profession. I would suggest starting with the “Part Modeling Basics” learning path.
*Note: online training works best when it is used to augment in-person training! Good modeling habits developed in the classroom have more staying power and will serve you better in learning the software.
A key portion of getting used to any new software is learning the user interface (UI). You want to be comfortable navigating through the menus. Here is a brief description of the key UI elements for getting started:
The Menu Bar contains a set of the most frequently used tool buttons from the Standard toolbar, the SOLIDWORKS menus, the SOLIDWORKS Search, and a flyout menu of Help options.
The CommandManager is a context-sensitive toolbar that dynamically updates based on the toolbar you want to access. By default, it has toolbars embedded in it based on the document type.
When you click a tab below the CommandManager, it updates to show that toolbar. For example, if you click the Sketches tab, the Sketch toolbar appears.
You can use SOLIDWORKS Search to find information in documentation and forums. You can also find files and models, and find and run a SOLIDWORKS command with just a few keystrokes.
A transparent toolbar in each viewport provides all the common tools required for manipulating the view.
The Task Pane provides access to SOLIDWORKS resources, libraries of reusable design elements, views to drag onto drawing sheets, and other useful items and information. The SolidXperts custom task pane (part of UtilsXperts) has all of our contact information, tools, and custom macros to help our customer base take full advantage of the SOLIDWORKS software.
The FeatureManager design tree on the left side of the SOLIDWORKS window provides an outline view of the active part, assembly, or drawing. This makes it easy to see how the model or assembly was constructed or to examine the various sheets and views in a drawing.
The graphics area displays and lets you manipulate parts, assemblies, and drawings.
Now it is time to start using the program. As suggested earlier, check out the tutorials as they provide a solid explanation of the primary features used in CAD. Since the majority of CAD work only uses a fraction of all of the features available in SOLIDWORKS, focus on understanding these commands to start. Most people find that once you understand the thought process behind the below features, it is really easy to learn the rest! Focus on:
When you open a new part document, first you create a sketch. The sketch is the basis for a 3D model. You can create a sketch on any of the default planes (Front Plane, Top Plane, and Right Plane), or a created plane.
The primary method of converting 2D sketches into 3D geometry, the Boss Extrude feature allows you to add depending on several conditions to your part. You will need to either have a sketch or create a sketch in order to create an extrusion!
Revolves add or remove material by revolving one or more profiles around a centerline. Use these to create cylindrical or spherical parts in a single feature! A perfect example of a revolve would be a soda can.
Want to remove some material? The Extrude Cut features allow you to get rid of material on your part. Be aware that you need to have material before you can activate the extruded cut command.
Hole WizardIf you are looking to make any type of circular hole, look no further! The Hole Wizard contains specifications for the majority of holes, and even lets you bring that information into your 2D drawings automatically. Just select your Hole Type, Size, and Location to make your first hole.
While using these key features is a good starting point, it is not enough. During the SolidXperts courses, we discuss the ins and outs of these features and how to best apply them. Be you want to avoid picking up bad modeling habits!
See that pencil holder on your desk? Model it. What about your phone? Model that too! The more you work to understand completed parts as a combination of extrudes and cuts, the easier it is to CAD. There is no “secret” to getting good at modeling besides practice. At the end of the day, it takes time and a positive attitude to go from a casual user to a master modeler.
So that is it! If you follow this outline, you will have all of the tools you need to start modeling like a champ. Remember that you are only limited by your own creativity, so have fun and continue to grow. If you need help, feel free to give us at SolidXperts a call (we are the Experts!).
SolidXperts teams can help you become true 3D experts! An additional question? Need information?
SolidXperts team is always there for you!
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Whether you’re ready to get started or just have a few more questions, you can contact us toll-free:
From the 2004 version of SOLIDWORKS onward, the welded construction function speeds up the creation of assemblies because it allows the representation of assemblies without having to create multiple individual files. But, there is more since version 2019.
The new “Structure” function allows the creation of welded constructions in a different way. It is not necessary to draw a path for each profile. For example, it is possible to create a starting profile (“Primary Element”) from:
– From 4 planes;
– Of a path element (a bit like welded construction);
– By defining a length by selecting only one point (note the absence of a sketch in the requested selection);
– By defining an intersection between a face and a plane.
