Mastercam / Solidworks

[Paul McGarr]

I know a lot of you use Solidworks as well as Mastercam. I have a question for you guys...

 

In Mastercam, getting information about a solid face is easy using [analyze-dynamic]. Is there a fast way to get information about a face in Solidworks?

 

I've been using Mastercam forever, and the dynamic analyze function is great. I hope there is a feature like that in Solidworks because the [measure] function is time consuming to use.

 

Anybody have any ideas?

 

Paul

[Moldmaker74]

Use the measure tool. The icon is under the tool pulldown menue and looks like a tape measure.

[Paul McGarr]

I know about the measure tool. It's nothing like analyze-dynamic unless I am missing something.

 

Paul

[fistafury17]

What are you trying to measure?

[Paul McGarr]

For example, I am trying to satisfy the need to answer questions about a model that I am working on when the boss comes over and asks questions about it.

 

In Mastercam, I can get information about any feature by simply clicking on the feature and dragging the cursor around. It's very fast, and I am used to it for checking radii, draft, depths, etc. Just click on a face and you get everything you need to know.

 

In Solidworks, I need to use the measure function and it's time consuming and embarassing. When I get asked for information, I like to be able to supply it in a second or two, not 20 or 30.

 

I asked this at the SolidWorks forum, and people agree that the measure function is kind of clumsy.

 

My question here should have been more direct. Is there a SolidWorks equivelent to Mastercam's Analyze-Dynamic?

 

Paul

[fistafury17]

No there isn't anything inside of Solidworks that functions like Analyze-Dynamic. There are a number of functions in Mastercam Design that work more efficiently than or can't be duplicated by those in Solidworks. Some of the issues can be overcome through seat time in SW.

[Guest]

Paul,

 

I am not sure what you're quite trying to accomplish.

 

If I pick Measure and set it to "Show XYZ Measurements"

 

Any face I pick on, displays the information about it, to include, diameter, perimeter and area.

 

If you click the "double down" arrows and show the result field, you can right click delete and existing queries while moving on the the next one.

 

To me it seems the information is there and available. So I am guessing I am missing something.

[JNO]

If you are just checking dimensions, just use the Smart Dimension Icon. Just don't save the file.

[kunfuzed]

Yeah... what JP said.

[Paul McGarr]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm learning. My gut...SolidWorks is kind of clunky in this area. Not complaining because I am really liking everything else about SolidWorks. I am by trade a Mastercam guy. I've got 15 years with it. Now that I got my hands on Solidworks, I CAN'T WAIT until Mastercam for SolidWorks comes out.

 

Best of both worlds with that partnership!

 

Thanks again everybody.

 

Paul

[gcode]

SolidWorks is easy to customise.

I made "A" a hotkey for Tools/Measure

Click on an a entity, hit A

hold down Ctrl..clcik on 2 face, or lines or points hit A and you got the distance between

[Tinhman]

It will be a while to learn something new but it all pays off in the long run.

Old fashion: 2D drawing and cut.

New fashion: 3D model and cut.

With the advance of parametric modeling, Just my opinion, the new fashion is much faster and more accurate with the complex part than the old fashion.