PROBLEM:

Have you ever noticed how disorganized all your default SolidWorks files are (document templates, sheet formats, BOM’s, cut lists, custom property templates, etc.)?  After a default installation, they are all randomly crammed into a handful of directories including but not limited to the locations listed below:

• C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\data\
• C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\lang\english\
• C:\ProgramData\SolidWorks\SolidWorks\

There’s something extremely dangerous about storing your customized files in directories like the ones listed above.  What happens if you upgrade?  Uninstall?  Reinstall?  Files in your ‘Program Files’ directory are not safe, so why store all your customized templates there?  How are you going to share your customized files with the rest of your co-workers?

SOLUTION:

Download and run:

This executable file will automatically extract a ‘SolidWorks Files’ directory to your C:\ drive with a host of sub-folders that mimic the list of file locations available in your system options (see image below).  I’ve already organized these folders to include all of the default 2012 template file sets.

To finish the setup, a PDF file will automatically open explaining the finishing touches that need to be completed.  Pay attention to the fact that the instructions you need to follow vary depending on whether you’re setting up the files for multiple users or just a single user.

BONUS:

You’ll also notice that I’ve included a handful of bonus files along with the file set:

• Document Templates
• Sheet Formats
• Drafting Standards
• Custom Property Tab Template
• My personal keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures, and toolbar layout

You can read an explanation of these additional files by clicking here.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also be interested in:

• Default SolidWorks System Options Reviewed
• Mouse Gestures that Save Time

If you handed a child instructions on how to tie their shoes, do you think they could tie them?

Could you?

1. Cross the left end over the right end.
2. The left end is now on the right side. Begin to wrap the right end around the front of the left lace to end up at the back of the gap between the laces.
3. Feed the right end through the gap to emerge at the front right hand side. Pull both ends tight to complete the starter knot.
4. Make the right end into a “loop” by doubling it back on itself.
5. Take the left end and pass it around to the right, going behind the right loop.
6. Continue the left end around the right loop to end up in front. Start to feed the left lace into the “hole” that has just been made.
7. With the left lace now through the “hole”, grab hold of both loops and start to pull the knot tight. Continue pulling on the loops until the knot is tied.

We can all agree that it is easier to learn by doing – in this case by experiencing what it is like to tie a shoe.   But if we can’t learn by doing, then having a visual guide with pictures can be a close runner up.  Visualizations make it much easier to understand how a product is used, assembled, or repaired. We are all too familiar with bad technical communication (assembly instructions, maintenance manuals, user manuals, etc.).  The worst offenders are instructions completely text based, with absolutely no visuals.  When I am given these, and I use the term loosely, “instructions” usually just get tossed aside while I attempt to figure out assembly myself. 

As a technical communications expert, I try to adhere to five “Principles” for building technical communications, which I’m happy to share with you. 

Cliff’s Five Principles for Building Great Technical Communication:

1-     Legos: Have you ever seen a Lego instruction booklet?  Simply sublime. Lego uses no words, and just shows the current design, and highlights the piece(s) being added.  Very Simple, very clear. Even my 8 year old son can build some of the most complex 500+ Lego sets with just a simple Lego instruction booklet.  Principle #1 (the Lego principle): Always highlight the part of interest.

2-     More Pictures, Less Text:  This one is quite obvious, but even I find myself using the images I initially created, then adding in too much text.  A good rule-of-thumb is:  If you use more than 3 sentences, create a new diagram, or image. 

3-     Black and White:  I create all technical communications using 3DVIA Composer, so I usually use as much color as possible; however, I remind myself that documents are often copied into black and white, so I find other ways to place emphasis on the parts of the assembly. For example, If I have a part highlighted in a color, I should also add a thicker outline to the part being emphasized, as the color may not be recognizable after being photocopied.

Here is an example, with a part highlighted in blue:

*As you can see: the different rendering effects used make all the difference when the images are converted to black and white.  The highlighted object is still noticeable with the outlined diagram, but not with the shaded diagram. 

