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Are you tired with all this "unbending"? I promise: this will be the last unbending challenge for a while.
That is because I really hope SW 2018 will provide native wire and tube unbending functionality. This is just my hope; I have no idea what we will see in June, when the 2018 Beta Program starts. I just know that many customers are in great need of this functionality.
For eternal glory and 1000 points, provide the best solution to this problem:
1. Import the attached Parasolid file.
2. Calculate the length of wire (maximum approximation 0.5mm)
3. For extra consideration, create a body representing the straight wire (as shown in the video)
4. For extra-extra consideration, link the length of the new body parametrically with the length of the bent wire (as shown in the video)
5. For extra-extra-extra consideration, provide visual feedback for the numerical value of the length (as shown in the video)
6. For God-like status among your peers and 2000 points, perform a real unbending (flattening, straightening, whatever you want to call it) of the wire.
For a visual description of this challenge, please watch this video:
5th SOLIDWORKS Weekly Power User Challenge: Unbend an Imported Wire - YouTube
Disclaimer: I would use my judgment to pick "the best" solution. It will be probably subjective, so you should provide as many details as possible about the advantages of your solution.
Make your case.
We will accept your entries until Friday, the 19th of May, 2017, at noon.
Many thanks to all participants to the 5th WPUC! From my perspective, this was the wildest and most productive edition of the WPUC so far.
Again, the originality and resourcefulness of the SOLIDWORKS Power-Users who participated has astounded me. It is unbelievable how you are able to take various SOLIDWORKS tools and use them as part of a coherent methodology, for something completely different than what the developers intended, with great results.
I really hope that someone from the SOLIDWORKS Product Definition Team takes notice of what you are doing with our software. On one hand they should be pleased and proud seeing the way you bent the rules and tools in new techniques, on the other hand, I hope, they would get inspired to add the missing functionality to the software.
First of all, let's thank this week's sponsor, John Stoltzfus. The generosity of such special users make these challenges possible.
There is no wonder it was very hard to pick winners again. Even though I have the luxury to be subjective, I would like to provide strong arguments for my choices.
Paul Salvador was the first to submit a visual solution, but a bit late with the model. His model contains 3 distinct solutions, all based on creating a curve representing the neutral fibre, using Face Curves. Great job, Paul.
Another good solution came from Kevin Pymm, using the same idea.
Michael Fernando did not enter the competition, but offer the suggestion to use the volume of the imported part to calculate the length of the wire. Dennis Bacon used this methodology in his example. The problem with using reference information as volumes or areas is that they are calculated after the equations are. Because of that, if you add a second solid body showing the wire, the calculated length of the wire would change with every rebuild. In order to prevent this modification, Dennis built the straight wire as a surface body, which does not have a volume.
Dan Pihlaja submitted several solutions. The first one used the Face Curves to determine 2 surfaces, which intersected would provide the neutral fibre. Very elegant solution, for which Dan wins the 1000 point award and the title of the WPUC Winner. Congratulations, Dan Pihlaja!
In addition to the winning entry, Dan submitted a solution based on digitizing the neutral fibre for creating a parametric model that would enable bending and unbending for the same body. Main advantage: same face ID for both states: bent and straight.
And then... we have been blessed with the participation of a mythical creature, a SOLIDWORKS DEMIGOD. He was able to meet all requirements with a simple and elegant solution. It is so simple, that I am no longer stressed by the fact that SOLIDWORKS is missing such a basic functionality like bending or unbending wires. We have now a good, valid solution.
That is why, with the powers vested in me by myself and John Stoltzfus, I award Rob Edwards 2000 points and the title of SOLIDWORKS DEMIGOD!
Please be aware that the correct form to address a SOLIDWORKS DEMIGOD, like Rob, from now on, is "Your Exalted Worship".
I hope that you would join me in recommending the owners of this forum (Richard Doyle and Gian Paolo Bassi) to invite Rob on the big stage at the SOLIDWORKS World 2018 and introduce him to the SOLIDWORKS Community in this capacity.
Please watch the following videos describing several of the solutions:
Preferred solution:
SOLIDWORKS Tutorial: Determine the Length of a Bent Wire Using the Neutral Fibre Technique - YouTube
Using Equations:
SOLIDWORKS Tutorial: Determine the Length of a Bent Wire Using Equations Driven by Model Properties - YouTube
A few remarks about the second solution:
And... to place the cherry on the cake:
H.E.W Robert Edward's solution:
SOLIDWORKS Tutorial: Dynamic Bending / Unbending a Wire, Tube or Bar - YouTube
Please vote on these Enhancement Requests:
SPR 533472: Ability to bend and unbend OR flatten rod, wire, tubing, and other such objects.
SPR 633058: Equations and custom properties should support sensor values