CSUG September Meeting Announced

The next Chicago SolidWorks User Group Meeting has been planned.  Below are the details received from CSUG President Denny Bahl:

DATE:  Tuesday, September 7, 2010

TIME:  5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
LOCATION:  Des Plaines Campus of Oakton Community College, Room 1610, 1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, Illinois 60016

AGENDA:

• 5:00-5:30PM Sign-in and networking
• 5:30PM Food will be served, pizza & soft drinks
• 5:30-6:00PM Short business meeting during pizza time
• 6:00-7:30PM Users Helping Users – Bring your SolidWorks problems/questions and other users may be able to provide an answer
• 7:30-8:00PM Q&A, Door Prize Drawing
• 8:00PM Meeting adjourned

Presentation:  Users Helping Users
Problems and solutions provided by meeting participants.  We have had a number of formal presentations given at the meetings over the last couple of years. Now it is time to once again take part in a meeting that is what user groups are all about. Please bring your modeling problems, questions and issues to the meeting. We will have a computer at the meeting running SolidWorks. We will take turns trying to help each other with our issues. Please come prepared to either participate with a problem or solution, or both. Let’s make this a fun and informational meeting to kick off the 2010-2011 season.

If you have a laptop with SolidWorks on it you are encouraged to bring it. This way we could break into small groups to help more people.

No RSVP necessary.

FISHER/UNITECH Achieves 2010 Inc. 5000 List for 3rd Consecutive Year

Woo Hoo - we did it again, we were ranked by Inc. magazine as number 4,894 on their 2010 list of the fastest growing private companies in America.  Because revenue figures for this year's measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the longest recession since the Great Depression, we're especially proud of our achievement.

We've worked hard over the past year to put the infrastructure in place to address specialized market needs in engineering and manufacturing.  Our diversification in geography, industry and product portfolio has helped us not only weather the economic storm but achieve growth targets as well.

View FISHER/UNITECH's Inc. 5000 Company Profile

You can see complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, at www.inc.com/5000.

Discover a better way with a 3D mouse

3D mice deliver a level of control that's simply not possible with a traditional mouse and keyboard.

• Increase Productivity*:  Average gains of 21% from simultaneously navigating, creating and editing your model
• Enhance Comfort**:  Reduce mouse movement and clicks by up to 50%
• Design Performance*:  Whether you're working on a sketch or a complex 3D model, the superior navigation experience encourages levels of model exploration that are crucial to avoiding costly design errors.

* Source: The Economic Payback of 3D Mice white paper - July 2008.

**Source: Reducing Physical Discomfort and Pain Among 3D Computer Users - VSI Risk Management and Ergonomics ©2005

From now until September 30th, 2010, receive a $100 rebate on the SpacePilot Pro or SpaceExplorer.  For details, please contact me or your account manager.

SolidWorks 2011 Beta 3 is Live!

The SolidWorks Beta Team announced that SolidWorks 2011 Beta 3 went live today at 12 pm EDT.  This is the last scheduled Beta release of SolidWorks 2011.

The team has been busy fixing issues reported by Beta customers.  Fixing critical issues now will help ensure that your migration to SolidWorks, SolidWorks Enterprise PDM and SolidWorks Simulation 2011 goes smoothly.  Finding and reporting issues has other benefits, including the chance to win one of five iPads along with other rewarding prizes!

Special Competitions

On Monday, August 23rd, the PhotoView 260 competition will begin for active Beta participants.  Submit a rendering that could also be chosen for use on next year's Beta 2012 t-shirts.  The overall winner of the Rendering contest wins an iPad!

All participants, regardless of license entitlement are able to use PhotoView 360.

Also, please remember to participate in the Parts and Assembly contests.  You can find out more information here regarding contest rules.

Next CISUG Meeting Announced - September 23rd

Registration is open for the next Central Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting.
Register now:  info@indianasolidworks.org and please bring a guest!

Date:  Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
Time:  4:30 pm - Registration and Networking, Meeting begins at 5:00 pm
Location:  Impact Forge Corporation, 2805 Norcross Drive, Columbus, IN  47201-4911

Guest Speaker:  Matt Hendey, President, M.R. Hendey Consulting.  Matt will talk about using SolidWorks on alternative platforms.

Dinner will be provided and sponsored by SolidWorks Corporation.

