Tag Archive for 'performance'

Why Your SolidWorks Models Suck… Memory Out of Your Computer

Published
by
Josh
on July 30, 2008
in SolidWorks Tips
. Comments

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“Stop. You’re killin’ me. My models are immaculate. It’s the software that’s the problem.” A lot of people get riled up about bad performance and poor stability, blaming it on the SolidWorks software. I have too. But who would of thought it could actually be the way the models are created… by ME?

Great, huh. You were probably skipping through the fields of 3D CAD model euphoria and now I’ve gone and ruined it all by telling you the way you model affects your load times and how many crashes you have in SolidWorks.

Should it matter what you do?
Today, I’m going to say ‘yes’ to that question. What you slap across the screen can affect performance. So, let’s talk about some of the initial options you have in SolidWorks that make your models suck the ever-living resources out of the pit of ‘puter processing power and what you need to do to make SolidWorks life more stable.
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How To Get Hired On the Spot Plus Have An Easy Interview

Published
by
Josh
on April 3, 2008
in Working Smarter
. Comments

will-work-for-money.jpgThis isn’t going to tell you what to put on your resume, how to dress or what to say. This is going to show you what you can do right now without even setting up an interview, making a call or going out to buy a new outfit. It’s really easy and you’re probably closer to being in the spotlight for that new position than you think.

It used to be that all the effort of getting preparing for an interview was put into the resume and looking sharp. Now, a clean resume and outfit are not bad, but there are new techniques that make them less a factor.

Personal Branding Secrets
There are no secrets. The job hunting and people hiring have pretty much changed. You may not even be aware that half of your interview could take place online. This can be bad if you’re not aware of it, but really, really good if you are and it’s a whole lot better than mailing resumes to the HR waste basket.

So, experience aside, here are four things (plus some bonus items) that can help you get hired on the spot, make any interview easier and have you standing out above everyone else.
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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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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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