SolidWorks User Group Network Reaches 200 Groups!

I copied and pasted this from the SolidWorks Blog by Matthew West, who copied and pasted this from Richard Doyle's blog on the SolidWorks forums. This post is from February 22nd, 2011.

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Just a little over an hour ago, the Kettle Morain SolidWorks User Group
(KEMSUG) in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin became the 200th SolidWorks User Group registered with SWUGN.

Little did we know back in 2000 that SWUGN would be so successful.  In fact, in 2000 we didn't really know just how many SolidWorks User Groups even existed.  A 2004 "reconciliation" put the number at 66 worldwide.  In November of 2007, the Central Savannah River Area SolidWorks User Group became the 100th group in the US.

And now we stand at 200, but not for long.  There are at least 2 more groups coming on line in the next few days, and our 2011 "Fill The Holes" campaign is meant to create additional SolidWorks User Groups in areas that are lacking.  I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see 220 - 230 groups registered by the end of this year.

The credit for the success of SWUGN lands square on the shoulders of the SWUGN Committee and the local chapter leaders. These folks take time away from their families and other activities to provide SolidWorks users with an amazing resource.  If you're not a member of a local SolidWorks User Group chapter, you are missing out on additional training, terrific networking opportunities, and a chance to make some great friends.

Check the SWUGN "Find a Group" page for a local chapter in your area.  If you live and work in an area that needs a group, consider starting one.  If you hurry, you could be group number 201 (or 202, or 203).

DraftSight General Release for Windows Available Now

By now you've probably heard of DraftSight, Dassault Systemes' no-cost 2D CAD product.  Yesterday Dassault announced the general release of DraftSight for Windows - now available for download at no cost at www.draftsight.com.  Originally launched in Beta version in June 2010, DraftSight has been downloaded by more than 400,000 people.

Based on user feedback generated within the DraftSight online swYm community (swYm is Dassault Systemes' community platform that serves as the basis for its online application store) this release includes, but is not limited to, the following enhancements:

• API support (for a fee) - Enables customers to write add-on programs for DraftSight in C++ and other supported programming languages
• Localization of Help Files - Now available for users in multiple languages (English, German, French, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Korean, Polish, Russian, Czech)
• Command Variables Enhancement - Enables users to set and change system variables directly from the command line

Whether you're currently using the DraftSight beta version or have yet to become a DraftSight user, we hope you enjoy this general release for Windows and invite you to download it now!

Chicago SolidWorks User Group

The next Chicago SolidWorks User Group Meeting is planned for:

Date:  Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Location:  DES PLAINES Campus of Oakton Community College, in ROOM 1604.  1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, Illinois 60016

Agenda

• 5:00-5:30pm: Sign-in and networking
• 5:30 pm: Pizza and soft drinks will be served
• 5:30-6:00 pm: Short business meeting
• 6:00-7:30 pm: Presentation – "SolidWorks SimulationXpress" by David Roccaforte, FISHER/UNITECH 
• 7:30-8:00 pm: Q&A, Door Prize Drawing
• 8:00 pm: Meeting adjourned

SolidWorks SimulationXpress Presentation

By: David Roccaforte, Simulation Specialist, FISHER/UNITECH

This presentation will cover the features included in SolidWorks SimulationXpress. You'll learn why and how to use this powerful tool.  Also, tips may be shared on what you would need to know about SolidWorks SimulationXpress to help pass the CSWP exam.  A summary of the additional SolidWorks Simulation products will also be provided.

No RSVP necessary to attend.

Greater Cincinnati SolidWorks User Group Meeting

The next Greater Cincinnati SolidWorks User Group (GCSWUG) Meeting will be held:

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
Time:  5:30-8:30 pm
Location:  CES, Inc., 11959 Tramway Drive, Cincinnati, OH  45241

Agenda

• 5:30-6:05 pm:  Food, Drinks and Networking
• 6:05-6:10 pm:  Opening Remarks
• 6:10-6:45 pm:  "What You Missed at SolidWorks World 2011" and "Top Ten List" by Jeff Arthur
• 6:50-7:35 pm:  "Intake Port Simulation, Air Flow Through a Cylinder Head" by Dave "Woody" Woodruff
• 7:40-8:10 pm:  "SolidWorks as a Sales Tool" by Ed Scheid, CES, Inc., followed by a plant tour
• 8:10-8:20 pm:  Q&A
• 8:20-8:30 pm:  Giveaways, Closing Remarks, Select Next Meeting Date and Location