Technical Presentation:  Jeff Sweeney, 3D Vision.  Jeff will present "Maximizing Enterprise PDM as a Fully Integrated Management Control System"

Tips & Tricks:  Bring your problems or solutions on a memory stick (flash drive) to share with others

Premium Door Prizes

Meeting should adjourn around 7:30 pm

Save the Date - SolidWorks 2011 Events Announced

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The 19th major release of SolidWorks, SolidWorks 2011 has been announced. Starting October 4th, FISHER/UNITECH will host a series of events that will educate you on SolidWorks, SolidWorks Simulation, Enterprise PDM and 3DVIA. 

SolidWorks 2011 Launch Events
At our Launch events, learn about the SolidWorks 2011 product line and how it can boost your design productivity. Work smarter and faster and improve your success.  These events are designed for those who currently do not use SolidWorks or are brand new to the SolidWorks line of products.

Visit our SolidWorks Launch Event 2011 webpage to register

What's New in SolidWorks 2011 Events
Work smarter and faster and improve your success.  These events are designed for current users of SolidWorks CAD Software, SolidWorks Simulation, Enterprise PDM and 3DVIA Composer.   Explore the new features of SolidWorks 2011 in this session, designed specifically for existing users of SolidWorks products.

Visit our What's New in SolidWorks 2011 webpage to register

Northern Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting Announced

The next NISWUG Meeting has been scheduled, see below for details.

Date:  August 24th, 2010
Time:  5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location:  Bertrand Campus - Lake Michigan College, 1905 Foundation Drive, Niles, MI  49120

What's All That Curvy Stuff Anyway?

• Do It With Sole - Dean Anderson, Wolverine Shoe Company
• Curvy Stuff Remix - Ed Eaton's Curvy Stuff Remix
• Measuring SolidWorks Performance - Paul Kellner, Engineering Transport, LLC

Dean Anderson from Wolverine Shoe Company will be on hand to show how SolidWorks can be used to model a sole.  In addition, you'll see some of Ed Eaton's surfacing/modeling tricks and a short presentation on performance measurement.

Register to attend the meeting on the group's website.

Upcoming Online Classes

Hello everyone, I'm Rod Harper, and I am the 3DU Online instructor. Here are some classes coming up over the next month.

You can always check here for our complete online training schedule.

Online classes beginning on 8/31/2010:

• CAD320 SolidWorks for Mold Design, 2:00-4:00pm, 6 sessions (2 weeks)

Online classes beginning on 9/07/2010:

• CAD105 Introduction to SolidWorks, 9:00-11:00am, 8 sessions (2 weeks)

Online classes beginning on 9/21/2010:

• CAD325 SolidWorks Surface Modeling, 9:00-11:00am, 6 sessions (2 weeks) 
• PDM205 SolidWorks Workgroup PDM Administrator, 2:00-4:00pm, 3 sessions (1 weeks)

Support Hour Webcast Archive Now Available

Earlier this year we launched a monthly webcast program created specifically to add value to our customers on active SolidWorks subscription.  This monthly program, called "Support Hour," has grown to a much anticipated event drawing upwards of 350 customers in attendance.

Through these webcasts we hope to create a community of FISHER/UNITECH SolidWorks users to share their own "work-arounds" and solutions to common issues within SolidWorks.

Our first four Support Hour recorded webcasts are now available in our online Support Center for viewing.  Remember, you must have an active subscription contract with FISHER/UNITECH and a login for our Support Center.

Don't have subscription and would like more information?  Please contact your account manager.

Don't have a login to our Support Center?  Please send an email to:  password@funtech.com to request one.

Support Hour Webcast Archive

• Drawing Templates and Sheet Formats
• Video Cards with SolidWorks
• SolidWorks Rx
• 2D to 3D Conversion

To see a list of upcoming webcasts, please visit our website.

FISHER/UNITECH Featured in Crain's Detroit Business

FISHER/UNITECH CEO Charles Hess is featured in the August 17th, 2010, edition of Crain's Detroit Business, as a Second-Stage Company. 

According to Crain's, second-stage companies are led by growth-focused entrepreneurs with market-ready products or services. They generally have revenue of $1 million-$50 million with employees in the 10-100 range.

Adding layers: Growing companies face challenge of expanding management

Fisher/Unitech President and CEO Charlie Hess was a hands-on guy. For a long time, Hess and co-founder Greg Fisher were the company's senior management. And with a relatively small staff, the system worked.

Read the rest of the article here.