4-     More is More:   “Less is More” is the more common phrase, but when it comes to technical communication, you can never provide enough detail (in pictures, not words).  You know the product in-and-out, but the final user will not.  Give them every amount of detail necessary.

5-     Un-biased Test:  I like to think that I can test my own documentation, but this is never the ideal solution.  What is obvious to me may not be for someone else.  Being under deadlines means we often skip this critical step. But do yourself a favor, and the end user one as well, and have several unbiased people test your documentation.  It’s the best way to be sure it is clear.

Obviously I use 3DVIA Composer for technical communication documents. When I speak to SolidWorks users who have not tried Composer, I often hear that: 1) they don’t have the time to learn another tool, or 2) they are fine with the tools they currently use (which are tools which take much longer to produce lower quality technical communication).  I probably thought the same thing before I used 3DVIA Composer, but I would encourage you to give it a try.

For more information on 3DVIA Composer, click on the images below to view 3DVIA Composer videos:

1)     First Look at 3DVIA Composer Video

2)     3DVIA Composer User Manual video series (you will need to register first):

Please share your thoughts or other technical communication principles in the comments below…

-Cliff-

It's only nine days until SolidWorks World 2012, and the partner profiles keep rolling in. Today, we hear from Simpoe. If you're at the event later this month, stop by and say hi. And if you still haven't registered, there's till time. If you pay for two registrations, we'll throw in a third for free. And as always, CSWPs save $100. You can see all of our registration deals at the SolidWorks World website.

1. Tell us about Simpoe.

Our company develops and markets plastic injection simulation software. Most plastic parts we use today in our daily life are injected parts, and we simulate this manufacturing process. This is the only thing we do, but we do it best. Simpoe is a French company, located near Paris. Simpoe software's ease of use, speed and affordability set a new standard in the industry, and 90% of our business is international. With our software available in several languages, international offices and a worldwide network of value added resellers, we are a true global company.

2. What products do you sell, or what services do you offer?

We sell (of course) our software, as well as the associated services, such as training, support or consulting. In San Diego we will focus on SimpoeWorks, which is our product line fully embedded into the SolidWorks graphic user environment. SimpoeWorks is the only  SolidWorks Gold Partner product for plastic injection simulation, which means we really work inside SolidWorks. The user never leaves his/her familiar SolidWorks interface, and we are the only one to do that.

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3. How can your products or services help make a SolidWorks user’s life easier?

We can help any SolidWorks user in the plastic industry. Whether they are just  designing plastic parts, or  developing the tooling and the molds, or manufacturing the parts, Simpoe will help them. They can identify very early on potential design and manufacturing problems, with very easy to use , intuitive and fast software tools. Will my part fill? Will my part have aspect defaults? Will my mold work? Will my machine be big enough? And without ever leaving the SolidWorks interface.

4. Why should SolidWorks World attendees visit your booth? What will be special or exciting?

A drawing is worth a thousand words. So come to see by yourself the speed and ease of use of SimpoeWorks, as well as the full integration within SolidWorks.  Simpoe management will be present at the booth, and we love to meet our customers and resellers face to face. So come to see us. On top of it, very exciting news for SolidWorks users will be announced at the show. But we cannot say more at this time.

5. How can customers connect with you before, during and after the show?

During the show, we will be at booth 435 in the Partner Pavilion. And if you want to get a taste of the ease of use and speed of Simpoe software, you can register on our website to receive the link to download SimpoeXpress, our free light version.

Website: www.simpoe.com

Email address: info@simpoe.com

Telephone number: + 33 1 60 33 2990  or in the US: +1 802 263 9565

Twitter handle: http://twitter.com/simpoe

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/SimpoeSAS

Company blog: http://simpoe.blogspot.com/

Before Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) became a well used acronym in US education, French students learned to use SolidWorks as a visualization tool in order to understand concepts in simple machines, laws of physics, mathematics, and how things work.  In middle school and high school usually there is not a SolidWorks CAD class directly, instead students use SolidWorks to explore areas of science and technology.  Now SolidWorks is used for the national Baccalauréat (or BAC), the french high school exam required for post secondary studies.   At the university level, engineering students with this strong modeling and analysis background excel in competitions.  For example, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles des Mines d'Alès won the most sustainable design prize at both the 2011 French and European Shell Eco Marathon. 

