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Maybe it’s not fair, but I thought it would be a little fun to compare the conversation of SolidWorks vs. AutoCAD happening on Twitter.
I used an amazing tool that data visualization ar-teest, Jeff Clark, has come up with called Twitter Spectrum. It’s a visualization of the words used in two topics you enter into the search.
He also has NewsSpectrum, that analyzes Google News, which can give you another look at what words the press is using to describe two topics. Verdict: People use ‘a bad word‘ to describe AutoCAD more… but look, you can see ‘crashed’ more on the SolidWorks side and there’s SolidSmack right in the middle! oooo! I’m treading in the gray area between 2D and 3D! Say it ain’t so! 
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Since the dawn of time, man has contemplated the frustrating effects of the big read error icon and has come to the conclusion that, yes, veins can indeed pop out of your head whether your sitting down or standing in a defensive crouch in front of your computer.
Computer errors pretty much feel like being hit repeatedly in the face. Errors in a SolidWorks parts and assembly feel like the repeated face hits but with missing the face and popping you square, and very annoyingly, in the ear.
But look here. There are ways to get rid of those errors quickly and dodge a ton of others that come flying at you.
Continue reading ‘5…No Wait, 6 Tips For Fixing SolidWorks Errors’
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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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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!
If you haven't already, consider subscribing to SolidSmack so you can easily receive updates when new articles are published or announcements are made.
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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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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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.
If you haven't already, consider subscribing to SolidSmack so you can easily receive updates when new articles are published or announcements are made.
Well, last weeks mystery tip about PhotoWorks DOF. I get a bit of emails asking questions about SolidWorks and alot of them are really good questions that I’d love to turn into posts. So once again that’s what we’re gonna do.
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 topic for everyone to join in on. All I ask, is that it’s not a question like, why does SolidWorks suck or can eyes really pop out of their socket… 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: Steve Calvert ask… “Will Solidworks follow Siemens (UGS) with more direct modeling techniques or are we just stuck with history based modeling?”
Whoa Steve, you are opening up all sorts of debate!
Continue reading ‘SolidSmack Mystery Meat: Will SolidWorks Implement Direct Modeling Techniques?’
If you haven't already, consider subscribing to SolidSmack so you can easily receive updates when new articles are published or announcements are made.
If you’ve been using SolidWorks 2008 for any length of time, you’ll notice that the RealView setting, along with other view settings, are front and center on that dang on-screen toolbar.
Do you like that toolbar?
I know there’s lots of opinions both ways about it. I actually don’t mind it too much. For one, It’s never once been in the way of my work, and two, I have it completely turned off… except for the Apply Scene button for RealView. Looks a bit silly, but I can’t find a flyout anywhere to add to my shortcut bar (S).
I’m lovin’ the Glow
If I remember correctly, RealView is on and has the Light Cards scene applied by default. Real View is what makes faces and edges glow really pretty like when you select them (thanks for the correction Brian). I have no idea what the term light card means, but I like that scene the best. I don’t have the best graphics card, but using RealView makes my job easier in ways I really like… and people… it makes things glow. Glowing stuff = cool… or something you catch on a warm summer night and smear across the wall. (poor lightning bugs. you’re so mean.) Here’s a RealView quick tip and a bit more.
Continue reading ‘SolidWorks Real View: Light up Your Life’
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It’s new and shiny and doesn’t hurt, plus…
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