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@cadmicrosolution-blog
SolidWorks PCB - CAD MicroSolutionsĀ
Do what you do best in SolidWorks CAD, and let SolidWorks PCB handle all of your PCB design needs which was engineered specifically for SolidWorksĀ® collaboration.Ā
Visit: http://www.cadmicro.com/solidworks/electrical/pcb for more information.
Can you Benefit from Using Classes?
In Altium Designer, we can assign specific class types to our nets or components in our project. Classes are a logical collection of a design object such as nets, components or polygons. This is typically done to allow easy creation of a targeted design rule. Contact Us:Ā
CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
4 Reasons Why The SolidWorks PCB Connector will Revolutionize your ECAD/MCAD Collaboration
With todayās booming IOT (Internet of Things) and consumer electronics industry, multidisciplinary teams of engineers often have to work together to develop products. Speaking purely from a hardware perspective, mechanical designers and electrical designers use MCAD and ECAD software to develop the physical constraints of the project, and they often rely on each other. As an example of this collaboration, mechanical designers will often ask the electrical designers of the board shape they desire, or perhaps the electrical designers will require the hole locations from their mechanical counterparts. In this article we discuss how the SolidWorks PCB Connector can revolutionize the collaboration between ECAD PCB tools (SolidWorks PCB and Altium) and SolidWorks.Ā Ā Ā
Complete CAD Freedom
Itās quite apparent that PCB CAD software are usually programmed primarily with PCB and electrical design freedom in mind. CAD software such as Altium and SolidWorks PCB are excellent in their realm of PCB design, but when it comes to specifying mechanical constraints, using these softwareās alone can be a daunting task. This is where the SolidWorks PCB Connector comes into play; it allows Altium or SolidWorks PCB users to collaborate with mechanical designers through SolidWorks, and allows for the passing of CAD data between these two environments.
Specifying board shapes for example, especially complex shapes with multiple curves or hard to measure entities, can take a lot of time and effort in PCB software, but with the collaboration tool, SolidWorks is able to easily achieve this task in no time. Furthermore, in cases where the PCB is housed such as the case with consumer electronics, it can be quite simple for the mechanical designer to specify the board shape based on the model of the enclosure.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]Ā
The Screwdriver is Mightier Than the Drill: The Importance of Training
Just how important is proper training?
Wellā¦imagine you run a general contracting company that employs several skilled carpenters. As good as they are with their hammers and saws and screwdrivers, you realize that your company canāt continue to operate and compete in this manner. So you decide to invest in new technology and purchase some cordless drills on their behalf. You give them the new tools and even tell them to read the instructions to ensure they know how to use it properly. You then go about your business, patting yourself on the back for your ingenuity.
However, after a few weeks you note that productivity has in fact drastically decreased and that it is taking your carpenters longer to do their jobs. How can this be? You yourself have used a cordless drill before and you know that the time and effort it takes to screw in a screw is significantly less than that of a screwdriver. You decide to go and see how one of your carpenters is working with the cordless drill and you are shocked to see that carpenter literally using the cordless drill like a screw driver, twisting it around until the screw is flush into the wood.
Incredibly, your carpenters have shown that their simple screwdriver does a better job than a cordless drill.
So how did this happen? The simple answer is you didnāt take the time to properly train your carpenters on how to use a cordless drill. Further to this, you did not insist nor confirm that your carpenters had read the instructions. Nor did you check to see if the instructions properly conveyed the information to show your āold schoolā carpenters how to properly use the drill (many instructions of this nature state how to properly maintain the tool, not how to use it).
Nowā¦apply this analogy to a company implementing and using SolidWorks. Ā Which company do you think is going to get the most out of SolidWorks in terms of productivity? The one that invests in proper training for its employees and developing procedures to ensure that all employees are using the software correctly and the same way? Or perhaps a company that just installs the software and expects its employees to figure it out for themselves?
SOLIDWORKS PCB ā Shortcuts you NEED to know
Sometimes you come across tools that unfortunately skipped out on an intuitive User Interface or easy to use commands, which could have been easily implemented to exponentially increase productivity. SOLIDWORKS PCB is not one of those tools.
On top of itās Unified Platform, easy to use UI and automated output generation, SOLIDWORKS PCB also includes a clean shortcut panel that includes great shortcuts available across the platform. While this list is extensive, there are a few you should be leveraging that are not listed.
