The eAssistant CAD Plugin for SolidWorks

The Intelligent Connection of Calculation and CAD

for the Web-based Calculation Software eAssistant with SolidWorks

GWJ Technology GmbH

Rebenring 31

D - 38106 Braunschweig, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 531 129 399-0

Fax: +49 (0) 531 129 399-29

Email: info@gwj.de

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 Content

1. System Requirements...............................................................................................3
2. Installation..............................................................................................................3
3. Start.......................................................................................................................3
4. Program Scope.........................................................................................................3
5. Menu.......................................................................................................................4
Calculation............................................................................................................4
New Part...............................................................................................................4
Settings................................................................................................................5
Language..............................................................................................................6
Help.....................................................................................................................6
6. Create a Shaft..........................................................................................................7
7. Create a Cylindrical Gear...........................................................................................7
8. Create a Gearing on an Existing Part...........................................................................8
9. Add Manufacturing Data............................................................................................9
10. Open a Calculation of an Active Part............................................................................9
11. Add a Tool Runout to the 3D Model...........................................................................10
12. Bidirectional Connection between eAssistant and SolidWorks........................................11

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1. System Requirements

To run the CAD plugin, you have to install „Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0“ on your system.
Click the following link to download and to install „.NET Framework 2.0“:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en

Click on the menu item „Development Ressources“ on the left side and download the file
„.NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)“. We strongly recommend you to
install all service packs as well.

2. Installation

Please start the installation file and follow the instructions. The CAD plugin will be installed
on your system. Once the plugin is installed, start SolidWorks and open a new part. Now
the SolidWorks menu bar provides the entry „eAssistant“.

In case the eAssistant plugin is not displayed in the SolidWorks menu bar, you can then run
the Add-In by going to the menu item „Tools“ and clicking „Add-Ins“.

3. Start

Click on „eAssistant“ to use all functions of the plugin in SolidWorks.

4. Program Scope

At the moment, the following features can be created in SolidWorks based on the calculated
eAssistant data:

Cylindrical and helical gears (outer and inner gears)

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 Serrated shafts, multiple keyway profiles (shaft/hub)
Shaft geometry (cylinder outside and inside, cones outside and inside)

as well:

Saving of calculation data in the 3D model

Import of manufacturing data of spur gears into a 2D drawing
Gearing can be created on an existing part
Bidirectional connection for a single gear and a shaft (from SolidWorks 2008)

5. Menu

Calculation

The plugin enables you to start all eAssistant calculation modules directly through the menu
item „Calculation“.

Please note that you need an eAssistant username and password to start the modules
through this menu (see „Settings“). Only the free-of-charge modules can be used
without the eAssistant access data.

In case a calculation module is opened and you start a new one, it is required to close the
open module. You get a message and you can start the new calculation module.

New Part

Click on the menu item „New part“ to create the calculated parts directly in SolidWorks.

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Use the eAssistant to carry out a calculation. Click on the button CAD => Output for CAD-
PlugIn in the top menu bar of the eAssistant.

Click the menu item „New part“ in the plugin and select the corresponding element. Now the
3D model is created.

Settings

Click on the menu item Settings => User data. Here you can enter your username and your
password. You need an account to use all eAssistant calculation modules.

In case you do not have an account to the eAssistant, please visit the following web site
www.eAssistant.eu to register for a free test account. Click on the button „Request access
data“ to get to the eAssistant web site as well. The account provides a time credit of five hours
to test the eAssistant without any charges or obligation. Are the five hours expired, the test
account is deactivated automatically. If you want continue to use the eAssistant, you may
purchase an account. Decide between hourly usage charges or flat rates. For the plugin a one
time fee is necessary. Find all information on our web site www.eAssistant.eu.

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As soon as you entered the access data into the window, you are able to start all eAssistant
calculation modules directly through the menu item „Calculation“. You do not need to login
to the eAssistant first. The eAssistant and SolidWorks will be connected automatically.

Activate the option „Save data permanent“ to save your username and password
and you can open all calculation modules immediately without entering username
and password again.

Language

Here you can change the language. Re-start SolidWorks and the plugin appears in the selected
language. All eAssistant calculation modules start in the selected language as well.

Help

Click on the menu item Help => eAssistant help online to start the eAssistant manual where
you can find additional information on the eAssistant.

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6. Create a Shaft

Based on the eAssistant calculation, shafts with an unlimited number of cylindrical and conical
segments can be created as a 3D part. Once you have saved your access data, click on the
menu item eAssistant => Calculation => Shaft to start the eAssistant module. Carry out a
shaft calculation. Click on the button CAD => Output for CAD-PlugIn. Click on the menu item
New part => Shaft to create the shaft in SolidWorks.

