Scott's Harangue

Key Takeaway from COFES 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:35:00 +0000

While listening to Mark Anderson's keynote, I found myself in a Twitter conversation with a colleague from Australia. This conversation lasted all day, right up until about an hour before the Second Congress began. The topic of conversation revolved around global warming. This wasn't an argument debating whether or not humans were responsible for global warming, but rather how responsible were we, and subsequently how much responsibility must we take as the dominant sentient species on the planet to fix the problem.

For example, we can capture all CO2 and convert it into a useful material. Does that mean I should wear a facemask to capture all the CO2 I breath out? What plant life is going to suffer with the decreasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere? While global warming is definitely affecting many habitats and many species are becoming endangered, what new species are going to thrive in a hot, CO2 enriched environment? Is this the beginning of a new age? Are we supposed to stop it? What if we had the capability in the past, should we have prevented the Ice Age? What species thrived because of the extinction of the dinosaurs and woolly mammoths? We can use all the technology at our disposal to create models forecasting scenarios of our future, but history will be the judge on whether or not we were right.

So maybe the problem is not a technological one; maybe it is a cultural one.

I was in Chris De Neef's Analyst and User Briefing about Technology Moves Faster than Culture. Besides some delicious Belgian chocolates (if you weren't in that session, you were in the wrong one), Chris graphed the relative paths of technology advancement compared to social and human advancement. Imagine a exponential growth curve representing technology and a wavy, but relatively horizontal curve representing humanity. The gap between technology and humanity continues to grow larger. Some would argue that technology has ruined our social skills and the humanity curve should actually be declining.

In the session with Chad Jackson about MBE, MBD, and MBSE, humans can't even come to a consensus to define those technologies, much less get them to play nice together.

Think now instead to the causes that prohibit adoption of new technologies? How many failed PLM implementations have you experienced because you couldn't change the culture of the company to adopt the new technology?

It was too hard;

it was too complex;

we couldn't understand it;

we couldn't explain it.

From the micro level represented by individual or corporate adoption of technology to the macro level of society's use (or often mis-use) of technology, the biggest problem is culture. And you can't fix culture with technology.

Maybe, the answer is not more STEM.
Maybe, the answer is more artists and philosophers.
Maybe, we need the great thinkers of the world to contemplate the societal and cultural effects of technology.
Maybe, we need artists to describe technology, in a tech-free way, so people without tech degrees can understand it: through paintings, sculptures, literature, and poetry.
Maybe, rather than focusing on the Second Industrial Revolution (brought on by additive manufacturing)...

Maybe, what we really need, is the next Renaissance.

The Art of Product Design

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:21:00 +0000

The Art of Product Design: Changing How Things Get Made
Manuscript Version by Hardi Meybaum

I often wonder what story history is going to say about the times we live in now. So much happens across the globe in the blink of an eye that there is no way a single historian can account for it all. Between war, politics, revolutions, climate change, medical advances, and ethical and moral dilemmas, there is no room in the history books to tell the story of industry.

Clever names are concocted to describe the times we live in now. One of those is known as the Maker Movement, or the Second Industrial Revolution. In my opinion, these names change with winds to make room for the next passing fad. But, at its roots, a change is happening in the design, engineering, and manufacturing industry. In his book, Hardi Meybaum shares his unique vantage point.

Beautiful Estonia, located in northeastern Europe.

Hardi hails from a small country in Eastern Europe. Estonia was once part of the Soviet bloc. Since the breakup of the USSR, Estonia has experienced some radical changes in government and economics while maintaining their cultural heritage. During the process, Estonia became a technological powerhouse rivaling many neighboring countries. Estonia has become so important in the world's political scene recently that envoys have visited to assure their independence. Estonia has become so important on the international scene, that I wouldn't be surprised if some Estonian company would be capable of world domination.

From these roots, Hardi moved to the United States with no more than $3000 and started his own technology company GrabCAD. It is from this vantage point that Hardi tells his story about the art of product design and the new way things are getting made.

Book Review

I like the book. There is no doubt Hardi has an interesting perspective on the changes happening in the world of design and manufacturing. His position in the industry and his background in living through change gives him key abilities to recognize a revolution.

Hardi takes us through our memories of manufacturing as it used to be - a bunch of white shirts and pocket protectors passing 2D drawings over the wall to machinists and metal workers to figure out how to produce these designs. The first major shake-up was CAD and the ability to visualize complexity not otherwise possible with 2D prints. The second major shake-up is cloud computing and the seemingly endless possibility of raw computing horse power and data storage. The third major shake-up will be combining CAD with the cloud, something GrabCAD does very well. New tools will converge in the cloud, new business models will develop around the cloud, and the walls between design and manufacturing will crumble.

Too Big to Fail

Hardi compares innovation, then versus now. What he sees is astonishing. Large companies are slow to adapt. They have years of history and thousands of people to move. That's a big ship and big ships take time to change course. Start-ups, on the other hand, are fast and nimble. Not long ago a start-up company couldn't find the capital to take the risk and invent something new. But today, with crowd funding and cloud-sharing ideas, a handful of individuals can do in weeks what it used to take behemoth companies years to develop.

A Personal Touch

Interjected within his perspective on the industry, Hardi relates personal stories and (GrabCAD) customer case studies. These prove that his anecdotes are more than just hearsay. The way things are made is changing now; not tomorrow, not the next generation, but now. People resist change even though we know change is inevitable. As individuals, we can either embrace the change and ride the winning tide or resist the change and find ourselves treading water. Hardi's book relates many success stories from those who embraced the change. Even behemoth companies like GE recognize the how things are made is changing and have taken steps to successfully embrace the change.

Final Thoughts on the Book

I think Hardi did a magnificent job telling an intriguing story of the art of product design. By taking us through history and into the common day, through storytelling and factual proof, Hardi emboldens us to recognize the revolution that is happening right now. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it will soon become dated. Many of the references used in the book are applicable to today's generations. In as little as a decade from now, the industry will have changed dramatically and many of the terms used in the book will not easily translate. The book will become obsolete and irrelevant. I would still highly recommend the book, though; just buy it soon.

The interesting part about being in the middle of a revolution is recognizing that you are in it. Seeing the forest through the trees, as they say. For that, I can't recommend this book enough to any person who wants to capitalize on the changing ways how things get made.

