How do I install/upgrade a SolidNetWork License (SNL)?
How do I add a license to my SolidNetWork License (SNL) Server?
How do I set up SolidNetWork Licensing if I have a Windows Firewall?
How do I diagnose issues with my software?
Can SolidWorks open Inventor files?
Can SolidWorks open STP files?
Can SolidWorks open CATIA files?
Can SolidWorks run on a Mac
How to use SolidWorks 2013
How to use SolidWorks forming tool
How to use SolidWorks Routing
How to use SolidWorks Flow
How to make a sphere in SolidWorks
How to make a spring in SolidWorks
How to make a threads in SolidWorks
How to make a gear in SolidWorks
Is a SolidWorks Floating License or Network License supported on VPN?
How do I install/upgrade a SolidNetwork License (SNL)?
Follow these instructions to upgrade or install your SolidNetwork License Server 2012.
Have an older version?
2011 Setup
2011 Upgrade
2010 Setup
2009 Setup
I have just purchased an additional license for my SolidNetwork License. How do I add that license to my server?
Follow these instructions to add a license to your SNL server 2012.
How do I set up SolidNetWork Licensing if I have a Windows Firewall?
Follow these instructions to setup SolidNetWork Licensing with Windows Firewall.
How do I diagnose issues with my software?
Refer to SolidWorks Rx 2012 to help diagnose issues with your computer, perform SolidWorks aware system maintenance, or capture and review problems.
Have an older version?
SolidWorks Rx 2011
SolidWorks Rx 2010
Can SolidWorks open Inventor files?
Beginning with SolidWorks 2003, Inventor R5 files could be opened directly. As of SolidWorks 2011, Autodesk Inventor R11 part (.ipt) and assembly (.iam) files can be imported. Drawings can be imported if first saved as DXF/DWG, which loses associativity to the 3D model.
The feature history of parts can be imported if Inventor is installed on the same system. Inventor View can be used to import parts as solid bodies.
SolidWorks can import the following Inventor features: chamfer, draft, extrude, cut extrude, extrude/revolve with contour selection, fillet, holes, linear and circular patterns, mirror, reference geometry, revolve, cut revolve, shell, sketch, sketch dimensions, sweep, cut sweep, threads. Unrecognized features are imported as solid bodies.
Can SolidWorks open STP files?
SolidWorks has long supported *.stp or STEP import and export. STEP files are the most robust neutral file format available for exchanging model data between CAD systems.
STEP is preferred over IGES (which is also fully supported but is an inferior format). Parasolid (*.x_t) and ACIS (*.sat) files are generally even more robust than STEP, but not as many other CAD systems support import/export of these proprietary, but common, file formats.
STEP files are unable to contain feature history, therefore imported *.stp files will produce solids and surfaces only without parametric intelligence. Subassembly structures, component names, and colors are imported if they exist in the file. SolidWorks writes this data to STEP files.
Can SolidWorks open CATIA files?
SolidWorks can open as well as write to, CATIA files with an application developed by several a SolidWorks Solution Partners. CAPINC has worked successfully with Datatkit, to convert CATIA and Unigraphics NX. To learn more, go to: http://www.datakit.com/en/crosscad_plg.php
Can SolidWorks run on a Mac?
SolidWorks is only available for Windows operating systems. Specific system requirements can be found on www.solidworks.com. There are many accounts of people having good success running SolidWorks on a Mac which is running Windows (typically via Boot Camp or similar approach).
How to use SolidWorks 2013
The best way to get started with SolidWorks, apart from having one-on-one access to someone who is already proficient with it and good at teaching, is to first obtain a license of the software to install and run. Then go to the menu Help > SolidWorks Tutorials.
There is a tutorial titled “Introduction to SolidWorks” that will probably take you 30 to 60 minutes to go through. You should then do the 3 basic tutorials about parts, assemblies, and drawings. Explore the other tutorial topics at your leisure.
