Re: Solid Edge or Solid Works on 3D

There is an OPEN newsgroup that does not require a webkey account that is
specifically set up for educational users. For obvious reasons, I will not
post it here, but I will send to TOP directly.

Ken

"DLR" <X> wrote in message news:437cac20@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> TOP,
> I apologize for my earlier post criticizing your knowledge of SE. Using
> both SE and SW would be equivalent to speaking 2 languages and I doubt I
> would be any good at it. I can't take it back so I'll offer you a couple
> more tips to help you teach the class. Because you're still on V15 some of
> these may not work. I can't remember when they were implemented.
>
> - When creating sketches hold down the ALT key to override Intellisketch
>
> - Use the CTRL, SHIFT, & ALT keys in combination with RMB to take care of
> all your windown maniupulations. This will keep whatever command you're
> in at the time active and once you get used to this method I doubt you'll
> ever go back to the toolbar again. CTRL + SHIFT together is required for
> panning.
>
> - You don't need to change the mate type to flip faces. If you flip a
> mate relatioship it will be automatically converted to a planar align. If
> fact any time you choose a mate relationship SE will automatically convert
> it to a planar align if that is what it should have been.
>
> - Update Links and Update Relationship commands are in the main toolbar.
> There's no need to go to the menu.
>
> - Almost any tool you need can be added to the toolbars if you want.
>
> - MOST IMPORTANTLY if you are at all serious about improving the efficency
> of you and your students in the use of SE then visit the newsgroup. If
> you're teaching it then you should have a Sold To ID that will give you
> newsgoup access. Whether it should be open to the public is another
> debate, but if you have access and not using it then you're ignoring one
> of your best resources.
>
> Again sorry for the criticism, it didn't belong on this newsgroup.
>
> David
>
>
>
> -
> "TOP" <kellnerp@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1132236419.557842.299830@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> See answers inline
>>
>> ken wrote:
>>> See answers inline:
>>>
>>> Ken
>>> "TOP" <kellnerp@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
>>> news:1132184467.175586.241840@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> >
>>> > Ken wrote:
>>> >> Still using the 2 year old version of Solid Edge (V14, current
>>> >> version is
>>> >> V18)?
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> > Version 15.
>>> >
>>> > Let's see. Edit a part while in an assembly and try to get back to
>>> > assembly mode. The only way I could figure it out was to close and
>>> > reopen the assembly
>>> Select "Close and Return" from the File menu or hit the ESC key.
>>> >
>>> > When placing a part do something that gets you out of the place
>>> > enviroment and try to get back in.
>>> Select the part you were attempting to place and on the ribbon bar
>>> select
>>> the "Edit Definition" button. You now have the original SmartStep
>>> ribbon
>>> bar that was available when you placed the part initially.
>>
>> That is not obvious in the interface nor in the help nor in the
>> tutorial where the problem first cropped up.
>>
>>> >
>>> > Click on zoom to area. No easy way I can see to get back to what you
>>> > were doing on the ribbon bar..
>>
>>> Right click of the mouse exits the Zoom Area command and returns you to
>>> the
>>> point you were at in the previous command.
>>
>> Again, not obvious. This should be a toggle.
>>> >
>>> > Toolbars run off the window when the tutorial comes up. Can't get at
>>> > zoom, etc. without resorting to the menu.
>>> Can't help you there. Running 1280x1024 on a 19" LCD with large buttons
>>> "on" still shows all my buttons with the tutorials running. Can do the
>>> same
>>> on a 17" CRT @ 1024x768 with large buttons "off". Depends on how low
>>> your
>>> resolution is and how small your monitor is. Is this really a Solid
>>> Edge
>>> problem or a problem with the user's choice in hardware and settings.
>>
>> Yes it is an SE problem because SE claims to be Windows compliant in
>> its interface. SW correctly rearranges toolbars if the window is
>> resized. SE has other problems with this as well.
>>> >
>>> > Intellisketch is buried in a menu. It should be in a right mouse menu.
>>> Depends on how often you change your settings. I change them very
>>> infrequently. You still have the choice of adding a button to the menu
>>> or
>>> creating a shortcut key for it. Have you logged your preference with
>>> UGS as
>>> change request?
>>
>> We have no contact with UGS. We are educational and the software was
>> free. That has changed now too.
>>
>> We use Intellisketch alot because we are doint constructions and
>> sometimes have to disable SE's "brains" so we can do what we need to do
>> without the software interfering.
>>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Setting up a drawing takes a visit to four different places. File
>>> > Properties for units, Sheet setup, Tools/Options/Drawing Standards,
>>> > and
>>> > Format/Style.
>>> I don't know how much you change between first and third angle
>>> projection or
