CAD Forum

Uncle_Hairball

It seems that there are plenty of free drafting packages out there. https://stackcreate.com/software/free-2d-cad-software/ It appears that most have interfaces that are significantly different than Autocad, but whatever you choose is going to have a learning curve anyway, so why not learn a new soft...

Uncle_Hairball

I didn't hear that voting was open until it had already closed. Good job Dassault!

Uncle_Hairball

I am just as frustrated as the rest of you about the direction Dassault is taking Solidworks. Unfortunately, the move to 3DExperience is unlikely to abate, regardless of their litany of failures with everything web-based. The reason is simple: 'software as a service' (SAAS) has taken over the softwa...

Uncle_Hairball

That same setting is in SW 2018 SP5: image.png Basically, it means that, when you add a socket head cap screw hole for a #10 screw, then switch to a threaded hole, do you want the threaded hole to default to #10 (same setting as the previous hole wizard hole)? or revert back to its defaults? Got it...

Uncle_Hairball

Just upgraded to 2021 and have new Hole Wizard settings with no explanation. Anyone know what these mean?

Uncle_Hairball

Autoballoon should not add balloons to parts that are excluded from the BOM. If it's not in the BOM, what is the balloon going to tell you? An asterisk is meaningless.

Uncle_Hairball

When creating drawing views containing transparent parts, it would be helpful to have a switch to display the transparent parts as transparent. Not so useful in detail drawings; mostly for assemblies.

Uncle_Hairball

Better control over depth and direction of broken-out section views.

Uncle_Hairball

What's with the fascination of naming products "X" something? Is it because X is underused in words? Obsession with the X-Men comics? X-rated movie aficionados? Dassaults xApps (xDesign, xShape, xGenerative Design) Lowercase x SolidWorks (DimXpert, DraftXpert, FeatureXpert, FilletXpert, M...

Uncle_Hairball

Lucas wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:09 pm The year is 2021, but please, keep the installation instructions

image.png

What, no video showing how to install???

Uncle_Hairball

Beware, there are a LOT of people on the SW forums, asking for refunds for 3DXperience (but can't figure out how to get one).

Uncle_Hairball

Zhen-Wei Tee wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:27 am Allow body to be set as "Not Selectable"

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexp ... xHEJSaAnyw

For what purpose?

Uncle_Hairball

ResidentAtLarge wrote: ↑Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:33 pm
nawww... what am I thinking... stupid is as stupid does as my grandpa always said.

Your grandpa was Forest Gump???

Uncle_Hairball

Out of curiosity I'm planning to record the top ten each Friday when I first log in. This is the top ten as of this morning: image.png Interesting that seven of the top ten are related to either fixing the company, including undoing past mistakes, or the top-ten process. Only three are about softwa...

Uncle_Hairball

mike miller wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 3:38 pm Ahem.

2021-11-18 15_37_37.jpg

I would bet a dollar that D'Assault won't delete that one, but will allow it to go through voting.

Uncle_Hairball

Vote for me!

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexp ... bIgT2gVt-A

Uncle_Hairball

I just noticed that the top-ten list is open. It's only been open for eight days and already they have TWO ideas posted!

Uncle_Hairball

jcapriotti wrote: ↑Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:00 pm Leave it to the brits to be polite. Here we would say

You're talking sh!t!
The film was a load [or pile] of sh!t.

The British way is definitely preferable.

Uncle_Hairball

AlexB wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:30 pm At the very bottom of your hole wizard feature, click this:
image.png

Interesting, mine creates the cosmetic thread, but nothing displays on the part.

Uncle_Hairball

I'm curious as to how you got the hole wizard to add cosmetic threads.

Also, you're selecting the cosmetic thread, not the sketched geometry. Might this have something to do with your difficulties?

Uncle_Hairball

Let's see if I can stir up a little controversy. My #1 peeve is when other users design parts that are not on the primary planes. The argument for this approach seems to be that it isn't necessary and doesn't add anything to the part. Unfortunately, it completely overlooks the utility of having plan...

Uncle_Hairball

The "Weight" custom property shown in this image automatically uses your part weight from its mass properties for "SW-Mass". Place that in your part/assy document. image.png On your drawing, your note annotation will need to contain a link to the property called "Weight&quo...

Uncle_Hairball

If I add a weight property to the custom properties of the part, I will have to manually command SW to calculate the weight and manually add the value to the custom property. I would like SW to extract the weight without my intervention and make it appear on the drawing. Is this possible? If so, whi...