You can get it through Amazon or find it at your local bookseller.

Kids These Days

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:52:00 +0000

When I was 16 years old, my dreams were focused more on my first car and the pending freedoms that come with accessible travel. Although my decision to pursue a career in engineering had already been solidified in my mind, it wasn’t something that occupied every waking moment. Even my hobbies focused more on non-engineering things like sports, music, and girls – in no particular order. I had outgrown LEGO, plastic model building wasn’t cool, and Lionel was for young kids and old guys who couldn’t golf. Other than my drafting class in high school, I was a “normal” 16 year old boy who appeared, at least from the outside, like I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Those who knew me, though, realized I was a bit of a “whiz.” (That’s what we called smart kids back then.) I wasn’t scared to turn a computer on or off. I took hold of my first CAD program, AutoCAD 10 on an MS DOS-based IBM desktop computer, like I’ve been pressing F8 and snapping to keypoints all my life. I taught myself LISP. My elders were amazed at my inherit abilities. But, that is nothing compared to kids these days.

Take Alex Maund, for example. Alex is 16 years old living in the UK, assumingly going through the normal activities of any 16 year old boy growing up in that part of the world. Sitting with his friends one day, enjoying a hot beverage, Alex noticed that the cup is terribly designed. The beverage inside is too hot for his liking, and the cup hot enough to toast his hand. Conversely, the beverage cools too quickly. Alex was never able to find the Goldilocks formula to get the perfect beverage temperature. With nothing more than a science background from secondary school physics classes and his own curiosity, Alex went about redesigning the cup as we know it.

Variable Insulating Cup - Convection Cup

Alex’s school has educational licenses of Autodesk Inventor. With a combination of the free tutorials, online resources, and sheer proficiency from just “using it a lot,” Alex was able to design his first and second prototypes of the cup using Autodesk Inventor. The first prototype was little more than a couple of cylinders. But as he expanded his concept and grew in proficiency, the second design was much more aesthetically pleasing and practical.

Alex didn’t stop with a virtual design. Using Instructables, Alex had a 3D print made of the cup for free via Autodesk. Then he heard about the 123D Design Challenge. Alex finalized his Variable Insulating Convection Cup using Autodesk 123D and took home the grand prize in the competition.

Grand Prize Convection Cup for the Autodesk 123D Design Challenge

Designing the Grand Prize Cup

Alex is fond of Autodesk 123D because it is accessible by everyone, including 16 year old high school kids with an idea they would like to see take shape. Because of his background with Autodesk Inventor, Alex didn’t need many external references to learn 123D, such as tutorials or online help. He found the software easy to use but limited in features, especially compared to Inventor. But, he says, anyone can create full parts with 123D’s features by applying “a bit of creativity.” Alex’s Pro Tip: When making cylindrical objects, get to know the Revolve command.

If you hadn’t met Alex before, you would think he was a seasoned designer. Besides having the obvious curiosity and creativity that makes for a great engineer, Alex’s design process is based on sound techniques. “Start with a sketch,” Alex says. A conceptual sketch is key to visualizing your ideas and is an excellent reference to maintain the big picture.

A Bright Future

First things first, Alex has to finish school. Then, he plans on pursuing a Mechanical and Electrical Engineering double major. He also doesn’t plan on stopping his hobby. Take a look at a centrifugal force puzzle box he designed and several more projects on his Shapeways and Instructables pages. Now there is an impressive CV.

Any hiring managers reading this should keep an eye on Alex Maund, that is, if he doesn’t get a full-ride scholarship to MIT and fulfill his dream of inventing new technology. As for me, I think I’m going to start working on something to add to my CV and portfolio. If this is what constitutes kids these days, years of experience may no longer be an equivalent qualification.

Engineering For Change

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Engineering for Change (E4C) -- a joint initiative founded by ASME, IEEE, and Engineers Without Borders-USA -- reached a milestone this past May when its 10,000th member registered for the social network. The E4C network began in 2011 and at the time of this writing had 11215 active members (per E4C's home page).

By registering on the website (registration is free), engineers, scientists, and other technology-related professionals can discuss and assist with projects affecting the developing world. With the recent approval by ASME's Board of Governors to support the 2012 operations of E4C with a $250,000 contribution -- matching IEEE's $250,000 funding for 2012 -- E4C should be around long enough to connect even more able-minded Samaritans.

Personally, I have always been interested in the miracles Doctors Without Borders and Engineers Without Borders have been able to accomplish. But, traveling and putting boots on the ground in those developing areas have not reached the top of my capabilities. Membership with E4C provides a link for those who want to help, but can't physically participate at this time.

If you have an altruistic nature, have great ideas that could aid people in developing areas, or want to educate yourself by expanding your understanding of the world around you, I recommend signing up for the free membership at Engineering for Change and see if there is an area where you can help.

FE Exams Soon & How You Can Help

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:38:00 +0000

NCEES logo copyright by the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying ®

I am blessed to have an intern working for me during his senior year. The energy and enthusiasm of a soon-to-be grad makes for a refreshing office environment.

In return, I feel my duty requires me to be a good mentor to him. One of those duties includes informing him of the upcoming FE examination on October 27th (the 26th for PE exams) as well as providing suitable study materials.

Let's say you already took, and passed, the FE and PE exams but love test taking so much that you want to do it again. Well, now's your chance! NCEES is seeking volunteers to participate in a standard-setting study for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Don't worry, you have time to study before taking the exam. Volunteers who qualify will be administered the computer-based exam September 14 and 15, 2014 in Atlanta (travel and lodging reimbursed by NCEES).

If you are interested in reviewing and rating exam questions for future FE exams, contact Dave Soukup - Managing Director, Governance at soukupd@asme.org.

Original article from July 2012 issue of ASME ME Magazine, page 62.

Love NASA Technology? Have a Spinoff Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Commercial industries hate risk and love profit.

Advanced research and development is high risk and low profit. These are the technologies best suited for government programs - programs where failure doesn't cost the livelihood of every employee.

NASA, I'm happy to say, is one of the few remaining government organizations who still follows its charter to research the high risk technologies and then license them to commercial industries.

"A priority of NASA is to get federally funded new technologies into the commercial marketplace." --NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck

In order to make that process easier, NASA has recently launched its Tech Transfer Portal.

