I use this channel primarily to supplement the classes that I teach at Southern Maine Community College but make them public for others who might find them useful. I try to respond to all comments within a reasonable time. Most of these videos involve mechanical design, SolidWorks, AutoCAD or other design-related topics. The Maine Community College system holds the copyright to all videos unless otherwise noted.
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Fantastic video! I'm taking the CSWP soon and this was incredibly helpful for seeing where I missed somethings in the practice exam. Thanks for making the video!
Glad it was helpful! I plan to do another that covers the configuration and assembly part of the exam, but haven't had time yet. Make sure you have some experience with configurations and you might want to review the various mate tools, although you're not likely to get any questions on the mechanical or advanced mates. The width mate will probably be helpful though. Good luck.
Hello Dan, new to boating and working on improving skills interpreting charts. I sometimes get confused on understanding non laterally significant buoys. Sometimes they are green, sometimes red or other colors like black STAY CLEAR). On closer look you can see the hazard or area of concern on the map. I often default back to interpreting the color for safe passage, which isn’t always the case. Any guidance would be appreciated. Also when I’m certain a buoy has lateral significance (like a Green Day marker..not a buoy actually) I always want to see a related red marker which is very often not found. So leave the green on port when returning and safe water assumed on starboard to some reasonable boundary ???
Randy, Sorry not to get right back to you. I haven't checked my comments in a while. You ask a very good question, and I hope a lot of people will see my answer. The only way to know for sure how to interpret the purpose and meaning of aids to navigation is to ALWAYS have a current nautical chart with you -- either on paper, digitally (preferably on a chart plotter), or both (my preference). There are plenty of cell phone apps that can be used as a nautical chart plotter, but I always download a PDF of the largest scale, current chart from the NOAA website and print it on a large format printer. I then put in in a large plastic chart bag and fold it up so I can unfold the bag to read any part of it. You probably don't have a large format printer available, but you can print it out in pieces or buy a paper chart from an aftermarket service. A lot of students in my navigation classes start by thinking that "red right returning" is all they need to know about navigating, but as you point out, sometime buoys have lateral significance (they mark one side of a preferred channel) and sometimes they don't. Even if they are laterally significant, in congested areas it may not be clear if you are leaving one port or returning to a nearby different port. Not only that, but sometime -- as you indicated-- a buoy is laterally significant, but the "other one" isn't there. That often happens with daymarks. The best advice then is to look at the chart, but if you don't have one, stay close to the day make leaving it on the correct side of your vessel, but NOT TOO CLOSE. The daymarks are often embedded in a ledge that extends a bit beyond the day mark. A lot of bottom paint has been left on ledges like that. There is safe water on the proper side, but you may have to leave that "reasonable boundary" you mention. The other thing is that floating buoys can move in storms. They have an anchor (usually a mushroom anchor) and that can be dragged in extreme circumstances. I have also seen buoys pulled under by a strong current (the inside passage between Bath and Boothbay Maine is one common spot), only to suddenly shoot up above the water. You don't want to be over it when that happens, so knowing where a buoy should be by looking on a chart and giving a "reasonable boundary" is also a good idea in areas with strong currents. And just to make it even more concerning, I was once going between Harpswell Sound and Potts Harbor through a passage known as the "snake pit" -- which requires paying close attention to the laterally significant buoys that guide you through the serpentine passage with ledges on both sides -- when I couldn't see the green can #3 that was always there. When I slowly approached where it should have been, I could see the top of it about a foot below the surface. The gear holding it in place had gotten twisted up enough during a storm to be too short to allow the buoy to float above the water line. I immediately contacted the Coast Guard to alert them and they sent out a boat to fix it so no one would run into it. A lot of local boaters love whipping through at high speed for fun. Not much fun if they'd hit the very large steel can. This probably qualifies as my longest reply to a comment, but I am always interested in people learning why "red right returning" is not all they need to know about navigating. Now add some fog, and it gets even more interesting.
i wanna ask a question, when i save as from q1 to q2 and change the equation followed by example question i get different results. But when i build part from 0 i get correct answer.
