Archive for October, 2007

Joel Orr Breaks Up the PLM Fight

Published
by
Josh
on October 9, 2007
in Business
. Comments

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joelorr.jpgJoel Orr from Cyon Research and COFES.com has some insight to the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) discussion. If you read his interview over at Novedge, you can clearly see he looks and sounds much wiser than me. The interview is great, because it make me think how, yeah, CAD has been around for ages, but this is really just the beginning of how it’s going to be innovated.

I like what he says in one of his post on PLM.

As far as I can tell, those resisting the term (PLM) seem to be saying, “It’s too much to go from today’s partly-automated, unintegrated manufacturing enterprises to something as comprehensive as PLM. Nobody has really done it. So why not take the smaller steps that are really required, without glorifying the whole process?”

Those promoting the term say, “Why waste time and energy on partial solutions?”

He ends by asking what can we learn from the debate. My response… that engineering keeps going, manufacturing keeps going, regardless of the PR blitz or latest tech buzz.

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The Sound Of SolidWorks

Published
by
Josh
on October 9, 2007
in Product Design
. Comments

I’ve always like the Harman brand home audio ever since my dad picked up some Harman/Kardon equipment years ago. When ever I search for something I start with that brand and compare. That’s why it was interesting when I heard that the Harman Specialty Group had switched from AutoCAD 2D to SolidWorks. HSG creates Mark Levinson stereo electronics, Revel speakers, and Lexicon home theater electronics. This is the high-end audio equipment many audiophiles druel over.

From a product review for Revel Speakers

Revel has access to a vast array of engineering and evaluation tools. For example, using laser interferometry, which utilizes the interference of light waves for precise determinations of distance or wavelength, Revel’s R & D department performs a very detailed driver and cabinet analysis.

HSG is located in Bedford, MA and was formed in 2002/03 as a move by Harman to consolidate manufacturing and management with production and distribution.

As with most high-end audio equipment you won’t find their products at BestBuy. You’ll have to locate a finer home audio stores and will be lucky to get out without spending over $10,000 although some of the speakers are around $1,200/pair. The thing about this kind of audio equipment… you only buy it once.

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Via: SolidWorks

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Digital Prototyping: Repackaged Cooking Lard

Published
by
Josh
on October 8, 2007
in Business and Product Design
. Comments

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Some of my blog friends were having a conversation offline about a post at PR, Marketing and the business of CAD that covered the Mechanical Media Summit where Autodesk revealed their new “forward-thinking solution” to do away with PLM. Digital Prototyping.

“It is presented as a way to prove a new product, prototype it digitally, fully simulate it digitally and manufacture it digitally, prior to committing to the production line.”

Hmm. Now, ponder that for a moment.

Prototyping something digitally (modeling) that allows manufacturing an opportunity to critique is hardly a new concept, maybe newish, or new from a 2D pencil and pad, 1983, fax it on over, completely oblivious and unorganized, third world point-of-view. But let’s pretend to get excited for a moment. It’s hard, I know. Put yourself in a Content Editor’s shoes and think of all the ads you could sell, buzz you could generate, and the friends you could make. Or better yet, in a manufacturer’s shoes, since this is what it’s aimed at. If this, for one moment, seemed like it could be beneficial, how likely would you be to try it out?

We try out things again, because they’ve been repackaged in a shiny wrapper or new name. Digital Prototyping is what you as a designer/engineer do each day. There are probably things that will make this easier for you, but it’s not going to be a word, or really even software. Software and hardware are tools that can help, but if you really want a word for something that will help with product lifecycle, how about DISCIPLINE.

If anything needs help it’s how companies organize and allow others to access their information. Not a top heavy PDM system. I can get it modeled. Give me something to seamlessly and effectively kill the inefficiency in between engineering start and manufacturing finish. A web-based, slick-as-snot, data collector/compiler/sender/notifier of a system to communicate back-and forth between customer(manf) and vendor(eng). Two points, the cycle is gone and I’m getting things done.

