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Choose Your Own Adventure: In SolidWorks Professional:

SOLIDWORKS UTILITIES. Choose Your Own Adventure: In SolidWorks Professional:. Clem See. SOLIDWORKS TOOLBOX. SolidWorks Utilities. Compare:. Setup:.

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Choose Your Own Adventure: In SolidWorks Professional:

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  1. SOLIDWORKS UTILITIES Choose Your Own Adventure:In SolidWorks Professional: Clem See SOLIDWORKS TOOLBOX

  2. SolidWorks Utilities

  3. Compare: Setup: In SolidWorks 2011 the Utilities toolset is accessed through the Tools dropdown. Once you choose one of these tools the Utilities add-in will automatically turn on for the remainder of the session. The compare tools will ask you to locate the files you wish to compare, then select the comparisons needed.

  4. Compare: In addition to choosing a file and choosing a configuration, you used to be able to browse the vault, and choose a revision level of the part, and it would open as a temp file. The workaround would be to check out both revision levels, rename one and compare. This may return in 2012 according to a tasty morsel from the 2012 what’s new pdf. PDMWorks Workgroup integration and the Windows 7 (Vista) Regression As a side note, one of my favorite things about the compare tool was the ability to compare Files against their previous revisions. This worked in XP but is a major regression in current versions of Windows. This is due to the removal of Vault view from the File->Open window

  5. Compare: Compare Document

  6. Compare: Compare Feature

  7. Compare: Compare Geometry When comparing Geometry, orientation is very important. Making sure the origins align may require a coordinate system be created. The top image is that of the “Reference Document”. The bottom image is the comparison.

  8. Compare: Compare Drawing This is very helpful for finding differences between vaulted drawings, finding differences in title blocks, and hunting down deleted balloons, or rearranged BOMS/tables.

  9. Find/Modify: Find/Replace

  10. Find/Modify: Find/Modify The important thing here is that if you needed to modify a handful, or many features at once that were not linked in any way, you could do it with this tool. Envision a weldment, and you need to make all Boss Extrudes merge to prepare the weldment for study with SimulationXpress.

  11. Checks Geometry Analysis Thickness Analysis

  12. Checks Symmetry Analysis (Works for assemblies too)

  13. SolidWorks Toolbox I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF MY TOOLBOX!!!

  14. SolidWorks Toolbox • Database vs. Library vs. Software • Engineering Tools • Configuration Utility • Slimming Down Choices • Part Numbers and Descriptions • Administration • Flag Utility • Implementation Discussion (Time Allowing)

  15. SolidWorks Toolbox • Database vs. Library vs. Software • There is a great discussion from a couple years ago that Matt Lombard • Posted on his website www.dezignstuff.com. In it he asks if calling the • Toolbox a Library of parts is entirely accurate. • Answering this question and understanding what you want from the tool can help you decide whether toolbox is something you need in your back pocket. • Before we make that decision, lets look at what it has to offer, and pick what we like.

  16. SolidWorks Toolbox • Engineering Tools

  17. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility There are many ways to access the Configuration Utility, I usually get it from the Start menu and deal with it while SW is closed. HINT: When installing SW, Give your SolidWorks Data folder a unique name, and never let it install into an older SolidWorks Data folder from a previous version.

  18. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Slimming Down Choices: Section 1 is for removing standards and Types you don’t need. You can always enable them again later.

  19. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Part Numbers and Descriptions Important button, refer to next page 8094 possible outcomes for a Hex Bolt to begin with. This number drops to 2600 by just disabling Simplified and Schematic in Thread Display

  20. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Part Numbers and Descriptions From here you can enter the part numbers and descriptions as you want them to appear in your BOM. OR you could export the list as a table, and copy/paste from your purchasing software. Why not, nobody has ever gotten themselves in trouble by just copy and pasting….. Go ahead. Save some time. You’re welcome.

  21. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Administration Sections 4 and 5 refer to the admin settings. On the next slide I will discuss.

  22. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Administration • Create Configuration: Each new size of Hex Bolt is added to the master file as a new configuration. Ideal for keeping the Toolbox folders small. Not good for people that need to share assemblies with outside parties. • Create Parts: Creates each new size as a new part. Creates numerous files, but can be more robust, and is preferable when using Pack n Go to share full assemblies • Writing to read-only documents: The toolbox folder should remain ‘read-only’ from a system point of view. The toolbox software will toggle this when new files are added. Choose ‘Always change read-only…’ • Leave the rest unchecked. • Step 5 in the configuration utility are the Big Brother settings. You can lock size addition, editing down and password protect it. That’s up to you.

  23. SolidWorks Toolbox • Configuration Utility • Administration- Best Practices and other infos • The best way that I have found when working in a group is to put the SolidWorks Data 2011 folder on a network drive and redirect each users options to look at it. • ***MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE ‘MAKE THIS FOLDER THE DEFALT SEARCH LOCATION FOR TOOLBOX COMPONENTS’ IN THE SW HOLE WIZAR/TOOLBOX SETTINGS • PDMWorks Workgroup will manage toolbox parts automatically by defualt and will not ask you to check them in. It will keep ‘where used’ data on them however • PDM Enterprise, will allow you a robust method of checking in and revising toolbox parts. • There is a utility located in your SW install folder, for example: C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp 2011\SolidWorks\Toolbox\data utilities\sldsetdocprop.exe • Sldsetdocprop.exe allows you to add or remove the internal flag that tells SolidWorks it is a toolbox part.

  24. SolidWorks Toolbox • Armed with this information you will have a better idea if this “Library” is right for you. The SolidWorks Toolbox, is more of a giant macro than a library or a database. The Toolbox is superior when it comes to creating new fasteners, bearings, and gears, but there can be problems with naming and moving files around to other users if mismanaged, or inexperienced. • I found the toolbox to be worth the challenges, hole wizard autosizing, and just plain convinience ruled my world. On the other hand I also see the desire to have a robust non managed library of parts, and therefor a combination could be sought. Allow toolbox to create the part and use the setslddocprop.exe utility to remove the flag (it can do a folder of parts in batch as well). • Toolbox will continue to get improved on, in fact there are a few changes for 2012 as well. As always refer to the internet for in depth guides, I saw many a tutorial on Youtube after a single search. I know you can do it.

  25. Thank You

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