RSVP for the meeting

Engineering Manager Position Available in Champaign, IL

Alloy Engineering & Casting is looking for an Engineering Manager for its Champaign, Illinois facility. 
If interested, please contact:

Brad Roberts
brad.roberts@wirco.com
217-398-3200 x4161

1700 W. Washington St.
Champaign, IL  61821
http://www.wirco.com/index.php

Sustainability in 2011

SolidWorks Sustainability lets you do "sustainable design" easily, from within the SolidWorks application. You can compare results from similar materials to produce the optimal sustainable design. By integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into the design process, you can see how decisions about material, manufacturing, and location (where parts are manufactured and where they are used) influence a design’s environmental impact. You specify various parameters that SolidWorks Sustainability uses to perform a comprehensive evaluation of all the steps in a design’s life. In 2011, there are new supported regions and a link for custom materials.

New Supported Regions

SolidWorks Sustainability and SustainabilityXpress support these additional regions:South America, Australia, and India.

You can specify the regions as Manufacturing or Transportation and Use regions.

Sustainability Link for Custom Material

You can perform a sustainability analysis using custom materials. This is done by linking your custom material to a material with similar characteristics in the default SolidWorks Materials database. The analysis is then performed using the Sustainability characteristics of the SolidWorks material.

To link your custom material to a similar material: 

1. In the Material dialog box, in a custom materials library, select your custom material.
2. In the Properties tab, in Material properties, click Select.
3. In the Match Sustainability Information dialog box, select the material that is most similar to your custom material.
4. Click OK.
5. Click Apply and Close.

Chicago West SolidWorks User Group

The next Chicago West SolidWorks User Group will be held:

Date:  Wednesday, February 23rd
Time:  6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location:  Room 195, Academic and Professional Building at Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove

The meeting is free to attend and anyone with an interest in SolidWorks is invited to join.  No RSVP is needed.

Agenda

• 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm:  Sign-in, light dinner and networking
• 7:00 pm - 7:15 pm:  Group business
• 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm:  "Top Down Design" or "Layout-Based Assembly Design" presentation
• 8:15 pm - 8:30 pm:  Door Prizes (if available)
• 8:30 pm:  Adjourn

How can I move my SolidWorks 2011 network license server?

Many times when doing upgrades, the issue of moving your 2010 or 2011 "SolidNetWork License Administrator" to a new server arises.

How difficult is it to move and how do I move it?

It's actually a simple process.

First install the 2011 SNL Administrator on the NEW server but do not activate.

When ready, start the "SolidNetWork License Manager\Administrator" on the old server.

Now, on the "Server Administration" tab, select "MODIFY."

Select the "Transfer license" option and step through the remaining options. This will transfer the license off of the old server.

On the new server, select "MODIFY" "Activate\Reactivate" and step through the remaining options.

This should pull the license to the new server.

Finally, on client PCs, open the "SolidNetWork License Manager" and update the "serve list" to direct to the new server name, for example, "25734@new_server_name."

That's it!

As always, if you have any questions on this process, give us a call in support at 800-816-8314.

What is SolidWorks Toolbox?

SolidWorks Toolbox includes a library of standard parts that is fully integrated with SolidWorks.  Select your standard and the type of part you want to insert, then drag the component into your assembly.  You can customize the Toolbox library of parts to include your company's standards, or to include those parts that you refer to most frequently.

The Toolbox library contains a folder of master part files for supported standards along with component size and configuration information.  When you use a new component size in SolidWorks, Toolbox updates the master part file to record the configuration information or creates a part file for the size, depending on your user preference.

Toolbox supports international standards, including:  ANSI, AS, GB, BSI, CISC, DIN, GB, ISO, IS, JIS and KS.  Toolbox includes the following hardware:

• Bearings
• Bolts
• Cams
• Gears
• Jig Bushings
• Nuts
• PEM Inserts
• Pins
• Retaining Rings
• Screws
• Sprockets
• Structural shapes, including aluminum and steel
• Timing Belt Pulleys
• Unistrut
• Washers

• The fasteners provided in Toolbox are approximate representations and do not include accurate thread detail, which might make them inappropriate for certain analyses such as stress analysis. 
• Toolbox gears are representations for machine design purposes.  They are not true involute gears that you can use for manufacturing.
• Rack gears must have fewer than 1,000 teeth.

