Alignex Blog

Whenever a user is installing multiple SOLIDWORKS installations, the administrative image can save time. During setup we can specify unique settings for a machine or group and select products for the install. Clients must have administrative privileges for proper deployment and installation.

This blog post is part 2 of 2 on how to create and deploy an admin image. It takes a step-by-step approach to manually deploying the admin image. We recommend reading our Creating and Deploying an Admin Image: Part 1 blog post first.

When designing systems, defining the path a mechanism or object will follow and controlling the actual length of travel can pose a difficult challenge. An often overlooked tool called Path Length Dimension solves this challenge as quickly as placing any standard dimension. 

The path can be a closed or open profile. Path Length Dimension can be driving dimensions that control the overall length or can be a driven dimension used to monitor the length of travel while other critical parameters are edited throughout the design.

Whenever multiple installations of SOLIDWORKS need to happen, an admin image is a good idea. It can be a huge timesaver. It evens allows you to customize which software is installed, as well as specify certain settings per group or per machine. Read on for step-by-step instructions on creating an admin image before deployment.

Step 1:  Launch the Installation Manager by running Setup.exe. Find setup.exe by downloading the latest service pack from the Customer Portal.

One of the big changes for SOLIDWORKS 2016 is a facelift of the user interface.

One of the first things you will notice about the software when you open it for the first time is a new look and feel. One of the primary reasons for the UI redesign is to fully support ultra-high resolution large format (4K) displays.

Most icons are similar to previous icons, but with crisper lines that improve readability and recognition. The new LARGE ICON size is very easy on the eyes with an ultra-high resolution display.

At Alignex, we strive to help our customers to learn how SOLIDWORKS can give them a different perspective on designing content to fit their needs. My opportunity presented itself when I was recently teaching the SOLIDWORKS Essentials course.

Spending a few days in the classroom is always a rewarding experience especially when you are instructing the basic fundamentals. It’s all about giving learners an opportunity to experience more of what SOLIDWORKS has to offer.

Here are some of my favorite skills students get to experience in the class:

Say you have a team of 4 designers. The team has a total of 3 licenses (2 Standard, 1 Premium). Two of the designers require the standard features, and two utilize the features within the premium license. They are all on the same network domain. 

In order to leverage the full extent of the premium license, the license manager can be setup so only those who require the additional functionality have access to it. The process for setting up a system for license allocation uses a feature of the SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) called the 'Options File'. If an administrator wants to structure how licenses get distributed, this is where to go.

I’ve personally used sheet metal to design fixtures, shield electronics and enclose assemblies. After kicking and screaming, I would usually revisit these designs after the other side said it needs to look “pretty.” 

There are lots of reasons that designs get delayed, pushed back or redesigned. To make sure you’re not the bottleneck, let’s review how we can utilize SOLIDWORKS’ full potential and not just the sheet metal functionality. Depending on the difficulty of the design, it may be simpler to start with solid or surface bodies. We would then continue with a process referred to as converting to sheet metal. It is a simple tool to help us work smarter not harder!

Working with CAD models created in other systems is always a challenge. Any time you transfer a model from CAD system “A” to CAD system “B” there can be issues. Think of it like trying to translate a complex poem from one language to another. Sometimes there will be a loss of meaning in translation.

Similarly, when we read in a model from another CAD system into SOLIDWORKS, there can be issues as well.  This post will show you how to:

3D design offers clear engineering advantages over 2D. Here's 8 things Alignex customers say they couldn't live without.

1. Freedom for Engineers to Create
   With 3D CAD, engineers are no longer bound to the limitations of 2D, allowing for more creativity.
   
   
2. Creating Market Space Through Innovation
   Give competitors a run for their money by taking the next step to improve your product development process.
   
   
3. Attracting and Retaining the Best Talent
   People are a key asset, empower them with tools that match their ambitions.
   
   

Ask any designer what the most troublesome aspect of their project plan is and you'll most assuredly hear about time constraints. There's time required for one-off designs. Time required for change documentation.  Time required for the myriad of mundane tasks that we all must fit into the schedule. So what about time for the real design work? You know... the stuff we learned in school. The stuff that was so cool that we decided to make it our career.  How do we get more of that time?  Well, you could ask for an assistant (good luck with that) or you could automate those tedious and time-consuming tasks using SOLIDWORKS Macros.