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SolidWorks
is once again about to turn out another new release. This is nothing new
to SolidWorks users, we’ve all become so accustomed to getting a new
major release at least once a year that we take it for granted. If we
don’t take that point for granted we take for granted the sheer amount
of enhancements and innovations that are contained in each release.
It’s important to note that our top the list is in no particular order.
I selected my top ten by the frequency that I think it users will use
each tool, and the overall time saving and ease of use that it offers.
Task Pane:
The addition of the new task pane is a huge convenience. It incorporates
a file explorer tool, the feature palette, toolbox, and 3D content
central. Even users of PDMWorks will find huge timesavings when they see
that PDMWorks is integrated into this tool giving you a look directly
into your PDMWorks vault.
The task pane is accessed easily from the right side of the SolidWorks
window. Drag any file from the task pane into assembly to add it, or
onto a toolbar to open it. Of course it still offers all of the standard
windows options like double clicking on a file to open it.
 Offset
tool enhancements:
The offset tool took on some new enhancements in the 2005 release. This
includes what I would consider to be a truly parametric offset. This
enhancement will eliminate the problems with “backwards geometry”. The
picture to the right shows the green selected line being dragged
downward. As you can see the line retains the original design intent
instead of flipping backwards.
New offset
includes the option to make the base geometry construction. This will
eliminate the need to come back and convert the base of the offset to
construction geometry.
 Another
new option that has been added to the offset command is add end caps.
2005 will offer two types of end caps, arcs or lines. When using
the end caps with lines SolidWorks will simply add lines to the ends of
the offset segment. The bigger time savings is in the add end caps with
the arc option selected. SolidWorks adds arc to the ends of the offset
and includes all of the tangency relationships that are normally put in
by hand.
2005 will also allow for the offset of splines. As seen in my example,
you can now offset the spline. In this example I used the bidirectional
option, and added arcs as end caps. This creates a quick and easy way to
create sketch geometry that would have taken some time and expertise in
previous releases.
Power Trim
Power trim is just one of the new options under the trimming tool in
2005. I single it out because of how fast I immediately took to it. This
is my new default when trimming.
The way that it works is very fast and intuitive. I found it to resemble
the erase tool in MS paint. Simply select and drag the mouse over the
segments that you want trimmed back and they are gone.
Indent feature
The indent feature is an all-new tool
added the 2005 line up. The basic premise is the ability to indent the
shape of one part into another. I may sound pretty complicated, but 2005
makes the indent feature very quick and easy, and allows for other
options such as clearance.
This is a huge benefit to
 almost
any consumer product designers who typically have very complex geometry
in their parts, that then must fit together seamlessly with their mating
components.
Curvature continuous loft
 The
loft tool in 2005 gets a big boost with the edition of the new curvature
continuous loft feature. Tangency in a loft was been available in
SolidWorks for some time, but the ability to add a curvature continuous
constraint is all new. The constraint is easy to find and use, being
located in the same pull down as the tangency end condition. The tool
allows for a quick and easy constraint to be added instead of tweaking
the tangency values.
Equations, global variables, and linked values
 2005
has cleaned up a couple of user interfaces. The equations interface has
changed making the software much easier to add and edit equations; the
link values interface also got a face lift. Both add equation and link
values are now accessible from a pull down in the modify box of any
dimension.
 In
addition to the face lift that the tools got they also now show symbols
for links values or values defined by a equation. The symbols show up
along with the display of any dimension.
In addition to the changes to linked values and equations, SolidWorks
added the ability to define global variables. The ease of setting up the
variables is easy enough that if a user uses the function once, they
should be able to use it again without question.
Insert
Mold Cores
The mold tools in SolidWorks were introduced as part of SolidWorks 2004.
Introduction of the mold tools made core and cavity creation a almost
click by click process. SolidWorks didn’t leave it at that for 2005.
They have taken the functionality from 2004 and added huge enhancements.
The main enhancement is the ability to insert mold cores and side
actions to the current core and cavity tools. With one simple sketch and
a couple of depths, SolidWorks will add the mold cores into your core
and cavity.
Weldments; Structural members on arcs, and the auto cut list
 The
weldment environment was also introduced in 2004. It opened the door for
weldment creation without having to worry about in context relations.
This tool is also sporting new enhancements in 2005. I would say that
the biggest drawback to the weldment tool in 2004 was the inability to
use a curved path when defining your structural elements.
Not only can
you define with a curved path in 2005, but you also have the ability to
define weather the segment making up that path are a single piece, or
multiple.
When
demonstrating the 2004 weldments the most common question that I got
was: “Is the cut list automatic?” Unfortunately in 2004 it was not,
structural members were sorted out manually into cut list items inside
the solid bodies folder. 2005 changes that by sorting the bodies
contained within the folder and adding them to the proper cut list
folder.
 Auto
Dimension
Auto dimension has been a part of the SolidWorks software for a couple
of years now. In 2005 it make the top ten list for the ability to use
the auto dimension as part of the detailing tools. The same
functionality that we have been using in the sketching environment is
now available for use on any 2D view. The function the same select the
tool, give SolidWorks a zero point, and select the view or just a few
feature that you want to have dimensioned.
Animator Interface
 The
2005 animator user interface was revamped. It has shifted from a path
based to a key points based interface. The interface is much cleaner and
easier to work with. New users will find it very intuitive and easy to
learn, while existing users will find it easier to modify and move
around in.
Honorable Mentions:
Copy settings wizard
The copy settings tool is new to SolidWorks 2005. It has all of the
function of it’s predecessor, copy options, but will now allow you to
save out every thing right down to the placement of toolbars and any
customization on them.
Multi-user Environment
2005 contains new settings for users working in a multi-user
environment. The multi-user environment allows SolidWorks users to
manage write access for shared documents. Documents can easily be
switched from read to write access between multiple users.
Moldflow Express
Following in the tradition of COSMOS Express, SolidWorks 2005 will come
will Moldflow Express. Users now have the ability to analyze their
molded parts to see if they will fill. Moldflow Express will take thin
walled plastic parts, and through a simple wizard interface, tell
SolidWorks material types, injection location, mold temperature,
injection temperature, and injection time. Once the analysis is complete
you will see if you mold will fill properly.
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