With over 5,500 middle schools and over 2,200 technical and vocational schools, training centers, engineering schools and Higher Education and Universities, SolidWorks French Value Added Reseller, CADWARE is a major partner for educational institutions for modeling software and 3D simulation used in classrooms and for construction technology.

Thank you Jean Luc and your team for helping so many students and educators achieve their goals.  Marie

Blown up bandages wrapped the wires and wimples of the war torn wasteland. It would indeed be a challenge to find. Bending back sheets of steel from the surface, he began. Days turned to months, months turned to years and one afternoon, a glow from the ground and the chest covered in the shadow of these links.

Fausto De Martini – Fausto is from Brazil, lives in California. He sketches amazing concepts and creates these 3D models.
Morning Routines – Apparently they are creativity killers. Here’s why and how to combat the repetition.
Camera Holster – You know you’ll be looking snazzy in this camera holster, even if you don’t have cameras.
Minimal Icons – Oh. glorious icons that be minimal. Here are 20 that will catch your fancy. Thanks Rod!!
Brock Berrigan – 11 tracks from the fabulous beat maker Brock Berrigan. Free t0 download and enjoy.
StormTrooper Hapiness – Ya know, Stormtroopers are people too, with families and feelings and love.
More Dropbox storage – Is your Dropbox all filled up? Here’s how to get 4.5GB more.
The German – British fighter pilot vs German Ace. This 10 minute shorts was done on zero budget for visual effects.

I’ve always had a little bit of a problem with sustainability software. You jam some criteria into it and it throws a comparison of materials, location, the impact your choices have on the environment, and a pretty report you can give to your boss or client to prove you’ve done your research. The thing is, they leave out a lot of variables. I spoke with Prashant Jagtop of  Trayak who has a product named EcoDesigner. It’s a plugin to bring Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) to Solid Edge and it might be changing how we stuff Sustainability into our designs.

Solid Edge EcoDesigner

First, here’s a quick overview of the product. A lot like other LCA software and also different. For one, it’s looking at a lot of other variable of the product lifecycle. Have a look.

Now, where I have issues with LCA software like this is on material, material properties and material availability. They don’t take that into account very well.

For instance, it may be better to make something out of 2024-T4 rather 301 (if you can ever get that specific), but does it make sense from a structural standpoint? Does the LCA software have the data for that material? and is it an available material? I know this get into the larger scope of lifecycle, but isn’t that purpose of PLM? It’s the overall process, and making the product better through each step of the process.

So, I asked Prashant Jagtop provide some clarity here and tell how EcoDesigner approaches these other variables.

1. How is EcoDesigner different from other life cycle assessment software?

   EcoDesigner brings LCA into Solid Edge and operates directly on Parts and Assemblies in the designer’s environment.   EcoDesigner is unique in three important ways:

   • Flexible: EcoDesigner provides not just one but nearly all well-known and accepted impact assessment methods. This allows customers to measure a range of indicators depending on what’s most relevant to their business and their desired level of detail.  Customers also have the choice to roll all these indicators into “single scores” for ease of comparison or optimization.
   • Extensible: EcoDesigner is the only CAD integrated software that  allows designers to add their proprietary materials and associated sustainability data into the analysis
   • Collaborate:  EcoDesigner is also the only CAD integrated software that allows designers to collaborate with internal and external sustainability experts to create more detailed LCA and calculate broader sustainability scores.
2. What can be done to improve the overall sustainable aspects of design?

