So, what were the best and brightest post of 2008 on SolidSmack.com? I was sifting through all of them and thought the quickly-trained monkeys that wrote some of them did a pretty good job. I kid. It was actually just one monkey, with a day job and an extra finger… I kid again. Here’s some…
If you comment here on the post regularly, you’re extremely privileged to be using the most powerful commenting system of all time, Disqus. Yes, it’s quite a lot to take in, but it’s gone one better. If you don’t like logging into a Disqus profile, you can now just sign in using your Facebook account.…
Hey everyone. I imagine you’re a few Chirstmasy plates and a fair number of drinks into this holiday season, but totally missing ‘best wishes’ from SolidSmack. You all make this blog rockin’ in more ways than you know, so here’s to you and wishing all the coolest blessings for you and your family. I hope…
Some of you are so crazy about going to SolidWorks World that you’ve done some mildly crazy things and some really crazy things. What are they? SolidWorks wants to know. Oh, plus… there’s another secret brewing. So, head over to make a comment or leave one here. Did you have to promise to wash the…
It’s time to get all activism on ya. Imagine just getting a seat of your favorite 3D CAD software with plans to create some sweet kids products. Imagine being a small toy manufacturer, a hobby woodworker that sells wooden kid’s toys online, or somebody that makes cool robot dolls. In Feburary of 2009, you will…
Hey everyone. I’d just like to say thanks for reading, commenting, loving, hating, cheering, puking and pondering each post here on SolidSmack. I wish I could buy a turkey for everyone (and throw a cranberry at some) that make me wanting to keep doing this, at times with the incessant rage of a rabid beet…
It’s not everyday, you get to download an upgrade to a new version of software you use almost everyday… actually, you could download this everyday if you wanted to. Maybe wrap it in a croissant, share it with some friends and talk about the good ol’ days when you had to install software off a…
(will somebody please give me a decent drumroll. I mean seriously, let’s do this proper-like. ) The SolidWorks World 2009 mystery guest… that is no longer a mystery… but very much a guest… that you will now find out about IS… The world record attempting… The billionaire extraordinaire…
It’s big, it’s beefy, it’s hairy, and oh so, very scary. It’s a new site from SolidWorks and it’s has infiltrated all the fine internet web portals of your peaceful neighborhood. Who knows what wild and woolly adventures of strangeness unknown will be found within the post to come out of the SolidWorks News site.…
Exactly how rockin’ would you be with your own guitar? Not as rockin’ as you would be with a sweet, custom manufactured axe made to your exact style and specifications. Amit Zoran, from the MIT Ambient Intelligence Group, has been fiddling with the concept of Rapid Prototyping acoustical instruments. But are the materials that rapid…
Imagine for a moment, that you’re an engineer, that needs to ask his Boss to go to SolidWorks World 2009. This… is how it could go.
Speaking of Objet 3D printers , there’s a new rapid-prototyping option available this fall from the company enabling you to upload a 3D designs for rapid-prototyping, Shapeways . It’s smooth, it’s black and just screaming your name. The black photopolymer material is used with their Objet Eden 500 machine and gives you a very fine,…
Imagine for a moment – taking a sip of coffee, scalding your mouth, then slamming your fist upon the keyboard that sends your final SolidWorks generated 3D model to a 3D printer sitting right next to you. The print heads go to work as your brand new 3D desktop printer creates a high-resolution, fully cured,…
If you try to connect with Certified SolidWorks Professionals (CSWP’s) on the SolidWorks website you may have a little trouble finding exactly where those SolidWorks specialists are hiding. Don’t worry, the link is still there. From SolidWorks Certification, “We had to change it due to the request by many CSWP members to keep their information…
“That’s it. This is the last time a cartoon mocks my engineering processes and relegate me to the bottom rung of the unsuccessful company ladder just because I don’t use 3D CAD to design my products.” If you’re still using that 2D stuff and you’ve been thinking about using SolidWorks, now is a pretty good…
Going to SolidWorks World 2009? Oh, you haven’t decided yet. We’ll maybe this will convince you to drag yourself and your vacation starved family down for a nice little jaunt across Mickey’s organically fertilized lawn. This year’s conference is being held at Walt Disney® World Swan & Dolphin, February 8 – 11, 2009. If you…
