As SOLIDWORKS users, we know the power of simulation tools to answer practical, and sometimes just plain curious, questions about the world around us. In this article, I dive into a simple yet insightful aerodynamic study using SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation. Ever wondered how closely following a semi-truck impacts the drag on your car and how this might affect fuel efficiency? This isn’t a high-tech wind tunnel experiment but it is a relatable, everyday scenario with some interesting findings.
We have all referred to Mass Properties when working with solid models, especially when taking SOLIDWORKS certifications! For the most part, useful information is available at a glance: Density, Mass, Volume, Surface Area, etc. But how does someone interpret the rest of the information included in Mass Properties, particularly the numbers at the bottom? What exactly are they telling us?
Imagine it’s a hot summer day, and you’re driving down the freeway when your AC goes out – what to do? Roll down the windows to get some airflow, that’s what. But now, with all the air blowing around in the cabin, how does this affect gas mileage? When it comes to aerodynamics, seemingly small changes can have a significant effect on drag and fuel efficiency. In this article, SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation will help determine how different window configurations on a generic sedan (fully closed, partially open, or fully open, etc.) affect overall drag. By comparing these scenarios, we can gain insights into how variations in drag on your car can translate directly into fuel consumption differences.
When designing complex parts in SOLIDWORKS, the Loft and Boundary commands are invaluable tools for creating organic shapes and surfaces. While both commands share similarities in creating Boss, Cut, and Surface features, they each offer distinct capabilities that you can leverage for different scenarios. In this blog, we discuss the key differences between the loft and boundary commands in SOLIDWORKS.
In SOLIDWORKS, the Bill of Materials (BOM) serves as a central hub, providing vital information about an assembly's components and their quantities. But have you ever felt limited by its standard features? In this article, we cover the fundamentals of setting up BOM equations and show how equations work in the context of a BOM table.