SolidWorks Blog

New 3 Dudes Video: only available on YouTube

2009-07-10T15:24:09-04:00

You won't find this one on the 3 Dudes site. See what happens when you spend all day hanging out in web forums.

SolidWorks Weekly News Roundup

2009-07-10T10:43:41-04:00

Summer is the busy season here at SolidWorks. Various things I'm working on are keeping me away from my desk so long that I haven't been able to report on all of the things that are happening here. So here's a quick roundup of a few things you might be interested in. Things should slow down eventually...I hope.

1. The new SolidWorks forum environment is scheduled to go live on Monday July 13. We're migrating to a new platform, which will enable lots of functionality that we don't currently have, and they tell me that the search feature will be light years better than what's there now. So if you haven't checked out the forums in a while, take a look. Definitely a major improvement. https://forum.solidworks.com

2. SolidWorks 2009 Service Pack 4 is now available for those of you on subscription support. If you want to see what's been fixed and what's new, check out the SolidWorks Customer Portal.

3. SolidWorks Simulation and Enterprise PDM 2010 beta versions are now available, in addition to the regular SolidWorks 2010 beta. If you currently have either of these and you want to see what's new, head over to the beta page and get signed up. I promise it won't hurt.

4. Want to give a presentation at SolidWorks World 2010? Now's your chance--we're officially accepting submissions. All you have to do is click on this link right here and tell us why you have what it takes to get up in front of dozens (or hundreds) of your peers and lay down some knowledge.

What's in it for you? Well, in addition to adulation and possible fame, your admission fee to the event is comped, which could save you or your boss some serious cash. And who wouldn't want that? SolidWorks User Group guru Richard Doyle gives out some pointers on his blog, which you can find right here.

So that's it for right now. Hopefully this will make up for any perceived inattention, and if not, there's always next week. And speaking of next week, we'll have something pretty cool happening that I can't talk about right now. So stay tuned.

SolidWorks World 2010 Keynote Speaker: opinions wanted

2009-07-07T14:49:52-04:00

It's getting to be that time of year--our events team is gearing up in earnest for SolidWorks World 2010. Next year's event takes place in Anaheim, California and starts on January 31, 2010.

One of the biggest things they need to do is pick the keynote speaker for the event. Last year we had Richard Branson, and speakers in years past have included Leonard Nimoy, the Mythbusters, the crew from Orange County Choppers, and even Steve Wozniak.

As they start the thinking process this year, they want to hear from you. Who do you want to see at SolidWorks World? Who would be someone exciting to hear from? No suggestion is too out there. Let us know.

SolidWorks World 2010 CSWP Event Information

2009-07-01T16:51:14-04:00

Here is another video giving you a little sneak peek into what is planned for the CSWP event at SolidWorks World 2010. The video includes images of products designed by CSWP's from around the world that were submitted and displayed at the CSWP event at SolidWorks World 2009 in Orlando.

You can get more information about the SolidWorks Certification Program at this LINK

SolidWorks World 2010 will be help in Anaheim California from January 31st 2010 through February 3rd 2010. Visit the SolidWorks World website at this LINK

You used the software for what???

2009-06-26T15:47:06-04:00

It's summer*, which means there's a gang of interns roaming the halls here. It's nice to have some young people around, which makes me feel increasingly old at the ripe age of 33. One of the great things about college students is that they think of stuff that you never would.

So when I was asking my intern to come up with some interesting things for our Facebook page a little while ago, he mentioned something about SolidWorks graffiti. To be honest, I didn't really understand what he meant. So imagine my surprise when, three minutes after leaving my office, I get this in my inbox:

So that's what he meant. Never in a hundred years would I have though that someone would do something like this, but I think it's pretty cool nonetheless.

What other unorthodox usages of SolidWorks (or any other CAD software for that matter) have you seen?

* Here in Massachusetts, it'e summer in name only. I don't think the mercury has risen above 80 degrees fahrenheit the entire month.

Reading technology overload?

2009-06-19T10:36:41-04:00

Back in March Jeff Ray wrote the blog article ‘Why Amazon Will Save the World’ which talked about the Amazon Kindle. Since reading that article I had toyed with the idea of purchasing an ‘electronic book reader’ but paused when I read that a newer model of the Kindle would be available soon. The Kindle 2 soon became available but then I balked at the price for a device that only allowed me to read books.

Recently I took a trip where I endured a four hour airport layover. I browsed the ‘electronic gadget’ store where the Sony Reader was being promoted and I thought; an electronic book reader would sure be handy now.

But, what to buy? I ended up buying the Sony Reader because it could store PDF files (and I wanted to store my vast library of EPDM Tech Tips) and because I got a really good deal price-wise.

So, I was intrigued to read a little blurb that proclaimed that netbooks could be used as book readers http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10188221-73.html.

Huh? I have a netbook that I take with me everywhere outside of the office. I like the small size and the fact that I can read my email, browse the web and keep up with social networking sites. Turns out my netbook is perfect for carrying around my library of PDF documents! Additionally, you can install Adobe Digital Editions or Sony eBook Library software and download eBooks.

Possible caveats might be eye strain that reader technology minimizes. Also, I have found that the Kindle offers access (via the Amazon book store) to more book titles at better prices.

In closing, figure out how you want to use your reader and choose the best option for your needs.