Sunday, May 29, 2011

Multi-tasking with Windows Task Manager

You’ve just set a long render or simulation study going, and now that your computer is locked up calculating all those 0’s and 1’s, there’s nothing to do but go and get a coffee.

Not so fast. If you’ve got a multi-core machine, you can use Windows Task Manager (in all versions of Windows) to free up one of the cores for other programs, allowing you to check emails, surf the web, watch YouTube, etc. The trade-off is that your render/simulation will take longer to solve – the more cores you have, the less this will matter.

  1. After your Simulation study/render is started, start Task Manager by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL, or Start >> Run >> “taskmgr” (without the quotes).
  2. Click on the Processes tab and sort by Name – this tab shows all of the processes running in the background on your machine.
  3. For rendering, find PV360.exe, for Simulation, find Star.exe (this is after meshing, when the study has started solving)
  4. RMB on the process >> Set Affinity...
  5. Uncheck one of the CPU cores – it doesn’t matter which one.

This stops Windows from assigning work from that process to that CPU core. It’s only temporary, so if you start another render, you will need to go through the above steps again.


Alternatively, you can change the priority of a process:

  1. (From step 4 above) RMB >> Set Priority >> set to Below Normal or Low

Changing the priority lower means that instructions being sent from PV360 to the CPU are solved after instructions sent from other processes such as your web browser. After doing this, your computer should function as normally expected, and the render will continue in the background.

You can change priority or affinity at any time while a process is running – this is handled by Windows in the background and won’t affect your render or simulation study.

The benefit of changing priority over setting affinity is that if you’re only using 3% of the available CPU power to check the web, 97% is devoted to finishing the render. If the CPU is quad-core, and we set the PV360 affinity to only 3 cores, it would only be using 75% of the full CPU processing power, regardless of what we are doing.

However, setting affinity ensures you have spare processing power, and often, even if you set the priority of a processor-hungry process like PV360 to Low, you may notice some performance issues trying to do other tasks (you’d be surprised how much processing is required to run YouTube in your browser), so I generally prefer to set affinity.

As a final alternative, if it they can wait, you can use SolidWorks Task Scheduler to schedule renders and studies to run when you aren’t using the computer – e.g. at night. This will be covered in another post.

2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian

2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian
Steel Drake Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept is a simple but elegant design. Here are the latest production cars, the 2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian, Volkswagen Drake is the type of steel. Kyrgyzstanian graphic designer “Steel Drake” has created something very much fitting with this scenario in the form of his Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept.
2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian
It resembles a reduced front Motors Audi R8. Then, at halfway of the project, Audi he cans and presents his sketches and model prototyping of Volkswagen decided to put the two doors cut in production. Steel Drake’s Concept Sports Cars is a simple-yet-sleek design let down only by some questionable design choices.
2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian
Get for instance the drooping taillights that seem additional befitting a Chinese automobile than 1 built in Germany, or the peculiar concave curves around the doorways that seems caught on as opposed to an integral part of the style. Otherwise it is rather fantastic seeking, although maybe far more something Infiniti would produce than Volkswagen.

