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SOLIDWORKS 2018: Top 20 "Small" CAD Enhancements that Supercharge Your Productivity

Question asked by Alin Vargatu on Oct 18, 2017
Latest reply on Nov 16, 2017 by Alin Vargatu

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SOLIDWORKS introduces every year a ton of enhancements. This year, in addition to focusing on ONE and TWO, SOLIDWORKS 2018 proposes a series of BIG enhancements, that transcend the term "enhancement", being actually new products, or new environments like: SOLIDWORKS Manage, SOLIDWORKS CAM, Topology Optimization in Simulation Professional and Premium, or the new enhanced functionality for Mesh objects.

What about the so called "small" enhancements, or what SOLIDWORKS calls "Delighters"? Those are the enhancements that most users do not notice, and, as a result, do not incorporate in their modeling workflows.

I spent the time to analyse the new functionality, and selected the Top 20 Small CAD Enhancements for SOLIDWORKS 2018.

Please read this article if you want to save time doing your own research: https://www.engineersrule.com/small-changes-add-big-productivity/

If you work for SOLIDWORKS, please read about the current limitations in the new functionality and some further enhancement suggestions.

I am really curious what you think about the new functionality. Which tools and techniques would you incorporate in your daily activity?

Please comment here or in the comments section of the article.

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Steve Calvert Oct 18, 2017 11:18 AM
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Very nice Alin, thanks.

Steve C
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Jim Steinmeyer Oct 18, 2017 11:18 AM
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A BIG cheer for bounding boxes. We have a macro, but this is big!
I can see where I am going to have to learn a new workflow to use some of the other improvements. I missed your mention of the tab-n-slot function I am looking forward to using it.
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Alin Vargatu @ Jim Steinmeyer on Oct 18, 2017 11:28 AM
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Jim Steinmeyer wrote:

A BIG cheer for bounding boxes. We have a macro, but this is big!
I can see where I am going to have to learn a new workflow to use some of the other improvements. I missed your mention of the tab-n-slot function I am looking forward to using it.
Thanks, Jim. I debated to include the Tab-n-Slot functionality, but does not qualify as a "small" enhancement. That is a BIG enhancement for specific users.

Engineersrules.com will publish a dedicated article on the Tab-n-Slot functionality this week.
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John Stoltzfus @ Alin Vargatu on Oct 18, 2017 11:30 AM
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Can't wait for 2018 - things are gonna rock ... - thanks for sharing the article Alin Vargatu
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Jim Steinmeyer Oct 18, 2017 11:42 AM
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Alin,
I was just detailing some sheetmetal parts and was reminded that for our macro to work the part needs to be in a flat pattern. Does the bounding box function give information about flattened sheetmetal parts? Or does it only work with the formed part?
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Todd Blacksher Oct 18, 2017 11:44 AM
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FYI - 2018 SP0.1 is now available for download!
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Alin Vargatu @ Jim Steinmeyer on Oct 18, 2017 11:48 AM
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Jim Steinmeyer wrote:

Alin,
I was just detailing some sheetmetal parts and was reminded that for our macro to work the part needs to be in a flat pattern. Does the bounding box function give information about flattened sheetmetal parts? Or does it only work with the formed part?
Excellent question.

The new part level bounding box is all about the solids (and if you choose, surfaces) existing in the current configuration. That is why the resulting properties are saved at the configuration level.

The weldments and sheet metal cut list items, still have the traditional cut list item level bounding box generated automatically.

In conclusion, they are different things, but I see how that could get quickly extremely confusing for unaware users.
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John Stoltzfus @ Todd Blacksher on Oct 18, 2017 11:54 AM
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Our IT guy quit so now I need to download all my updates, but SW needs to check and clear my new login from the company here, as soon as that is done, it's download time...
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Tony Cantrell Oct 18, 2017 12:02 PM
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Great job Alin Vargatu
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Nathan Rollins Oct 18, 2017 12:21 PM
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Alin,

Thanks for the great review and for taking the time to be thorough and thoughtful... I will take some time to answer your question. I am always digging for those little gems that, once incorporated into my habits, always save time and cause users looking over my shoulder to say "Hey - how'd you do that?"

Your number 7 - hide faces while mating - this is a great enhancement. "select other" is a necessary tool, but is so cumbersome to use. Pro/E - Creo has a "query select" that allows you to select something and then RMB consecutively to cycle through, highlighting possible entities. When the item you want is highlighted, LMB and select that... This is one of those things I miss now that I am a SWX user. This is a step in the right direction and I will definitely use it. I hope this is a trend and the functionality will be expanded to all selection workflows.

Big thumbs up for number 9 - mirror about a plane in sketch. I always wondered why construction geometry was somehow magical and regular lines or planes wouldn't work.

Hooray for #10 - I am one who gets frustrated with auto dimensioning pre-selected entities. I also dislike that a single click on a dim enters edit mode. Selecting a dimension to delete or move takes some retraining... hopefully that gets addressed.

Number 11 has frustrated me (not just lasso, but window selection, too) - but more when in sketcher than anything. I wonder if (and hope that) this enhancement includes sketcher selection as well.

