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A 2006 Rave

A 2006 Rave

A 2006 Rave

(OP)
I know this site is usuall a bitchfest (I mean helping each other fix problems) but I wanted to give the guys at SWx a big round of applause. The Hole wizzard in 2006 is great. It's so much better being in the pannel than as a popup window, and it looks really cool too (reminds me a little of pro/e... but that was a long time ago.)

What do you guys LIKE about 2006. There has got to be more good stuff than problems (why else would we be using it). And I'm sure the people as SWx would love the praise

Wes C.
------------------------------
Make a dent in the Universe... do something great...

RE: A 2006 Rave

I'm not sure if SW people monitor this site, but they definitely should!

Although I have not had a chance to use SW06 yet, my list of favourites gleaned from demos & "Whats New" files is:-

Fill Patterns ... Used this often in SE. It's great for setting up a linear pattern of holes in a part of varying lengths. Previously had to use an equation in SW.

Layout of Sketch Blocks ... Creation of Assembly Layout of parts from sketches.
Mates in Multibody Parts.
Auto Size of Configured Parts.
Transparency for Raster Files
Sheet Metal Bend Notes.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: A 2006 Rave

(OP)
Hey thanks Cory.. I I could probablly use that.... anyway, who cares if SW really looks at this site (agreed that they should though)... I thought this thread would list some good things (for us to read) as opposed to all the, "Hey, this thing doens't F*&$32ng work!" posts that are usually on here (regarding 2006)...

Wes C.
------------------------------
Make a dent in the Universe... do something great...

RE: A 2006 Rave

Sooooo many things.

1. The addition of the width mate. This alone has saved me so much time it's unbelievable.

2. The ability to rotate views within a drawing.

3. Sheet metal bend notes.

4. Linked split pane views

I can't think of any more right now, but I would have a hard time going back to 05.

RE: A 2006 Rave

Diggin some of the new features in 3D Sketch mode & faster 2D layout.

RE: A 2006 Rave

"Bitchfest"?  Hey this isn't comp.cad.solidworks!

Since we do alot of wire and bent tubes, the new 3D Sketcher makes things easier.  Now you can make arcs in 3D sketches, where before you had to cheat by using fillets when changing the drawing axis.  

curve through x,y,z points: enter spline points through an X,Y,Z table.  

Textures in drawings is a new capability.  Haven't tried it yet, but that would help with expanded metal and perforated steel.  

Feature paint: pick a feature and copy it to another feature (such as hole wizard holes).

Dimensions for text in isoviews on sheets look better.

Flores
SW 2005 SP 4.

RE: A 2006 Rave

Didn't we have curve through x,y,z points already?

And where is feature paint?

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2005 SP5.0 on WinXP SP2
SolidWorks 2006 SP0.0 on WinXP SP2

RE: A 2006 Rave

I thought textures only showed in e-drawings?

Sketch blocks are a huge plus for us as is the new camera.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.robrodriguez.com
SW 2006 SP 1.0EV

RE: A 2006 Rave

I have been extremely happy with the routing and weldment features.  Doing my first project ever in Solidworks and it is going extremenly well.  So far have 1462 unique parts, combined into 146 sub assemblies.  This is in 2005 and it is working excellent.  I loaded up 2006 yesterday but haven't tried out any of the new features except for the camera.  Looks like it could be a lot of fun.

So what is this width mate you speak of?  Looked for it quickly in some of the what's new documentation, but couldn't find it.

RE: A 2006 Rave

Yeah, I remember the one in utilities, thought they added something similar to core, where something like this belongs.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2005 SP5.0 on WinXP SP2
SolidWorks 2006 SP0.0 on WinXP SP2

RE: A 2006 Rave

Rockguy, textures now show up in regular drawings as well as edrawings.

RE: A 2006 Rave

PhotoWorks improvements such as camera perspective, lighting and depth of field enhancements are great.

Also the 3D sketch improvements with spline handle control--and that I can do a loft with a single sketch--very nice.  Great for surfacing.


Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

RE: A 2006 Rave

I copied a folder of a project to try out SW2006 SP1.0, and I noticed a smaller drawing size.  The exact same file in SW2005 SP4.0 was 55,740 kb., while the SW2006 SP1.0 drawing was 4,314 kb.  

Whenever I closed the drawing, I got a pop-up box that said: "Some drawing views are being processed and will be saved in draft quality.  The next time you open the drawing, the views will be converted to high quality."  and there is a "Don't ask me again" checkbox.  

Flores
SW 2006 SP1.0

RE: A 2006 Rave

Hadn't been using Photoworks much lately since the release, but I just threw on a decal and to my amazement it came up in the SolidWorks Display. Very Cool.

Drag Select in the design tree rocks too.

RE: A 2006 Rave

One of the best things I like about SW06 is the Camera view in Animator.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: A 2006 Rave

I like the redesigned Hole Wizard as well.

Especially the fact that it gives a preview of each hole you create, not just the first point/hole.

System: Dell Precision 650—Intel Xeo @ 2.66 GHz with 1/2G RAM
OS: Windows 2000 SP3
Graphics: NVidia Quadro FX 500 128Mb (OpenGL set to Solidworks) V 6.14.01.4354
Version: Solidworks 2005, SP0.1

RE: A 2006 Rave

I have SW2006 installation CDs on my desk and I wonder: Should I take the big step and move up from SW2005 or wait some more? The problem is that 2005 runs flawlessly on my machine, no crashes, no other problems. Am I going to get the same from 2006?