Configurations vs. Display States in Parts

Configurations let you create different versions of the part that change the physical aspects of the part. Display states let you specify different hide/show states, appearances, display modes, and transparencies for a part.
Configurations		Display States
Suppress/Resolve Components Component Positioning Select Part Material Properties Select Part Configurations Select Part Colors No Equivalent No Equivalent		Hide/Show Components No Equivalent Assembly-Based Textures No Equivalent Assembly-Based Colors Display Mode (HLR, Shaded) Assembly-Based Transparency
Configurations Use configurations to create different versions of a part. Features are different from one configuration to another. For example, you might create: A simplified configuration with some features suppressed Multiple configurations that have different sizes of the same feature Configurations that use different materials Examples:
Suppressed Features	Modified Edge Flanges
Application of a different material
You can link display states to specific configurations: Simplified configuration linked to display state
Display States Use display states to show different hide/show states, appearances, display modes, and transparencies for features and bodies in a part. The physical features of the part are the same from one display state to another. For example, you might use display states to: Hide some bodies in a multibody part while you work on others Display several related features or bodies in the same color Set some features to transparent to make it easier to see other features Examples:
Appearances that highlight mirrored flanges		Transparent flange that makes it easier to see a cut extrude

Simulation's Trend Tracker - Overview

Trend Tracker is a tool that helps you detect "trends" in results from different iterations of a static study. Results are presented in a manner that compares a baseline to subsequent iterations. This tool prevents us from having to jump back and forth between configurations and results, to compare our design validation results.

Highlights include:

• A Trend Journal lists details about the baseline and every iteration.
• Graphs show the trend in important result quantities. View one of the default graphs or add a tracked data graph.
• A gallery shows displacement and stress plots for every iteration.
• A rollback function allows you to restore the model to a specific iteration.
• Adding iterations automatically or manually when you run studies or design scenarios.
• Deletion of iterations.

Typical workflow:

1. Run a static study.
2. Right-click the study and select Trend Tracker to enable this functionality.
3. Right-click Trend Tracker icon and select Set Baseline.
1. The current results become the baseline (iteration 1) for weight, displacement, stress, and so on.
4. Change the geometry, loads, restraints, or any other features. 
5. Right-click Trend Tracker icon and select Add Tracked Data Graph to add a new workflow sensitive simulation data sensor to track results.
6. Run the static study. The software appends the new results to the tracked iterations as a new iteration by default.
7. Review the results:

• Right-click Trend Tracker icon and select View Gallery to see the change in displacement and stress.
• Double-click one of the graphs such as Mass to compare iterations to the baseline.
• Double-click the Trend Journal to read a report.

You can also disable and delete the Trend Tracker information. Right-click the study name and select Delete Trend Tracker to delete Trend Tracker from the Simulation study tree.

GET HIRED: Design Engineer Position in Greenfield, Indiana

Looking for work? Our customer, Blue Arc Engineering, is hiring a Design Engineer based in Greenfield, Indiana.

Overview:

A Design Engineer works with other Blue Arc employees as well as customers and suppliers to provide detailed designs for special equipment in the material handling industry.  The process involves understanding the customer’s goals and objectives, and developing smart engineered solutions to meet these goals.  Technologies used in this position range from high level automation (specialty conveyors, PLC control, graphical user interfaces, 3D modeling) to more conventional fabricated items (carts, racks, etc.)

Blue Arc’s goal is to help our customers compete in their markets by providing the best material handling solutions and technology.

Superior Performance Objectives:

• Ensure projects are executed in the most effective manner in regards to time, cost (budget) and function.
• SolidWorks expert, ability to contribute to team’s continuous improvement effort
• Work on variety of engineering projects – custom material handling projects, research and development projects.
• Work with Engineering Manager to provide robust equipment designs.
• Clear communication with management and the shop on issues that arise.
• Work well with others on the Blue Arc team.  Have fun!

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Design
• Strong mechanical design aptitude.
• Strong technical drawing skills, especially in 3D modeling.
• Extremely computer literate with general Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to produce fabrication drawings from 3D model efficiently.
• PLC programming experience – MicroLogix family

General Job Description:

• Develop designs for special material handling related equipment from concept to detailed fabrication drawings.
• Research and design of everyday projects as well as future pure R&D projects.
• Work with management to develop proposals for customers as needed.
• Help resolve engineering issues as they arise by working closely with vendors and the shop.
• Meet and exceed our customer’s expectations through superior design and implementation.
• Be a great team player and contributor within the office; be tolerant of others.
• Constantly review and master applicable business technology to ensure we are using the best tools.
• Maintain office area clean and organized.
• Track time spent by project and enter into time tracking software/spreadsheets.
• Work with management to prioritize projects on macro level; ability to prioritize individual tasks on your own.
• Complete all administrative tasks/paperwork in timely manner.
• Develop equipment maintenance manual and appropriate project documentation.
• Help develop configurable designs for Blue Arc standard product offering
• Work well with the shop; pitch in where needed.  Spend part of time in shop assembling the equipment you designed to better understand how the components come together.
• Show up to work every day and on time.
• Ability to thrive in a group engineering environment.
• Ability to work independently as well as take direction and collaborate with others.
• Maintain a consistently positive, enthusiastic attitude

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter and resume to Jason Effing.