"One of NASA's highest-priority goals is to streamline its technology transfer procedures, support additional government-industry collaboration, and encourage the commercialization of novel technologies flowing from our federal laboratories." --NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, small to medium business, or even large corporation that has a business plan aligned with cutting edge technologies and needs to organically grow your business through new product development, then take time to browse through NASA's available licenses, patents, and intellectual property via its Tech Transfer Portal.

Paint-on Solar Cells

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

No, I'm not talking about a new type of Photo-voltaic cell, nor am I talking about old horses, I'm talking about yet another additive that you can mix with regular house paint that converts light into electrical energy.

Now it has a few specific requirements, such as being applied to a conductive surface, so you can't just go out to Home Depot and toss a fresh coat of paint with this additive onto your stucco. It also only has an efficiency of about 1%, significantly less than the 10-15% you get from your typical silicon PV arrays. But, this additive is significantly cheaper than PV, so you may just get a return on investment depending on what type of structure you apply the paint to; it just won't be applied during your next home remodel.

This brings up a point I made April 2011 in my post about The Next Asbestos. When the formulation for this nano-additive becomes more efficient and usable on any substrate, imagine applying it along with the heat-resistant additive mentioned in my blog post.

Read the press release from the makers of the additive at Notre Dame's Center for Nano Science and Technology.

The Venerable Hair Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:51:00 +0000

How much engineering goes into a design like this?

The purpose of this post is to rebut my video interview that Dora was so nice to post on the Siemens PLM blog. It will either justify my position, or just show the world how crazy engineers can be. And I'm a mechanical engineer, not electrical. We all know their brains are wired wrong.

This image is a representation of the hair clip I was referencing in the video. I used this as an example because of a funny story I experienced in the presence of my wife. Engineers, be honest, raise your hands if you ever found yourself in a similar situation. Comment if you are man enough to share.

My young daughter had left her hair ties on the kitchen counter. Not overly familiar with female beauty accessories, I picked up one of the hair ties and actuated it, stopping short of actually trying it out myself. (You can see in the video that I have fairly short hair. The hair ties wouldn't work anyway. No reason to test my theory to get objective evidence as proof. Guys, take note. Putting hair ties in your hair when playing dress up with your daughter is OK. Putting hair ties in your hair to prove an engineering theory is not.) Immediately, my mind went to

fatigue,

strength of the materials,

Goodman diagrams,

and it blew up from there:

yield strength,

material compatibility with hair products like shampoo, conditioner, spray, gel, etc. -- you wouldn't want your hair turning green;

raw sheet stock,

progressive die design,

heat treat,

finish treatments, and on and on.

Organic or non-organic finish? What if the paint chips off? Will the metal rust? Do I need to pre-treat for painted finish? Spot weld the tip or cold-press a rivet? How much hand assembly or do I tool up to automate the assembly? Where are the contact points for painting? Do I do hand touch-up afterward? What type of adhesive to use to glue the flower on? Will the petals break off on first use? What environments do kids actually get into? Playground? Classroom? Nap with the clips on? I think you get the picture.

Imagine the situation. I'm there, standing in the kitchen, frozen in the moment, staring at this hair clip as I flip it open and closed. How do the forces equalize in two positions to keep it open and closed? What does the free body diagram for the load conditions look like? Then my wife walks in. "What are you doing?!"

She looked at me like I was some alien entity. "It's just a hair clip," she said. To a "normal" person that may be true, but to an engineer, this is a marvel. There are so many small nuances that had to be considered in the design, yet to still be able to make them so inexpensively. This is the world we live in.

To an engineer, the world is not something that is just interacted with and expected to work. It is something designed, thought of, created, and developed. Someone had to think of this before it even existed. There is an existential connection to everything we contact. Non-engineers can't see it and look at us like we're crazy. Engineers look at them and wonder how they can't be fascinated by it.

Why should you become an engineer?

Because the world is a beautiful place. Learn how to shape it, not just use it.

Solid Edge and PLM Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Solid Edge University 2012 is just around the corner. If you haven't already registered, you missed the early bird discount but there is still ample opportunity to attend the conference in Nashville. I am unable to make it again this year, but thanks to the great folks at Siemens, I was able to attend the PLM Connection (aka PLM World) instead in fabulous Las Vegas, NV.

I have been greatly hesitant in the past to attend PLM Connection because it typically lacks depth in the Solid Edge track. This year, PLM World didn't disappoint. True to form, the Solid Edge sessions were held in a tiny room in the far back corner of the the Rio Conference Center. The room held at most 60 people. But I can't fault the planners for this detail. I heard through the grapevine that only 40 people registered for the Solid Edge track (that number has not been verified). There isn't any reason to provide any more facilities than necessary. So why go to PLM Connection if you are a Solid Edge user?

Pros

If you run Siemens software besides Solid Edge, you won't find topic tracks or networking opportunities elsewhere.
Few people in your track? Plenty of 1-on-1 time with the experts.
Siemens still sends their best and brightest.

Cons

The Solid Edge track ends on Tuesday, even though the conference itself runs until Thursday. You pay full price to attend a conference that only runs half the time.
The conference doesn't revolve around the Solid Edge release cycle. With specific Solid Edge events timed accordingly, Siemens reps aren't willing to give up the farm so early and detract from the other event.
Very few peers to exchange ideas with.

And I could continue the lists, but there is no point when I can summarize my experience with PLM Connection with a single question. Is there a home for Solid Edge at PLM Connection?

In my opinion, the answer is no. If you are a Solid Edge + Teamcenter user, then go to PLM Connection to follow the Teamcenter tracks. If you want to know more about changes to the Solid Edge Embedded Client for Teamcenter, then go to the Solid Edge specific event. I don't recommend going to a PLM conference to talk about CAD or design. You'll only get lost in the crowd. But I don't mean to imply that I didn't get value out of attending. Because of the small Solid Edge crowd and therefore 1-on-1 time with the experts, I was able to get quite a few very specific questions answered and discuss issues I've been having with the software. I will write up the details during the #SEU12 event time frame. (Siemens has not embargoed me, but they did request I not post anything until the official announcement in June at Solid Edge University.) But I have to wonder, with the growing popularity (demand based, nonetheless) of the Solid Edge University, how long will Siemens commit to sending their experts to two conferences? Will Solid Edge cease to exist at PLM Connection?

twitter: #plmconx

Disclaimer: Siemens paid for my conference registration fee and two nights at the Rio All Suites hotel and casino.