>>> between inch or metric units, but once a template is set up, none of
>>> those
>>> areas are needed for production drafting. With the exception of Sheet
>>> Setup, the rest should be setup in the template used. File
>>> property/Units
>>> changes the toolbar data entry field units. Tools/Options/Drawing
>>> Standards
>>> are things like dimension standards, third/first angle projection, how
>>> your
>>> section line arrows are placed, basicall drawing standards like it says.
>>> Format/Style is where you set up dimension/text/hatch styles such as
>>> ANSI,
>>> ISO, etc... (actually those are premade but can be modified or new ones
>>> created.
>>
>> SW has pretty much all the drawing info set in one place for a document
>> and that which is needed immediately is in the Property Manager.
>> Setting up a Format Style does not appear to be for the faint of heart.
>>
>>> >
>>> > The way you set up a GDT box is awkward and not wysiwyg. Yes you can
>>> > save favorites but it harks back to type it in on the command line
>>> > which some may find awkward.
>>> What he is talking about is the form has an entry line and you click a
>>> button with the graphics you desire and it puts in a control code such
>>> as
>>> "%PO" for the position symbol, but the button you clicked has the
>>> position
>>> sysmbol on it. In the right preview pane it shows you a dynamic view of
>>> the
>>> feature control frame that you are placing. Saved feature control
>>> frames
>>> will reload the control codes back on the entry line and loads the
>>> graphical
>>> preview. Pretty straight forward.
>>
>> Pretty confusing to a new user. On the other hand I like command line
>> stuff.
>>
>>> >
>>> > On the other hand, SE does a much better job of SW at setting up
>>> > section views.
>>> >
>>> > SE will place a center mark on a hole in an inclined face.
>>> >
>>> > The pathfinder is pretty unsophisticated compared to SW feature tree.
>>> > I
>>> > have yet to find a way to roll back. And getting parts and assemblies
>>> > to update is something I haven't quite figured out.
>>> Rolling back is called "Go to" in SE. Just right click on the feature
>>> you
>>> want to rollback to and choose "Go To". Parts update automatically by
>>> default, so you don't have to click any update command, and assemblies
>>> are
>>> the same way. If for whatever reason you turned Automatic Update off,
>>> you
>>> can click the Update All button to force an update. and in a part, right
>>> click on any feature and choose Recompute to force exactly that.
>>
>> Right...SW let's you drag a bar up and down the tree to visually see
>> what you are doing. GoTo is an unfortunate choice of words that really
>> doesn't communicate what is being done. And SW also has the right mouse
>> menu choice to instantly roll back to a specific feature. The
>> functionality is there, but the interface gets in the way.
>>
>> Update, recompute, update links are terms all used for what SW would
>> call a rebuild. Why this is in a menu and not on the main toolbar
>> remains a mystery to me.
>>
>>> >
>>> > Macros require VB and a programmers knowledge. No macro recording like
>>> > SW.
>>> This is something I would like to see too.
>>
>> And a big source of user productivity. Judging by the number of posts
>> on comp.cad.solidworks regarding macros and VB this is a big area for
>> a significant number of companies.
>>
>>> >
>>> > and then there is SE support. We tried to get SE17 this semester, but
>>> > they couldn't be bothered to send it on time.
>>> Can't comment on educational seats and your specific situation.
>>> Commercial
>>> seats are shipped to US customers rapidly after RTM, and those of use
>>> that
>>> do testing get it with in a couple of days. Support calls are answered
>>> immediately by support engineers who can aswer your questions. When I
>>> order
>>> Training manuals, I recieve them 2 days after I send the request.
>>
>> Whether it is the schools bureaucracy or UGS I don't know for sure. I
>> do know that in my day job UG people have been extremely lax in getting
>> back to me. In fact it has been months since I sent an inquiry in to
>> the Indianapolis office. And that isn't the first time.
>>
>>> >
>>> > On the plus side, if you can figure out how the flow works and stay
>>> > inside it sketching and the other tasks can go quite quickly. Pro/E is
>>> > he same way.
>>> >
>>> > And of course the icons for commands still lack sufficient contrast to
>>> > really stand out and show whether a button is active or inactive. This
>>> > is nowhere more evident than in the place environment where one must
>>> > really take a good look to see which step is being done in a place.
>>> If running on XP, the active buttons are orange just like in Office.
>>> Now if
>>> that isn't a contrast from gray, I don't know what is!
>>> >
>>> > On the other hand, SE has a nice way of letting you first pick the
>>> > part
>>> > to be involved in a place (mate) and then pick a face on the part.
>>> > This
>>> > makes placing in large assemblies much easier.
>>> >
>>> > The ability to flip the sense of a place (mate) does not seem to exist
>>> > in SE. Two different mates are used, Mate and Align Face depending on
>>> > whether planar faces should mate with the outward normals opposing or
>>> > aligning with each other.