I am not sure what your question is. You would get the same results if you applied the equations correctly. The biggest problem that people have with global variables is that they type in the name of the variable rather than select it from the drop down list. If you type it in, the variable isn't linked, so the value is used but changing it in the equation editor won't apply to the part. Unless you see the Greek letter Sigma preceding the value in the dimension, it isn't a linked global variable.
Thanks. Making that ref. plane normal to the helix was the trick. very nice expiation. I agree with @mostsoot it does sound like a 3D printer printing a curved or circular outer/inner wall. Ha. ("inexpensive" stepper motor resonance is pretty obvious...) I actually thought the same when I first watched your video... :) Anyway, the dimensions on your trapezoid are for LMC (largest hole) conditions? Nominally, that root depth is 0.5 * pitch (0.5 * 1/6 = 0.0833 - you use 0.0933)?
You're welcome. I am not sure what that noise is, and I agree that it sounds like a 3D printer. I have 10 printers, but they are at work. I made this video in my home office, where I do not have a printer. The only thing I have in here that makes noise is two EGO battery chargers, but I wouldn't have made a video while charging those batteries because it is very noisy. Perhaps some radio frequency problem? I found some differing dimensions for acme threads. I think I used the Machinery's Handbook, but can't remember anymore and it may have been a typo. Obviously, you could modify those dimensions. The purpose of the video was just to show a student how to create a thread using a profile and a helix. The thread tool in SolidWorks doesn't always give a true thread in my experience, so when I do want to create one for 3D printing something with a thread, I usually create the thread this way and reduce the size of an external or increase the size of an internal thread and modify it if it doesn't work.
I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean open a single part directly or from the assembly? If from the assembly, you can use SAVEAS to see the current path.
@@DanAbbott-SMCC I found, to be able to find fast the path... and copy the path... File -> Find references... and you can assign shortcut to this also.
Thanks for sharing Daniel, I think this is much better than the design table. But is there a way to use this configuration feature table in drawings? There are definitely some issues with the design table in drawings and I'm looking for a more robust and reliable way of putting a configuration table into drawings.
THANKS FROM 2024! ILL CHECK IT OUT! REALLY COOL YOUR GRANDFATHER PUG MONEY FOWN ON A TUCKER!! (It wasn’t made because the BIG POWERFUL CAR MAKERS OF THE TIME FELT THREATENED BY THE INVENTOR!! And one of them came out a few years ago with HIS CENTER HEAD LIGHT INNOVATION THAT FOLLOWED THE CAR LIGHTS & CLAIMED IT AS THERES! When NO! It was not!!
The Tucker wasn't on the floor a couple of weeks ago, but they still have it, so it will be back. Very cool collection. I took my 90 year old mother-in-law, and she loved it. Then I took my 11 year old grand nephew, and he loved it. You should go.
I have followed every step and checked it perfectly but then also in question 2 I didn't get the exact answer which you got (1st question is correct) can you please provide any solution ??
Not without seeing the model. The most common error people make on this part is assuming that both cylinders are the same dimension. One is based on X the other on Y. You might check that. If your answer is within 1% of the correct answer given, it would be considered correct on the exam. I have gotten the same answer each time I've gone through this practice exam for a class, so I think you probably overlooked something. You should also check for any under-defined sketches. If you have any, correct that and see if you get the right answer.
Yes, but there will be more than one part to start with. But each part has multiple questions after editing. Part 2 of the exam has you opening and modifying existing parts and managing configurations as well. Part three involves creating fairly complex assemblies from existing parts and possibly parts you must make.
It is actually from a project I assigned in my first class nearly 20 years ago based on an illustration in my favorite drafting textbook at the time that was illustrating conventions for section drawings that deviated from actual orthographic projection. But, yes, it certainly has elements of parts I've seen on the CSWA exam since. That's why I included it -- to make sure people are prepared for something like it since the practice exam doesn't have a revolved part. Each of the major projects assemblies I assign now have parts that require a revolve.
Perfect example of how small changes such as specific selections of sketch planes, use of offset geometry instead of manual sketching, and changes like extruding with an offset instead of in two directions at once (for the cylinders) actually results in a change of mass and the difference between the right and the wrong result. If you're off by a few grams or decimals in your answers - watch this end to end and make the changes in your methods checking the weight difference as you go.. Thanks again!