2011 Volkswagen Sport Cars Concept By Kyrgyzstanian

Thursday, May 26, 2011

2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45

2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
The Ferrari sports car was build for Peter Kalikow, a Ferrari collector from New York, the rich people, who is a real estate entrepreneur, to celebrate that he’s a Ferrari client and driver for 45 years. The Ferrari Superamerica 45 is styled internally by Ferrari Design and engineered and built in-house. The sports car features an unique roof system which opens the roof-top by fliping it backwards.
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
The Special Projects Ferrari Superamerica 45 is a unique one-off model. The 2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45 model was built in-house and styled internally by Ferrari Design, making its public debut on the 20th of May at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza. When open, the roof is housed by an entirely new boot, while the design appears to be bespoke, featuring a carbon-fiber rotating hard-top which integrates a rear screen.
The 2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45 is built around an aluminium spaceframe chassis similar to the limited production 599 Aperta roadster. Power comes from the very potent V12 also used in the 599 GTO. Based on the engine originally used for the Enzo, it produces well over 650 bhp. This is transferred to the rear wheels by a semi-automatic gearbox, which is operated by paddles behind the steering wheel. Carbon ceramic discs ensure that the 2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45 can slow down as fast as it can accelerate.
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
Like 400 Superamerica Cabriolet, the new 2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45 is finished in a lovely metallic blue paint, which is further accentuated by blue carbon-fibre sections and polished aluminium A-pillars and wing mirrors. Additional vents in the front wings and a spoiler on the tail set the car further apart from the 'standard' 599. The latter was a necessary addition to create sufficient downforce and stability at high speeds. The interior is refined by a carefully selected combination of Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fiber details. The driver will also enjoy a latest-generation touch-screen infotainment system.
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
While the 2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45 did make its public debut at Villa d'Este, it was not yet officially delivered. Ever the perfectionist, Kalikow pointed out several details that still need changing before the car is really 'ready'. Among them were the lining on the roof, which will most likely be changed to the same tan leather as the rest of the interior and the door handles, which still need to receive the Kalikow's initials as previously seen on the 612 Kappa.
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
When Kalikow does take official delivery of the car, he intends to use it extensively on the road, like he does with a vast majority of the fabulous Ferraris in his collection. We, particularly, can't wait to see the Superamerica 45 next to the 400 Superamerica Cabriolet that inspired this project.
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45
Specifications :
Key: AT - automatic transmission, MT - manual transmission, F/R/AWD - front/rear/all wheel drive
Powertrain : Type     V12
Displacement  :   366 cu in (5999 cc)
Power  :     620 hp @ 7600 rpm
Torque :     448 lb-ft @ 5600 rpm
Driveline :    Rear Wheel Drive
Brakes & Tires :  Brakes Front - Rear     Ventilated Discs - Ventilated Discs
Tire Size Front - Rear     245/40 R19 - 305/35 R20
2011 Ferrari Sport Cars Superamerica 45

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept

BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
This year the dream sports car is celebrating its 75th birthday. The new BMW sport car makes extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, a material already used by BMW in the M6 and M3. The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept gets an extremely wide and flat front end with generous surfaces and a powerful appearance. The rear has a particularly angular tail, with lights that echo the look of the Vision ED eco-supercar that’s earmarked for production. A carbon fiber bonnet and low-reaching sidewalls will ensure an excellent stability for the 328 on the road.
BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
Celebration will begin near Como’s Lake at Mille Miglia. Over there, in focus main will on car affinity races BMW 328. To today, BMW’S award-winning vehicle 328 Touring Coupé stills to hold champions for supreme average speed at Mille Miglia’s circuit and, on year 2010, once more can win historic evocation of race. One week then at Villa Concorso d.’ Eleganza d.’ Este, functional aesthetic two seater wills be attention focuses.
BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
Based on Connected Vision Drive concept unveiled in Geneva, the 2011 BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept is a tribute to the celebration of the modern interpretation of classic sports cars from 1930. The appearance of the vehicle combines the characteristic diagonal carbon fiber, focus homage to 328 lightweight with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
At this region conflicting tradition as tween and modernity, BMW is Group gives respect to 2011 BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept on birthday chance with model special BMW 328 Hommage. “With Hommage 328 BMW, we want to give respect to are ardour and compose from father of 328 BMW, “be clear Karl Bäumer, CEO BMW is Classic’s Group. “They create one ikon, that Ered’s judgment crossbar in car history.” BMW 328 Hommage translate principle and time vehicle characters into present term and offers interpretation who may about how designers that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, maybe have built BMW 328 on today at ease technology.
The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept will be powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine, but BMW hasn’t revealed any official statistics or performance figures. The expressive exterior design of the BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept depicts the modern interpretation of a highly emotional and dynamic two-seater Roadster – just like the BMW 328 75 years ago.  Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness and agility through light-weight construction.
The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept Car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.” (Adrian van Hooydonk) In keeping with its role model, the BMW 328 Hommage has a streamlined design and is clearly recognisable as a sports car. Precise lines run across all of the car body’s taut surfaces.
The lightweight BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept original weighed just 780kgs and BMW has concentrated on keeping weight down in the Hommage. The body is made from carbon-reinforced plastic, the same material used in the i3 electric car and the stripped out cabin is simple and driver-focused.
BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
The BMW 328 is the most successful and best-looking sports car of 1930. The BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept success was the result of design through the use of systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, optimum engine types and excellent chassis technology. These historical facts have laid the foundations for a new vehicle concept to its 75th Birthday set. With one of these characteristics, the BMW 328 being then your embodiment of what are the BMW brand still means today – dynamics, aesthetics along with a higher level of innovation.
BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept
Not only do the exterior and interior BMW 328 CFRP elements create an extraordinary statement. skin smooth, matt and high-gloss black and polished aluminum pestle and visualize the interior of CFRP in Hommage BMW 328 roadster pure and functional character of a sports car that day.
The inside BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept visualises functional radiate passion had returned it. Viewed from above, slightly asymmetrical design of the hood and windshield driver-oriented construction highlights from Hommage BMW 328. This provides the BMW 328 with a special authenticity. Instruments featured in the BMW 328 Hommage both sporty and functional to the same level. Regardless of the instrument and tripmaster, BMW Sport Cars 328 Hommage Concept is also equipped with more advanced features drawn from motor racing.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Printing Drawings in colour using CutePDF


Colour can be used to good effect in drawings to increase clarity - for example by differentiating between dimension lines, model lines and annotations. Under Document Properties, you can assign new annotations to different layers, and assign colours per layer.

