Create a single part that can fit through three Circular, Square and Triangular holes. The Part must fit through each hole perfectly with no gap between it’s edges and the edge of the hole.

The Circle is 1″ in diameter
The Square is 1″ on each side
The Triangle has base of 1″ and a height of 1″

The solution is in the zip file.

Good Luck
Bobby

Click below to see the answer

A geneva device

AA Battery

The model is of the human eye and contains detailed parts for anatomy or medical purposes.

Download the SolidWorks 2010 model here

Three configurations of the model are exploded view, full eye and cross section showing:

• Sclera
• Ciliary Body
• Suspensory Ligmanet
• Cornea
• Iris
• Pupil
• Lens
• Vitreous Humor
• Choroid
• Retina
• Fovia Axis
• Optic nerve
• Optic disc
• Retina artery and vein

Are you considering taking the Certified SolidWorks Associates Exam? Given I was teaching SolidWorks at the Benjamin Franklin Institute, I thought that I should at least pass the exam I expected my students to take. So last year I took (and passed) the exam. Here are some links to example exams, tips on what to study, and video tutorials for the exam.

Sample Exam here:

link to what to study here:

Video Tutorials here:

Good Luck

This year I plan to take the CSWP Certificated SolidWorks Professional exam. Stay tuned for more details!

The problem: When waking from sleep mode, a blue screen appears.

Why this occurs: When Windows is in sleep mode, the drive shuts down.  When your system comes out of sleep mode, the drive turns back on and spins up.  The larger drives take longer to come on and Windows times out before the drive is finished–resutling in a blue screen.

The solution: Windows provides a hotfix for this that can be downloaded and installed. See Microsoft support here for the hotfix.

Since installing the hotfix, my computer has worked perfectly!

I hope this helps others.

As always back to mechanical engineering and product design!

With the large number of snow storms this winter, I have been thinking about all the snow I have been shoveling.  It seems to me that density should be included in the snow depth measurement.  I believe that meteorologists should report not only the measurement of snow as it has fallen to the earth but also should report the compaction of snow, for instance 12″ of snow will compact to 6″ inches of snow. This would give us a sense of how hard it will be to get rid of all the snow once the storm passes.

There is a method for measuring snow depth that involves returning the snow back to a liquid state then measuring the amount of liquid. This seems to be a bit much to me.  I propose a  system with a simple rod with a bearing plate on it. The user would measure the depth of snow with the plate at the surface then the user would then press the disk into the snow and take a measurement after reaching full compaction.

If a user measures 12″ of snow and compacted it measures 3″ then the snow would be relatively light fluffy snow which will be easier for the user to move.

If a user measures 12″ of snow and compacted it measures 8″ then the snow would be relatively heavy wet snow which will be harder for the user to move.

I just created an InMap using linked in Labs new tool.  Pretty interesting how it grouped my friends and colleagues so well.  I was really impressed.  Try it yourself here

Using bodies in SolidWorks is a good way to simplify your modeling by reducing the number of features needed to make a part.  Using Boolean features;  combine subtract and common are excellent methods to create complex parts or work in team on a single part.   One of the most common uses for body features is to connect two separate bodies.  This is typically done when the deign of features of your part are defined but the connection between is still unknown of variable.

Below is an animation of the three principal body cut features.  Combine (add) Subtract and Common.  Using a sphere I have shown the results of each of the features.

Continue reading to learn about the uses of the bodies especially working on a single part with a team!

Uses for these features:

Separation of complex parts into sub parts

When I design complex parts I sometimes break the part into sub parts.  Sub parts are clear splits in the part where I can easily break the part into manageable sections.  Each of the sub parts are then edited individually.  I import one of the parts into the other to form the total part.  (Insert –> Part)

I do this to keep my SolidWorks tree smaller and if I intend to use one of sub parts in more then one model.

Working with a team on a single part

Working on an assembly with two or more people in SolidWorks requires communication, but try working on the same part simultaneously and it is impossible.  When I need to collaborate with others I really on the body features in SolidWorks.  Recently I was working with an industrial designer responsible for the outer shape of a device. I was primarily concerned with the mechanical aspects of the internals.  In order to work together we developed an envelope that he would stay on the out side of and I would stay in.  We then broke the part into two sections which allowed him to work on the surface which was imported into my model.  I then subtracted the surface from my body thus creating his external on my internal features.  It was then simple to work as he changed his model mine would simply update.

Connecting disconnected features in a part

Imagine a connecting rod.  You could place both ends of the rod at their desired location and connect them using a 3 feature using the combine function.

To get to these features you must have at least 2 bodies

Below is a description of how to create a system image of your current Microsoft Windows 7 setup, move it to a new hard drive, and successfully restart Microsoft Windows again.  I was really impressed with how easily this worked out so I wanted to put the details up for others to use.

For this process you will need:

• A functional Windows 7 OS
• A Windows 7 install disk
• An external hard drive (large enough to hold your data while you transfer to a new internal hard drive)
• A working knowledge of the installation process of a new hard drive
• A new internal hard drive equal to or larger than your current internal hard drive

Overview of the steps

1. Create a system image using Windows backup (to external drive)
2. Remove old hard drive and install new one
3. Change bios on your computer to boot from CD
4. Repair Windows using CD and system image from Step 1
5. Expand volume of your disk drive to retrieve the new space

A Walkthrough of the Process

1. Backup your computer

Start – Control panel -System and Security -Back up and Restore

on the left side bar of the window click create a system image

Select you location to create the system image

Follow the steps to create the image.  This could take a while depending on the size of your current system.

2.  Remove your old hard drive and install your new one.  Take the outer shell of your computer off to find the hard drive, remove the existing hard drive, and replace it with your new hard drive.  Make sure to attach all cables that were removed in the process.

3. You may need to change your bios to boot from your CD drive if it is not already set up to do so.  How to do  this differs by machine but usually involves hitting the “f2″ key when the computer is initially starting and adjusting the boot sequence to include your CD drive.

4.  Put the Windows 7 disk in your CD drive and restart your computer.  Windows 7 will begin to load from the CD and will give you install options.   Go to the repair and recover option.

Follow the steps on here:

5. Once the system image has been restored you may find that Windows still thinks that the new hard drive is the same size as the old.  This is because Windows copied your system exactly.  If  your new hard drive is larger, follow the steps below To get access to the added space:

Click the Windows button (lower left corner) in the search bar at the bottom of the list type “partition”.  This will bring up a list of relevant options. Click “Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions”.  Go to the volume that is unallocated. It will be in the window with the OS partition.  Right click the OS block in that bar and select expand volume.  This will allow the rest of your new hard drive to be accessed.

UPDATE:

I recently had crashes with my new hard drive.  I was able to find the solution (posted here).

Good luck

Now back to mechanical engineering and product design!