Cube Farmers and Cave Dwellers Rejoice

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:30:00 +0000

A corner office with a window, that's what we cube farmers all crave. We care very little for the job or title that goes with it, we just want the feeling of not being trapped inside a room of padded walls. It's the next best thing to working outside, but without the sunburn, allergies, rain, insects, and traffic noise.

So what if your ceiling was the sky? I'm not talking about any strange cloaking device tricks that use cameras to record the sky above and display it at your desk. I'm not talking about fireplace screen savers either (like those actually worked for romantic evenings). No, I'm talking about an architectural feature that can be designed into high ceiling rooms.

Researchers from the Stuttgart-based Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering have developed a series of red, green, blue, and white LED panels that mimic passing clouds, giving the occupant a sense of being outdoors. The trick to not seeing each individual LED, a diffuser located 30cm (about 1 ft) below the LEDs.

The system is still mostly in the development and test phase, but you can own a piece of sky for approximately 1,000 Euros per square meter (~US$120/sq. ft). Now if they'd only through in some safe UV rays to help create Vitamin D.

Powerpoint 2010 Tip - Laser Pointer

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:01:00 +0000

I am tired of watching presenters show up without a laser pointer and then fumble around trying to emphasis something on the screen. I am amazed at how many didn't realize that you can turn your mouse into a "laser pointer" during a presentation.

HOLD DOWN [CTRL] + [LMB]
It's ugly, but it works. You can even change the color of the "laser."

See the ugly red circle?

Click the links to see Microsoft's demo video and online help instructions for more information.

Reinventing the Wheel Using Contructal Law

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Speaking of reinventing the wheel (the omni-wheel), I was recently reading an article by Adrian Bejan, a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University. In the article he surmises that common wisdom is wrong and nature did indeed invent the wheel, not humans. As a matter of fact, most early humans failed to recognize the properties of the wheel that were happening with bi-pedal motion. But, there were a few shining stars, as evidenced by Da Vinci's Vitruvia (or the Homer version shown), who recognized the cyclical motion of legs. (Based on his article, Adrian insists that the wheel was not copied from nature and is in no way a form of biomimicry. Instead, it is an artifact "of our own evolutionary design for moving our mass on the landscape.")

Although the article makes a great case regarding the evolutionary design of the wheel, I was more interested in his continued reference to constructal law.

The Constructal Theory

Prof. Bejan has a web Portal for Constructal Theory. It's not much to look at (at the time of this writing) but buried within the hot pink boxes are loads of information regarding contructal law.

I would love to sum up constructal theory here, but I'm afraid that is just not possible. The multitude of examples on his website where contructal law can be used is nothing short of astounding: making biology and economics like physics; sports; technology; social interactions; web (SEO) traffic; and many many others. It is hard to tell if Adrian is an engineer or something else. To be able to take a single unifying law and apply it to any number of areas of study is something I think theoretical physicists would like to have for the universe.

I urge you to open your mind a take a look at the constructal theory web portal. As Adrian concludes in the article I read, the best way to describe constructal law is that it unites animate and inanimate design phenomena and therefore allows the study of evolution within our lifetimes, not the eons it takes in nature. Fascinating.

Wheels. That Rotate. On Wheels.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Every so often you see or read about a technology that is intriguing, if for no other reason than a novelty. Then, you happen across it again and realize the subtle details of engineering required to make the novelty function. And then, you see it in action and you realize it deserves more attention than you originally paid.

Image courtesy of Grabcad.

The Omni-Directional Wheel
The omni-directional wheel was first conceived by Swedish engineer Bengt Erland Ilon in 1972. (SHHHH. Don't tell any Norwegians a Swede invented something first.) The patent traded hands a few times before the technology finally developed into something product-worthy that first shipped around 2005. It was a material handling truck (aka forklift or lift truck) called the Sidewinder, produced by Airtrax.

Image from Airtrax website.

At first glance, this wheel looks like it would provide for a very bumpy ride as the load is transferred from roller to roller. But, as shown in the embedded video, the wheel provides a startling smooth ride.

The control is a combination of MOSFET, sensor technology, closed-loop feedback, regenerative breaking, speed control, onboard diagnostics, and traction control. I remember as a tool designer making a moving assembly line with A.N.T's (Adaptable kNeel-down Transporter) that had standard casters on them. It was very difficult to move that platform through the factory. What I wouldn't give to be able to redesign that system using wheels and controls from Airtrax.

Most people say that there is no value in reinventing the wheel, but thanks to Bengt and the team at Airtrax, it appears that a reinvented wheel has great potential in the material handling, robotics, and assembly line industries.

Siemens and Local Motors Team Up

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:01:00 +0000

It is 8:01am CST. By now, you have had one minute to digest the press releases from Local Motors and Siemens regarding their cooperation to create a CAD tool suited to the car enthusiast. I mentioned a bit about it in my last post when I talked about the Open House at Local Motors here in the Phoenix Metro area. Here are some of the more juicy details.

About Local Motors

Local Motors (LM), under the vision and direction of its CEO and Co-founder Jay Rogers, has the desire to allow the community of car enthusiasts to go a step beyond after market products and do-it-yourself component upgrades to allow them to design their own niche vehicle. Niche vehicle is the key phrase. A niche vehicle, to paraphrase Jay, is something that a certain certain group of people want or need in a specific geographic region. To make that happen, Jay has a vision that allows the community to collaborate, or in LM and Siemens terms to allow cocreation (because cocreate would just be weird to say), a specific vehicle that fulfills the local niche. For example, people in Arizona would love a desert race vehicle to take out to the Dunes that is street legal so they don't have to trailer a 20 mpg gallon vehicle behind a 16 mpg vehicle just to have a little off-road fun. Thus, the Rally Fighter was born. (Although if it had a 4 wheel drive option that I could take rock crawling with my Jeep buddies -- now there's a vehicle I could invest in!)

