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Modeling Threads Part 2
This is a continuation of the article How to Model Threads Part One. Once the helix is created as the path for the Swept Cut, the profile sketch for cutting the threads will need to be designed. I like...
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Top 10 What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2016
Top 10 What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2016 User Interface Redesign SOLIDWORKS 2016 provides an updated, clean, and modern user interface. The innovative styling incorporates the most useful user interface...
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3D Sketch Basics
Sketching in 3D can be challenging, but it is a very powerful tool once you understand the basics. It is especially useful when creating weldment parts like this workbench. This example will...
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Quick Tip – The Right Way to Duplicate a Plastics Study
Have you ever needed to test several configurations of an injection molded part, but didn’t want to create a brand new study and re-input all the parameters? Or, have you needed to test several...
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Quick Tip – The Right Way to Specify an Injection Location
Have you needed to specify an injection location at a specific XY location in SOLIDWORKS Plastics, but weren’t sure how? Or, have you created multiple Plastics studies and needed to add injection...
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Don’t Get Shortsheeted – Multibody Sheet Metal Parts
When I mention the word “multibody”, I hope it doesn’t bring up the bowling dream sequence in The Big Lebowski because that’s an out-of-body experience. A multibody part is a part in SOLIDWORKS that is...
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Remove the “SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Tab” From the “File > New” Menu In...
It is sometimes desired to have the option to remove the “SolidWorks Enterprise PDM” tab from the templates menu when you perform a “File > New” operation in SOLIDWORKS: The reason that tab appears...
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Proper Renaming of Files in SOLIDWORKS
In your installation of SOLIDWORKS, there is a basic file management utility called SOLIDWORKS Explorer that goes a long way in helping you ensure that if files are renamed or moved, those references...
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Variable Pattern: A Smart Way to Vary Features
The Pattern feature inside SOLIDWORKS is one of those go-to tools that we use day in and day out, but we may take it for granted and not appreciate the full capabilities that the tool can offer. One...
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How to Find the Volume of a Hollow Body
A question that I have been asked many times by SOLIDWORKS users who have modeled a part that has an internal volume is, “Is there a feature that can show me the volume inside my hollow part?” Luckily,...
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SOLIDWORKS PDM in 1000 Common Words
Product Data Management (aka idea-lockers) – A Simple Explanation Here at Hawk Ridge Systems, our customers design some of the most complex and amazing products and systems in the world. We provide...
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What’s New 2016 – Thread Tool
Creating Threads as a true Feature in SOLIDWORKS prior to 2016 was something of a litmus test – if you could accomplish this in a reasonable amount of time with a few sketches and didn’t manage to ruin...
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Flag Notes: How to Clearly Communicate Important Drawing Notes
One of my new favorite features that has been introduced for Drawings in SOLIDWORKS 2016 is Flag Notes. This is a great new feature to associate notes to balloons marked on a drawing. So how does it...
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Shaping a Sheet Metal Edge Flange
When you come to a sheet metal part with an odd shaped or partial edge flange you might realize that the usual select and size approach it not going to work. You are stuck trying to decide if you...
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Key Enhancements to the Sweep Feature in SOLIDWORKS 2016
With every new release of SOLIDWORKS, I’m always excited to see what new enhancements or features are added to the software. A few of the enhancements in SOLIDWORKS 2016 is with the Sweep feature. One...
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5 Great Features of CAMWorks Turning
5 Great Features of CAMWorks Turning It’s Product Spotlight month for CAMWorks here at Hawk Ridge Systems, and I got to thinking how there are many great features of CAMWorks we don’t talk about very...
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Wire EDM – Glue Stop Tabs Two Step Cutting Strategies
Normally, glue stop tabs have been cut with one single move, but because we know wire cutting is a slow process machinists may want to cut the tab in two moves. This would add a machine stop between...
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Hawk Ridge community outreach: What does Mrs. Farrell’s 4th grade class want...
On Wednesday March 17th, Hawk Ridge Systems engineer Vince Farrell got the amazing opportunity to talk about engineering to Mrs. Farrell’s 4th grade class at Lincoln Elementary School in Burlingame,...
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Driving Global Variables with an External Text File
If you are a fairly advanced SOLIDWORKS user, you have probably used Global Variables at some point. Global Variables are the easiest way allow certain dimensions to change quickly without having to go...
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Multi-line Attributes
Creating Annotations and Notes in Electrical Schematic drawings is often a tedious, error prone task because everything must usually be created and managed as independent, unintelligent text boxes. If...
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