So, with a few clicks, you can define a structure, including corner treatment:
You can then modify the created structure (in one function!) to change the profiles of certain elements:
Following the creation of the external shape of the frame, reinforcements or other elements must generally be attached to it. As mentioned above, creation methods using entities other than sketch segments can be used. For so-called “secondary” elements, using the selection of two existing profiles, two methods are possible:
– Supporting Plan Element” uses an existing plan to position the newly created profile.
Activating chain selection allows the automatic creation of element pairs when two entities are selected.
– Between point elements.
This method has two ways of working, using either distance or length ratio.
The first allows the definition of two distances from the starting point of the profiles:
We can see on the screenshot above that despite the two equally defined distances, the profile is at an angle. The reason for this is that the dimension is defined by the starting point of the profile, which corresponds to the starting point of the sketch, i.e. at the top of the structure for the profile on the left of the screenshot and at the bottom for the profile on the right:
Just click on the appropriate icons to reverse the directions and thus obtain a secondary profile perpendicular to the primary profiles.
Ratios (whose value must vary between 0 and 1) of length relative to each previously selected element can also be used. In this way, always taking the direction into account, it is easy to create a spacer that would be on one side at the upper third of a profile and at the lower third on the other.
As for the creation of a drawing, the operation is the same as for a welded construction.
All in all, even if you are already using welded construction, this new working method can be confusing at first, but you quickly get used to it and learn to appreciate the lightness of the creation tree it produces. Moreover, just like the welded construction, the result produced is compatible with the BeamCutXperts beam optimization tool.
For more information visit our SOLIDWORKS product page, or consult an Xpert!
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You might be an engineer – if, you fix broken fitness equipment with CAD and 3D printing. This 3D printing repair case shows just how that was done. It starts with a budget water rower exercise machine that had arm failures in the resistance paddle which spins inside the water tank. Unfortunately, the machine had been purchased early in the year and the paddle arms failed by December.
Upon closer inspection, the arms of the original paddle broke off where the plastic transitions from a thinner beam profile to the larger hub. In hindsight, it could have been predicted by using SOLIDWORKS Flow, Plastics, or Simulation software. However, that discussion will be saved for another article.
This type of failure makes the component an excellent candidate for 3D printing repair. Rather than simply reproducing the original part, engineers can redesign the weak geometry to create a stronger, more durable replacement.
For the moment, we will focus on designing and producing a 3D printed replacement paddle. The new design is inspired by the paddle used in commercial-grade water rowers found in health clubs.
To improve the design, the commercial grade water rower has single mixing paddle design that extends across the diameter of the tank. In addition, there are openings between the shaft hub and the scoop ends, but the paddle has solid plastic arms at the top and bottom of the water tank. The budget rower was connected only at the bottom of the water tank leading to increasing offset dynamic loads as athlete exertion increases.
Although the original design paddle diameter of 18 inches is larger than many 3D printer print volume dimensions, it was possible to get 16 inches diagonally across the build plate. To compensate for the reduced print size, the width of the working portion of the paddle was adjusted, and the solid section was moved to the top. As a result, the 3D printed design maintained a water-displacing surface area similar to that of the original injection-molded paddle.
Furthermore, by using a pattern of triangle and diamond shapes for the open section, the replacement paddle can be printed without support. Chamfers are used for edge breaks around the edges and openings for better flow characteristics while still being easy to print.
Finally, the original paddle had a pressed and brazed connection between the paddle and rower shaft. This was replaced with a pentagon shaped hole to allow for screw fastening to the shaft.
To maximize durability, Markforged Onyx filament is used which is a carbon and nylon blend. The wall passes are increased and gyroid infill is used along with maintaining the full paddle width through the paddle cross section.
Disassembling the original paddle from the rower required several steps. The process involved drilling and using a gear puller to free the shaft before the 3D printed replacement could be installed.
Once the original component was removed, some additional drilling and bolting allowed the new paddle to be installed on the rower shaft.
With a slight adjustment of water volume in the tank, the 3D printed replacement paddle provides the same resistance and workout as the when the machine was new.
Although the water flow is different with the replacement paddle but the workout is the same. As a result, the repair is done in time for a new year of health resolutions.
This project demonstrates how 3D printing repair can extend the life of consumer equipment while improving the original design. Rather than replacing the entire machine, a redesigned component restored performance, reduced waste, and created a more durable solution.
Whether you’re repairing obsolete, damaged, or discontinued components, contact Solidxperts to explore how SOLIDWORKS and industrial 3D printing can provide a practical, cost-effective solution.
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