Alignex Blog

During this short video, learn to use the new features of SOLIDWORKS 2016 Model Based Definition (MBD) to document parts and assemblies. We will look at dimension creation, new display styles, MBD for assemblies, and creating custom templates for 3D PDFs with multiple viewports and fully featured bills of materials.

Watch some top ways to edit SOLIDWORKS Inspection templates for add-in and stand-alone versions as well as the CMM import version. See how to go from the basic templates already installed with your SOLIDWORKS Inspection and easily modify them to create your own customized templates.

During this short video, we’ll learn the differences between linear and nonlinear analysis, how to determine when you need to use a nonlinear solution, and finally, look at two examples that will give us the basics of setting up a nonlinear simulation study.

By asking the right questions up front and understanding a little about the physics of the problem, we can decide on the most appropriate study type for our simulation. Using the intuitive interface and powerful nonlinear solver in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium module, we can quickly gain valuable insight into how our design will perform, even in complex applications.

Learn how to use the Draft Analysis tool in SOLIDWORKS to check the correct application of draft to the faces of parts that will be manufactured by the molding process. Commonly used in the plastics industry, it will help identify faces on your model that don’t meet minimum angular or taper requirements. Since this tool shows where both positive and negative angles meet, it is also helpful when deciding where to put a parting line.

Learn how to identify problems in your model with help from the Geometry Analysis tool in SOLIDWORKS. This tool checks for areas that may later cause issues with various applications such as finite element modeling or computer-aided machining. By inputting the parameters, we can have SOLIDWORKS quickly pinpoint existing problems and where they are located on the model.

In this video, I'll set up a few examples to demonstrate how Geometry Analysis can detect and repair the finer details including sliver faces, knife edges and more.

There is NO EASY BUTTON when it comes to working with complicated assemblies. Only a combination of small fixes and best practices can lead to better performance. If you experience long open times, graphics lags or issues working with mates, it may be time to review your process. 

In this video blog, I'll cover ten assembly best practices to improve large assembly performance.

Learn how to use the DFMXpress analysis tool inside of SOLIDWORKS to determine if your part is ready for manufacturing. This tool gives designers valuable insights to identify issues that might cause increased production costs or problems during fabrication.

Learn how to use the Thickness Analysis tool in SOLIDWORKS to identify areas in your model which may be too thin or thick to properly manufacture. This tool is often used in the plastics industry to check wall thickness of injection molded parts to insure that mold cavities have enough room for melted plastic to flow into.

The SOLIDWORKS Collision Detection command allows designers to quickly find and fix colliding components when moving or rotating a component. This command can be used to detect collisions in an entire assembly or you can narrow down your focus and just look at a selected group of components that you are interested in.

Learn how to use the compare functionality in SOLIDWORKS to identify the differences in your model from one revision to the next. With SOLIDWORKS Compare tools designers can quickly see updates without having to interpret revision notes.