CAD CAM / Australia

philhuynh

Yeah it is true everyone wants to become faster and faster at any CAD platform that they wanna use. Only problem is, that many people are not to sure how to. One way in which you can gear up the designing and drafting process is using the shortcut keys which are available. In this case we will be looking at some of the key shortcuts that are commonly used in Pro/E Wildfire 5.0:

Regenerate = Crtl+ G

New Files = Crtl+ N

Open File = Crtl + O

Save File = Crtl + S

Find = Crtl + F

Undo= Crtl + Y

Redo= Crtl + Z

Repaint = Crtl + R

Standard View = Crtl + D

For those of you who have known these, may think that is pretty basic knowledge. Another tip to increase your design/drafting speed in Pro/E using the ribbon tabs. Now that is all pretty basic, but you will be amazed on how much time is saved by arranging and customizing the ribbon tabs during the design process. Another tip is the using the Key Tips within the Ribbon tabs. This allow for quick and easy access to the functions and modes of ribbon toolbars.To activate this function simply press the Alt tab button and you will notice your tabs will lettered with appropriate keystrokes for each of the toolbar various functions

It will take time to remember all the functions of Pro/Engineer Wildfire 5.0 but remembering the shortcuts as well as utilizing the Ribbon toolbars to your advantage will cut the learning curve as well as give you that speed edge in the drafting and design side of Pro/E.

Tags: CAD | 3D | software | machine | design | Pro/E | ease | use | PTC | Pro/Engineer | wildfire 5.0 | ease of use | proengineer | speed | shortcuts | keyboard | ribbon | key tips

philhuynh

Now, installing the a new licence for any CAD software can be tricky, and PTC is no stranger to this. However it doesn't have to be hard at all with friendly help from the support team in PTC who are available 24/7. Note that also the email support is quite good as well with any enquiries you may have with update the licences. Now installing the program initally as well can be quite a handful, but quite easy if you know what are doing.

Now here are some simple guide on how to do so.

1. Run the setup.exe accordingly, click next and read through the terms and agreements, click accept when you are done and select next.
2. click onto install Pro/E and select the files that you want to install with the necessary options needed.
3. The next window will show you a blank screen with your services to flexnet. Now you will need to add in a new license in by clicking add. Now majority of users will be on a single node server.
4. Select the single option and note to leave the port to 7788. The hostname will be your computer name which can be located in my computer,view system infromation or properties under computer name. ( note to ping your computer to ensure there is no problems with picking up the correct hostname).
5. Once you have completed this click okay and a new license should be retrieved. * note to have a golden/yellow key icon next to your hostname/port licence.
6. Click next to contuine and install all the necessary options but make sure to tick additional licences box before click next.
7. Now go to the licence which pro/E and click edit on the far right hand side to add in any additional extenisons or addons that you brought. Click okay when you are done.
8. Cick next twice and the installer will start install all the necessary components to Pro/E
9. Click exit when finished and fire up Pro/E wildfire 5.0.

Steps for upgrading Pro/ENGINEER license with new license pack from PTC:

1) Open the old c:\program files\flexnet\licensing\license.dat
2) Re-save license.dat as "license.dat.old"
3) Highlight the entire two "middle" sequential lines which start with either SERVER or DAEMON, CTRL-C copy thse two lines to the clipboard
4) Open the new licese "lmxxxx.xtx" file
5) Highlight the same two middle SERVER and DAEMON lines in the new license file; CTRL-V to paste over with the information from the old file
6) Save the NEW "lmxxx.txt" file as  c:\program files\flexnet\licensing\license.dat
7) From the CONTROL PANEL -> ADMIN TOOLS -> SERVICES first STOP the RESTART the "Flexlm Server for PTC" service. This will cause flexnet to "re-read" all license files.
8) Start Pro/ENGINEER normally, using new license

With these simple steps, it makes the installation process easier to work with so can be on your way to designing on Wildfire 5.0!

Tags: improvement | automated | proengineer | proe | administration | wildfire 5.0 | Pro/Engineer | PTC | software | 3D | CAD

caddit

Checking the latest Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 software kit, it appears that the only component of what was once the Pro/LIBRARY standard part library for Pro/E was the Mold Base. There is an online part library available from the browser favorites at http://www.3dmodelspace.com/ptc but each part needs downloaded individually.

After some checking, we discover that active account holders at ptc.com with support access can download most of Pro/LIBRARY in eight parts at http://www.ptc.com/cgi/cs/apps/SftUpd/SftUpdProd.pl (filter for "Pro/ENGINEER" related downloads; scroll to the bottom of the page) and listed under "WILDFIRE LIBRARY DATABASES". Although published with the original release of Pro/E Wildfire there are forward compatible with all releases and operating systems.

Installing these local part libraries require that we set up:

Pro/LIBRARY needs to be manually downloaded and configured as follows:
1: Create SYSTEM VARIABLE PRO_LIBRARY_DIR pointing to very top of library "tree"
    i.e. PRO_LIBRARY_DIR=/usr/local/ptc/libraries
2: Add matching lines in master (/usr/local/ptc/.../text/config.pro):
    pro_library_dir /usr/local/ptc/library
    search_path_file /usr/local/ptc/objlib/bin/config.pro
    SHOW_ALL_MOLD_LAYOUT_BUTTONS   YES
3: Create a top-level menu (Top-Level "index.mnu" File):
LIBRARIES
#
#
/objlib
BASIC LIBRARY
#
/mfglib
...

About .mnu files: The .mnu files configure "navigation" for browsing the library from Pro/E assembly component-insert, 2D detailing symbol-insert, etc. Subdirectories listed in an .mnu file will be shown with the description from the .mnu file, unlisted directories (like installation directories) will stay hidden. Folders in the library without .mnu files will show all directories present in that folder without any further descriptions.

(config.pro can be updated by a utility in the bin subdirectory of each part library. A few are not part libraries but symbol libraries which may find a different location)

At last look the LIBRARY files still available are:

MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_CONNECTOR.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_ELECTRICAL-SYMBOL.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_GRAPHICS.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_MOLDBASE.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_PIPE-FITTING.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_PIPING-HEATING.zip
MED-6XX-CD-330_2002490_TOOLING.zip

When we download and install one, we are asked to chose a target directory (should be a new directory that doesn't currently exist, directly under the library "root" location if we will be installing more than one under PRO_LIBRARY_DIR) in a dialog box:

Click next and we can choose what sub-libraries to install:

The library should install without much drama. Depending on which library we are installing, it can be used within Pro/ENGINEER design in a variety of ways. More information about configuring Libraries in Pro/ENGINEER can be found in "Introduction to the Libraries" (U00590197).

Tags: proengineer | proe | symbols | blocks | library | pro library | part library | standard parts | administration | caddit