Enterprise PDM: Exporting Custom Properties to Excel

Sometimes, you just need your data in raw form. There are many different ways to export data in Enterprise PDM, such as the report generator or use of export rules. Today we are going to take a look at exporting data to an Excel sheet using custom columns and the search functionality within Enterprise PDM.

For our criteria, we want to capture every SolidWorks part file within our vault and export the following custom properties:

• Document Number
• Description
• Vendor
• Cost
• Part Type

As you can see, these custom properties are already included in our data cards.

Next, we want to create a custom column set through the Enterprise PDM Administration tool. To create a new column set, expand your vault and right mouse click on ‘Columns’ to select New Column Set…

Once inside, we want to create the columns for the custom properties that we wish to export. Also, we want to set the column set type to Search Results and give this new column set a distinct name. In this example, we will name it Export Column Set.

After creating the Export Column Set, we are now on the final step. We need to create a search card to include the new column set. The easiest way is to copy the complete search and change the column set default to Export Column Set. To do this, open up the complete search card through the Enterprise PDM Administration tool. This will open up the card editor program in a separate window. Then go to File > Save As and select a name for our new search card.

Once the new search card is saved, in our example we named it Export Search, change the result column set to Export Column Set.

Our new export search is all setup, so let’s give it a try.

On the toolbar above your search results, there is an icon that matches Microsoft Excel. Here you can export your results directly to Excel.

Happy Exporting!

SolidWorks Enterprise PDM 2011 Beta 1 is now available for download

SolidWorks will also be offering a hosted environment for customers wanting to try out the new features.  Details to follow.  Take to look at the new features and participate in the Beta program.

New features in Enterprise PDM 2011 

• New Update References Tool
• Streamlined User Interface
• Cold Store Restore capability
• Enhanced Active Directory Support
• SolidWorks Design Checker Task
• 3DVIA Composer Player Integration
• File Open Dialog Functionality
• Multi-CAD Support
• Workflow link import/export
• New Updated Icons
• File Version Update Tool
• API Functionality

Register for SolidWorks World 2011, and maybe even get in free!

Reposted from SolidWorks Blog by Matthew West....

Are you a SolidWorks World regular? Or are you intrigued by stories your coworkers tell of SolidWorks Worlds gone by, whispered in back rooms and dark alleys? Either way, you're in luck. Because the SolidWorks World 2011 website is live now, and registration will be open soon. The usual deals apply--save $200 on an individual registration if you register before October 29, and get three registrations when you pay for two. 

Want to go for free? Just submit a proposal to lead a breakout session at the show. If you get picked to present, your registration fee is comped. That's like money in your pocket.  You can find out more here.

Stratasys Manufacturing Solutions Group is Now Online!

Check out the new mini site for the Stratasys Manufacturing Solutions Group. The site provides information on the focus and capabilities of the SMS Group in the aerospace and defense industries. FDM technology is featured for end-use parts as well as tooling, including metal forming, composites, jigs and fixtures and thermoforming.

Look to FISHER/UNITECH and the Stratasys Manufacturing Solutions Group for proven additive manufacturing solutions that help you get your job done faster.  We develop advanced FDM (fused deposition modeling) applications for space claim models, production parts and a wide variety of tools.

FDM Tooling Applications

• Sheet Metal Hydroforming Molds
• Rubber Pad Press Tools
• Stretch Forming Tools
• Tube Hydroforming Molds
• Tube Bending Dies
• Assembly Fixtures
• Grit Media Blasting Tools
• Caul Plates and Intensifiers
• Punch Tools
• Lay up Composite Molds
• Soluble Mandrels
• Net Shaped and Consumable Cores
• Thermoforming Molds
• Trim and Drill Tools
• Manufacturing Jigs
• Shot Peening Tools
• Patterns
• Blow Down Tools

Find out how FDM can improve ergonomics while reducing cycle times and costs.  Contact our RT team at rtgroup@funtech.com.