This little orange square is raising all sorts of mean looks and a hefty lawsuit from AutoDesk to Dassault Systemes SolidWorks along with a list of other alleged misdeed. Ralph Grabowski brings up the lawsuit (pdf) filed on September 19th that slaps it’s own lovemark, so to speak, across the cheek of Dassault Systemes SolidWorks…
Hot dang. Were you around last week? Did you get a SolidWorks 2009 taste in the back of your mouth that made your nose tickle and pupils dilate? Yeah? No? Kinda? Well, there were so many post about the SolidWorks Press event and goings on, that it may have happened if you consumed it all…
The deafening screams of the demand for live content are alive and well. Even though much of you in the US are still staring at the back of your eyelids, here’s the last minute attempt to fire up the old laptop and give you the play-by-play on what’s going on out here in Barcelona. What’s…
In a sudden rush of jet-setting and drink-getting out here at the SolidWorks 2000000000009 press conference, all of us have become aware that SolidWorks development has release the smokin’ hot new version of SolidWorks. Available for download at a customer portal near you. Are you going for it? Personally, I’d recommend it. Not because I…
Over the next few days SolidSmack is jumping over to Barcelona, Spain to cover the splendor and mystery that will reveal the new features of SolidWorks 2009 to the hungry CAD Industry Media. It’s the the SolidWorks 2009 Press Conference and it’s choke full of talkin’ and meetin’ and interactin’ with the SolidWorks team, some…
There’s nothing quite like waking up to a new day. The birds singing, the smell of toasty oats, and then a blaze of SMOKIN’ HOT marketing material being transferred directly into your brain cage. To create this special effect for all you CAD junkies in need of being persuaded by direct marketing campaigns, SolidWorks has…
You know what comes out on late at night after your tucked away in bed? A new look for the SolidWorks.com website and some beefy new content for your 3D CAD affliction.
Update: As of noon on Thursday August 28th, SolidWorks has rescinded the penalties that were soon to take affect. You can read the email that went out to the resellers and customer here. Good move on the PR side. SolidWorks is listening to the customers, plus the resellers don’t look like bad guys to the…
Well hello and good morning. Nice to see ya. How are the kids? Oh, that box graphic over to the left? That’s the fresh new look of SolidWorks 2009. A new version or something. A lot of hub bub going on about it these days. I think if you click on it, yeah, right there,…
Well surprise, surprise. You don’t have to wait till SolidWorks 2009 Pre-release 2 comes out to try PhotoView 360, the new rendering software announced by SolidWorks and Luxology is now available for anyone with SolidWorks 2009 to poke around in. You’ll want to see the First Look Ricky Jordan has along with Gabi Jack rendering…
And when I say TeamUP, I mean TeamUP with a capital UP a two giant arm motions that scare you into a flared fetal position. SolidWorks and Luxology are rockin’ the 3D rendering scene with a whole new technology that is gonna FLOOR you. Rob Rodriguez has all the bits of detail in his latest…
It is here folks. Yes, very soon, a fate better than sandy shorts and blistered skin will wreak havoc upon Orlando, Florida. The 3D modeling mass of SolidWorks users will join their compatriots in the massive gathering of SolidWorks related products, information and technology lovingly known as SolidWorks World 2009. It’s time to prepare, bribe…
Have you ever seen pictures that move? I hear they call it ‘Video’ or something. I also hear that there are some snazzy ‘video’ demos of the new SolidWorks 2009 functionality at a place called ‘the YouTube’. Sounds kind of personal to me, but I checked it all out and I think you’ll like what…
I’ll tell you right now, get ready to break into song if you are a SolidWorks user. In a few months, you are going to wake up, putter off to work and see that familiar splash screen pop up when you start SolidWorks. But this time it’s different, this time it says SolidWorks 2009. Can…
I know you all get excited when you have the chance to read about CAD news and the excitement happening around our tiny globe. This week has been chock full of interesting tid-bits of info. There’s so much in fact, that I didn’t even get a chance to tell you about them earlier, so I’ve…
One week from NOW, yes, one week from this day we know and love as ‘Monday’, will be another day called ‘Monday’… It also happens to be the same day the veil of SolidWorks 2009 will be lifted and the lone Beta testers will be free to reveal all the goodness that is to come.…
Wondering what some of the most popular post on SolidSmack are? Me too. Here’s a rundown for the best of what SolidSmack has and am example of what you’ll see on this site.
