Mating your components into place is an important step in creating your SOLIDWORKS assemblies. This can be a simple process, but it can also get tough and be time consuming, as your assemblies get larger. Being able to efficiently add mates can really help you save time when creating your assemblies, and SOLIDWORKS has many tools to help do just that. In this blog, we are going to look at one of those tools: Component Preview Window. Let us look […]
Reactivating Your SolidNetwork License Manager
Whether you have recently added seats to your SolidNetwork License, renewed your subscription, or have had any trouble with your activation, it is sometimes necessary to reactivate your SolidNetwork Licenses in the License Manager Server application. Regardless of the reason, reactivating your network license can be done by following these easy steps: In order to reactivate the license, first go to the Start Menu on the server computer and open the SolidNetwork License Manager Server application. Within the application, go […]
Does your PDF have faint edges when saved from a SOLIDWORKS drawing?
I need to begin by saying this is one of those questions that I should have known the answer to. I was on a customer call working through an example of a drawing in which a particular view had very faint edges when saving to a PDF. Some of you who are reading this may already know the cause and the solution. Representative of the customer file, why the faint edges in the PDF? There is nothing overly complex about this […]
Back to the basics: Hunting and Gathering on the 3D Experience Platform
Imagine the most primitive state of humankind. Most will probably come up with the hunter-gatherers prevalent before the advent of cities and agriculture. I’m no anthropologist by any means, but I feel like the people we refer to as “hunter gatherers” behaved as they did because they were unaware of many of the mechanics of how the world around them worked. To them it was easier to just grab what they could directly consume and move on. Now, for the […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Installation Guide – Part 8 SOLIDWORKS CAM
SOLIDWORKS CAM installation can be broken down into 2 sections (CAM Standard, CAM Standard TBM) and (CAM Professional). CAM Standard – CAM Standard TBM The installation process is simple with CAM, just run the 2021 SOLIDWORKS installation process CAM will be automatically loaded without searching for check marks to add into the software download. After the installation is complete, open SOLIDWORKS and right click on COMMAND MANAGER Tabs and add a check mark for SOLIDWORKS CAM and SOLIDWORKS CAM TBM. Current user of […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Installation Guide – Part 7 Visualize Products
In the world of photo-realistic rendering software, SOLIDWORKS Visualization Products are hard to beat. Introduced in 2016, SOLIDWORKS Visualize was a “quantum leap” addition to the existing SOLIDWORKS Photoview 360 in terms of rendering functionality and quality. In this article, we will be talking about some of the changes to look out for regarding licensing/installation aspects of Visualize 2021. Recall that SOLIDWORKS Visualize is offered in both Standard and Professional and can operate as a standalone program. A complimentary seat of SOLIDWORKS Visualize […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Installation Guide – Part 6 PCB
SOLIDWORKS PCB has 3 parts. SOLIDWORKS PCB is the Application used to design PCBs. SOLIDWORKS PCB Services is the ‘bridge’ that connects PCB to SOLIDWORKS and allows users to be set up. SOLIDWORKS PCB Add-in is the SOLIDWORKS Add-in that allows you to work with the data within SOLIDWORKS. This is automatically installed in SOLIDWORKS provided you’re running 2016 SP3 or newer. If Installing a new instance, you can choose the Individual option: If adding SOLIDWORKS PCB to an existing installation you will choose the ‘Modify the individual […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Install Guide – Part 5 Draftsight
There have been many exciting features implemented in DraftSight 2020 including Auto-dimensioning, full support of AutoCAD Dynamic Blocks, etc. A full list of What’s New can be found here: What’s New – DraftSight 2020 This article will be focusing on Installing DraftSight Enterprise and DraftSight Enterprise Plus. These products require the installation of a network license manager, in this case, the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager (SNL) for the following scenarios: Installing SNL for the first time Adding the DraftSight Enterprise or […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Installation Guide Part 4 –Composer, Plastics, Inspection, MBD and Simulation Installation
What do I need to know to install my Composer, Plastics, Inspection, MBD, or Simulation package? First, all these products are installed thru the SOLIDWORKS installation manager. To download the installation manager, you will need to click the SOLIDWORKS download link. Run the installation manager and enter the serial number for your products. If you have all your licenses set up to be renewed at the same time you may have only one SOLIDWORKS serial number for all your assets. […]
SOLIDWORKS 2021 Install Guide – Part 3 SOLIDWORKS Electrical
SOLIDWORKS Electrical can be broken down into two parts: SQL Metadata and Electronic Program Data. SQL Metadata has All data about everything… (All the CAD document data is contained here.) Electronic Program Data Program Files – The application (without this the program will not run). Program Data – The data (without it the program will run…but will have no content) Licensing scheme for SOLIDWORKS Electrical: SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D SOLIDWORKS Electrical Professional (limited to 1 PC) Use the […]