In order to take LM to the next step, the community needed a design tool that capable of designing and assembling an automobile - from piece part welded tubes and brackets, to body panels, and windshield wipers. Yet, the tool had to be simple to use and affordable enough for the DIY or enthusiast gear head. Not only that, but the tool had to be "universal." In other words, it had to be able to read whatever file format individuals of the community uploaded to the LM website and to be able to manipulate that geometry. With a remarkable partnership with Siemens, Solid Edge Design 1 was born.

About Siemens

To be honest, Siemens wasn't the only CAD vendor that LM approached to help them move to the next level in their vision. As a matter of fact, LM first tried to work out a partnership with Dassault who helped them with the DOD vehicle. LM approached as many CAD vendors as it could to propose building a tool suitable for its community. But, as it turns out, Siemens was the only CAD vendor willing to take the chance on such a new and, I'll say it, revolutionary kind of car company. Behold, Solid Edge Design 1 was born.

Solid Edge Design 1

What's so special about Solid Edge Design 1? First of all, it's not NX Design 1 which is what most people would think is needed for automotive design. Second of all, it is a full-enough featured version of Solid Edge Synchronous Technology so any individual can design an automobile: Synchronous Part and Synchronous Assembly. Just as important, Solid Edge Design 1 is rented monthly for the cost of a dinner at Applebee's through the LM community website.

Finally, there is a robust CAD package that is priced at a range that makes it available to the masses. Alibre tried it and did a great job, but this is one step further. No initial high cost outlay. No yearly maintenance fee. This is as about as pay-as-you-go as we have ever seen in the CAD world, made available under EULA for every enthusiast out there at an affordable price.

Conclusion (for now)
These are exciting times we live in. This, in my opinion, truly is a game changer. On the one hand, we have the maker market exploding who are all trying to find an affordable geometry creation engine in order to continue to make. Now they have it. On the other hand, we have a new kind of car company showing the world that it doesn't take a company "too big to fail" to put together a really sweet ride. I am excited to be in the middle of all of it. I can't wait to see how the competition reacts to this news. I can't wait to see how the market reacts.

There is so much more to talk about regarding the details of the cooperation between Siemens and the vision of Local Motors. It has to be broken up into many posts and I fully intend to cover my opinion of it as much as possible: the new LM website (it's on so many steroids it may even be illegal by MLB) and the growing community for one; the two steps that actually go into sharing design data online: web-based geometry visualization and Solid Edge Design 1 geometry creation; the vision and growth model of LM; just to name a few. I'm almost speechless from being overwhelmed with the potential of this cooperation. See now why I said Jay has a really high "smartness level"?

I know several other people also reporting on this news so keep your eyes and ears sharp. I'll provide updates and links as time permits. In the meantime, strap on your seat belts and enjoy the ride.

Local Motors Open House

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:55:00 +0000

The Global Product Data Interoperability Summit (GPDIS) keynote speeches finished early yesterday so I had the distinct pleasure of being able to attend the Local Motors open house. WOW! What a company and what a car.

If you haven't heard about Local Motors, they are a new kind of car company focused on the car enthusiast. They believe that there is a better way to design and build an automobile than the ways developed by GM, Toyota, Ford, etc. The vision this company has is extraordinary and it is led by their CEO and Co-founder, Jay Rogers. One thing I got out of the Open House is that Jay is one smart fellow. I created this infographic to illustrate Jay's smartness.

Not only is the leadership of Local Motors in the hands of an incredible visionary, but it is supported by a very dedicated group of a people who are equally enthusiastic about cars and the new way to design a car. And something that is a sure sign of the success or failure of a new venture, Jay was supported by his wife and children who were in attendance at the Open House. Jay is getting support from all directions; there is no way this venture can fail.

The purpose of the Open House was to announce a change coming on 11/11/11. Jay was pretty secretive about the announcement other than it is going to be big and revolutionary. This is the type of announcement that will shake up the industry much like the announcement of Local Motors designing a car using crowd-sourcing shook up the industry. But, with a selection of big name Siemens representatives like Mark Burhop, Susan Cinadr, Carlos Beato, and Kurt Pennington (the number 1 Solid Edge demo guy) and the fact that they were demoing Solid Edge during the Open House, I can only speculate that the announcement has something to do with Solid Edge more than a new electric vehicle being developed by the Local Motors community. As a matter of fact, Jay spoke about how the Local Motors community has grown and now it is time to get more tools into the hands of the community. I'm guessing he means design or visualization tools. And in his words, quoted again by Mark Burhop, design tools for the cost of a dinner. Neither Jay nor Mark would go into details if the cost was a McDonald's dinner, an Applebee's dinner, or a 5-star dinner, but either way that is a price point that will definitely shake up the industry. Which one? Automotive or CAD?

Local Motors already has two successful vehicles under their belt: the Rally Fighter and the vehicle developed for the DOD. They are now working towards an electric vehicle. You can see the Top Gear video of the Rally Fighter here.
http://vimeo.com/27821581

Watch the Local Motors website and the Siemens website for the press releases describing the official announcement. I know I'm interested in what the big news is going to be. In the meantime, I get another tour tonight with my local chapters of ASME and NSPE. Maybe I can coerce Jay into a corner and find out more.

Some interesting links.
http://www.i-newswire.com/siemens-plm-software-and-local/136334
http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/about_us/newsroom/press/press_release.cfm?Component=148327&ComponentTemplate=822
http://technews.tmcnet.com/news/2011/10/27/5888445.htm

Crowd-Sourced Engineering

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:52:00 +0000

My Dad and his favorite pastimes:
working the earth and being with his grandkids.

My dad would tell you straight off that he wasn't exactly the smartest person in the world. He had a hard time understanding fractions. Academically, he may have been right but my dad could find the problem, figure out a solution, and create that solution with nothing more than a utility knife, duct tape, and a plastic milk bottle. They even made a show about it, it was called MacGyver or something like that.

I learned a lot more about engineering from my dad and being raised in a blue-collar household than any textbook or professor could teach, although my dad repeatedly stated he wasn't smart enough to do what I can do. None the less, my dad was able to do things I am not able to do and by that, I learned to trust my skilled-labor coworkers when it comes to their opinions about improving a design, fixing a problem, or just making the system better. But, I also know that if I were to put a blank piece of paper in front of them and tell them to come up with a solution to a specific problem, they wouldn't be able to do it.