Uncle_Hairball

Thanks for the Info., dpihlaja. It never would have occurred to me that the units would be a problem, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Uncle_Hairball

Thanks for the recommendation, Lucas. I was hoping to be able to access the weight calculated by Solidworks for the part instead of having to add it manually.

Uncle_Hairball

How can I add the part's weight to a note on my drawing? What is the correct parameter to use?

Uncle_Hairball

I suddenly have a problem with my online license. It has been working fine for years, but today it decided that it was unable to connect with the online server. I contacted our reseller and they had me delete the credentials file, license server directory, and online licenses registry entry. Now, wh...

Uncle_Hairball

Please define 'branched part'.

Uncle_Hairball

The principle of a section view is passing a plane through the part and looking at the face that was cut by the plane. You're asking for an additional cut along a second axis. You can crop the section view, but it should not be possible to create what you're after, using only a section view.

Uncle_Hairball

Please define SWPUC. It's not a real word.

Uncle_Hairball

Fantastic! Thank you.

Uncle_Hairball

I am trying to add a radius dimension to a part. I need an arrow from the center of the radius to the circular edge and a leader from the arrowhead to the dimension. What I am able to draw, however, is either an arrow with a dimension in the middle, which puts my text on the part, which is wrong, wr...

Uncle_Hairball

Hi Eddy,

The drawing is not open.

I don't know what a screen print would show you, so I recorded a video, but cannot find a way to attach it.

Matt, is it possible to attach my upload here?

Uncle_Hairball

No, no no... See if they fixed that for you and gave you back some of your life, they'd retroactively owe me back to when I was 35. I've spent so much time fixing flipped features and lost references in surfacing parts. It wouldn't be fair if they fixed it now. We all are OWED reparations! We've be...

Uncle_Hairball

Eddy Alleman wrote: ↑Thu Aug 26, 2021 5:33 am Hi Uncle,

I tested it and it works fine here.

Can you run the macro without using a gesture?

Menu Tools > Macro > Run and select the OpenDrawingFromBom.swp file

Nope. Nothing happens.

I have admin rights on the directory where the macros are stored.

Uncle_Hairball

Hi Stephan,

I've followed the instructions in your video, but nothing happens when I use the mouse gesture; no feedback of any sort. The drawings are in the same directory as the models and the filenames are identical.

Any suggestions?

Uncle_Hairball

Almost makes me want to stay on addiction (subscription), but nah. A positive improvement (it's about time), but not worth the price.

Uncle_Hairball

Post the part, please.

Uncle_Hairball

Subassemblies seem to decrease rebuild times significantly vs. top-level parts.

Use of small patterns, when possible, is much better than individual components and mates. Large patterns can significantly slow rebuilds. Better to use small patterns of small patterns.

Uncle_Hairball

JPARKER wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:21 pm If you right-click on the features in the tree and select "Dissolve Feature" it will break the link to the original CAD file.

Worked perfectly. Thanks!

Uncle_Hairball

Yes, there is one configuration-specific property, but I cannot delete it either. I can add more, but cannot delete existing properties.

Uncle_Hairball

Without looking at the file, I cannot prpoperly advise... My first guess is that you had imported the part with 3DInterconnect which link the part to the 3rd party CAD file. The custom properties are locked when the third-party CAD file and the SOLIDWORKS file are linked. To overwrite these propert...

Uncle_Hairball

Anyone know how to overcome a part with uneditable custom properties? This component came from a supplier.

Uncle_Hairball

Another thumbs-up for Hawkridge. Annoying salesmen, but excellent technical support.

Uncle_Hairball

Are you able to post the part?

Uncle_Hairball

I'm on 2019.

If the hole note doesn't give you a count, try putting this in the Dimension Text box ahead of the hole dimension: <NUM_INST>X

Uncle_Hairball

Jim Steinmeyer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:27 am Dumb question, What is WCS? Is that the whole paper space / work space garbage that confused me back in autoCAD class 20 years ago?

Weapon control system. Use it with a joystick to fly your helicopter.

Uncle_Hairball

Have you tried a hole note? It works for me.

Uncle_Hairball

gupta9665 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 2:36 pm In that case, do a force rebuild after you have done the save as process.

Thanks for the suggestion, but it doesn't help.

Uncle_Hairball

Glenn Schroeder wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 12:43 pm I'd say it's a problem unique to your installation and you might need to reinstall, but it sounds like you've seen this behavior over several versions?

Seems to be a recurring theme with Solidworks.

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