   Very few designers are aware of the environmental impact of their product designs. If designers are able to understand the baseline environmental footprints of their products and can analyze what can be done to reduce these it would drastically improve the overall sustainable aspects of design. Obviously “lean” design principles just like “lean” manufacturing is definitely a good start. Beyond that, good choice of materials and manufacturing processes, choice of recycled materials, attention to recyclability of product at end of life all these can improve sustainable designs.

3. What are a few practical applications that EcoDesigner has been used for?

   EcoDesigner is being used to analyze components in a new environmentally friendly car. It is also being used for designing green furniture.

4. How does EcoDesigner interface with Solid Edge and more specifically Teamcenter to complement (save money, use inventory, etc.) the product lifecycle?

   EcoDesigner is tightly integrated into Solid Edge for performing the LCA. Assembly configurations, number of parts, material and physical properties are automatically derived from the solid model.  After designer performs a LCA, EcoDesigner stores the environmental information with the parts and assemblies. Within Teamcenter this information is available and can be combined with broader sustainability information to calculate additional sustainability metrics or scores.  For example you can track the amount of post-consumer recycled plastic that is used in your products. You can track amount of bio-renewable material used in your product.

5. How can engineers and designers use EcoDesigner to improve/optimize existing products?

   Engineers and Designers can analyze & baseline the initial environmental impact of the product. Then, they can experiment with different materials, weights, manufacturing processes, recycled materials and or transportation distances (aka sourcing decisions) and compare results with baseline scenario. This will guide them to improve/optimize their existing products.

Prashant agrees that we’ve got a way to go, that today there is no easy way to “optimize” material choice using multiple properties and that we need to use many more parameters that are relevant and important besides the existing LCA indicators. With software like EcoDesigner, it seesm we’re inching closer to smarter product design.

This pen was a fun assembly to model. For the most part, it was quite an easy job. The only challenging part was the cap, and I was able to complete it using a loft feature, a mirror feature, and plenty of fillets. Suppress the distance mate to remove the cap. Enjoy the model, and thanks for viewing!

Dave Knight

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Mechanical Engineering, 2013

Download Pen

You can tell we're getting close to SolidWorks World 2012 now because our partners are sending in their profile responses fast and furious. Today, we hear from Stratasys. If you're at the event later this month, stop by and say hi.

1. Tell us a little bit about Stratasys

Stratasys manufacturers five lines of 3D printers used for prototyping and production, and it operates a digital manufacturing service, called RedEye on Demand. Three of the 3D printer lines carry Stratasys name brands: Fortus, Dimension, and uPrint. We are an OEM manufacturer for HP’s DesignJet3D line of 3D printers, and we manufacture the Solidscape 3D printer line. Stratasys is one of the original additive manufacturing system makers, and has been in business since 1991. 

2. How can your printers help make a SolidWorks user’s life easier?

Having a 3D printer at your desk or around the corner lets you bring your CAD ideas to life and examine them for form, fit, and functional performance. Customers say that just having easy access to a 3D printer has helped them design better, design faster, and improve their products. Users have even reported that they’ve come up with product ideas that would have been impossible to conceive of before their exposure to 3D printing.

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3. Why should attendees visit your booth?

Besides some of our larger machines, we will be showing our most recent introduction, the uPrint SE series which is available with or without a complete printer package called the uPrint SE 3D Print Pack. This is a complete start-up kit, requiring nothing else to get up and running. There are no extra costs and no surprises. Notable is that these are the first 3D printers available on the market through a lease. Prices are as low as $290 per month – less expensive than a single outsourced job.

4. How can customers connect with you before, during and after the show?

SolidWorks World 2012 booth number: 301

Website www.stratasys.com

Email address: info@stratasys.com

Telephone number: 888-480-3548

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/stratasys

Twitter handle: @Stratasys

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/stratasysfdm

Company blog: http://blog.stratasys.com/blog/stratasys-inc

It’s a mouse. It’s a 3D mouse. Actually, it’s BOTH. It’s the Lexip 3D mouse and it combines the rotational power of a 3D Mouse with the click control of a traditional mouse. Lexip is a start-up out of France with a recent patent on the idea of a multi-axis mouse. If you’ve often feared the ramifications of wielding so much functionality in a single desktop device, not to worry. We were able to get our hands on the Lexip Pro and have all the details for you NEXT.

