Archive for May, 2008

Interested in Boat Design? Well, Have Some Free Boat Plans

Published
by
Josh
on May 14, 2008
in Resources
. Comments

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My brother, who is trying to shed the hooks of life on dry ground for a life at sea, shared this site with me. It’s a giant repository for details of old boat plans that includes everything from row boats to ski boats and even a few sail boats. Ah, to escape to the islands, or end up stranded with a boat I created from an old boat plan. Sweet.

Some, but very few, of them have CAD drawings, like the cute, but burly, MiniMost. Some of the plans are really detailed and can even help you learn about what the parts of a boat are called, like mooring bits, bow sprit and keel rabber. So grab some, print them out and tuck them under your arm like you’ve been building boats for ages!

boat frame isometric view

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SolidSmack Mystery Tip: Motivating SolidWorks Users to Use More Features

Published
by
Josh
on May 14, 2008
in SolidWorks Mystery Tips and SolidWorks Tips
. Comments

I’m liking this topic, so we’re gonna keep going with it till it breaks into a million tiny pieces. Here’s why. I get a bit of emails asking questions about SolidWorks and a lot of them are really good questions that I’d love to turn into posts. So, here’s your chance again to have your question answered.

First Person to Ask a Question!
The first person to asks a question about SolidWorks in the comments below will turn this post into a 100% grade-A tip for everyone to join in on. All I ask, is that it’s not a question like, why does SolidWorks suck or can I put milk in an envelope… this is serious stuff people.

So ask away, chime in if you know the answer, and we’ll crank out another topic that will send people home to their families in a pleasant mood.

The Mystery Question IS…

UPDATE! Chris Chastine asks…
“Does anyone else have trouble motivating their users and getting them to use some more common features? It continues to baffle me why my users still don’t use patterns or hole wizard so that when time comes to work on the assembly they can save themselves hours of sheer torture by not having to place (and keep updated) hundreds of fasteners. I still have users that draw and dimension each and every hole instead of making them all “equal” or using relations to force the design intent.

Before you ask - no, we don’t have modeling standards. And no, I am not a full time CAD Admin, I design during the day and mysteriously transform into an admin during my slower periods.”

Chris, sounds like a tough situations. Let’s see what everyone has to say!
Continue reading ‘SolidSmack Mystery Tip: Motivating SolidWorks Users to Use More Features’

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SolidWorks Surfacing and Complex Shape Modeling

Published
by
Josh
on May 14, 2008
in Resources
. Comments

Yesterday my copy of SolidWorks Surfacing by Matt Lombard arrived in the mail from Amazon! My boy likes all the colored images in the book… and I like the colored images in the book. We discussed boundary surface and debated lofting conditions.

From first glance, this book is full of insight that will get you up to speed fast on terminology and how surfacing works inside SolidWorks. I really like the sections on Using Specialized Techniques and Matt goes into the process of setting up the model, or rather, what to consider and the important information needed to start a more complicated shape.

It also uses a lot of real world type examples. I see a plastic bottle that looks like something in my cabinet. Congrats to Matt for getting this out. Go buy it and learn something today!

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Create Models Faster with a Library of Surfaces in SolidWorks

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

Oh to have ways of creating models faster. Moving your mouse around really fast-like doesn’t help, gripping your neck and squeezing real hard doesn’t help much either. Sometimes, it’s just what you have in your bag o’ tricks that can get you moving along… or in our case, a library of tricks.

In SolidWorks, you may use the Design Library to store everything from common features to standard assemblies, but what it’s rarely used as, is a library of surface features; surfaces that can be used to aid design. This may feel a little soupy if you’re unfamiliar with surfacing in SolidWorks, but I think you’ll be able to pick up some ideas even if you don’t use surfacing.