7. Create a Cylindrical Gear

Click on the menu item eAssistant => Calculation => Gear => Cylindrical gear pair and carry
out a calculation. Click on the button CAD => Output for CAD-PlugIn. Click on the menu item
New part => Cylindrical gear 1 or cylindrical gear 2 to create the gear in SolidWorks.

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8. Create a Gearing on an Existing Part

The eAssistant plugin provides a simple way to create a gearing directly on an existing part
(pinion).

Carry out a gear calculation in the eAssistant. Click on the button CAD => Output for CAD-
PlugIn. Select the plane where you have to place the gearing. The plane will then be
highlighted. Select the menu item eAssistant => New part => Cylindrical gear 1 to add the
gearing to the existing part. When the dialog window for the „Runout configuration“ appears,
confirm with the „OK“ button.

Please note that the tip circle diameter of the spur gear and the diameter of the
selected shaft segment must have the same size.

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9. Add Manufacturing Data

A simple mouse-click allows you to add all necessary manufacturing data of a gear to the
drawing. The data is diplayed as a table. Open a drawing in SolidWorks. Select the menu item
New part => Manufacturing data => from current calculation => Cylindrical gear 1 to create
the table.

The appearance and size of that table are individually configurable. To modify the table,
please open the file „SolidKiss_nG.xml“ from the program directory „eA_CADplugIn_SW“.

Change the corresponding row, for example from visible=“true“ into visible=“false“, to hide
or unhide specific table rows. In case you need more extensive customizations of the table,
we can provide you a more detailed description.

10. Open a Calculation of an Active Part

The calculation information is saved in the 3D part. The calculation, which belongs to the
3D model, is available at any time. This is also possible, if there are several different kinds of
calculations in one part.

To start the calculation, which belongs to the opened part, click on the menu item eAssistant
=> Calculation and select the corresponding calculation module.

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The following dialog window appears. Click the „Yes“ button and the eAssistant opens
the calculation module including all calculation values.

Even if there are several different gear calculations in one 3D model, you can open every
calculation file again. For the gear, for example, click on the feature tree in SolidWorks to
select the corresponding cutout. Click on the menu item eAssistant => Calculation and then
click on the calculation module.

11. Add a Tool Runout to the 3D Model

For pinion shafts you can add a tool runout to the 3D model. For this purpose, you have
to specify a cutter radius. Select the menu item eAssistant => Calculation => Gear =>
Cylindrical gear pair and carry out a spur gear calculation. Click the button CAD => Output for
CAD-PlugIn. Choose a plane of the shaft in SolidWorks and click the menu item eAssistant =>
New part => Cylindrical gear 1. The dialog window is opened. Activate the option „Yes“
for „Run-out at start“ or „Run-out at end“. Add a cutter radius and confirm with „OK“.

Now you can check, if the tool runout collides with the following shaft segment, so that you
can correct it. If necessary, you can add a straight element by using the option „Offset“.

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12. Bidirectional Connection between eAssistant and SolidWorks

Explore the bidirectional connection between the eAssistant and SolidWorks. That means, if
changes are required after the calculation and generation of the 3D model, the model can be
easily updated (shafts, single gear).

Select the menu item eAssistant => Calculation => Gear => Cylindrical gear pair and carry
out a spur gear calculation. Click the button CAD => Output for CAD-PlugIn to transfer the
calculation values to SolidWorks. Click the SolidWorks menu item eAssistant => New part =>
Cylindrical gear 1 to create the spur gear.

To make necessary changes on the CAD model, re-open the eAssistant module and modify the
calculation. Because the calculation information is saved in the CAD model, you can start the
eAssistant calculation by clicking eAssistant => Calculation => Gear => Cylindrical gear pair.
Confirm the following message „Shall the calculation of the active part be loaded?“ with the
button „Yes“ and the related calculation module starts. For example, you can add a hole to
gear 1. Click on the button CAD => Output for CAD-PlugIn.

Select the item „Extrusion2“ from the integrated SolidWorks feature tree. The area between
the teeth will then be highlighted.

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Select eAssistant => New part => Cylindrical gear 1 and the message „Should the component
be adjusted to the current calculation?“ appears.

Click the „Yes“ button and the CAD model is updated immediately and quickly adjusted to the
current calculation.

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 We are looking for ideas, suggestions or criticism, so we would
like to know what you think.
You will always find a sympathetic ear, no matter what the problem is.

We appreciate your feedback.

GWJ Technology GmbH

Rebenring 31

D - 38106 Braunschweig, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 531 129 399-0

Fax: +49 (0) 531 129 399-29

Email: info@gwj.de

Visit our web site www.eAssistant.eu to find detailed information

on the eAssistant and the CAD plugin.

Product information:
The „eAssistant“ is a product of GWJ Technology GmbH.

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Copyright © GWJ Technology GmbH. Copyright reserved. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.