Additionally, Toolbox provides several engineering tools:

• Beam calculator - for determining the stress and deflection of a beam
• Bearing calculator - for determining the capacity and life of a bearing
• Grooves - to add standard grooves to a cylindrical part
• Structural steel - cross-sections to add as a sketch to a part

Installation and Configuration

• Toolbox Browser - you can browse Toolbox components and use them in your designs
• Cams - you can create cams with fully-defined motion paths and follower types
• Grooves - you can add industry standard O-ring and retaining-ring grooves to your cylindrical model
• Other Tools - you can use Toolbox tools to perform beam and bearing calculations, and to add structural steel beams to your designs

Written by Cami Fredock, FISHER/UNITECH Application Engineer

SolidWorks Announces 3DVIA Composer V6R2011x

This innovative release adds significant enhancements to improve workflow and optimize output quality in technical communications.

3DVIA Composer V6R2011x is available for download from the SolidWorks Customer Portal now.
Customers with an active maintenance contract as of November 15th, 2010, are eligible to receive the new release.

Key Highlights:

• Lifelike Experience - New shading and rendering methods include alpha channel support and ambient occlusion.
• Improved Communication and Usability - Custom hotspots, new silhouette methods and new layered rendering features help to improve downstream communications and increase productivity.
• Additional Features and Enhancements - Unicode character encoding, a customizable compass and EPS output are just a few of the additional features that make this the best release of 3DVIA Composer to date.

solidThinking Announces Software Release 8.5

solidThinking announced on Monday, February 14th, the release of solidThinking 8.5 and solidThinking Inspired 8.5. Industrial designers, concept engineers and architects will soon be able to experience the enhanced benefits of the new releases, which launched worldwide.

The solidThinking 8.5 releases introduce more than 900 new features, enhancements and updates, including:

Modeling

• Faster workflow and functional performance.
• Simplified user-interface navigation and scene organization.
• A new and improved round tool with advanced options for shape control and handling of overflowing/overlapping rounded surfaces.
• A new Face Extract modeling tool for the creation of new surface objects by extracting faces of existing objects.
• More shortcuts, construction aids, sort and selection filters.
• Dramatically faster and higher-quality environment mapping and interactive visualization.

Data Exchange/CAD Collaboration

• New direct import for several native formats including H3D, SAT (ACIS), Catia V4, Catia V5, Parasolid (x_t and x_b), Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks and UGS NX — all at no additional cost.
• New export capability for Parasolid native format (x_t and x_b).
• Improved import and export capability for IGES, STEP and STL.

Rendering/Presentation

• A new real-time photorealistic rendering option, which integrates raytracing and progressive rendering to obtain a more photorealistic representation of lighting and materials.
• Enhanced anti-aliasing techniques and more efficient glossy materials for real-time rendering.
• Reflection Catcher, a new function that adds reflection below the model in a photorealistic rendering when the model is added to a back plate image.
• Enhanced materials library with more than 300 new “apply-and-render” materials. Material default settings have been optimized for best results.
• New ready-to-render lights and interior sets.
• Increased selection of background images and environments.

Form Generation (solidThinking Inspired )

• The ability to run Morphogenesis form generation on multiple model parts and materials.
• Define parts as design or non-design space.
• Show design space and morphogenesis results simultaneously for full review of the form generation.
• Faster, more intuitive part manipulation through smart snaps.
• Simple push and pull capabilities for turning 2D sketches into 3D design spaces.
• Measure static weight distribution of parts and assemblies on supports.

Current solidThinking users and members of the creative community are encouraged to further explore solidThinking 8.5 and download a free trial version by visiting http://www.solidthinking.com. solidThinking is also offering updated tutorials and essentials videos, to get users up and running quickly and independently.

Northern Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting

The next Northern Indiana SolidWorks User Group (NISWUG) Meeting has been announced and is coming up next week!

Date: February 22, 2011

Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST

Place: Lake Michigan College -- Bertrand Crossing

Address: 1905 Foundation Drive

City, State, Zip: Niles, MI 49120-8988

Agenda:

• Making SolidWorks Rock-- Jason Raak
• FEA without FEA-- Paul Kellner

Please RSVP for the meeting here.

