This is John Van Engen's TypePad Profile.
Join TypePad and start following John Van Engen's activity
Join Now!
Already a member? Sign In
John Van Engen
Recent Activity
Thumbnails: A picture is worth a 1,000 words
Image
Are you getting these.. Instead of these?? Then you have some settings to pay attention to. Mostly this issue shows up in your SolidWorks file open menu or even in Windows explorer. There are a few things to check, by... Continue reading
Posted May 8, 2013 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Renaming SolidWorks Files with SW Explorer
Image
Renaming files can be tricky and if you don't take the right steps it can damge file references. Here is an easy way to change all part numbers in a assembly to all new numbers. One method is to use... Continue reading
Posted Apr 8, 2013 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Sketch Option: Add Dimension
Image
Here's a quick tip for adding dimensions to your sketches. When inserting a sketch you have these options by default. If you go to tools, options, sketches, you will find another setting that can expand these options. Checking this box... Continue reading
Posted Mar 8, 2013 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
How do we find the volume of voids in SolidWorks?
Image
Calculating volume of voids can be done fairly easily. In this example we will find the volume of the material removed during the shell. I know this is pretty basic geomtry but the principal is the same. Create a sketch... Continue reading
Posted Feb 5, 2013 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
1
Updating Materials
Image
Two neat ways to update your materials. 1. If you have an assembly open you can select multiple components with control or shift, then right click and choose materials, it will let you choose a material and apply it to... Continue reading
Posted Dec 7, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Modeling beyond the limitations
Image
Let’s take a look at moving around a modeling roadblock. We have all had a feature for whatever reason doesn’t work even though there seems to be no reason why not. Some times SolidWorks models may have issues that seem... Continue reading
Posted Oct 8, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Updating to SolidWorks 2012 toolbox... another look.
After some time has gone by and we have a few more service packs to be proud of, I felt we needed one more look. I created this and shared it with my fellow techs during our technical summit this... Continue reading
Posted Sep 7, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
1
Quick Tip for Assembly views
Image
Sometimes you may find that you want to create a part view on an assembly drawing for reference or for tech pub documents. There are a few ways to do this. Sure we can always dig up the model and... Continue reading
Posted Aug 7, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
What to do when your SNL manager doesn't keep your server name?
More than a few times I have encountered this problem. Say you have had a stroke of luck and you finally get the server upgrade you have been waiting for. Transferring the activation from the old server to the new... Continue reading
Posted May 15, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Make That Drawing View Right
Image
So you have a drawing view of maybe an odd shaped object and you wish to set it horizontal or vertical to a known edge for better reference. Sure you can rotate the view, but entering 22.33871842 degrees may still... Continue reading
Posted Mar 26, 2012 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Changing Component Line Fonts
Image
Not sure where you might see fit to use this, maybe it's been activated accidentally and you want to turn it off... but how? Well if you wanted to change the font of a drawing view of a component maybe... Continue reading
Posted Dec 28, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Big Files = Big Problems
Image
Think your part is way bigger than it should be? Maybe it is... Little known facts from 2011 SP2 there was an error that caused file size to balloon. The problem was in the creation of multiple redundant display states... Continue reading
Posted Dec 13, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Stubborn Program Removal
Image
We used to have a great tool for uninstalling failed installs in XP with the MicroSoft uninstall clean up utility. Since going to Windows 7 this option was no longer available as the tool was not supported with Windows 7.... Continue reading
Posted Dec 7, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Borrowing Licenses From SNL
Image
If you haven't borrowed a license in a while you may see some changes. Most surprisingly you may find that going to the borrow tab things look a little different: Next you might notice that there are no free Standard... Continue reading
Posted Nov 28, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
2012 Toolbox Hotfix 627753
Image
Many of you launching SolidWorks 2012 SP0.0 will be receiving a message box prompting you to install a hotfix for Toolbox. This message is sent to you via the RSS news feeds on your task pane. The option for this... Continue reading
Posted Nov 15, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Getting What You Paid For
Image
In some cases where you have either upgraded or purchased a higher level of SolidWorks you may be missing some features. In most cases you probably have what you should but here is a way to fix it if you... Continue reading
Posted Oct 13, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Finding the Center of Gravity in SolidWorks
Image
As many of us know the center of gravity can be found easily in SolidWorks by going to Tools, Mass Properties. It shows a lovely pinkish purple triad in the place of the center of gravity. But shock when closing... Continue reading
Posted Sep 28, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Configuring Assemblies
Image
I am not sure exactly when it became part of SolidWorks but if you were like me you may have missed it. I believe this is probably one of the best parts added to SolidWorks. One most useful tools for... Continue reading
Posted Jul 18, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Fixing Floating Command Manager
Image
As you are working at full speed you notice that after the last command you used from the Command Manager, it appears it has become undocked. No problem just like all other toolbars we can just slide it back where... Continue reading
Posted May 17, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
1
How to dimension to a virtual sharp?
Typically this is done when a sharp corner dimension is needed. If you have a radius corner that is shown on a drawing that is dimensioned to the invisible sharp you can create this as a point in a sketch... Continue reading
Posted Apr 14, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
SolidWorks not playing nice with Excel on your new HP?
Found an interesting group of programs associated with HP that will crash SolidWorks while inserting a design table. HP has felt compelled to add a new security agent called "HP ProtectTools Security Manager" as an add-in for Microsoft Excel. This... Continue reading
Posted Apr 13, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Justifying sketch text.
Image
The trick to justifying sketch text starts before you open the sketch text command. You will need to draw in a construction line or have a line in the sketch to use. If the sketch text command is opened it... Continue reading
Posted Mar 24, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
'Tis the Season to Upgrade your SNL to 2011!
'Tis the Season to Upgrade Your SNL to 2011! Around this time every year kid’s eyes and minds fill with thoughts of great presents and visiting relatives, while their engineering parents eagerly await the new SolidWorks version to be installed... Continue reading
Posted Jan 5, 2011 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Avast! an issue with SolidWorks
Image
Off of a recent support call we learned that Avast! Internet Security has been found to cause a problem on x64 machines while installing SolidWorks. Even though SolidWorks does not required to us shut down the anti-virus programs anymore during... Continue reading
Posted Mar 11, 2010 at CATI Tech Notes
Comment
0
Subscribe to John Van Engen’s Recent Activity
0 Favorites