{"id":4803,"date":"2016-10-13T14:17:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T13:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4803"},"modified":"2016-10-13T14:31:29","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T13:31:29","slug":"solidworks-support-monthly-news-october-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/2016\/10\/solidworks-support-monthly-news-october-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"SOLIDWORKS Support Monthly News \u2013 October 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to this new edition of the SOLIDWORKS Support Monthly News, coauthored by members of the SOLIDWORKS Technical Support teams worldwide.<\/p>\n

Understanding sheet metal flat pattern and folded mass specifications<\/h1>\n

By Mario Iocco
\n<\/em>
\nIn SOLIDWORKS 2016 we implemented an additional way to view the weight of a sheet metal body. This new property is called \u201cFlattened Mass.\u201d (Fig. 1.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"fig1\"<\/p>\n

A sheet metal body has a folded state and a flat pattern (flatten) state. In the past, the custom property mass of a sheet metal body referred to its folded state. Some customers did not know which weight we were offering when it came to the definition of custom properties.<\/p>\n

In (Fig.2) we see a Power Supply box in the folded state.<\/p>\n

\"fig2\"<\/p>\n

By checking the mass property reported by SOLIDWORKS, you see that its weight is 155.49 grams (about 0.34 pounds). (Fig. 3)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"fig3\"<\/p>\n

If you unsuppress the flat pattern feature (Fig. 4.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"fig4\"<\/p>\n

Now check the mass property in the same way, you see that this is 153.24 grams (0.33 pounds) (Fig. 5)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"fig5\"<\/p>\n

The weight difference (155.49 gr. vs 153.24 gr.) is very small \u2013about 1.5 percent. However, we have customers who create some electronics components using precious metals. A very small weight variation can make a significant cost difference.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why would the folded and flatten sheet metal vary in weight in SOLIDWORKS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In \u201creal life\u201d parts don\u2019t have 2 weights. However, SOLIDWORKS is a modeler and things are represented a bit differently. When a material is bent, the bent area gets deformed and stretched. The stretch varies according to the material, the bend radius, bend angle, etc. To account for that stretch, SOLIDWORKS applies \u201cBend Allowances.\u201d These bend allowances are only applied to the flatten state. This simulates the \u201cstretching\u201d that occurs during the real bending of the part. Hence, in general, the surface area \u2013and weight \u2014 of a flatten body is slightly less than the same body in its folded state.<\/p>\n

As you can see in (Fig. 6), the surface area of the folded body is 118,406 versus 116,710 square millimeters. This produces the weight variance between the twos states.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"fig6\"<\/p>\n

Which weight is the real weight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the sheet metal designs created with SOLIDWORKS are created feature by feature. Once the part is completed, you can unsuppress the flat pattern and get to the flatten state. This is why the flat pattern feature is at the end of the feature tree. However, most real sheet metal parts are started from a flatten body. Hence the \u201creal\u201d weight of a sheet metal body is on the flatten body.<\/p>\n

Be aware though, that the above answer may not always be right due to the modeling capabilities SOLIDWORKS provides. For example, you have the capability to create features only in the flat pattern. These features exist only in the flatten state and produce a larger discrepancy between the folded and flat pattern weight<\/p>\n

In other cases, we can get the opposite situation, features created in the folded state like PEMS, gussets or form tools can be removed from the SOLIDWORKS flat pattern. It is always good to assess your specific situation in order to consider which one is the most approximate weight.<\/p>\n

Great preview enhancement in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017<\/h1>\n

By Dan Lolea
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Starting with version 2017, SOLIDWORK PDM Web2 is using the WebGL powered preview. This will enhance user experience when previewing most of the file formats including non-CAD like PDF, Excel, Word, image files etc.<\/p>\n

Please see below example in Chrome browser and feel free to try it yourself in the already life 2017PR1 release<\/p>\n

SOLIDWORKS Files Preview in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017 (new options)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
SOLIDWORKS Files Preview in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017 (new options)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Views Orientation<\/li>\n
  • Display<\/li>\n
  • Help<\/li>\n
  • Full Screen<\/li>\n
  • Reset<\/li>\n
  • Explode<\/li>\n
  • Section<\/li>\n
  • Animate Views<\/li>\n
  • Components<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\u00a0\"Great<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
PDF Files Preview in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Page Select Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Previous Page<\/li>\n
  • Next page<\/li>\n
  • Rotate Left<\/li>\n
  • Rotate Right<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Out<\/li>\n
  • Zoom In<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window Width<\/li>\n
  • Zoom To Actual Size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"Great<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
MS Excel Files Preview in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Sheet Select Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Previous Page<\/li>\n
  • Next page<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Out<\/li>\n
  • Zoom In<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window Width<\/li>\n
  • Zoom To Actual Size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"Great<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0MS Word Files Preview in SOLIDWORKS PDM Web2 2017<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Page Select Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Previous Page<\/li>\n
  • Next page<\/li>\n
  • Rotate Left<\/li>\n
  • Rotate Right<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Dropdown<\/li>\n
  • Zoom Out<\/li>\n
  • Zoom In<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window<\/li>\n
  • Fit Page To Window Width<\/li>\n
  • Zoom To Actual Size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"Great<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Simulation Step-Up Series<\/h1>\n

Last month<\/a>, Ramesh concluded on the topic of Bolt Connectors<\/strong>. He now moves on to discussing Pin Connectors<\/strong>, another widely use type of connector in SOLIDWORKS Simulation.<\/p>\n

This topic is addressed in two parts. Part 1:<\/p>\n