94% of DraftSight Users said that DraftSight was easy to install

DraftSight is easy to use and lets users create, edit and view DWG files for free!

Download DraftSight for free, then start sharing, connecting and interacting with the 3DSwYm DraftSight™ community members.

The DraftSight 2D CAD Product. Public Beta Now Available.

DraftSight is a professional-grade, open 2D CAD product for users who want a better way to read, write and share DWG files. DraftSight is easy to use and is available for professional CAD users, students and educators to download and activate for free.*

Based on advanced architecture, DraftSight has a small footprint, should take less than a few minutes to download, and runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows XP®, Windows Vista® and Windows® 7.

Next St. Louis SolidWorks User Group Meeting Announced

Charles Culp, Design Engineer at Essex Industries will join the next meeting as featured presenter.  Charles designs ergonomic hand controls for fighter and commercial airplanes.  His presentation on Principles of Advanced Modeling will cover surfacing, fillets and other advanced modeling tools and their applications in making more robust parts.

Date:  Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Time:  4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc.
Conference Room:  Pneumatic Scale (6th Floor)
8020 Forsyth Blvd.
Clayton, MO  63105

Agenda

• 4:30 pm - 4:40 pm:  Welcome and Introductions
• 4:40 pm - 7:00 pm:  Presentation on Principles of Advanced Modeling, by Charles Culp, Essex Industries

Parking is available at the first level of the building.  Take the elevator to the 6th floor.  You will receive parking tokens when you arrive.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend by sending an email to Sandeep Agrawal or Rod Uding.

Showing Hidden or Excluded Bodies in Simulation Plots

When plotting Simulation results of assemblies with hidden or excluded bodies, you can view the results on the other components in the context of the whole assembly by showing the hidden or excluded bodies in translucent colors with controlled levels of transparency.

To show hidden bodies in a Simulation display plot:

1. Plot the desired result in an assembly document that has one or more hidden components.
2. Right-click the plot icon and select Settings. The Settings Property Manager appears.
3. Select Show hidden bodies.
4. Under Show hidden bodies, select:
1. Translucent (Single color). To display all hidden parts in a single color of your choice. You can adjust the transparency by dragging the slider.
2. Translucent (Part colors). To display all hidden parts in their shaded mode colors. You can adjust the transparency by dragging the slider.
5. Click check mark

To show excluded bodies in display plots:

1. Plot the desired result in an assembly document that has one or more excluded bodies.
2. Right-click the plot icon and select Settings. The Settings Property Manager appears.
3. Select Show Excluded bodies.
4. Under Show excluded bodies, select:
1. Translucent (Single color). To display all excluded parts in a single color of your choice. You can adjust the transparency by dragging the slider.
2. Translucent (Part colors). To display all excluded parts in their shaded mode colors. You can adjust the transparency by dragging the slider. 
5. Click check mark

3DU Instructor Tip #7 - Weldments

Another great week at FISHER/UNITECH! I wrapped up teaching Weldments this week and wanted to pass along some tidbits with 2010.

1. You can now modify the amount of bodies in a view created with the Relative View command. Once a view has been created, you click in the view and in the Property Manager a "Select Bodies" button appears. This allows you to add or take away bodies from your view. Huge improvement there!

2. Remember, SolidWorks comes with a whole host of Standards to download for Weldment profiles. To download them go to your Task Pane  > SolidWorks Content > Weldments

3. Bill of Materials Table versus Weldment Cut List

Why use one over the other? Functionally, there are some minor differences but one major point sticks out. Use a Weldment Cut List if the "assembly" you are putting into the print is just a single Weldment part file. Use the Bill of Materials table with the Detailed Cut List Option turned on if you have a true assembly that contains a weldment as one of it's sub-assemblies.

4. In 2010, we can access all the individual cut list folder properties at one time. Notice all the folders in the graphic below. These are all the different folders containing the unique parts in the Weldment.

Have a great week!

Rod Harper

3DU Instructor

Analyze your Molded Parts Before It's Too Late!

The secret to injection molding parts without unsightly sink marks or areas where the material thickness is too thin, can be a simple and quick thickness analysis that takes only seconds!

With your finished model in session, select Tools, Thickness Analysis

You enter a Target Thickness (avg. wall thickness) and then choose to view any areas or regions that are either thinner or thicker than the target. In a mouse click you'll see areas that can generate sink marks or frail thin sections that can cause molding/functional problems.

The results are generated with a color gradient showing thickness variations allowing you the opportunity to deal with issues long before they become real!