SWUGN Technical Summit Coming to Kansas City

Mark your calendars for the Kansas City SWUGN Technical Summit coming up in May!

The Kansas City SWUGN Technical Summit features presentations by SolidWorks Product Managers and local SolidWorks expert users.  User registration is $40.00 and includes meals and giveaways.  Join fellow SolidWorks users from the Kansas City area for a full day of learning and networking, and of course, a little fun.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Location: TBD

Organizers:
Wayne Tiffany - Kansas City SolidWorks User Group

Richard Doyle - SolidWorks Corporation

Technical sessions are geared toward users of all levels.

Agenda

7:30am - 8:00am	Registration opens/Breakfast
8:00am - 8:45am	Opening session, orientation
8:45am - 10:00am	Session 1A - TBD
	Session 1B - TBD
10:15am - 11:30am	Session 2A - TBD
	Session 2B - TBD
11:30am - 12:30pm	Lunch
12:30pm - 1:45pm	Session 3A - TBD
	Session 3B - TBD
2:00pm - 3:15pm	Session 4A - TBD
	Session 4B - TBD
3:30pm - 4:30pm	Session 5A - TBD
	Session 5B - TBD

Registration by credit card online will be available shortly.  Please stay tuned for details as the date draws nearer!

FISHER/UNITECH Named 2010 Top Stratasys Reseller in the Americas

I'm proud to announce that FISHER/UNITECH was named the number one Stratasys reseller in the Americas for units shipped in 2010.  This achievement pertains to both Dimension 3D Printers and Fortus FDM systems.  FISHER/UNITECH has been a Stratasys partner for nearly 15 years.

FISHER/UNITECH has established two centrally-located Rapid Technology Centers in Troy, Michigan, and Schaumburg, Illinois.  Each center is equipped with a Fortus 400mc machine with the ability to print parts using all available Stratasys plastics.  FISHER/UNITECH has increased its commitment to Rapid Technology in 2011 with an expanded sales, service and support team that focuses solely on Stratasys solutions.  Each of our 12 branch offices houses a Dimension 3D printer for localized printing, demonstrations and training. 

Get a Free 3D Sample Part
Read the Press Release

Central Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting

Register now for the next Central Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting.

Date:  Thursday, February 10th
Register:  info@indianasolidworks.org
Location:  Ground Floor Conference Room, MJ Insurance Building, 9225 Priority Way West, Indianapolis, IN  46240
Time:  4:30 pm Registration and Networking, Meeting starts promptly at 5:00 pm

Remember:  No Registration = No Food and No Premium Door Prize


Plus! Plus! Plus! Premium Door Prize Worth Thousands!
NEiWorks Expert - sponsored by NEiNastran

Rapid Machining will also sponsor Home Depot gift cards and gas cards as door prizes.

Agenda

• General Meeting, Introductions and SolidWorks World 2011 Highlights followed by:
• NeiNastran Presentation - Engineering Software for Design, Analysis and Simulation
• Dinner, sponsored by SWUG Corporate
• Technical Presentation, "Become a Surfaces Expert," by Phil Whitaker, CATI
• Tips and Tricks
• Door Prizes

SolidWorks Designer Needed in Macedonia, Ohio

A growing company located in Macedonia, Ohio, has an immediate opening for a qualified Mechanical Engineer or experienced SolidWorks designer.  The selected candidate will be a member of an innovative, fast-paced team.  Candidate will be responsible for design improvements to existing products for reliability and cost reduction as well as assist with design projects and moving new designs into production.  Projects are diverse, involving electro-mechanical assemblies, linkages, sheet metal, machined and molded parts.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate current designs for cost reductions and design improvements
• Construct and evaluate final bills of materials
• Utilize your technical expertise in resolving issues/road blocks
• Plan and manage assigned projects with regular reporting to engineering team
• Resolve technical problems in a defined time frame and deliver results
• Communicate engineering details to production personnel and outside vendors
• Create/Update SolidWorks files to reflect product changes

Requirements

• A minimum of three years experience as a Mechanical Design or Manufacturing Engineer
• Familiarity with bills of materials
• Ability to participate in a team environment, yet able to carry out projects with minimal oversight
• Ability to resolve technical problems
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Minimum of two years experience with SolidWorks in a design and manufacturing environment
• Experience with design of electro-mechanical assemblies
• Strong analytical, organizational, written and communication skills
• Knowledgeable of manufacturing processes (molding/machining/bending/forming)
• Ability to keep organized while working on multiple projects

Benefits

• Paid Vacation
• 401K
• Health Insurance and more

Interested candidates please email your resume to Steve Cooper at steve@mt-ind.com.