So what does this story have to do with crowd-sourced engineering? Simple, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Some people are great at taking existing objects and making improvements to them. Other people are great at taking a blank sheet a paper and creating something new. When you are crowd-sourcing engineering and design, which group is working on your team?

Engineers have a natural affinity towards creating something from nothing. That's why engineers became engineers. They hone that ability through extensive education and temper it with experience. They learn to think outside themselves, to their audience, to potential users, and to consider as many requirements as humanly possible in order to conceive a brand new design that fulfills a need capable of withstanding future unknowns. My father, on the other hand, could only create something that solved the immediate problem. He did not have the background or training to learn how to consider factors outside of the obvious. When you are crowd-sourcing engineering and design, which group is working on your team?

If you are an engineering or design firm and are considering crowd-sourcing your project because you think it will save money, take a second thought on who is on your team. Is the person on your team someone who is educated and trained to think outside the given problem statement and anticipate future needs or requirements; or is it someone who just has the uncanny ability to solve a specific problem with an eloquent fix? Is it someone who is capable of developing a solution from concept to reality; or is it someone who will only be able to make incremental improvements to existing ideas? Is it someone who is able to support the design and determine root causes for any potential issues; or is it someone who will only to able to come up with another band-aid repair that addresses the symptom, not the problem? Do you have the time and resources to verify all the work your crowd-sourced team has done? Would that save you anything over having to do it yourself?

I'm trying not to judge whether crowd-sourcing is right or wrong. Crowd-sourcing has the potential to combine the best strengths of all those who participate. But, it also has the potential to combine the worst weaknesses as well. When you are crowd-sourcing engineering and design, do you really know who is working on your team? Can you take that chance?

Star Trek Sutures - In the Flesh

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:58:00 +0000

NASA may be disappointing generations of people who expected better planning from that organization in terms of continuing to provide a reliable mode of transportation to the International Space Station as well as micro-gravity research, but that doesn't mean they aren't breaking grounds in new ways here on Earth.

The good folks at JSC with the help of a few partners have developed a technique to seal traumatic wounds without the use of needles and thread or even worse, staples.

A biodegradable protein sealant, aka solder, is applied to the wound. A miniature portable microwave generator and handheld antenna deliver microwave energy to the solder which seals the wound. The antenna can be of many shapes that allow for contact or non-contact sealing of the wound.

This technique has several advantages over the currently experimental laser welding of wounds.

It is small and portable, unlike bulky laser welding equipment that can't easily be transported between operating rooms or be used by EMTs or on the battle field.
Microwave sealing is not as dependent on the uniformity and thickness of the protein solder application.
The frequency of the microwave energy can be tuned depending on the depth of the wound as well as minimizing the area of effect of surrounding healthy tissue.
Microwave energy may effectively kill bacteria thereby sterilizing the wound during the procedure, but this has yet to be validated.

I for one am always excited when I hear about less painful or invasive medical procedures. I get down right giddy when I hear that it is engineers and scientists who get the credit for developing these life-saving techniques.

Next thing you know, Bones will be distributing pills to cure kidney disease.

(read the full article)

Engineering Management - Ten Destructive Leadership Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

As a recent engineer-turned-manager, coming across bits of information to remind myself that not all great engineers make great managers are always a welcome find. And when those bits of information explicitly state guidelines to follow, I sit up and pay attention.

John Hamm wrote an article in the May 2011 edition of PE magazine (by NSPE). In it, he lists the Ten Destructive Leadership Mistakes that organizational leaders make. Although the mistakes are better expressed by example, I'd rather not plagiarize John's work and instead will only list them here. Sadly, NSPE membership is required to read the article online.

Avoid These Mistakes

"Role playing" authenticity rather than living it.
Understanding the impact of small acts of dishonesty.
Being two-faced (and assuming others won't notice).
Squelching the flow of bad news.
Punishing "good failures."
Letting employee enthusiasm fizzle.
Refusing to deal with your "weakest links."
Allowing people to "fail elegantly."
Delaying decisions until it's too late.
Underestimating the weight of your words and moods.

Even if...
Even if you are not a manager, engineers are often leaders. Just by our education and experience people look to us as decision makers. We also tend to lead project teams or are champions of our designs. Mistakes, such as the ten listed above, have a negative impact in those situations as well and care should be maintained in order to avoid them.

A Hardware Store for Innovators

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Do it yourselfers (DIY), or Makers as they are called now, are making a big impact on design and manufacturing. Websites like Etsy allow you to take an idea and start selling it within hours. No business start-up costs involved. Other websites like Kickstarter allow you to get funding just by sharing a great idea. And, it has the benefit of implying some initial marketing research on who and how many people are interested in your idea.

That's great, but where do people go to get supplies to make their ideas a reality?
They go to Inventables.

Inventables is the hardware store for innovation. No longer are inventors forced to make a run to the local hardware store or Radio Shack (can you even buy electronic components at Radio Shack anymore) to build a mock-up of the product they really want to build. Instead, they can get cutting edge, NASA grade materials to make their prototypes just like the real thing. And some of these materials are simply amazing, the type of stuff that only a space agency could fund R&D for.

Words cannot describe the availability of rare and unique supplies available at Inventables just waiting to be used in the next great idea. Pop on over, take a look, and let your creative juices flow.

Don't Tread on Me

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:00:00 +0000

It's Memorial Day. This is the day I like to make a post a bit off topic and recognize all the war fighters, not only in the US, but all across the world, that risk their lives to protect our freedoms. The last post I did was about the can-do attitude of the Seabees. This year, I thought about stepping back to the very beginnings, back to the very first people who fought for our freedom even before there was a Memorial Day.

The Gadsden Flag

The Gadsden Flag, an American Timber Rattlesnake coiled up on a yellow background (also known as the Hopkins flag), is used by units in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, but it was originally created by Christopher Gadsden in 1775.

In 1775 the British were occupying Boston and General Washington was holed up in Cambridge, low on gunpowder and supplies shortly after the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Continental Congress heard of a British transport on its way loaded with arms and gunpowder. The rebels decided they needed the supplies more than the British and devised a plan to commandeer the transport. The Continental Congress authorized the creation of the first Continental Navy and mustered five companies of Marines to take the ship.