Place Via while routing:
While routing, press the ā+ā or ā-ā key to drop a via. The via is now on your cursor, ready to be placed on the next layer to continue routing. If you do not have a numeric pad, use the ā2ā key, followed by the āLā key to toggle the next layer.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
It can become time consuming to create multiple symbols and footprints that you donāt already have. Sometimes, we simply just donāt have the time. Ā To read more, visit: http://www.cadmicro.com/solidworks-pcb-connector/
5 Steps to Activate your License of MySolidWorks Professional
Now that you have a serial key for MySolidWorks Professional, you may be asking yourself āhow do I activate thisā? Unlike other SOLIDWORKS serial keys, this doesnāt run on the installation manager and it is a webpage ā not software. With that said, follow the five steps below so that you can quickly get access to the additional features that SolidWorks Professional offers:
Training
Prep courses for SOLIDWORKS certification exams
Reseller uploaded content
Access to the SPR database
Step By Step Instructions
Visit the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal and either login, or create an account using your company information (email, etc.). After you create your account and login, look for the āRegister My Productsā link.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Simplifying hardware requirements for the SOLIDWORKS suite of products
SolidWorks 3D CAD software
Processors ā Processor speed is very important to performance. It is typically best to purchase one or two levels down from the fastest available processor. This is because there is typically a large premium to be paid for the fastest available processor(s). There is better value in choosing a high clock speed i7 processor than a lower clock speed Xeon processor. Multiple cores are used within SolidWorks CAD software only when reading and writing files and when working with multiple drawing views.
Hard Drives ā Using an SSD drive as the primary drive will help significantly in reading and writing files, especially with large assemblies and parts. A secondary SATA drive is typically recommended for saving data that has been completed. The O/S, SolidWorks software, and work-in-progress files should all be on the primary SSD drive. A 256GB drive will suffice, but as 500GB SSD drives come down in price they can also be considered.
Graphics Cards ā The graphics cards speed up zooming, panning and rotating. A good starting point is the NVIDIA Quadro M2000 or the earlier NVIDIA Quadro K2200 (this is all that is available in the workstation configuration available for purchase). For mid-size to large assemblies, the NVIDIA Quadro M4000 or the earlier NVIDIA Quadro K4200 is recommended. For large to very large assemblies, the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 or the earlier NVIDIA Quadro K5200 is recommended.
System Memory ā While 8GB will suffice for smaller assemblies, 16GB is recommended for most applications. For large and/or complex assemblies, 32 GB is recommended. Faster memory is better.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Are you an EAGLE user? We hope you like subscription fees
Iām sure most of you have heard the expression āIf itās not broke, donāt fix itā, right?
Well, what would you do if it was broken?ā¦
Autodesk has announced that EAGLE is now only available for purchase as a subscription. Previous, users purchased EAGLE once and used the software indefinitely. This means that you will be obligated to run the latest version and youāll be paying Autodesk on a monthly or yearly basis. Ā Letās break down the costs. Before Autodesk purchased EAGLE from CadSoft, a Standard license would run you roughly $70, paid once. The next level up was Premium, was priced at roughly $800, paid once. The new pricing tiers from Autodesk are a bit different.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Web: http://www.cadmicro.com/ Email: [email protected]
In this video we will go through the installation process of setting up the SolidWorks PCB Connector for Altium Designer users. We will demonstrate how to install SolidWorks PCB Services locally (for single users), as well as on a server (for multiple users). More: http://www.cadmicro.com/solidworks-pcb-connector/
Let SOLIDWORKS PCB save you $8900
According to the Aberdeen Group, the cost of 1 prototype averages $8929. Customers need an integrated solution to this main problem.
As a designer, not only do you have deadlines to worry about, but it also doesnāt sit well with your Engineering Manager when you have to tell them you need to do another design re-spin because the board does not fit into the desired enclosure. What if you could ensure proper fitment and proper component placement the first time around?
Easy learning curve
SOLIDWORKS PCB has incorporated the ease to use Ribbon-style user interface that SOLIDWORKS is known for. When collaborating with the Mechanical Designer, or maybe youāre in charge of the ECAD and MCAD design, working between both tools ensures a seamless transition.
If youāre using SOLIDWORKS PCB as a standalone product for your electronic design tool, not only is the ribbon-style interface one of the easiest interfaces to learn, but we can also take advantage of its superior unified platform.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Configuring PDM to Manage Toolbox
Solidworks Toolbox is a library of standard components that can be inserted in assemblies. If you are using Solidworks PDM, you can reap the benefits of managing Toolbox in your vault. Once PDM is configured to manage Toolbox, it performs several automated functions such as:
Checking Toolbox parts in and out as needed
Adding the missing Toolbox parts to the vault
Creating references between assemblies and Toolbox parts
Steps to configure PDM to manage the SOLIDWORKS toolbox library for complete integration
Copy the toolbox folder (Solidworks Data by default) to the vault folder in your local view. Once added, check it in.