Then, attend a 4-day Essentials class at a local SolidWorks reseller like CAPINC. Practice for a couple weeks after the Essentials, and follow up with the Assemblies class and the Drawings class. This will give you an excellent foundation and very broad working knowledge of SolidWorks functionality.
Continue with additional advanced courses, local user group community support, and online resources to build your expertise with this sophisticated software.
How to use SolidWorks Forming Tool
Forming tools act as dies that bend, stretch, or otherwise form sheet metal to create form features such as louvers, lances, flanges, and ribs. The SolidWorks software includes some sample forming tools to get you started. They are stored in: <install_dir>Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSolidWorksSolidWorks <version>design libraryforming tools. You can add this folder to the Design Library by setting it up in File Locations.
You can insert forming tools only from the Design Library and you can apply them only to sheet metal parts. A sheet metal part has the Sheet-Metal1 feature in the FeatureManager design tree. You can create your own forming tools using many of the same steps you use to create any SolidWorks part.
To apply a forming tool:
- Open a sheet metal part, and browse to the folder in the Design Library with forming tools.
- In the Design Library, right-click the folder that contains the forming tools and click Forming Tools Folder. If Forming Tools Folder is already selected, omit this step. This applies to forming tools that are part files (*.sldprt), not Form Tool (*.sldftp) files.
- Drag the forming tool from the Design Library to the face you want to deform.
- Press Tab to change the direction of travel and strike the opposite side of the material.
- Drop the feature where you want it applied.
- Locate the forming tool by dimensioning, adding relations, or modifying the orientation sketch.
- In the Position form feature dialog box, click Finish
Examine the sample forming tools before creating your own. Editing a sample forming tool, can potentially create a forming tool that meets your needs.
One thing to consider is that in the Design Library you must right-click the folder that contains the forming tools and select Forming Tools Folder to designate its contents as forming tools. This applies to forming tools that are part files (*.sldprt), not Form Tool (*.sldftp) files.
For a complete understanding on how to use Forming tools with SolidWorks, come to a CAPINC Sheet Metal course
How to use SolidWorks Routing
The best way to get started with SolidWorks Routing is to run the Tutorial built into the SolidWorks software. This tutorial and all tutorials can be accessed in the SolidWorks Help Menu under SolidWorks Tutorials… Then go to “All SolidWorks Tutorials (Set 2)” and choose whether you are interested in Electrical Routing or Tubing and Piping.
With SolidWorks Routing for Piping and Tubing, you can create a special type of subassembly that builds a path of pipes, tubes, or electrical cables between components. SolidWorks Routing is available with SolidWorks Premium. You can model cables or harnesses with SolidWorks electrical routing tools.
Essentially , you start with a part from your “Design Library” that has special connection and routing reference points. This will allow routed systems to be automatically connected to those parts.
SolidWorks Routing is a very powerful and robust application and CAPINC recommends that you visit a CAPINC office for a SolidWorks Routing training class on the subject.
How to use SolidWorks Flow
With the full SolidWorks Flow Simulation product, you have the following advanced functionality:
Heat Transfer Analysis
- Calculate heat flow in the adiabatic walls approximation or in solid bodies.
- Specify different types of heat sources.
- Assign to models a broad range of solid materials that are stored in the engineering database.
- Define your own materials by assigning them values for physical properties such as thermal conductivity, heat capacity, etc.
- Calculate radiation heat. The engineering database contains radiative surfaces such as Blackbody Wall, Whitebody Wall, Grey Body with an arbitrary albedo, and a broad range of surfaces of real materials.
- Analyze the flow of up to ten fluids of different types (liquids, gases/steam, real gases, non-Newtonian liquids and compressible liquids). The database contains numerous fluids with predefined properties.
- Analyze a problem with multiple fluids of different types, provided you separate the areas of the different fluids from each other using fluid subdomains.
- Analyze mutual dissolution of fluids. Mixing fluids must be of the same type.
- Define your own fluids.
Fluids and Flow Types
Initial Settings
Before you start the calculation, Flow Simulation offers additional settings. If you set the initial condition values closer to the anticipated final parameters, calculation performance improves.