Lexip Pro 3D Mouse

The Leixp 3D mouse sports seven programmable buttons and six degree of freedom tilt control. Where the traditional mouse is a one-piece design, the Lexip is a two-piece design, with the top, flexible portion mounted to the bottom fixed portion. You would think this mouse might weigh a ton and be difficult to maneuver with it’s crazy flexibile, two-piece design, but a lot of thought has been put into the ergonomics of the mouse.

First, it’s phenomenally comfortable, light and easy to move. The shape and rubber grips are a great addition making it very comfy indeed. Next, the tilt, rotate and thumbstick controls are incredibly responsive. On the flip side, I found the laser not responding on some surfaces (granite, laminate countertop) that my other (Logitech) mouse works fine on and the right and left-mouse buttons are a little tight and clicky. Using it with multiple 3D software programs, does however reveal the frustration-cutting usefulness of a device like this, bringing consistency across the way you interact with the models and while the tilt and joystick take a little bit to get use to, you’ll find yourself relying less on the keyboard and/or the mouse scroll wheel to interact with your model.

Retail Price: US $260 (199 Euros)

The controls

The controls are what make this mouse of course. You have the typical two buttons and scroll wheel. Plus, you have an additional three buttons on the side and a small joystick under the tip of your thumb. An important point, for the reason that the joystick doesn’t impede your grip on the mouse. Now, you also have additional control by tilting the mouse forward, backward and side-to-side. It all works in conjunction to give you smooth rotation of the model on your screen and provides additional control in other applications like your browser, document or spreadsheet. Now, the scroll wheel doens’t have side-scrolling, but the additional controls and tilt more than make up for that.

The mouse also comes with a gorgeous control panel that updates settings automatically to the application you’re in. As you see below, you can customize the buttons and axis setting for each application as well as adjust the sensitivity of each of the axis settings. The mouse supports CATIA, SolidWorks, SketchUp, 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Maya and Inventor as well as Rhino, TopSolid and SpaceClaim. You can download the control panel and drivers for the various 3D software they support on the website.

Pros

• All-in-one mouse and 3d control
• Wide variety of supported software
• Fluid Rotational Control
• Open API to extend to other software
• Lots of mapping options
• Great control panel
• Easy set up

Cons

• LMB and RMB Buttons are stiff/clicky
• Designed for right-handed users (joystick/buttons on left side of mouse)
• Commands on Control panel not always the clearest
• Slight strain on forearm area
• Need a mouse pad for some surfaces

The mouse is also wired which you may consider a pro or con depending on your preference.

The Smack

Overall, this mouse brings a different approach to interacting with your 3D data. If you’ve used a lot of programs, a 3D Mouse is helpful to get around different ways of interacting with your model. In the same sense, the Lepix mouse helps you transition between cad programs keeping cad model movement/rotation consistent. While it has a lot of support for various software, there needs to be more as I’m sure there will be. I think the biggest improvements need to be made on the left and right mouse buttons, as my personal preference is to have a softer push instead of a loud click that notifies the entire building you’ve just clicked something. This is a very cool device and for the price, is very competitive with other ’3D mouse’ options available.

Images via Lexip

Thank you very much for your continued support of SolidWorks Express. It is truly appreciated.

By way of saying thanks, this special issue highlights the best content from 2011 that I feel deserves special recognition for its importance and relevance to you, our readers. Watch for more exciting tips, news, and offers in the coming year.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely, Amy Green, Editor

View the Best of 2011 Now >>>

Video here

For all the 3D reconstructionistas in the house, prepare to dilate your eyes with rays of glorious 3D capturing bliss. If you have a Microsoft Kinect at your house, you know the possibility that lies within its depth sensing lasers to capture objects, movement and movement of objects. It’s all coming together and these are just a couple ways you’ll see it happening in… oh, how about THIS VERY INSTANT.

