SolidWorks 2007 offers feature tree untangling technology, C2 surfaces and easy file searching

BOSTON – Every mechanical CAD software user knows the drill: after a morning's work on an intricate part design, you have to make an edit to add an new feature such as a draft angle between two faces. And voila! the software tells you "no way!"

Luckily, to paraphrase Mike (Wayne) Myers from the Wayne's World movies, SolidWorks 2007 (solidworks.com) incorporates something called SWIFT that says "way!" SWIFT^TM is SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology, which, with minimal prompts, will automatically reorder features in your sketch, part or assembly tree to resolve a design. As SolidWorks CEO John McIeney said at the product launch this month, designers can now better "focus on product design, not the design tools."

SWIFT includes: FilletXpert, to create and modify constant radius fillets without the user having to worry about the order of filleting; DraftXpert, for neutral plane draft features; SketchXpert, to help users understand why dimensions and relationships are conflicting (and offer solutions); DimXpert, for dimensioning; and, MateXpert, which allows users to "force" mates to resolve problems.

For part modeling, SolidWorks 2007 provides a new surface feature called "Boundary" to give users a 1st or 1st and 2nd direction surface that can provide curvature (C2) in both directions.

In a hands-on session with the software, however, I found that out of the 200+ enhancements announced, the "SolidWorks Explorer" feature may be the most used. It incorporates a Google-like search engine for file searches: users may never need to go to their File Manager again to find files!

Mike Edwards, Editor,
DPN Magazine medwards@clbmedia.ca
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Joint design. Archetype Joint offers joint design, comparative testing and validation of nut runner, cyanoacrylate and threaded fastener technologies (archetypejoint.com).

Encoders. Heidenhain Corp. (heidenhain.com) offers downloads and technical white papers on linear, angular and rotary encoders, as well as digital readouts and numerical controls.

Die castings. The North American Die Casting Association (diecasting.org/oem/specs/) offers its Product Specification Standards for Die Casting covering specification, design and production.
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LabVIEW connectivity. National Instruments has announced the release of CANopen LabVIEW Library, said to make it easy for engineers to create industrial control and measurement applications with connectivity to hundreds of industrial CANopen devices, including motion drives, sensors and distributed I/O.

Web server module. IDEC Corp. has added a communication module to its MicroSmart line, a Web Server Module. The unit bundles multiple features and can be used with several IDEC PLCs, including the FC4A MicroSmart, OpenNet Controllers and the Micro3C.

Torque limiter. Nexen has announced the Mechanical Torque Limiter. The use of the limiter is said to isolate the driving from the driven elements within milliseconds.

Bearings. The Dodge Ultra Kleen Wide Slot Take-up Frame, constructed of 304 series stainless steel, is the latest in a line of Dodge mounted bearing products said to offer protection against chemicals used for sanitation.

        

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3Dconnexion (3dconnexion.com), a Logitech company, has announced that its SpacePilot navigation input device (3D motion controller) was honored with the Best of Show award following the PTC/USER World Event 2006 in Texas this month.

The German company HZD, a high-pressure die casting technology developer (hzd.ca), has established an office in Toronto. HZD zinc foam technology enables the manufacture of high strength zinc die-castings using 30% less material. Contact: Christian Lux, chris@hzd.ca.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 25-29, 2006. Las Vegas. The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (easa.com) will hold its 2006 Annual Convention and Exposition.

September 26-28, 2006. Mississauga, ON. Canadian Manufacturing Week, including the Design Engineering and OEM show, Weld Expo and the Plant Equipment Maintenance show (reedexpo.ca/cmw).

October 22-25, 2006. Milwaukee. The Investment Casting Institute's 54th Technical Conference and Expo (investmentcasting.org).

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