To explain, picture this example.
Continue reading ‘Create Models Faster with a Library of Surfaces in SolidWorks’

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The DIY BluePrint: Inspired to Make It Yourself

Published
by
Josh
on May 13, 2008
in Product Design
. Comments

I know, it’s only Tuesday and you’re saying, “Yeeeeah, I typically take my inspiration on Fridays - Thursdays at the earliest to knock some of thoooose projects out over the weekend, m’kay? thanks.” But folks, this just can’t wait, I tell you, and will probably get you through the week completely distracted by your potential… to MAKE.

The (crank reverb) Institute for the FUTURE (IFTF) has put together a eye opening Future of Making Map that you need to print out and smother yourself in for about ten minutes.

It reveals a changing mindset and discuss the technologies making it happen in the areas of design and manufacturing.

An emerging do-it-yourself culture of “makers” is boldly voiding warranties to tweak, hack, and customize the products they buy. And what they can’t purchase, they build from scratch. Meanwhile, flexible manufacturing technologies on the horizon will change fabrication from massive and centralized to lightweight and ad hoc.

However, it’s not saying that it will replace the traditional manufacturing industry, but that it will be combined to create more opportunities and ways of collaborating on design and manufacturing.

The New Annoyed
Doing something yourself can be one of the most frustrating and enjoyable projects you take on. If you’ve ever been annoyed at paying (too much) for a service after you see how it’s done you are amongst the many my friend. You’ve kind of realized all along that you are more interested in doing it yourself and that is why you have so many unfinished projects. Know what I mean?

For those in the CAD World
All this craftiness and DIY stuff may not seem applicable to the programs you use or companies you belong to. Look at the map again, because it should. On top of that, there’s companies like Protomold(Rapid Plastic Injection) and Ponoko(Laser-Cutting Create, Make-n-Sell), that are making prototyping and production more feasible. They mention Sketchup, a free 3D modeling program from Google, but even higher-end programs like SolidWorks is allowing people to create their ideas and get them closer to market - Like that Electric Unicycle guy.

You can totally see this happening as well. Just look at sites like Makezine, Etsy and BugLabs, ThinkGeek, Instructables and all the Steampunk stuff. People modding, hacking, modeling and figuring out ways to create.

Have these new sites and manufacturing methods inspired your own ideas? How do you think its going to change the way products are made?

BoingBoing Via Evan Yares

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SolidSmack Turns 1 Year Old: Still Cute, But a Bit Sassy

Published
by
Josh
on May 9, 2008
in SolidSmack News
. Comments

Well everyone, look at that. We have completely plundered the riches of the web and have a big ol’ bag of incredibly useful tips and information. SolidSmack.com is officially one year old today. (See first post here.)

You all are completely incredible and make this so much fun, I can’t even explain it. I seriously can not believe all the people (and characters) I’ve meet the past year. So spin in a circle, pat your back and yell SolidSmack real loud to celebrate the joy.

Shouts out to the other bloggers, SolidWorks, and especially to the ones that throw down in the comments.

What’s coming up this year?
More wonderful posts, but I want to hear from you. What do you want to see more of? less of? What do you like the most? least?

As many have speculated, a new version of SolidSmack is launching soon and I want to make it as useful for you as possible with content you find interesting. So let me know!

Stats for the past year
Wondering how solidsmack did?
Continue reading ‘SolidSmack Turns 1 Year Old: Still Cute, But a Bit Sassy’

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Social Media and Branding the CAD-osphere

Published
by
Josh
on May 9, 2008
in Business and Rockin' Cool
. Comments

You’ll want to read Wiring Up an Event if you’re interested in the least, what is starting to come about in the the CAD world as it relates to the Web and the realm of social media.

You’ve seen my post about Why I like Twitter and while Blogs and RSS are still a mystery to some, more attention has been given to sites like Twitter and FriendFeed because the amount of immediate information available and the relationships that develop.