Glad to hear that it was helpful. I'll have to watch it again. Don't be too hard on your actual teacher. I've gotten better at it over my 40 years in technical education, and composite profile is a bit tricky.
I will pass this on to her Alan. She still tells the story of appearing at your college and opening with "In Mexico, Maine, where I grew up, you couldn't find a single Mexican." Wonderful story-teller, for sure.
It seems pretty clear in the video. I created a reference plane corner-to-corner using the front plane and one corner to create a plane 45 degrees to the front, pivoting about the selected edge of that corner. Then I offset that plane using it to create another reference plane by entering the distance to the back of the boss on the top. I'm not sure what I could say that would clarify that, so I hope this helps.
A phantom line can be used to treat two separate surfaces as a single datum surface, but it would not be standard for datum D. On the other hand, it would not be ambiguous.
I don't think they are exactly the same, but if they are you could do that, but I think it might be more confusing for some people. But if that is the way that makes the most sense to you, no reason not to use it.
Why not make the axle for the wheel to ride on first? Then you could create the spacer and the wheel off the outside of the axle and then the parts would not be joined when you create them because they are not created on the same edge surface.
I haven't reviewed this video in a while, so I'm not sure what you're referring to, but anything that makes the most sense to you is fine. I probably didn't think of it, but there may have been another reason.
hello, Abbot , what a material you present on these videos, very very good, just wondering where I can find the sample parts to print it out or download and practice , I have the student version at this moment , thank you very much
I appreciate the kind words. One advantage that I have in teaching software is that I don't have the deadlines that you have, so I can take as much time as I want trying out different approaches so I can pass them along to my students.
@@DanAbbott-SMCC It is evident in this video. Can you suggest some practice sheets for CSWP segment 1 and any reference material or video of yours for CSWP segment 2 & 3
The official practice exam has no questions like those on segment 2 and 3, which is odd, but I've been considering a video for each of them. I don't have too many students who take the CSWP, but I think it might be useful. In the meantime, SDK publishing has a prep guide written by the man who has been responsible for writing the certification exams for years. You can download files from their website once you purchase the book and that might help you.
God bless you. I took my practice CWSA today in a lab and absolutely ate it for being away for unforeseen circumstances. They didn't teach us how to do it the way you have, but with prior understanding of solidworks and this example, I'm able to complete all the practice problems with relative ease
It sounds like you are still in paper space. To pan within a viewport, you need to activate that viewport by double-clicking inside the window before issuing the -PAN command.
Hello! How did you get the block pallet to dock to the right side of your workspace as I see in this video? I regularly insert blocks and for the life of me cannot find a way to place it there as you have. Thanks!
When you open a palette, there is a small gear icon at the top left side ribbon of the palette (any palette). I dock four on the left and two on the right. Select the gear and then check off three item: allow docking; anchor right (or left); auto-hide.
Hello Dan, I'm pretty sure that you can't access the Global variables while in the sketch is because SolidWorks needs to "save" the "part" in memory before you can use Global variables in it. Technically as you are in a new sketch and have not exited it for SolidWorks to do that. If you exit out of the sketch and then edit it you can use Global variables, you do not need to create a dimension and create a feature in the sketch before. Just exit the sketch and edit it again and then you have access to the Global variables :) Keep up the good work in these videos
Sorry, I do videos only when one of my classes needs one, and they are as long as necessary. You can find a lot of short videos on any subject though, so you should be able to find what you want.
if i have a script that has all the command line steps to plot a dwg, how can i use core console to run the script and then save the pdf to a folder with the same dwg name then move to the next dwg in the folder and run the script again on multiple .dwg files
A script can run AutoLISP code if written correctly. That is the most effective way to plot to a PDF from each layout (I assume that you would want the PDF to be plotted from a layout and not from the model space tab, but you can do either.) If you execute AutoCAD from a batch file using the FOR function in DOS, you can go through each drawing file sequentially, cycle through the layouts, save a PDF file of each (turn off the "open PDF" option so it doesn't hang up after plotting), close the Core Console when done, and move on to the next DWG file.
I have a slightly different issue. I'm trying to simulate my work but it says "Result files not available, copy the correct result files to working directory and reopen the document"
