Archive for March, 2008

My Top 10 SolidWorks Wish List

Published
by
Josh
on March 17, 2008
in Noteworthy
. Comments

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wish-list.jpgJust about everybody wishes SolidWorks could do this or that or complains that it doesn’t do something really cool. I could throw down a list of things I don’t like, but that’s just makes the selection of fresh organic produce seem even worse than it actually is. Which is actually better than the selection of ripe avocados.

This is a list that started out as complaints actually, but I looked at it, looked at again, watched some movie trailers, ate an organic cookie and decided to write the following list instead.

Maybe it’s more of a, “what if?”, but it got me thinking about a lot of things. What do you think?

I wish…

  1. SolidWorks could be web-based.
  2. we could update hardware as often as software.
  3. the model could be the drawing.
  4. data management could be web-based, graphical and simple.
  5. others using SolidWorks could provide comments on my model in real-time.
  6. we could browse model history instead of clicking and dragging though it.
  7. we could develop a model in it’s environment.
  8. we could use more than a single button to sketch geometry.
  9. SolidWorks had a relationship with a certain coffee shop so we could get a discount.
  10. I could create a feed for my project I can track anywhere.

What do you think SolidWorks could be?

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Hey, Can You Print Me Another Monitor Please?

Published
by
Josh
on March 14, 2008
in Tech to watch
. Comments

printable-oled.jpgSo these OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) are the posh new way of illuminating those dark research laboratories. Flexible OLED’s aren’t new, but GE’s is the latest with this fancy printable OLED sheet.

These OLED’s are so thin they could be used in just about any capacity that requires some sort of lighting… and more. You touch your collar to find your mouth when you’re eating in the dark. Maybe touch your dashboard to find a loose cornnut on your glowing dash.

Heck, your computer upgrade could be replacing the ‘wallpaper’ on your wall. Fun stuff. See the GE Blog for more.

Via Engadget

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Friday Smackdown: Muffled Screams

Published
by
Josh
on March 14, 2008
in Smackdown
. Comments

hd-wallpaper.jpgBut that wasn’t all, there were some dancing mice and this little face that just stared past you saying, you want some more beets? have some more beets.

High Quality High Res Wallpapers - You can never, ever have too many cool wallpapers. These are a bit natury, but they look hot.
How My Net Worth went from 40k to 300k in 5 years - At the Get Rich Slowly Blog. Great Articles. This shows how simple rules work.
SproutBuilder - Have you ever wanted to create some Flash? This makes it fun and easy.
Protect Your Home with Laserbeams - just in case that dog, steel door, razor wire and moat are not enough.
MightyQuiz - SUPER FUN… ya know if you’re into feeling ignorant, but really, fun, and you can write your own trivia. whoot!

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3 Easy Lovin’ Tips for Tiny SolidWorks Assemblies

Published
by
Josh
on March 13, 2008
in SolidWorks Tips
. Comments

i-love-tiny-assemblies.jpgAwww, look. That tiny assembly is so… tiny and cute. Makes you want to grab a million of ‘em and just give ‘em hugs.

Now, I know some of you aren’t that attached to your bracket or gasket assemblies, but you gotta admit there’s a special place in that documentation system for those little boogers. However, re-creating a lot of the same assemblies can turn that admiration into disgust real quick, unless you have a few tricks to lull them into submission.
Continue reading ‘3 Easy Lovin’ Tips for Tiny SolidWorks Assemblies’

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How Do You Take The Suck Out of Work?

Published
by
Josh
on March 13, 2008
in Working Smarter
. Comments

norma-jean-redeemer-sm.jpgMan, that looks painful huh. This is the cover art on a CD of a band I listen to called Norma Jean. Do you ever feel like this?

A lot of times you’ll get demands from work or a client that just seem completely unreasonable. You can dish out a sarcastic attitude and get a unfriendly look or you can do something about it.

It’s a tough call sometimes. What do you do?

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SolidWorks Fires Up The 2009 Beta Furnace

Published
by
Josh
on March 13, 2008
in SolidWorks News
. Comments

Looks like Kenny is firing up the furnace at the SolidWorks EV and Beta News Feed. Gettin’ out the cobwebs so to speak. I’m sure they’ve been getting ready for a while, but you just can’t forget about the Beta Feed now.