New CAD317 SolidWorks Routing-Piping &Tubing Course

We've just added a new SolidWorks course to our comprehensive education offerings, bringing us to a grand total of 27 SolidWorks, Simulation, Enterprise PDM and 3DVIA Composer classes.  Take a class online, in a local training facility or let us come to you with our state-of-the-art mobile lab.

Our newest course, CAD317 SolidWorks Routing-Piping and Tubing, is currently scheduled as an online course, consisting of four sessions at two and a half hours each, and costs $795 per student.  This course is specifically designed for engineers who work with routed systems in SolidWorks.

Prerequisites include mechanical design and Windows operating system experience, and students must first take CAD110 SolidWorks Essentials.  Topics include fundamentals of routing, tubing and piping routes, changes and components, using P&ID files and piping skids.  Students enrolled in CAD317 will take the new SolidWorks Applied Technology (SWAT) exam as part of our effort to deliver higher quality education.

CAD317 is included in our 3DU Education Pass Premium, which enables students to take up to 17 courses within a 12 month period for only $3,995.

SolidWorks World 2011 Product Announcements

Read up on two new products announced last week at SolidWorks World.

3DVIA Post3D
As easy as sending email, 3DVIA Post3D creates virtual collaboration spaces, or posts, for designers to upload CAD assets and review their work with partners in fully interactive and realistic contexts.  Each post can be shared publicly or privately and allows users to meet virtually, in real-time through a personalized URL set by the author.  Post3D will take product design and virtual meetings to an entirely new dimension.

Read More  - SolidWorks Blog
Visit Post3D Website

SolidWorks n!Fuze
SolidWorks n!Fuze is new Web-based offering that lets you share and collaborate on files and ideas.  It’s an improvement on traditional approaches for sharing files, such as email and FTP sites, because it integrates with your design tools to facilitate the way you work, uses familiar social networking concepts to engage with others, and avoids costly IT infrastructure and administration.  It’s also quick and easy to get started with, simple to use, and accessible from anywhere.

Interested?  Sign up for the public beta by emailing your name, company name and contact information to:  nFuzeBeta@solidworks.com.  When the beta program is ready to launch, which should be in a few weeks, you'll be contacted with program details and instructions.

SolidWorks World 2012 will be held February 13-15th, 2012, in San Diego, California. 

SolidWorks World Wrap-Up

With SolidWorks World 2011 in the rear-window mirror, I thought I'd post a summary of each day's activities for those of you who weren't able to attend. 

SolidWorks World 2011 - Day 1

• New CEO Bertrand Sicot Sets the Record Straight on Cloud Strategy - from Desktop Engineering.  The first thing SolidWorks' new CEO Bertrand Sicot did when he stepped up to the stage at SolidWorks World 2011 was to put to rest, once and for all, speculations about the future of its desktop CAD software. [Read More]
• General Session Update - from SolidWorks Blog [Read More]
• General Session Video - from SolidWorks Blog.  Video shows Bertrand Sicot giving an update, announcement of Post3D by DS CEO Bernard Charles and the Apollo 13 story. [Read More]

SolidWorks World 2011 - Day 2

• General Session Update - from SolidWorks Blog. [Read More]
• General Session Video - from SolidWorks Blog [Read More]

SolidWorks World 2011 - Day 3

• General Session Update - from SolidWorks Blog. [Read More]
• General Session Video - from SolidWorks Blog.  This video takes a look at new products coming soon to SolidWorks and some amazing ways SolidWorks is used in education. [Read More]
• The Young Life of Riley - from SolidWorks Blog.  Riley Lewis, 13 and a quarter years old, is an archery instructor, jazz flutist, blacksmith (in the Victorian style), inventor, and the youngest known user of SolidWorks software. [Read More]

Coming Soon:  Look for my next post on the product announcements made at SolidWorks World 2011!