2. Ā Ā Ā a) Go to the administration tool, login into your vault (make sure you have āCan update Toolbox Settingsā administrative permission), double-click on Toolbox item and a dialog box would pop up.
b) In the dialog box, check the option to āManage Solidworks Toolbox in the vaultā. Next, select the user PDM will get permission from when accessing Toolbox components.
c) Finally, specify the Toolbox root folder. Click āokā.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Do you have the ECAD/MCAD collaboration that you need?
Collaboration between Altium Designer and SolidWorks
As more and more electronic products involve both electrical and mechanical components, and product release cycles get shorter, thereās a real need for stronger collaboration between the ECAD and MCAD domains. But that collaboration isnāt always smooth.
The electrical and mechanical designer often send emails back and forth or have to dabble in each otherās respective design tools. Something that leaves them treading a little water, and far removed from their established comfort zones. The solution is to use a method of collaboration that enables the two to graphically communicate ideas and proposals for change, without leaving their trusty working environments.
DXF/DWG support
Supporting your need to work with design files in other formats and from other tools, install this plugin to import a nominated AutoCAD DXF or DWG file into an open and active PCB document. The import in Altium is performed using the File Ā» Import command. As part of the import, you can control settings such as layer mappings, donut-to-pad conversion, default line width and scale.
STEP and Parasolid export
Altium Designer supports exporting the PCB to the STEP file format. The STEP file can then be imported into an MCAD design environment, for further integration into the mechanical design. Parasolid export will also contain all copper information needed when imported into Solidworks.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Three Ways to Outsmart your Competition
In todayās global and hyper-competitive landscape, itās no longer acceptable to design, sell and produce your products with traditional methods. Consumers are expecting better products at cheaper prices. Businesses overseas, which were typically fast followers, are starting to lead the charge with innovation cutting into market share. Businesses across North America are quickly adapting, but many are lagging behind. Here are three ways to get ahead of the curve and outsmart your competition.
Test While Designing
What if your designers and engineers could perform tests on designs before building prototypes? Now you can assign actual materials with material properties to your models. This unlocks the potential for stress testing, flow analysis, injection mold simulation and more. With these types of tools, multiple design and test iterations can be performed quickly and earlier in the design process. This allows for better product performance, less material used, reduced field failures and easier prediction of product behavior in real-life situations. Testing while designing enables your product to perform ahead of your competition.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Web: http://www.cadmicro.com Email: [email protected]
Comparing Versions of Part and Drawing Files in PDMā¦Yes You Can!
How do you compare versions of Part files in PDM? Ā Perhaps you review each version of the part using the Get Version command and viewing it in the PDM Vault View Preview tab. Ā That will work, but how do you remember all the changes between one version and the next when you cannot look at them at the same time?
Or perhaps you knew of the Compare tool found in the History window of PDM. Simply click on an older version of the file and then click the Compare buttonā¦
Wait a minuteā¦not too useful, is it?
But hold on thereā¦there is another tool to compare versions and it does a much better job. Not too many people know it exists, but Iām here to show you not only where it is, but how to use it. Letās take a lookā¦
First, letās open a file in SOLIDWORKS that is stored in the PDM vault and has multiple versionsā¦
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
Are you spending too much on prototyping? Learn how to save money! ā Part 2
Moving forward from the last part of this article; we discussed two essential strategies that intend to keep more of your money in your pocket in the long run. To recap, we brought up Digital Prototype Methods and using CAD and simulation software, as well as using Desktop Printers. In this second part, we discuss three more strategies that not only aim to improve your prototype stage, but also the overall workflow.
Simplify your Designs:
If you simply want to test the mechanical fit between two mating objects, why bother prototype the entire assembly and all part details? Your engineering team should be aware that adding holes, curvatures, slanted features, etc. can increase printing/machining time and complexity, which would most likely drive up the price. It can be useful to target specific features in your design for prototyping and testing.
Collaborate with Manufacturing Early On:
Working alongside manufacturing during the design stage can be the most valuable decision you make for your team. Itās essential to separate design from manufacturability. Although this may be straightforward, engineers and designers often construct complex designs that cannot be manufactured. That is why itās important to rely on manufacturing expertise early in the design stage and ensure manufacturing validation before the design has been completed. Not only will you be able to save on multiple prototype cycles, if manufacturing issues were to arise, but a lot of vital resources can be saved as a result of consulting ahead of time with manufacturing.
Contact Us: CAD MicroSolutions 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L9 Email: [email protected]
In a series of 3 blog posts, we would like to add our perspective on this list for 2017. Together with our partners at Dassault SystĆØmes SolidWorks, Altium, and Markforged, we want to let you know that we have solutions that target these trends.