#13 - misaligned concentric mates: I think this is potentially a great addition. I understand and agree with the opposers, but I also see the benefits you've cited. I especially like the use of these mates to check a design if in context hole creation / alignment is not used. I wonder - is there a way for the mate to report to the user the magnitude of misalignment?

14 - yes - I love it.

Great summary - thanks again. I look forward to upgrading.

-Nate
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Vladimir Urazhdin Oct 18, 2017 2:13 PM
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Very informative post. Thank you Alin Vargatu .

The new functionalities I’m thinking about:
1. Expend Equation Manager’s capabilities. Let Global Variables to be symbolical not just numerical as they are now. It will add the new opportunity to link symbols the same way as we can do with numbers now.
2. I would like to see "iif/then" VB equation in a properties area too.
Something like this:
Property = iif(ControllingValue = SpecificValue, "Symbols Sequence1", "Symbols Sequence2")
Where both ControllingValue & SpecificValue are numbers, "Symbols Sequence1", "Symbols Sequence2" - symbols.

See also Alex Danishevsky idea about improving equation "IF" functionality:
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/781248#comment-781248
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John Matrishon Oct 18, 2017 3:25 PM
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Great read Alin! Nicely written, easy to read and follow!
JM
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Matt Peneguy Oct 18, 2017 4:11 PM
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Thanks Alin! I think someone already stated this, but you should be paid by SWX for all the good work you do!
Here are the top three that I think may help me (in order of importance):
18. Ability to Mirror Entities in a 3D Sketch
This is huge for my workflow! I will definitely get use out of this.

6. Assembly Open Progress Indicator
For assemblies that take longer than 60 seconds to open, the indicator remains visible after the assembly opens.
I like the part about the dialog remaining open if it takes longer than 60 seconds...Which some of mine do.

3. Enhanced Perpendicular Mates
This could be useful, but like, 13. Misaligned Concentric Mates, I'll have to see if it works as I expect
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Jim Steinmeyer @ Matt Peneguy on Oct 18, 2017 4:23 PM
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Matt Peneguy wrote:

I like the part about the dialog remaining open if it takes longer than 60 seconds...Which some of mine do.

It must be nice.....
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Matt Peneguy @ Jim Steinmeyer on Oct 18, 2017 5:27 PM
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Yeah, I work with pretty large assemblies and I mitigate some of that by using Speedpacks.
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Ned Hutchinson @ Matt Peneguy on Oct 18, 2017 5:48 PM
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+1 for assembly opening indicator
the explanation at the roll out for the open indicator,
was so you know if you had enough time to grab a coffee

Measure in a command=good
Mirror 3d sketchs=good
flip tangency could be useful
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Redecos Technologies @ John Stoltzfus on Oct 18, 2017 10:03 PM
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cheers!!!
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Redecos Technologies Oct 18, 2017 10:06 PM
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Alin, well explained... Simple easy and to the point.. Thank you for the great work...
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Redecos Technologies Oct 18, 2017 11:51 PM
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Alin I couldn't locate this one at all.. Do this open to all license type? I will be really happy If this functions good.. Please support.. Neither I c get any information from my VAR as well..
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Ned Hutchinson @ Redecos Technologies on Oct 19, 2017 2:04 AM
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How i understood the online licensing from our local 2018 launch event was

If you have access to the internet you can use solidworks on any computer that has solidworks installed. It should pull your license down from the cloud or something, as long as you have changed activation type from machine activation to Online licencing.
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Alin Vargatu @ Redecos Technologies on Oct 19, 2017 6:49 AM
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Redecos Technologies wrote:

Alin I couldn't locate this one at all.. Do this open to all license type? I will be really happy If this functions good.. Please support.. Neither I c get any information from my VAR as well..
Where are you located?
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Richard Gergely Oct 19, 2017 9:47 AM
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For me
3. Enhanced Perpendicular Mates
- looks like a good improvement

4.Instances of a Linear Component Pattern Can Now Rotate Along a Pattern Direction
- has been times when I would have like that function before.

5. Ability to Access the Measure Tool When Other Commands Are Active
- about time it is so frustrating without this functionality.

8. New Option for the Hole Wizard to Preserve Sizes and Settings When Changing Hole Type
- sounds good lets hope it doesn't bring other hole wizard bugs.

9. Ability to Mirror Sketch Entities Using Planes and Planar Faces
- on the face of it looks good but as outlined by Alin could it bring other problems down the line that cost more time than saved?

11. New Ability to Select Over Geometry
- yes this has been a problem and look forward to the new ability

14. Full Control for the Tangency Direction of Certain Curved Entities
- this old problem, I bet everyone has been annoyed by this in the past. Will just need to remember now that it can be fixed instead of deleted.

18. Ability to Mirror Entities in a 3D Sketch
- a useful step forward. In general I think the capabilities of 3D sketch have been limited too long at least this is a start.

Thanks for the head-ups Alin and now I feel a little better about paying subs next year
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Redecos Technologies @ Alin Vargatu on Oct 19, 2017 9:58 AM
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From India.
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Richard Gergely @ John Stoltzfus on Oct 19, 2017 10:01 AM
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What did you do to upset him
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John Stoltzfus @ Richard Gergely on Oct 19, 2017 10:11 AM
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I can upset anybody that I get in contact with....lol
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