However, when it comes time to print, sometimes it’s difficult to get those colours to come through in the printout. Here’s how to do it with CutePDF Writer, a program which emulates a printer in Windows, but creates a PDF file rather than a physical print out.

Firstly, download and install CutePDF Writer: http://www.cutepdf.com/

From your SolidWorks drawing:
  1. File >> Page Setup >> set Drawing Colour to Color/Gray Scale >> OK
  2. File >> Print... >> select CutePDF Writer as the printer >> Properties >> Advanced (bottom right on the Paper/Quality tab)
  3. Graphic >> Image Color Management >> click on ICM Method >> select “ICM handled by Host System” >> OK >> OK
  4. Set your other print options and then print. You will be prompted to save the drawing as a PDF file on your computer.
If you are having trouble physically printing a drawing in colour, try printing it to PDF as above then printing the PDF. Alternatively, when printing, select your printer >> Properties, and locate the option that tells the printer to allow SolidWorks to handle the colour. Since each printer driver is different, you may need to refer to your printer manual or the manufacturers website to find the correct option.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Concept Cars Wallpapers

Concept Cars 























2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu

2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu
General Motors (GM) finally decided to release two new variant of Chevrolet Sedan Sport Cars Malibu 2013 at two prestigious exhibition of the Shanghai Auto Show 2011 and the New York Auto Show 2011. One of the firm‚ most important models in years. The new Malibu sports sedan a new exterior styling with lines and curves inspired from Chevy‚ most recent models such as the Cruze up front and even the Camaro at the back with the LED dual-element taillamps. The exterior design of the all-new Malibu carries DNA from its sister vehicles, the Camaro and Corvette, to bring a sporty sensibility to the family sedan sports car segment.
2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu comes with featuring a more fluid design with a prominent instrument panel incorporating a pair of Camaro-esque circular gauges set in squared-off housings, and a new top-hinged, flat panel display on the center console that articulates up and down revealing a six-inch-deep hidden, illuminated storage compartment. In the US, the 2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu will be offered with Chevrolet‚ new MyLink infotainment package that integrates wireless connectivity through Bluetooth.
2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu
As in the eAssisted LaCrosse and Regal, the Malibu Eco pairs a 2.4-liter four-cyliner engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, fitting a motor-generator where the alternator would live. The system can provide up to a 15-hp boost using energy stored in the lithium-ion battery, which gets its charge from regenerative braking. The system is enhanced by other miserly tech pieces like a stop/start system, low-rolling-resistance tires, underbody trays, and active aero flaps in the grille that open or close at speed to meter the flow of cooling air and further aid economy. We’ve recently driven the LaCrosse eAssist and came away impressed by its relative seemlessnes. The verdict is still out on real-world economy, but we expect the same level of refinement from the system as installed in Chevrolet’s ever-important Malibu.
2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu
The 2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu engine has more than 190-hp with maximum torque of 180 lb-ft estimated. The engine is backed by a Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic, which helps to achieve improved fuel economy and performance. GM has yet to be resolved and the fuel consumption and performance figures.
2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu
Medium sports sedan car body has also been cut by 4.5 inches, but the overall length remains the same. While the width is increased to nearly 3 inches. Along with a smaller size, Malibu 2013 will also save money in the engine lineup. 2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu offers a new engine 190-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder. DOHC Ecotec engine is also expected to create 180-feet of torque. Six-speed automatic transmission will be the only gearbox is only available to U.S. buyers.
2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu
The new 2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu also gets 62-inch (1,574 mm) front and rear tracks that are more than 2 inches (51 mm) wider than before. As a result, GM claims that the 2013 Malibu offers nearly 4 cubic feet (113 L) of additional interior volume, along with increased front and rear shoulder and hip room, plus more than 1 cubic ft. of extra trunk space at 16.3 cu.ft (462 lt).
The Eco will be the first of the 2013 Chevrolet Cars Sedan Sport Malibu available, beginning in early 2012, followed by the LS, LT, and LTZ models later that summer.