>>> Your right and wrong. Once a Mate is placed and a Planar Align is
>>> needed
>>> instead, the Mate can be edited and "flipped" to a Planar Align. A more
>>> efficient method would be to use FlashFit which will use the initial
>>> orientation and apply the relationship that fits and a TAB can be used
>>> to
>>> flip it on the fly.
>>
>> It took a lot of explaining the students about this point. Why change a
>> mate type to flip faces?
>>
>>> >
>>> > The version of SE I am using has a mate tree system similar to SW
>>> > circa
>>> > 1996/7.
>>> And that means what? What functionality is missing?
>>
>>
>>> >
>>> >> > awkward. As long as you go with the flow it is great. But get off
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > path and you are in the ditch.
>>> >> I have still not figured out what you were talking about regarding
>>> >> the
>>> >> smartstep ribbon bar not allowing edits to previous feature creation
>>> >> steps.
>>> >> I am able to edit any previous step of any feature I create. Perhaps
>>> >> you
>>> >> could give me an example feature and step that is un-editable?
>>> >>
>>> >> > The whole drawing thing is one area where it does do well.
>>> >> > Equations is
>>> >> > another area.
>>> >> What's the deal with equations?
>>> >
>>> > They work well. SE is quite superior to SW in the area of equations.
>>> > This is because SE treats all dimensions as variables. If the
>>> > dimension
>>> > has a fixed value then V274=5 for example. But you can just as easily
>>> > say V274 = 2 * V273 + 1/2*V269. Obviously, dimensions do not seem to
>>> > be
>>> > tied to a particular feature as in SW. Instead of D1@Sketch1, SE
>>> > sequentially numbers all dimensions starting with the letter V. SE
>>> > also
>>> > treats other information as the same type of variable so for example
>>> > one could tie a dimension to Young's modulus or the CLT for the
>>> > material specified. And SE will display the equation for a dimension
>>> > with the dimension if so desired. Editing an equation is as simple as
>>> > double clicking the dimension which replaces the ribbon bar with an
>>> > Excel like equation editing bar. I didn't find anything like a design
>>> > table in SE. Perhaps it is there in a newer version.
>>> I missed the jist of the comment. By the way, the somewhat equivalent
>>> to
>>> design tables is called Family of Parts and is a tab on the Edgebar.
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> > My conclusion is that SE will demo very well. But when viewing the
>>> > demo, try to get them to go off the beaten path and change things
>>> > after
>>> > the fact or interupt the Smart Step system. Have then do some
>>> > constructions in the profile editor like a hyperbola or involute.
>>> > Change a drawing from ANSI inch to ISO and from A to D size and see
>>> > what is involved. Try dimensioning an isometric view or an oblique
>>> > view. Have then show you how to quickly automate simple tasks. And
>>> > above all have them log you into their user group and let you browse
>>> > around a while.
>>> >
>>> And above all get training from a certified Solid Edge Training
>>> Associate.
>>> Some of the answers that I provided on items "TOP" couldn't seem to
>>> figure
>>> out are basic training issues. Even going through the supplied
>>> tutorials
>>> would have answered many of these questions. And of course, it also
>>> helps
>>> to use the current version of software (V18).
>>
>> This isn't an issue. If I can get a CSWP without taking formal training
>> and yet can't figure out the basics of SE after all this time, well,
>> maybe you are right, add training expense to the cost of the software.
>> Without an open user forum there is little chance to get questions
>> answered.
>>
>
>


.

Relevant Pages

  • Newsgroup Button is not listed in Commands ?
    ... I had customized toolbar with Newsgroup button (following add/remove buttons, ... and it did not reload the command option. ...
    (microsoft.public.outlook.general)
  • Re: Display Custom Toolbar when Document Opens
    ... see Command Button - No Print also posted 10/24. ... The separate thread ... The toolbar would not stay up if I opened Word directly from the document, ... This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply ...
    (microsoft.public.word.vba.general)
  • Re: Word 2003 Envelope problem
    ... dragging small envelope icon to toolbar, and can't seem to do this in 2003. ... >> How can I add envelope to task bar? ... > have some kind of command available in the Word interface, ... > follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail ...
    (microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields)
  • Re: Monitoring and Alerts
    ... I have discussed with other engineers and the command may have some ... Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support ... This newsgroup only focuses on SBS technical issues. ... |> | Subject: Re: Monitoring and Alerts ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: page number command missing from insert menu
    ... what you're referring to is the Menu Bar. ... Commands List to the appropriate position on the Menu Toolbar. ... I did mean that the Insert Page command had disappeared from the ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)