2011 Service Pack 2 is Live!

Solidworks has released service pack 2.0 as of 1/18/11 just in time for Solidworks World.

Solidworks SP 2.0

So everyone get loaded up and service packed and I'll see you down there. I'll be there giving a couple of presentations this year. It's my first time to the event so I am looking forward to it especially with the recent cold snap in Wisconsin. I will be doing a presentation on "Preparing your Imported Models for Molding" and also a presentation with Josh from CATI on "Redneck Workarounds" for Solidworks. We plan on having a CSWRN certification exam at the end so stop by and show us your tooth when you smile:)

Since there is really nothing to do down there (Solidworks World 2011) on Sunday and the CATI headquarters being in Buffalo Grove, Il and some of us "others" form neighboring states, we should all get together and have some fun!

We might even be a little interested in this-

 

Packers vs Bears

It should be an awesome game and an awesome time! I'm looking forward to all of it. See you there!

Todd Werginz

CATI Brookfield WI

Event Based Motion Simulation

Using SolidWorks Motion Analysis users can model motion of an assembly that incorporates event-based motion control. For example, in  a manufacturing procress that includes components moving along a conveyor belt, motors turn on or change according to compoonent position along the belt. However, since you do not know the exact time at which a component reaches a position before calculating the motion, you cannot determine the time to change the motor value. Without knowing the exavt times to turn on or change a motor, you cannot creat a time-based motion study. However, you can use an event based motion study to model the conveyor assembly motion.   Use event-based motion analysis to specify motion from some combination of sensors, times or previous events.

Event-based motion requires a set of tasks. The tasks can be sequential or can overlap in time. Each task is defined by a triggering event and its associated task action. Task actions control or define motion during the task.

See below a video of how to set up event based motion and how you can improve motion of the assembly.

 

Rajat Trehan

Product Manager - Design Validation

Computer Aided Technology Inc.

 

'Tis the Season to Upgrade your SNL to 2011!

'Tis the Season to Upgrade Your SNL to 2011!

Around this time every year kid’s eyes and minds fill with thoughts of great presents and visiting relatives, while their engineering parents eagerly await the new SolidWorks version to be installed at the office. All while, IT managers are as busy as elves trying to get the roll out ready for the new year. But wait a snag!

Some people have noticed that the uninstall of 2010 and install of 2011 hasn't been so smooth. This is done typically by uninstalling the old server and installing the new server. With activation this can be done with or without a transfer license. However the removal of the old server without a transfer is sometimes causing an issue on the activation web server. The user may end up with an error that the new server is not able to activate. So, if you choose to uninstall the SNL server you should transfer the license first (from the SNL manager click modify, when you get to the activation list choose transfer license).

But wait, there’s more! For 2011 there is another option! The preferred method is the newly available, for the first time ever; SolidWorks has now developed an upgrade option for SNL managers. You no longer need to uninstall the server and it works smoother with the activation web server than the other methods.

 

E³.WireWorks: Untangle the Challenges of Electrical Mechanical Design

CATI is proud to announce becoming an E³.WireWorks reseller.  In conjunction with this announcement, on December 21, 2010 at 10am Central Time, CATI will host the E³.WireWorks Webcast "Untangle the Challenges of Electrical Mechanical Design"

Register for the event at http://www.cati.com/catiphp/events/event-register.php?CourseID=118

What is E³.WireWorks?

E³.WireWorks is Zuken’s Windows-based, modular, scalable and easy-to-learn system for engineering design of wiring, harnesses, cable assemblies, control panels, hydraulics and pneumatics. 

Learn more about E³.WireWorks at http://www.cati.com/products/electrical-design/e3-wireworks.php

Jim TeDesco
Marketing Coordinator
Computer Aided Technology,Inc.

It's Just Time to ...Let XP Go

   I liked XP,  I really liked XP.  Who didn’t?  The OS as a whole has been and still is a main stay in our company.  I talked to a customer on the phone a couple of days ago that just ordered a new machine.  He was reciting the specs of this machine to me almost as if he was a proud father.  This guy was amped.  Sweet video card, lots of ram, and then he said it.  He ordered the machine preloaded with a XP 64bit downgrade.  I had to stop him.  You did what?  Why on earth at this point in the game would you take a new 64 bit system and not put Windows 7 on it?  He likes XP.   I know, I like XP too, but at some point we have to let go.  Embrace the new OS.  I like XP. I really like XP.  But I love my Windows 7.  The new features and functions in this OS are awesome.  I think that you will see more than a few blogs from Todd talking about new features and functions of 7.  (We have yet to upgrade Todd’s machine to 7, so I think that he is using the blog to try and create a justification.)

From God mode, to XP mode, (have I mentioned that I like XP?) there are some many new features and functions.  The upgrade is simple, and if you haven’t yet, you have to try it.  I think that you will agree that it is the way that everything is going to go.  If you need to take that XP install disk, say a few words, maybe a moment of silence.  In the end you are going to need to ease it on down into the bottom drawer of your desk.  No, not next to the Cheetos, the other bottom drawer, the one that houses the old Windows 2000 disk and the NT disk. The ME disk that is still in the wrapper, and the Vista disk that was used for one install, followed shortly by the XP disk again.  But it is just time to let XP go.