Justin Lingerfelt Latest Blog Articles Page 1

You are starting a new project and it looks a lot like a previous project. It may even be just an updated version. So, you ask yourself, “Can I save some time by reusing my previous data?" Well, you absolutely can! Today we will look at four ways to reuse existing designs to jumpstart your next project. These methods are; Save as, Pack and Go, SOLIDWORKS Treehouse, and finally SOLIDWORKS PDM with Copy Tree.

If you are using SOLIDWORKS 2019 or newer, you may have noticed a tab on the command manager called “Structure Systems”. You may also have noticed that this command ribbon has very few tools on it. What is it?

Think weldments, but supercharged. Structure systems allows designers to create frame structures like scaffolding, support equipment, frames, a deck for your house. The list goes on. It allows designers to create these structures in a more concise workflow rather than using a series of weldments and trim tools resulting in a long feature tree.

If you have been using SOLIDWORKS Professional or Premium you may be wondering what that add-in “TOLAnalyst” is all about? Now you probably have already guessed that it’s to analyze tolerances as the name implies, but what is tolerance analysis and who should be using it? In this blog we’re going to answer both of these questions.

As a SOLIDWORKS user, I am always excited when new software features and enhancements are released every year. The more I use the software, the more I realize how valuable these updates are and how much they improve my experience. Features such as customizing mouse buttons or accessing drawing arcs help me save time and add more details to my designs. In this blog post, I share with you my top ten personal favorite SOLIDWORKS features and why I am thankful for them.

There are plenty of 2D CAD packages out there and determining which one is right for you can sometimes be tricky. Maybe you are exploring switching your 2D CAD platform or are purchasing one for the first time. There are several factors to consider before deciding. Let’s dive in and look at some of the key features when comparing 2D CAD options.

Building assemblies and getting them to move is one of the most satisfying aspects of designing in a CAD environment. After designing all those parts we can assemble them and start to see just how they will act and react before the first part is ever manufactured. Analysis of movement gives us insights we otherwise would not have access to without producing a part or prototype. Are parts colliding? Do they fit together as intended? Can it be assembled and does its assembly require special tools? How much space near our machine is required for it to perform its task? The list of questions goes on. In this blog article, we will go over how to use tools within SOLIDWORKS to virtually test robotic movement without any physical mock-ups.

Are none of SOLIDWORKS' default weldment profiles working for your project? Check out this short step-by-step tutorial on using configured sketches to create your own custom weldment profiles.

(Click the images to enlarge.)

I focus my SOLIDWORKS design process with a concept at the top of my mind: make it so anyone can open them, understand my approach to the design and make changes easily. There are many times this isn't just a good practice, but a necessity for your business to keep moving forward. For example, you get promoted and working on older projects isn't the best use of your time or you are on vacation and one of your files needs to be changed or you have been tasked with a more critical project. There are countless other scenarios where you may need to step away from a project, so making models easier to work with for anyone opening your previous designs is a must. Keep reading for three of my favorite engineering design process tips. 

The mouse gesture wheel is a great tool for reducing mouse travel in SOLIDWORKS, placing commonly-used commands right at the mouse pointer. 

In this blog, I will show you how to set up the wheel to maximize efficiency and minimize the learning curve.