- Initial fluid parameters. You can set these parameters globally. For an assembly, you can set them locally for a sub-assembly or individual part.
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Flow velocity
- Fluid composition
- Initial temperature. Set the initial temperature of a solid.
- Initial mesh parameters. Set additional parameters that control how the analysis resolves the solid/fluid interface, curved surfaces, narrow channels, small solid features, etc. You can apply these settings globally or, for assemblies, to a sub-assembly or an individual part.
Boundary Conditions
You can set these boundary conditions.
For inlet and outlet:
|
For inlet only:
|
Black Box Entities
To reduce analysis time, Flow Simulation includes several pre-built “black boxes.” Black boxes have tabulated integral input and output parameters and are included in calculations. Flow Simulation does not resolve them during an analysis.
- Fan. An idealized fan that is fully defined by its fan curve, which means the tabulated dependency of volume flow versus pressure drop. You can use the fan as an inlet, outlet, or internal fan. The database contains fan curves for selected industrial fans. You can also define fan curves yourself.
- Heat Sink. An idealized fan combined with the heat sink. Flow Simulation defines the heat sink by the fan curve and the heat resistance curve.
- Thermoelectric Cooler. An idealized Peltier cooling device defined by the maximum temperature difference it can develop.
Viewing Results
Flow Simulation includes these features to view the results:
You can also obtain the final value of any physical parameter, including flow rate, pressure drop, etc., at a given point, or the maximum, minimum, average, or weighted averaged over a surface or volume area.
To get started with SolidWorks Flow Simulation, come to a CAPINC training course on the subject, delivered by industry specialists knowledgeable with the details of Computational Fluid Dynamics.
How to make a sphere in SolidWorks
The most common way to make a sphere in SolidWorks is to sketch a semi-circle and use Boss-Revolve to define a solid sphere based on a 360° revolution around the straight line of the semi-circle.
How to make a spring in SolidWorks
The most common way to make a spring in SolidWorks is to create a helix (Insert > Curve > Helix/Spiral) and then use that helix as a sweep path for a circular cross section. The helix command allows variable pitch and diameter input if needed. Tightly-packed turns of a tension spring are sometimes modeled as a Linear Pattern of a Boss-Revolve to improve performance.
How to make threads in SolidWorks
There are three common methods for creating threads in SolidWorks, depending on the level of detail required in the 3D solid model:
1. The simplest, fastest, and easiest method is to create a Cosmetic Thread via Insert > Annotations. This creates a graphical texture and note giving the appearance and callout for the thread in the model and the drawing.
2. The most accurate method for creating a thread is to define a helix (Insert > Curve > Helix/Spiral) and then to create a Boss-Sweep or a Cut-Sweep using the helix as a sweep path to model the threads. This creates the true 3D surfaces of a thread and greatly increases file size, rebuild time, and model complexity, and so this approach should only be used as needed.
3. A third method, as a compromise, is to create a Cut-Revolve or Boss-Revolve representing one thread turn and then use Linear Pattern to generate the rest of the threads. Some call this approach a “schematic thread”.
The SolidWorks Hole Wizard can automatically create the correct Cosmetic Thread for tapped holes.
How to make a gear in SolidWorks
The best way to make a gear is to model the blank of the gear and then create a sketch on the gear blank that represents the pitch diameter. From there you can use the “gear mate” in SolidWorks Assembly mode to mate the pitch diameter sketches on each gear blank.
For an accurate representation of a gear suitable to cut gears with, check out GearTrax and GearTeq, from Camnetics, a SolidWorks Solution Partner (http://www.camnetics.com/). This add-in to SolidWorks will automatically create accurate representations of a gear that can be manufactured.
Is a SolidWorks Floating License or Network License supported on VPN?
No, it is not.
SolidWorks does not test or support the use of VPN in conjunction with the SolidWorks SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL). It may be possible to use SolidWorks with a license while connected via VPN but this is not supported or recommended.