Funny thing, these 3D CAD user interfaces. I figured I’d spare you any 2008/09 SolidWorks interface opinions and show you what the other CAD companies are doing. It looks like some are getting a little inspiration from each other, but really it just the onslaught of Ribbon bar bliss brought about by Microsoft and their…
Lou Gallo of SolidWorks Heard (twitter) has apparently recorded a recent phone conversation between us and has put it up online so that all my glean my mildly incoherent ramblings. I told my friend Alex Ruiz that my voice sounds like a conversation between Kermit the frog and miss piggy, but in actually, it sounds…
You may start to see some changes around the trusty ol’ SolidSmack site. For one, I’ve integrated the Disqus commenting system into the site. Sound fancy? It is, and it’s got some cool features that will make commenting 100% more fun than before. I’m using the Disqus commenting system for a few reasons, but mostly…
Ahhh, it’s the middle of the summer. Vacations are planned, mosquito are biting and there’s so much going on in the world of SolidWorks the coffee pot at SolidWorks HQ in Massachusetts is on 24/7. Yes, things are heating up and it’s a perfect chance for you to get all your incredibly helpful designs, thoughts,…
I know what you’re going through. Every time you boot your computer the Windows ‘Bliss’ background, circa 2001, burns holes right through your retinas. You desire something with a little more snap. Maybe a cool looking product design. huh? yeah? Then check out the SolidWorks World Wallpapers site. This isn’t new though. It was put…
As if our soon to be robot overlords are not scary enough, now there’s a Robot University for them to systematically learn how to take over the minds of small children and impressionable young college students. I exaggerate a bit. This is actually a place where the academics and the automaton-interested can gather via an…
The SolidWorks 2009 Beta program that was rumored to launch Monday (yesterday) has just gone live at the customer portal. If you’re a subscriptions service customer, and signed up to be notified for beta launch, you can download it and enjoy the new version till your eyes shoot blood. So, get on board, man the…
SolidSmack has been around for just over a year and I’m lovin’ every bit of every juicy 3D/Tech/Design/SolidWorks Tip post I put up, but last night in the wee hours of a foggy night I wondered, “What the heck do all the wonderful people that visit SolidSmack like (not like) about the site?” So, the…
Ok, all you crazy SolidWorks people that want to get your hands on the next version of software. Mark next Monday, June 9th, 2008 Noon EST. That programmer guy in the corner’s at SolidWorks Corp. has been unchained from his desk and the ink is drying on the launch e-mail. Make sure you’ve checked the…
Look out people, there’s a new breed of CAD in town and it might make you slightly more social. Last week Dassualt Systèmes formally launched their V6 Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform that includes CATIA, ENOVIA, DELMIA, SUMULIA and 3DVIA. If you don’t use CATIA, you probably don’t care too much. However, this release has…
If you’re into mechanisms like Theo Jansen’s Creatures, the retro-futuristic Steampunk contraptions or just like to see how things work, you may be interested in the latest SolidWorks genius campaign. It’s Leonardo Da Vinci’s self-propelled cart, taken from parchment to 3D with SolidWorks 2008. It’s a cool look at how the mechanism works and also…
Yes folks, the CAD industry is alive and well with the raging pulse of an over-achieving band of gypsy circus performers. You won’t see that description in the latest CAD Report from John Peddle Research though. What you will see, is a $5,000 price tag and words like renaissance, combined revenues, emerging economies and my…
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…
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…
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…
“Yeah Josh? Ya know, what could be more boring that looking at trends?… especially ‘interweb’ trends?… la..ame. Move on!” I kinda agree, trend watching is a bit DULL, but they can be oh so revealing when it comes to technology. Here’s the golden egg, Internet Trends are technology adoption trends. That’s key, cause those people…
If you were standing on the corner of the CAD block yesterday, you had obscure CAD terminology splashed all over your new pants. Everyone and their step-uncle’s mom was waxing intellectual about the ‘newest-in-new, right-up-in-your-face- and-hit-you’ CAD tech announce by Siemens PLM called (prepare for large phrase that makes you mildly uninterested)… ready… “Synchronous Technology.”…