Like all military groups at the time, battle drums were a part of the company. Unique to some recruits from Pennsylvania, their drums were painted blaze yellow with a coiled rattlesnake, ready to strike, painted on it. The rattlesnake had 13 rattles, one representing each colony. Also painted on the drums were the words "Don't Tread on Me."

Why the Snake?
The snake actually started much sooner. Benjamin Franklin, not keen on using an eagle -- "a bird of bad moral character" -- as a national emblem instead chose the snake.

In the Pennsylvania Journal (Pennsylvania Gazette), Franklin concocted an image of a segmented snake with the words "Join, or Die." It played on superstitions at the time that if you reassembled a cut-up snake before sunset, it would come back to live. It portrayed the unity that the colonies had to have. The image was so popular that it became the symbol of shared national identity.

As Benjamin Franklin described it

"She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."

Inevitably, the general serpent was replaced with an American Timber Rattler because of it's uniqueness to America.

Remarks
Our military has a long and proud history. That history started even before the United States was a country, yet is still symbolized every day in current conflicts. When we fly these colors, we not only represent our current values, but the values of all of those who have come before us.

Remember our past, those who have sacrificed, and why they chose to bear arms for our freedom.
Recognize our present, those who continue to sacrifice, and the proud heritage they represent.
Pray for our future, those that come after us respect us for our decisions and recognize the sacrifices we made were for them.

Now That's Skill

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:30:00 +0000

It's Memorial Weekend. I've written my Memorial Day post and it will appear Monday morning. But, while doing some semi-related research I came across this video. This is a level of skill I think you will only ever find out of military trained pilots.

It is 0:57 long and a bit loud. You may want to mute or turn down your speakers before playing.

Teaching Green - From Student to Professor

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 16 May 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Amazing, simply amazing, what is possible when young individuals aren't told that they can't do something. Reading through my alumni magazine, I come across an article where a Structural Engineering graduate helped implement green initiatives on campus.

MSOE already has a long history of environmental consciousness based on classes taught as well as physical installations of environmentally sound utilities. Of course there was the standard trash and recycling containers all around campus. But the efforts on campus were raised a notch when Jason Goike ('10) and the MSOE Recycling Team enhanced the program. Why? Because Goike was asked to and not told he couldn't.

First of all, Goike worked with MSOE's food service provider and switched from Styrofoam products to compostable corn- and sugarcane-based dinnerware. That's right, you cups, plates, and bowls can be made out of compostable materials and organizations, like Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI, provide the composting service. And instead of the standard two recycling bins: trash and recyclable, there are now three - the third being compostable.

But there is more to being green than additional recycling. Remember the 3 R's? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycle is the last on the list. The first is to reduce how much you use and the second is to reuse what you can. Let's face it, people need to be motivated to do any of the 3 R's. In order promote reuse, such as refillable water bottles and coffee mugs, the on-campus eateries offer discounts on refills.

MSOE lists some tangible savings from the program.

In 2009, MSOE spent more than $110,000 to remove unsorted waste. With the new recycling bins, MSOE expects to save $20,000 through reduced trash pick ups.
The compostable dinnerware could save an additional $15,000 by diverting trash to Growing Power instead of the landfill.

The EPA has some interesting facts on recycling. I'm still trying to quantity these facts because they leave out some very important metrics.

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to burn a 100-watt light bulb for four hours or to run your tv for three.
Recycling white paper in your office from one year can save almost 26 gallons of oil, 273 kilowatt-hours of energy, 467 gallons of water, and more than one tree. It also prevents four pounds of air pollution from entering the atmosphere.
Composting keeps carbon from entering the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas and diverts waste from landfills.

Big Steam - An Icon of Sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:00:00 +0000

With all the recent talk about sustainability and designed obsolescence, engineers and industry gurus are taking pages from history on how to design products that last for generations. (When was the last time your kids were happy to inherit your cell phone?) I actually have in my possession my grandfather's pocket watches, the wind up kind, and they still work. Talk about sustainable; it's a design with craftsmanship that has lasted two generations and with proper care, will last many more. One watch is plain for everyday use and other is quite intricate in detail for those special occasions. Plus, it is carbon neutral to operate.

Now, not exactly carbon neutral to operate but long living none-the-less is steam engines. Beyond the childhood fantasies of days gone by, there is just something alluring about steam trains. The Grand Canyon Railway rebuilds, maintains, and operates a route from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon using steam. I have always told my wife that when I retire, I hope to work there helping refurbish old steam engines and cars. I would do it for a living, but the problem is that a LOT of people want to do that. High supply/low demand means you can't exactly make a living doing what you love.

But "The Train" isn't the only place restoring Big Steam. There is a place in Bugs Bunny's favorite city, Albuquerque, NM, that has a team of dedicated volunteers putting a rare locomotive back into action. The New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society is restoring one of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built - one million pounds (1,000,000 lbs) of iron and steel generating 4,500 hp. The boiler of this beast is twenty feet long and 7 1/2 feet in diameter. The operating pressure is 300 psi at 700 degrees F powering two double-acting pistons that turns eight 80-inch diameter drive wheels. The SA 516 grade 55 steel is only 7/16 to 1 1/4 inch thick in the boiler. Oh, and the firebox is the size of a small bedroom at 9 X 12 feet.

What historic train has these stats? It is locomotive No. 2926 from the Baldwin Locomotive Works built in 1944 for the Atchison, Topica, and Sante Fe line between Chicago and Los Angeles. The train was retired from service in 1954 and has sat idle in an Albuquerque park since then along with its tender. The team of volunteers restoring this beauty consist of: retired mechanical engineers, nuclear engineers, civil engineers, medical doctors, chemists, police officers, cryptoanalysts, machinists, ex-Navy officers, and national science lab veterans. (But like I said, these are retired volunteers so highly unlikely this fun work will ever pay your mortgage.)

When the restoration is complete and all safety checks have been passed, this engine will roll out under its own power. The restoration should be complete sometime in 2012. You can learn about the entire project by viewing the AT&SF website dedicated to the project.

I was at COFES, too

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:12:00 +0000

If you haven't gotten enough of COFES during the weekend of the event, or if you haven't gotten enough COFES with all the updates and blog posts shortly after the event, then you surely must have been waiting for my perspective.

