Slow Equations

This may have been addressed before and if so, pardon my ignorance.
Why is SolidWorks so slow when using equations? When I open a new
file and add a dozen or so equations, and then do a <CTRL>Q, it takes
4-5 seconds to update the mostly empty file. This wouldn't be
terrible, except that any sketch geometry now also takes this long to
create. For example, if in the above file, a sketch is opened and 10
lines are drawn, it will take 4-5 seconds PER LINE. This is nuts. SW
should not even break a sweat doing a couple hundred simple
calculations, much less a dozen.

FYI -
SolidWorks 2006 SP 4.1 64bit
Windows XP64
HP workstation xw2600
Intel Xeon CPU 2.80GHz Dual Core
2.0 Gb Ram

Open a file, go to Tools, Equations, Edit All and add these equations:

"ShellDir"= 1
"OverallLength"= 47.75
"OverallWidth"= 44.75
"OverallHeight"= 6
"WallThickness"= 0.125
"FitNotchOffset"= 0
"StackOverlap"= 0.75
"AntiJamHeight"= 0
"RouterStep"= 0.0625
"RunOut"= 1.5
"ThreeWaySize"= .75
"WallTopWidth"=0.5
"GussetWidth"=.5
"StackProportion"= 1.2
"V1"= "OverallLength" - (IIf("ShellDir" > 0, 0, ("WallThickness" *
2))) - ("RouterStep" * 2)
"V2"= "OverallWidth" - (IIf("ShellDir" > 0, 0, ("WallThickness" * 2)))
- ("RouterStep" * 2)
"V3"= "OverallLength" / ("StackProportion" *10)
"AJCalcHeight"= 1.25 * "WallThickness" * cosec(5) - "WallThickness"
"AJMaxHeight"= "OverallHeight" - "StackOverlap"
"AJHeight"= IIf("AntiJamHeight" > 0, IIf("AntiJamHeight" >
"AJMaxHeight", "AJMaxHeight", "AntiJamHeight"), IIf("AJCalcHeight" <
"AJMaxHeight", "AJCalcHeight", "AJMaxHeight"))
"3WayTop"= "ThreeWaySize" * 0.5
"PerimeterJogAngle"= 45
"3WayExtrudePerimeter"= "PerimeterJogAngle" * 2
"FNOCalc"= ("OverallHeight" - "StackOverlap") * Tan(5) + ".5" + Tan(5)
* "WallThickness" - ("WallThickness" / Cos(5)) - 0.25
"FNO"=IIf("FitNotchOffset" > 0,"FitNotchOffset", "FNOCalc")
"Offset1_Sketch2"= (2 * tan(5) * ("OverallHeight"-"StackOverlap")) +
"WallTopWidth"
"Offset2_Sketch2"= (tan(5) * ("OverallHeight"-"StackOverlap")) +
"WallTopWidth"

(be careful with the ones that wrap lines).

Now <CTRL>Q. Takes my computer about 5 seconds to do the rebuild.
Any ideas why? If you want real pain, open a sketch and draw anything.

 

I have had a hunch for awhile that some of my performance problems was
related to equations although I have done no testing. I have had an
idea of instead of using sw equations to write a vb macro and assign
to a hotkey to launch it, I am not sure if there would be a performace
gain or loss or if it would be a wash but if this is causing you a lot
of problems it might be something to consider. I like the idea of the
macro because it would consolidate my equations in a central source
rather than being distributed across multiple sw documents but there
is also the development time and of course at every new sw release I
would be sweating bullets worried that my equations macro might not
work because of some change to the sw api.

Sorry no answers only sympathy...



Sam

 

I've already started down the VB path. The file is much faster at
rebuild, and there is no delay during feature or sketch creation.
Additionally, I've created a form to edit the variables that I want
users to have control over, so it makes their life easier. Time will
tell how much of a hassle this will be with version changes. Now, if
VB were only a little less cumbersome. But that's a different rant.

 

Wouldn't a design table be quicker. We all know that Excel has one of
the most proven Equation Calculators in the world, and you can
accomplish the same task.

 

Almost forgot Submit this to your VAR so this can get some attention

 

Yep, a design table would be quicker. IF all of our users had Excel.
They don't, so I'll finish the project with a VB macro.