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Transparency issues while using Motion Study

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InfiniteSolutionsX3

InfiniteSolutionsX3

Mechanical
Sep 9, 2009
10
This problem has been plaguing me for awhile now. I am making a video of one of my assemblies using Motion study in SW. When I try to change transparency of certain parts (Make them appear), they appear but as soon as I click somewhere else, the part goes away....Oddly enough....the outline of the part remains. I've tried opening and closing the program but it just keeps happening randomly. I have Solidworks Office Premium 2008. Please help

 
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It sounds like it could be a graphics card problem; are you using a SW approved card and a certified driver?

Run the SolidWorks Rx program found in the Start Menu/ SolidWorks 2008/SolidWorks Tools, it will identify your card and driver and you can follow links there to check the approved drivers.

Hope this helps.


Trevor Clarke. (R & D) Scientific Instruments.Somerset. UK

SW2009x64 SP4.0 Intel Core i7 2.94Ghz, 12Gb Ram, NVIDIA Quadro FX3700 Driver: 6.14.11.8246
SW2009x64 SP4.0 Intel Core 2 Duo 3.17Ghz, 8Gb Ram NVIDIA Quadro FX3700 Driver: 6.14.11.8246
 
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It diagnostic tool says I have the following:
Manufacturer: Intel
Card: Intel 965/963 Graphics Media Accelerator
Driver: 6.14.10.4831

I went to the Solidworks website and I am not sure what I should list for "5. For current selected options, select the card or vendor that matches your system." Nothing looks familiar. Oh and my laptop is an HP running windows XP.
 
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You won't find anything there because the Intel 965/963 Graphics Media Accelerator is not a separate card but is integrated onto your HP Laptop's motherboard. It is not recommended for SW.

Laptop video cards are not as straightforward as desktops, it may have a suitable slot and you might be able to find an Nvidia or ATI card that fits.

You may be able to get what you want done by starting SolidWorks and before you load any files, go to Tools->options->system options->performance and select 'Use software OpenGL'. this will bypass the hardware acceleration and use the main processor for the graphics. It will be slower, but if it cures the transparency problems it will prove what the problem is and may get your video done with what you've got.


Trevor Clarke. (R & D) Scientific Instruments.Somerset. UK

SW2009x64 SP4.0 Intel Core i7 2.94Ghz, 12Gb Ram, NVIDIA Quadro FX3700 Driver: 6.14.11.8246
SW2009x64 SP4.0 Intel Core 2 Duo 3.17Ghz, 8Gb Ram NVIDIA Quadro FX3700 Driver: 6.14.11.8246
 
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For some reason OpenGL is greyed out. So I went to Solidworks help and tried to adjust the hardware accelerator manually by doing the following.

To decrease hardware acceleration:

1. On your Windows desktop, right-click and select Properties.

2.On the Settings tab, click Advanced.

3.On the Troubleshoot tab, move the slider left to decrease Hardware acceleration.

4.Click OK until the Display Properties dialog box closes.

This didn't work either

 
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Make sure that no files are open in SW when changing the OpenGL setting. If it is still greyed out, that means your graphics card does not support OpenGL.
 
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Most laptops will not allow you to change video cards. They are hard soldered into the laptop motherboard.

You will have to suffer through until you get a new laptop.

Be sure that you are getting a workstation class laptop and not another laptop for basic office application work or you will be in the same boat as you are now.

Cheers,

Anna Wood
Anna Built Workstation, Core i7 EE965, FirePro V8700, 12 gigs of RAM, OCZ Vertex 120 Gig SSD
SW2009 SP3.0, Windows 7 RC1
 
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Last grasp at a temporary fix! When you tried the manual adjustment of the hardware acceleration, did you move the slider all the way to "None"?

On the opening page of the current version of SolidWorks RX, there is an option under "Safe Modes" to launch SolidWorks in "Software OpenGL Mode" this may be worth a try, as it bypasses the normal system settinngs! I'm not sure if earlier versions had this option or if it was buried in a menu somewhere.

Finally, your installed Intel 965/963 driver may be old, buggy or not compatible with the more recent OpenGL commands that SW wants to send it. It's worth a Google on this to see what problems users of your model HP are having. I expect most are running OpenGL base games, but it could give a lead to if another driver might do the trick.

The best option really is as Anna Wood said, get a proper SW capable "workstation class" laptop.
 
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yes I tried moving the slider all the way to none. This is really frustrating! I have similar parts
in my assembly that fade in and out perfectly. I'll start scouring the internet like you said...if I come up with
something, I'll definitely pass the info on to you guys. Is it safe to assume that most high
quality "gaming" laptops will have compatible graphics cards?

 
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No, it is not save to assume gaming laptops come with compatible cards. They don't. You want a workstation class laptop.

Go to the SolidWorks website to see which laptops have SolidWorks approved graphics. Select the dropdown for the specific brand of laptop manufacturer.


Cheers,



Anna Wood
Anna Built Workstation, Core i7 EE965, FirePro V8700, 12 gigs of RAM, OCZ Vertex 120 Gig SSD
SW2009 SP3.0, Windows 7 RC1
 
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Thanks. You guys have been very helpful. I've found that a lot of people are having trouble with graphics on this card. Some even suggested downloading the latest driver. I went to HP's website and downloaded the latest driver and it still didn't help.

 
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Ok one last question....I'm trying to decide between 2 laptops, each with different graphics cards...do any of you know if one is that much better than the other? I've researched each of them and they both seem like quality cards but I'm not sure if one is a lot better than the other.

Dell Precision M6400
Graphics card: NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M, 512MB Discrete

IBM ThinkPad W500
Graphics card: ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 (512MB VRAM) with Intel AMT

 
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Either laptop should work well for SolidWorks. Both are good video cards. Be sure to spec the fastest cpu you can afford. SolidWorks is cpu bound and benefits the most from a fast cpu.

Cheers,

Anna Wood
Anna Built Workstation, Core i7 EE965, FirePro V8700, 12 gigs of RAM, OCZ Vertex 120 Gig SSD
SW2009 SP3.0, Windows 7 RC1
 
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I finally got a new laptop with a better graphics card (ATI Mobility FireGL V5700) along with Solidworks 2009....it's like going from an Atari to an XBOX 360! Thank you guys for the help. Does anyone know where I can get a realistic FREE female human head for Solidworks?


 
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