Most of my readers are probably aware of The Congress on the Future of Engineering Software that occurs annually over an April weekend in sunny Scottsdale, AZ at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort (not the Scottsdale Resort like some shuttle drivers would insist) and hosted by Cyon Research. If you are not familiar with the event, I highly recommend you visit their website and save me the trouble of name dropping. I am probably one of the unique few that attend this event that is not a software vendor, component supplier, industry analyst, hardware OEM, or media. Even though I blog about CAD and engineering, during the event I represent my employer as a user. So while some people are there to gauge the industry or take pictures for interesting articles, I'm there to gauge where my business critical applications are heading and figure out how to position my company to best prepare for and utilize the future of engineering software.

This was my second year attending COFES. Last year I knew a few people and got some great advice on how to get the most from COFES. This year, I was actually able to put that advice into practice and my head is still pounding with the wealth of information I took home from the event. Writing down four jam-packed days of information into a trip report or blog post just doesn't do justice to what actually happens at COFES, but I'm going to try anyway.

DaS Symposium

Even before COFES officially starts, there are events. The big event that most interests me is the Design and Sustainability (DaS) Symposium. The key takeaway from last years Symposium was the creation of the Green Keystone Alliance (GKA) containing participants of the Symposium like Sustainable Minds, Ford, and partnerships with NIBS. The purpose of the GKA is to be a central advisory panel to all of the other organizations that are trying to define sustainability. The presentations were about creating long lasting products, getting rid of designed obsolescence (like needing a new cell phone every 2 years or less), planning for the entire life cycle of a product including disposal, and creating products that use less raw materials. But, none of these concepts were able to put an economic model together. They were not able to answer the question on how companies can stay in business if they are not selling new products. Is the market (even in a non-recession) willing to pay 3 or 4 times what they pay now for a cell phone? The Symposium did, though, try to make an argument for putting “green” as part of the accounting value statement. Software vendors are trying to collect data on all environmental costs associated with a product: mining, growing, shipping, processing, packaging, all the things that use energy before the end item is actually shipped, and then how much energy is needed to dispose of said product. A new science termed LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is being employed in many industries to try to capture this data and put a value to it. I wouldn’t be surprised if graduates start appearing with LCA degrees.

Computer Interfaces

The mouse and keyboard are dead. The physical keyboard and mouse are being replaced by virtual keyboards (like on the iPad) and visual tracking like used by the Xbox Kinect. Because of new technology like Kinect, typing in mid-air is possible on a virtual keyboard. The intelligence of auto correct is getting better (in theory at least) so typos are not a huge concern. The point here is because this change affects the physical layout of offices. Monitors will be replaced with touch screens and cameras will be everywhere. What does that mean for the security of your work environment?

The "Cloud"

What discussion about the future of engineering software is complete without mentioned the word CLOUD? I don't know about you, but I'm as tired hearing about this nebulous philosophy as I am hearing about green washing. In my opinion, internet based cloud is not something I would like but knowing that computer hardware technology is also taking a chapter out of history I'm a bit more optomistic. Distributed desktop workstations are going the way of the dodo and being replaced with thin clients. Compute power is more scalable at the server level now rather than the desktop level. Running applications from the server and pushing the input and feedback across the network results in better performance than buying a faster workstation CPU or better graphics card. Compression technology makes this possible without maxing out bandwidth. Maintaining software is easier because there is only one installation to update (on the server). Performance is easier to track and when it lags, easier and cheaper to improve because only the server needs a hardware upgrade. AMD gave a great presentation on what they have available on the market today that already does this with HP hardware. And, unlike another cloud demo, AMD’s didn’t blow up because it was on local hardware, not on some amorphous server farm somewhere in the world that depended on an internet connection. But, that brings me to my second point. Microsoft is pushing their “cloud” solutions via the Azure platform. Microsoft may be the creating the new Windows killer OS. Are we ready for that infrastructure change? Just upgrading to Windows 7 is met with resistance in some corporations and industries.

Systems Modeling

One my more enjoyable aspects of COFES is the small group discussions. I attended one hosted by Allen Behrens of Taxal Limited. The discussion was about how modeling of physical systems is growing with each advance in computing power. No longer is a single FEA sufficient. All simulations require multi-physics. One step beyond mult-physics is systems modeling, where the results from a vibration and braking analysis in an automobile are used as inputs to the suspension system and then the suspension system design is used again in the vibration and braking analysis (and design). These are very complex interactions and very complex systems to model. The only way to model them is with mathematics (the partial differential equations kind of math). Matlab with Simulink kind of does this; Simulia kind of does this; Labview kind of does this. The solution to the problem of systems modeling is creating a library of domain-specific functions so each engineer doesn’t have to reinvent the math (aka wheel) for each analysis. Modelica is a solution provider trying to do just that in an open environment. This is a software tool that is definitely worth watching.

Conclusion

If you can't attend COFES, at least try to keep up with the tweets, blog posts, and other media in order to find out what happens there. Not all of COFES will apply to you, but what does apply is undoubtedly beneficial for future proofing your organization. There are more topics discussed at COFES that I hope to blog about specifically in the near future.

Links to more COFES 2011 info:
twitter hashtag #cofes2011
Siemens PLM Blog
Solidsmack.com post

Announcement: Moving Domains

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:07:00 +0000

No, not this domain. For the time being I do plan on keeping this blogger site just the way it is. I moved my personal business domain.

When I started the business, and the domain, my preferred .com domain was not available and I really liked the option of the .pro domain. The problem was that you were required to get a third level domain (.eng.pro) before you could reserve the second level domain (.pro). The third level domain is very expensive. For one, the registrar verifies that you really are a licensed professional. Also, the third level domain came with some nice benefits, like free SSL certificates. And, I got a discount on the domain through professional societies.

Well, those discounts have disappeared and the SSL certificate no longer comes with the domain. All I'm getting now is a really expensive domain name. Recent changes to the .pro registration policy allows for professionals to self-certify second level domains. That means we can have the second level domain without a third level domain. So that's what I'm doing.

wertel.eng.pro is set to expire.
wertel.pro is my new domain.
My personal business email address also has the new domain (remove the .eng from the existing email address).

Please be sure to update your contact info you have my personal business email address and feel free to stop by the new domain and check out the website. New content forthcoming.