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Forming tools are a great way to add specific geometry to a sheet metal design. This can range from louvers to lances, to dimples, but forming tools can also help add text or logos to a sheet metal design. This article will help you create custom forming tools in SOLIDWORKS and apply them to a sheet metal model.

Simulating a press fit condition in SOLIDWORKS Simulation can be very challenging when there is a large amount of interference between interfacing components. This type of analysis requires a nonlinear study to capture the large deformations induced by the press fit. There is a no penetration contact condition that can be used for simulating press fit connections. It is referred to in the software as a shrink fit condition.

Although SOLIDWORKS has an extensive material library, users often need to create custom materials. The ability to add custom materials enables users to calculate an accurate mass or simulation of a part or assembly. The following steps demonstrate the processes to create a new material in SOLIDWORKS.

Many of us need to have multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS installed on our computers. For those of us that fall into this group, it can be an inconvenience if every time we double click on a SOLIDWORKS file, it is opened in the wrong version. Let’s discuss how to change which version of SOLIDWORKS opens your files when double clicking on them in File Explorer.

If you have a SOLIDWORKS Premium license, a new design tool has been added to your repertoire. Since its inception, SOLIDWORKS Sustainability was an add-in that was purchased separately from a SOLIDWORKS license. As of SOLIDWORKS 2015, SOLIDWORKS Sustainability is included in the SOLIDWORKS Premium package. 

 

SOLIDWORKS users may occasionally experience SOLIDWORKS freezing up when trying to save a file (kind of a problem, right?). If they use the Task Manager to try and kill the process, they get an error message saying that SOLIDWORKS is waiting for them to respond. This is a clue that the problem may be due to a lost dialog box.

 

We are often asked about SOLIDWORKS Electrical best practices and the display of attributes has been one of the top questions regarding terminal strips. SOLIDWORKS has changed the behavior of their supplied terminals by updating its symbols to display connection names by default.

In 2015, a new rotating region option was added to SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation: Sliding Mesh. The Sliding Mesh assumes an unsteady flow field and is therefore available for transient solutions only. While this method can be used for various flow configurations, it is especially suitable to provide solutions in cases where the rotor-stator interaction is strong and in cases where the flow exits the rotating component radially.

 

CAMWorks License Manager is a good place to start when getting error messages about licenses. First, we need to open the License Manager inside the start menu. The first thing to look at is the “Authorization Status” which should say “Succeeded.” Below Authorization, it lists the CPD Number which is the licensing number. It’s important to verify that it’s updated to the most recent one you have received.