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SOLIDWORKS has a capability to work with third party native CAD data files which includes ACIS, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA v5 (.CAT part, .CAT Product), IGES, PTC, SOLID EDGE, NX files as shown in Fig(A)

Fig(A)

IMPORTING STEP/IGES FILES AND EXTRACTING THE FEATURES

SOLIDWORKS has a special option to extract and recognize all the features from other CAD files or STEP/IGES files.

Let us see the step by step process for extracting features from a STEP file

Step1:

Fig (B)            

Fig(C)

Open a STEP file directly into SOLIDWORKS. Once after opening, the part will be viewed as an imported STEP part as shown in fig (C)

Step 2:

Right clicking the STEP part file allows you to click on the “Dissolve feature” option which will prompt you to break the link of the part initially as shown in Fig(D)

The below picture shows you the break link dialog box after clicking on the dissolve feature. Click on “yes, break the link” option as shown in Fig(E)

Fig (D)    

                                                     Fig(E)

Step 3:

Breaking the link from the previous step will convert the step part file into a imported geometry. You can extract feature only after converting it into a imported file.

Right click the imported file and go to feature works -> Recognize features. This will induce the user to extract the standard features or sheet metal features as per the wish shown in Fig(F) and (G)

Fig(F)     

Fig(G)

Step 4:

The Complete recognition of the remaining features in the imported body. When recognition is complete, the imported body no longer appears in the SOLIDWORKS Feature Manager design tree.

A steel rod circular in section, tapers from 3 cm diameter to 1.5 cm diameter in a length of 60 cm.Find how much its length will increase under a tensile force 22 kN. Take E = 2 x 10⁵ N/ mm²

The Hand calculated taper Rod deflection is 0.186 mm. We will follow the solution using Simulation Package. The Material Properties introduced in the software.

Create a Geometry to build in the software for given Dimensions:

Fig (1) 3D model of Taper Rod

Fig (2) Material Properties involved in the calculation

Boundary conditions involved as per theoretical conditions involved in the same.

Fig (3) Fixing at the larger end

For solid we can arrest the three Translation x, y, z and rotation of Three components will be eliminated.

Fig (4) Fixing at the smaller end

Tensile Load on the smaller end with the load of 22kN. 

Conclusion: 

We have compared the result of Taper rod subjected to tensile load using hand calculation and Solid works simulation.  Solid works simulation is giving us most accurate result compared to theoretical value.

Creating a new cable and cable manufacturer in solidworks electrical and customizing the cable according to our specification.

Creation of the cable is few steps to follow once the cable is created we can able to add it to the harness.

The cable is used to connect the components. There will be default library for few manufacturer cables. To add a few cable we need follow the below mentioned steps.

How to create Electrical Cable

• In library there will be an option cable reference manager
• Using this cable reference manger new table will be opened

Electrical cable reference manager

A cable reference manager will be opened in which we will create a new reference and classification manager i.e  standards. Ther classification manager is like a folder in which it can filtered with different standards.

Creation of new cable properties

Once new reference is pressed.

 Cable reference properties tab will be opened. We have to provide our specification in which it includes dia, Sq.mm, colour, cores, core dia these are the important things needed to be updated in the property tab

Cable core properties

• Cable core properties will be present in the same tab as the 3 rd option at the top.
• There we have to add the number of cores we need inside the cable.
• Also we have to provide dia of the core we need and also control have to be given wheather is it a misselleneous or power or neutral.
• And colours of the cores also given in this tab.

Assigning cable between components

• Once the new cable is created we have place the cable and assign it to the components which cable is necessary.
• It will be done in schematic page.
• After placing the components and wires are drawn and  cable can be  created

Associated cable cores

• Once previous pints are done .
• In associated cable cores tab we have to add the cable using new cable option.
• And then we have to select the cable we have created in the library manager.
• And we have to select the four cores and we have to select four wires at the bottom.
• And after selecting all these we have associate it using associate cable cores option present at the top and also higlighted at the bottom image.

Once it is associated it will be turned into green and origin and destination is also updated.

And also cable is added to wires with the cable mark is shown between the components.

Generally, when we create indented BOM in SOLIDWORKS it will show all the part inside a assembly and subassembly in detail, of course indented BOM is built for that purpose.

Sometime when we use a standard assembly component item in SOLIDWORKS for creating model which is a bought out and SOLIDWORKS consider that as a assembly and it will list all the part in that assembly in indented BOM. Since it is a bought out item our requirement will be it need to appear as  a single part in our BOM

If we save that assembly as part and use it in the assembly all the kinematic motion will be loss and we can’t use the motion in the assembly

Let me insert a assembly to the assembly and then take the BOM for example.

In this case the hydraulic cylinder line item number 6 is a brought our item, and we need it as single line item, lets seen how we can do it in this blog