“Testing, Testing. Hello, is this thing on? More me in the monitor please.”

So, are you getting all pumped to try out some of the new features in SolidWorks 2009?

solidworks-09-beta.jpg

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Are You a Solidworks Visualiser?

Published
by
Josh
on March 12, 2008
in Noteworthy
. Comments

solidworks-visualizer.jpgI came across what is probably the most interesting job title I’ve seen associated with SolidWorks. A SolidWorks Visualiser.

It’s on a job posting out of Northern England and is listed in the Creative Media Industry. The pay for this is 25k-30k pounds (50k-60k USD) full-time.

The job description reads like a typical engineering position. If your interested, check it out.

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WebShop RoundUp: The Top 3 StoreFronts to Get Your Product Online Fast

Published
by
Josh
on March 11, 2008
in Resources
. Comments

amazon-prestashop.jpgOh, the joys of putting a product online. All you want to do is get it out there. But what is the best way to actually do that without searching and testing and paying way too much for something really frustrating to use? Well, you’re in luck.

I’ve been looking at online web stores and merchants that offer something different from Ebay, PayPal, Yahoo and other Open Source solutions. I’m not really pleased with the features, pricing and usability of those and want something a bit easier for me and others to handle.

After trying some out and going through a lot of reviews, I’ve come down to three options that have the best overall features and accessibility.

Continue reading ‘WebShop RoundUp: The Top 3 StoreFronts to Get Your Product Online Fast’

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Cool 3D Wall to Keep That Space Looking Sharp

Published
by
Josh
on March 11, 2008
in Product Design
. Comments

bloxes.jpgReally now, that wall you currently have built between you and the outside world with cereal boxes and plastic spoons is lookin’ a bit dated. It’s time you had a look at Bloxes.

Bloxes is a unique and completely cardboard way of creating or recreating that bubble of nonconformity you live in. Heck, you could even make a sculpture for you boss or a playhouse for your kids. You are only limited by your imagination and the 9.5 square inches each one takes up.

These are like the sustainable DIY’ers dream, plus they’re just plain fun looking. Putting these things together could become obsessive really quickly, but what’s amazing is how it takes readily accessible material, adds some folds and turns functional design.

blox-assembly.jpg

Via Techcrunch

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Parkour and SolidWorks: Aware of Your Suroundings

Published
by
Josh
on March 10, 2008
in Working Smarter
. Comments

parkour-jump-roll.jpgThis weekend I got a chance to do a bit of Parkour, or Freerunning, with a friend also interested in it. Now at first glance (see video below) you may think it’s a bunch of idiots trying to break their legs acting like monkeys, but, yeah, it’s actually much more.

I would define Parkour as a way of moving through your physical environment without slowing. My brothers and I basically did this growing up, chasing each other across the wooded cliffs and riverbeds of the Shawnee National Forest, but we never had a name for it.

Now it’s something I do for exercise. It’s more fun than running and less dangerous than sitting in a cubicle. You need a happy medium.

Think Fast
When your running as fast as you can at a stair railing or a bunch of rocks you gotta think pretty quickly what you’re going to do to get around them. Like what are you gonna do if someone is chasing you with a bat. Now, SolidWorks isn’t as life threatening, for now, but, you know, you have to figure some things out pretty quick even if you don’t know what’s coming or how you’re going to progress until you get there.

Aware of your surroundings
This is one of the funnest activities I’ve ever done and I find that when I’m really tested against my surroundings at work in completing a model or a redesign is when I enjoy that part of work the most.

What’s even cooler
It’s not one of the hokey feel-good mindsets. You don’t have to force yourself to be aware of every instance. It’s happening faster than you can think and you kinda realize it because you feel confident you’ll know what to do. But there’s one thing needed.

It takes training
Lot’s of it. This weekend was particularly painful because I haven’t done some of those things in awhile. We did runs where we took turn following each other getting over and around anything. The concept being, when you put yourself into a situation you limit yourself. Whereas, when someone else puts you in a situation you have to perform or stay home. Once you face it, your flying over obstacles (redesign, modeling errors) and not even losing a breath. It feels super cool and, even more, you get to show someone else how it’s done.

I can’t wait to get out the next time. If any of you are in to Tulsa area, let me know.

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