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FREE Certified SolidWorks Professional Exam

Published
by
Josh
on October 5, 2007
in Noteworthy and Resources
. Comments

solidworks-certified-professional-cswp.jpgHave you ever dreamed of joining the ranks of the SolidWorks Elite? Yes? Well, there’s currently 5,327 Certified SolidWorks Professional and you could be the next one… for absolutely FREE. That’s darn right, pick yourself up off the ground.

SolidWorks has opened up the doors to allow anyone who thinks they are worthy to take the Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) or Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) for absolutely no money. The only catch, sign up before November 1st or face ridicule and scorn as everyone else earns a shiny certificate to mount on the wall next their wall calendar of mountain lions.

Here’s the big linky text to entice you.

Sign up FREE by NOV. 1!!

Bonus!
Tell them Josh at SolidSmack sent you for a strange look of delight and mild bewilderment.

Thanks for the heads up Lenny.

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Friday Smackdown

Published
by
Josh
on October 5, 2007
in Smackdown
. Comments

threadless-t-shirts.jpgI have three pistoleros, two hands and eight itchy fingers. You can look at the links or eat some of mama’s spicy tacos. it’s your choice.

Animoto.com - The absolute end of slideshows. See below.
Threadless.com - t-shirts submitted and rated by you and your friends
Wixi.com - sotore all your media on one page. The absolute best oline desktop app I’ve seen.
The Human LCD - What do you do with 1,000 South Koreans and some team spirit. You won’t believe it.
Wildcard.jp.org - Just one example of the interactive possibilities of Flash.
Anywhere.fm - Play, share and listen to radio…anywhere.
Double-Wires - a really fun and interesting spiderman-like game.

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SolidWorks Sheetmetal Tips to Flip

Published
by
Josh
on October 4, 2007
in SolidWorks Tips
. Comments

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Modeling in SolidWorks is pretty dang easy. Sure there’s little bits of wisdom that come with using it, but an installation and a day later and you’re on your way. The sheet metal features in SolidWorks are a little different. There more like trying to do a back flip. It looks easy, I can picture myself doing it, but I try and land on my neck. That’s what happened when I first started trying to bend things this way and that.

I would say 72.3% of people doing sheet metal design haven’t been trained.
The first time I took a Sheet Metal Training Course, I was the one teaching it. I learned a lot about what I didn’t know. Once you know some stuff thought, and like a back flip, designing sheet metal stuff can actually be kind of enjoyable. The kind of stuff you want to show off to your friends. Here’s a few items to get you on your way.
Continue reading ‘SolidWorks Sheetmetal Tips to Flip’

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SolidWorks Inhabits Second Life

Published
by
Josh
on October 3, 2007
in Noteworthy
. Comments

second-life-logo.jpgSo what if you could go to an island that was 24/7 SolidWorks fun in the sun? Would you go? Well SolidWorks Labs has given you the opportunity for you to make the most of your life online by creating their very own island paradise on Second Life.

I have really tried to avoid Second Life. Too much drama in those online environments. So I signed up. Go check it out and see what you think. Maybe we’ll all end up hanging out there with no inhibitions or ugliness or bugs. Just one giant 3D-part-making community. ahhh. I wonder if there’s a mysterious hatch somewhere.

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Dassault Systèmes Buys Seemage

Published
by
Josh
on October 2, 2007
in Business
. Comments

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Dassault Systèmes announce that it has acquired Seemage, a company that develops products for creating 3D interactive product documentation. It imports most CAD formats and allows non-technical users to create a variety of content including assembly manuals, sale presentations, simulations, online product commerce, technical documentation and training media. It has three versions that range in price from $3,000 to $15,000.

The Seemage blog, 3Dmojo.com, always has interesting post on innovation and CAD, but I have never had an opportunity to use the product. The Cadalyst Review gave it an A and shows how easy it is to use as a visualization aid.

Via CNNMoney

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5 Things to Learn from ‘The Office’

Published
by
Josh
on October 1, 2007
in Working Smarter
. Comments

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The new season of ‘The Office’ started last week on NBC. It’s downright hilarious and uncomfortable as you could possibly make a show about relationships in an office. It’s also a veritable fountain of how not to do things at work. So in honor of the first episode, here’s some simple principles to take away from the show.
Continue reading ‘5 Things to Learn from ‘The Office’’

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