SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 1 CONTENTS Dynamic Feature Editing 2 Odd dimension errors 3 No planes show 4 How to change existing SKETCH PLANE 5 Sketching on previous feature & need lines from previous work? 6 Problems with extruding a subsequent sketch 7 How to Change to ANSI (ISO) Standard and METRIC units 8 ”FUNNEL SYMBOL” attached to mouse 9 Check for / find errors in sketch 10 Sketch is NOT FULLY DEFINED 11 How to Write Equations in Dimensions 12 Dimension to circular entities 13 SolidWorks on your laptop 14 To see centers and/or axis use VIEW TEMPORARY AXIS 15 CAMWORKS ERROR / “Demonstration” note 16 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 2 Dynamic Dimension Editing Cannot be done while editing a sketch or feature. To test your model: ++on FEATURE to show dimensions: Dims with “BLUE DOT” can be dragged – the dot Linked dims: ++Dimension and change value by Use this to link or create equations for the extrude distance IF no blue dots: click Instant3D (on Features toolbar) SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 3 Odd dimension errors Go to dimension a sketch and then cannot ++on a dimension to be able to change the number, LINK, or Use and EQUATION – instead it automatically jumps into DIMEXPERT ++ on a feature to view it’s dimensions - unable to drag any dimension. The “blue dot” (on any dimension that is not linked and has no equation) does not show - cannot drag the dimension. Make sure that the "INSTANT 3D" button at the right end of the FEATURES bar is SELECTED (indented) IF no blue dots for Dynamic Dimension Editing: click Instant3D (on Features toolbar) SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS No Planes Show When you start a sketch but no planes show + CLICK on at start of “FEATURE DESIGN TREE” in drawing window (opens list) CHOOSE PLANE “FEATURE DESIGN TREE” appears in drawing window when a tool covers the left panel page 4 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 5 How to change existing SKETCH PLANE Right-click on sketch in FeatureManager design tree, and select EDIT SKETCH PLANE Choose a new sketch plane: TOP / FRONT / RIGHT from FeatureManager design tree –or- Choose a face of the sketch -or- FIRST: Define a new plane using: FEATURES >REFERENCE GEOMETRY >PLANE – can use three points, another plane and a point, or another plane and a distance SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS Sketching on previous feature & need outline? >SKETCH >CONVERT ENTITIES choose edges of feature to “traces” Lines are create and part of your sketch Optional: can choose SELECT CHAIN and then TRIM –or- DELETE any lines not needed (leaves “points” – ignore) page 6 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS PROBLEMS WITH EXTRUDING A SUBSEQUENT SKETCH Possible causes: 1. MERGE RESULTS was UNCHECKED - This would create a second body. 2. 3. It should be checked. THIN FEATURE in extrude was activated – close it Sketch was not closed – options to correct: draw missing line(s) convert entities SEE BELOW (and trim?) to get missing lines use SELECTED CONTOURS to choose the shape you want to extrude page 7 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS HOW TO CHANGE UNITS >TOOLS >OPTIONS (at bottom) -or- page 8 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 9 ”FUNNEL SYMBOL” attached to mouse symbol appears next to cursor Toggle Selection Filters. Turns selected filters on or off. You can also press F6 AND THEN MOUSE BUTTOM. Selection Filter Selection Filters help select specific types of items in the graphics area or drawing sheet. For example, choose the filter for faces so only faces can be selected. To toggle the display of the Selection Filter toolbar, click Toggle Selection Filter Toolbar (Standard toolbar), or press F5. The following buttons on the Selection Filter toolbar allow you to specify the behavior of the Selection Filter: Toggle Selection Filters. Turns selected filters on or off. You can also press F6. Clear All Filters. Clears all selected filters. Select All Filters. Selects all filters. Invert Selection. All other items similar to the selected items (faces, edges, vertices, for example) are selected and the original selections are canceled. SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 10 CHECK FOR / FIND ERRORS IN SKETCH: >Tools >Sketch Tools >Check Sketch for Feature CHECK PORTION OF SKETCH WITH ERROR WILL TURN CYAN (BLUE) ZOOM IN TO FIND ERROR SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 11 Sketch is NOT FULLY DEFINED First, make sure the sketch is constrained (has a relation to) the origin Then, grab any endpoint of a “blue” line, arc, entity and drag it around. It will show you what is missing. SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 12 How to Write Equations in Dimensions Note: cannot be inside SMART DIMENSIONS command LINK VALUES allows you to name a dimension to be used in equations RT-click ON dimension 4.00 LINK VALUES (from list) type name (your choice) EQUATION ++ ON dimension to get dialog box type “=“ + in line GLOBAL VARIABLES to see existing ones type formula (see note) eg =SIDE*2 NOTE: can choose existing linked dimension from list –or- type name To edit / delete links and equations: Rt Click: EQUATIONS (near top of Design Tree list) Manage Equations Click on: add global Variable to create your own Click on: your Global Variable to EDIT Rt Click on: your Global Variable to DELETE Also: Rt Click on dimension with LINK in sketch > “UNLINK VALUE” SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 13 Dimension to circular entities Dimension to center of circle SoildWorks automatically chooses the center – just pick the circle itself circle Dimension to edge of circle ONLY in special cases Since SoildWorks automatically chooses the center – you must force it to take the edge Use the SHIFT key when you choose the circle SHIFT Dimension DIAMETERS of cylindrical object in a profile view (eg REVOLVE) Choose the two lines: center and edge of the circular shape and DRAG the dimension to the lines It will switch to the diameter NOTE: the “center line” does not need to be a construction line for this to work. The center line DOES NEED to be a construction line for a REVOLVE to work. SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS page 14 SolidWorks on your laptop I. Software SolidWorks 2012 Only students in specific courses in the Engineering & Technology Department ASK5000 HELPDESK - basement Millennium Hall Your laptop MUST have a 64bit processor NOTE: To use your SolidWorks license (and access your M:drive) OFF CAMPUS you must use VPN II. Access to M: drive NOTE: your M: drive should be available to you on all department lab computers – for the semester Download software: UWStout “logins” Resources: “Ask5000” >Campus Download >Campus Tools choose: Drive Mapper for Windows >Download Drive mapper >RUN To activate: >Start >Programs >Map bluedrive H: username & password (stop BEFORE @) Choose STEM OPTION NOTE: To use your M: drive OFF CAMPUS you must use VPN III. VPN to access the Key Server (and SolidWorks) OFF CAMPUS UWStout “logins” Resources: “Ask5000” “How do I use VPN?” (move down page) “If you are using 64 bit Windows Vista or Windows 7, click here” Follow prompts Type in username and password your username = email, but stop BEFORE @ For future use go to: Start Connect to UW-Stout VPN SSTP Let me know if there are any errors – I cannot test it. SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS To see centers and/or axis use VIEW TEMPORARY AXIS page 15 SolidWorks PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS CAMWORKS ERROR TOOL >Add-Ins MAKE 6 (SIX) CORRECTIONS: 4 TOOLBOX (ADD) 2 CAMWORKS (DELETE) page 16