SW2005 SP5.0
Dell Dimension 3.2 GHz 1GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GPU PCI with 256 MB RAM
Windows XP Pro SP2

RE: A 2006 Rave

The only way to find out is to try. Make a separate install & experiment on copies of your product.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: A 2006 Rave

I agree, the problem is I don't have "experimenting with SW2006" in my budget. My worry is that going to SW2006 will actually slow me down. Has anyone noticed a real increase in productivity by moving to SW2006?

RE: A 2006 Rave

I don't crash, Stability is there for me and 90% of Customers. Even though Testing is not Cost effective, Testing in the long run will pay for itself, because ify ou find it to be slower with your files then you have saved yourself a ton of lost time to slow downs. If you speed up with your testing then you will save yourself a ton of cost with a speed increase. Either way testing is required to determine if your files will work with the latest. I can tell you all day that SW06 is great, but you are the only one that can determine that with your files. You may have some or do something that I don't do and with your technique you might cause SW to crash more often. Only you will be able to determine that.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: A 2006 Rave

Finally I decided to install SW2006 but I wanted to download SP1 first. SW site won't recognize my serial number as a subscription service customer although I know for sure is paid.

RE: A 2006 Rave

(OP)
Netshop. Call your VAR.

Wes C.
------------------------------
In this house, we OBEY the laws of thermodynamics! - Homer Simpson

RE: A 2006 Rave

Yesterday, I was working back and forth with a team member who was using 05. I was noticing that 06 offsets like butter. The sketch blocks are great for logos, and 06 opens up Illustrator files (!), and blocks have saved me a bunch of time designing linkages.

RE: A 2006 Rave

SWX Improvements:
1) Display states - allow you to deal with view options (hide/show, shaded/shaded with edges/wireframe) independently of configurations.
2) Depth setting for section views in drawings - allows you to limit the visibility of parts that are past a specified distance.
3) Invert selection - finally !
4) Appearance callouts - how many times have we seen questions from people who can't figure where a color/texture has been applied?

PhotoWorks improvements:
1) Much better interface for locating decals.  The drag handles make this so easy and give realtime display of the decal.
2) Help files have been updated with a lot of good info regarding the effects of various settings and their dependencies.  Some examples are given with the settings used to create them.  This is long overdue.
3) Decals can now be viewed in the part/assembly in addition to the rendered view.
4) Camera view is great for creating realistic closeups.  Depth-of-field is a huge addition.  You used to have to fake this by using gradient blurs in Photoshop.  I have also not seen the problem of the PhotoWorks tab not becoming active when selected.  This bug had been around since PWX 1, so I am hoping it is gone for good.  Photoworks is getting some stiff competition.  It is nice to see them finally start to keep pace with the rest of the rendering world.

No stability problems.

I have seen some mate errors that were not there before the upgrade.

Overall this is a very good release.  They have come a long way since 2003...

RE: A 2006 Rave

Stoker, I agree that the concept of Display States is a great addition to Solidworks, but I’ve already run into a couple of limitations with them.

1.  Display States and Design Tables.  Compare to Configurations in Design Tables...When you type in a new Config name, the Table creates a new Configuration.  Sure would be nice to do the same for Display States.  

2.  Display States of Assembly Components.  Compare to a Drawing View.  If  you are editing a drawing and right click a Drawing View to get Properties, there’s a familiar dialogue box containing a pullout for Configuration Name, in addition to a new pulldown for Display State of that Configuration.  Awesome!   Now try right clicking on a component in an assembly file.  You get the good old Configuration Pulldown and would expect to see that brand spankin new Display State pulldown.  But guess what, it’s not there!   

I was really warming up to the idea of Display States but #2 killed my excitement.  What’s the use of implementing something if it’s not fully integrated?  Solidworks dangled a carrot in front of my nose and I followed it right into a wall.

System: Dell Precision 650—Intel Xeo @ 2.66 GHz with 1/2G RAM
OS: Windows 2000 SP3
Graphics: NVidia Quadro FX 500 128Mb (OpenGL set to Solidworks) V 6.14.01.4354
Version: Solidworks 2006, SP1.0
Motion Control: Spaceball 5000 V5.3.3  Firm 3.2

RE: A 2006 Rave

Quote:

You may have some or do something that I don't do and with your technique you might cause SW to crash more often. Only you will be able to determine that.

Is there a "technique do's & dont's" book that I'm missing.

If technique can cause SolidWorks to crash, it was never mentioned in any of the training classes I've taken.
My technique has remained the same, but with SW06 I've gone from 0 crashes with 2005 to ~20 crashes with 2006 since we upgraded 6 weeks ago!

Stupidity is the basic building block of the universe.   F.Z.

RE: A 2006 Rave

cnova, I don't know about a ""technique do's & dont's" book", but there a few threads on SW best practices in this forum.  You might also want to check out the FAQ's.  As for crashing for 6 weeks now, you have to note that SP1.0 didn't come out until 10/11/2005, which is a little over a week ago. "Testing" SP0 is usually recommended before jumping in with both feet, but I let others find most bugs and let them get fixed in SP1.0 before I install.

Flores
SW 2006, SP1.0

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