SolidWorks 2011!

January 2011 CATIpult

SolidWorks
Question and Answer

Josh Altergott- Support Team Leader

Todd Werginz- Application Engineer
 SolidWorks 2011!
Agenda

Introductions
User Submitted Questions
Common Support Questions
Open Question and Answer Time
 SolidWorks 2011!

User Submitted Questions

 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: Is there a way to copy a single sheet from a
drawing file into another drawing file?
A: Yes there are several ways to copy a single sheet from a
drawing file into another drawing file, the easiest of these being
Ctrl Drag or Copy and Paste.
SolidWorks 2011!
SolidWorks 2011!

Note: We have seen issues with dangling dimensions after

inserting the new/copied sheet and all that is needed to
correct the dimension is to drag the end of a dimension line.
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: Does licensing allow the user to work from a
remote work station, if needed?
A: Yes there are 3 different ways to work remotely with
SolidWorks.
a. Home Use License, for every seat of SolidWorks you purchase
you are also give a HUL to be used when not in the office.
(use same serial number for Standalone License, fill out HUL
Form to get new Serial Number for Network Licenses)
b. Borrow a license, if using a Network License it is possible for a
user to Borrow or Check out a License from the pool for up
to 30 days.
c. VPN connection to License Server.
WARNING: You need to be running SW2010 SP5.0 or SW2011
SP0.0 or higher for this to work properly. *Note- Both server
and client need to be updated.
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: Is there a way to make a part in an assembly that
is the remaining volume after subtracting all the
parts or assemblies?
A: Yes there are several ways to get the internal volume of a part
or assembly.
Tools-Mass Properties
Multi body techniques are going to rule in this case.
Save your assembly as a part, create the external shape or
volume you which to extract from. Copy your bodies for
sacrifice. Use the feature-combine (Subtraction) and then hit
mass properties.
Volume of fluid channels or similar type instances. Copy the
surfaces or the inside of the part you are looking at. Set offset
to zero. Cap the ends and knit surfaces with the make solid
box checked. Hide solid and then check your mass properties
Mold with holes (Ejector Pins, Cores and Such), Side Actions,
Use the Join feature to create a part.
SolidWorks 2011!
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: What is the best procedure to convert AutoCAD
2D drawings into a SolidWorks 3D model?
Can an AutoCAD assembly be converted into a
SolidWorks model / assembly?
A: Yes and much like working with imported 3D files there are
several things to consider.
Complexity of the model?
How is the model going to be used?
Do you need modifiable dimensions?
Is the 2D geometry correct?
After reviewing these items the process of converting 2D to 3D
can be done in a few steps using the 2D to 3D toolbar.
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: Drawing Line Formats: Is there away to
individually format sketch creations such as lines on
drawings? It would be useful to assign different
individual line types, weight or color.
A: Assigning drawing entities to weight, color and layer is much
like working with layers in other 2D programs like AutoCAD.
In SolidWorks we use the Layers Toolbar and the Line Format
Toolbar
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: I work with imported models, some of them are
large to start with. What often happens, the file gets
significantly larger with every feature I add, no
matter how simple the feature is. Eventually the file
gets so slow and crashes so often, that it's impossible
to work with it. Would like to know how deal with this
problem.
A: Working with imported files there are several considerations.
Where did it come from? Format? Outputting Modeling
System? Ask for multiple formats to see what performs best.

DO NOT LET THE HARDWARE BE THE EXCUSE!

Round trip to reduce overhead. Keeping a bread crumb trail

and trying different workflows.
Lean towards solid techniques first and supplement with
surfacing.
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: Common Base File Protection: Assuming part or
assembly files are referenced from a single folder
location and a data manager is not being used, is
there a way to protect components or subassemblies
inserted into assembly models from being
inadvertently altered by another user?
A: Yes but it is difficult and cumbersome because it involves
Windows permissions being set for each User and or Directory.
Using this method almost always leads to problems when new
users start or there is a change of personnel from who originally
set up the permissions.
By far the best and most ideal way to handle this is with a Data
Management system, these can be customized for the very basic
check in/out to a great level of detail that monitors the entire
engineering process.
 SolidWorks 2011!

Common Support Questions

 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: We will be switching over to 2011 next week. I wanted
to know if there was a condensed document for tips for
uninstalling SolidWorks, before doing the installs?
A: For and major version upgrade we always recommend a
complete uninstall of the current version you are running and
then performing the new installation. (See instructions below)
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: How do I upgrade my SolidWorks Network License
Server to a new version?
A: Upgrading the server is something that can generally be done
in less than 15min and working directly on the server is the best
place to make these changes.
1. Start the SNL Administrator.
2. Stop the Service.
3. Modify/Transfer the current activation back to the server.
4. Close the SNL Administrator.
5. Uninstall the current program through Add/Remove programs.
6. Delete all directories related to the SNL. Most important is the
folder that contains the sw_d.lic file.
7. Install the new SNL Administrator and follow the prompts up to and
including the activation process. Once activation is complete you
will want to see Version19 if you installed and activated SW2011
(V18=2010, V17=2009, etc).
Note: The newest SNL Administrator will support older versions of
SolidWorks installed on the client machines.
 SolidWorks 2011!
Q: How do I copy my SolidWorks settings so they can
be used on a new machine or a new version?
A: There are two ways to copy the settings:
1. Copy Settings Wizard
2. Copy the HKEY_CURRENT_USER setting for SolidWorks from
the registry.
a. In Windows XP Start Run and type regedit.
b. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software
SolidWorks.
c. Right click on the SolidWorks folder and Export (save it to
a location that you will easily remember).
d. Copy the file to the new machine or install the new version
of SolidWorks.
e. Double click on the .reg file to have it automatically import
itself into the registry.
 SolidWorks 2011!

Open Question & Answer

Please type your questions into the Chat area of the
WebEx and we will answer as many questions as possible.
 SolidWorks 2011!

Thank You
If you have any additional questions or we were not able to
answer your questions today please call CATI Tech Support
at (888) 285-2284 or email us as support@cati.com