Doesn’t it just dilute the web?
If you already feel like there’s too much to manage online with your online accounts, forums and feeds, you’re not alone. A lot of people say that new sites like these that pull in you and all your friends information create too much to manage. To me, you know

Too much stuff
You may think, “I can’t afford to spend the time to investigate and be part of every social network out there.” It’s hard, I know, trying to figure out where everyone is it. Seems like a mad rush to here… then to here… then to THERE. when will the frenzy END!

It’s actually not like that, in my opinion. Sure, there’s people carrying on conversations around you, but you’re having your own. You can choose and you get to know the people you closely relate to.

The company
For companies or anyone wanting a presence on the web to promote their service, it’s critical to be involved in the media that provides a presence. You can spend money all day on expensive advertisements, but nothing gets across to the consumer like an actual conversations.

The best example I see daily is Tony, the CEO of Zappos Shoes, interacting with poeple via his Twitter profile. Why does it matter so much to him?

Branding is just a word. It takes away from the real goal which is relationships and those are important whether you’re a multi-million dollar business or the cubicle engineer… especially if your the cubicle engineer. Get out there!

Traditional Once Again
So once there was traditional media. Now the current social media is becoming traditional, in the same sense, as new site emerge that promote more involvement of the users and interaction from the ivory tower inaccessibles. The CAD industry has been slow to pick this up… but I feel it gaining steam.

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Friday SmackDown: Tiny and Creepy

Published
by
Josh
on May 9, 2008
in Smackdown
. Comments

Yes, it was very tiny and I don’t think it had any eyelids, which made it all the more creepy. I’m glad you have eyelids, they look good on you with these links.

Thomas Doyle Miniatures Art - Tiny but not necessarily cute. Miniature people in odd and surreal situations.
Addictomatic - The is what I use to search topics now. It’s customizable and it feels like your searching everything.
Webmaster and SEO Optimization Tools - Who wouldn’t like a little optimization right? A great list of free and useful tools to help you out.
EverNote - In beta, but signup, you will want to use this to capture any information you want really fast on any type of device.
PassPack - All your passwords in one spot. This is one of the single best online tools out there and the security is phenomenal.

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Less Blood: The PEAK Surgical PlasmaBlade Designed in SolidWorks

Published
by
Josh
on May 8, 2008
in Product Design
. Comments

Right now, I’m really glad I ate breakfast because I just watched the video of the new PlasmaBlade from Peak Surgical.

Peak Surgical, out of Palo Alto, CA, uses SolidWorks for their product design. They don’t quite fancy the slice, burn and wipe of traditional surgical methods so they’ve introduced plasma technology with this tiny device to reduce incisions, speed healing and send you home quicker.

“With the PlasmaBlade, tissue looks healthier, with no char…” - Kai Ihnken, M.D.

No char people-sounds like a good deal to me. They’ve cleared the pre-clinical testing for the PlasmaBlade with positive results and are moving on to get that FDA approval. If you like medical product demos, here’s the video. but BE WARNED… seriously, eat something first. PlasmaBlade Product Demonstration

Ya know, it’s sad really. All those gore movies with the scalpels are gonna be so unbelievable now because hey, why didn’t they just use Plasma technology to gut that person.


Via MedGadget

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SolidWorks 2009 Beta Starting in June, Plus A Friendly Community Survey

Published
by
Josh
on May 7, 2008
in SolidWorks News
. Comments


I received an email recently that had the above graphic in the footer. The time is drawing neigh, my friends. The wolves are howling in the distance and travel mugs are being imprinted with the SolidWorks Logo…be warned… ok, here’s some links you’ll want to keep an eye on.

SolidWorks Beta Links
SolidWorks Beta Site
SolidWorks Beta Feed

Community Survey
In addition, SolidWorks is also conducting a community survey. It takes about ten minutes to go through, but you’ll get a look at what SolidWorks may be considering for the community aspect and you could have an affect on what it becomes. Documentation? Social Network? Models? Blogs? or Free Stuff? Let your opinion be heard.

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