ReconstructMe

ReconstructMe is a project (currently in beta) that allows you to capture objects in real-time using a Microsoft Kinect sensor demonstrated below with a few quick prances around your favorite office chair.

The software spits out an .stl of the scanned object which allows you, of course, to import the data into many different 3D CAD programs or send it directly to a 3D printer.

ReconstructMe is an easy to use real-time 3D reconstruction system. With ReconstructMe you simply grab your camera and move around freely. While you move, the system continuously updates and refines your model.

Scan, Print, Simple as that. (Just like I said… who needs PirateBay!) Their plan is to ship beta as early as February 28th. Here’s a quick look at how it works.

Kinect on your Lap

The Daily is reporting more detail on the Kinect tech to come to your lappy. Particularly, that prototypes are out in the wild, the motion control tech will be exclusive for multiple manufacturer, so no other competing motion control systems are cutting in, and you’ll be able to login in with nothing but your face and speaking your password. Not necessarily secure when you’re working out of the coffee shop, but hey, that is the price of COOL. Does this mean keyboards are out? No, but now that we’ve given our computers eyes and sensors, it’s only a matter of time before they look at you sitting two feet away and start generating laser-guided laugh algorithms as they reconstruct you picking your nose.

Thanks Daniel and Ion!

This week on Engineer vs Designer we have a little chat with Matt Sederberg, co-founder of T-Splines, recently acquired by Autodesk. Matt dishes the goods on how T-Splines came about and takes evasive maneuvers when we pry on the future of T-Splines.

Matt Sederberg

Matt is a graduate of economics, helped build T-Splines into what it became and is now Product Manager overseeing T-Splines development at Autodesk. Stop by EngineerVsDesigner.com for more interviews. Here’s Matt.

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A great new feature has been added to SolidWorks Enterprise PDM 2012 that allows for searching inside of Windows Explorer.  Not only does this eliminate the need for a separate Search window to be opened on the desktop, it also adds searching to any Windows Open dialog.  SolidWorks users can search in the Open dialog when inserting a file into an assembly or any other operation that presents you with the Open dialog.  This improves your efficiency by searching instead of browsing around in the vault or going to a separate dialog.

TIP: Using Enterprise PDM’s ability to easily create customized search cards, you can create a slimmed down card to use in Windows Explorer and Open dialogs.  Here’s an example of one that will search on file names, configuration names, and variables using only one input string.  The input string uses the History Text variable name field.  Setting the default value for Search folder to look in the entire vault, eliminates the need for the user to specify a folder path. Note: search times could be increased using these settings since the system is looking at the entire vault and at several data fields at the same time.

If you want to learn more about all the new features for 2012, watch the video below, then visit the SolidWorks 2012 website to learn more about what's new in Enterprise PDM.

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One of the things we've heard from SolidWorks World attendees over the past few years is that you'd like to learn more in advance about the SolidWorks partners who set up booths in the Partner Pavilion. So now through SolidWorks World 2012, we'll be posting a series of blog entries about some of the partners you might think about checking out, and the people who will be representing them. Today we hear from Sigmetrix.

1) Tell us a little bit about Sigmetrix.

Sigmetrix, LLC is a SolidWorks solutions partner focused on providing easy-to-use assembly tolerance analysis and optimization software utilized by systems, mechanical and manufacturing engineers.  Powered by CETOL 6 Sigma Technologies™, Sigmetrix’ products accelerate tolerance optimization, providing precise calculations and increased understanding of the impact tolerance specifications have on manufacturing variations and ultimately on product quality.

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2) Why should SolidWorks World attendees visit your booth?

If product success is important to SolidWorks World attendees, then a visit to the Sigmetrix booth would be time well spent! Visitors will learn more about our tolerance analysis solutions and will have the opportunity to view our 3D Variation Behavior Modeling first hand.  Everyone that registers at our booth receives a special show giveaway as well as a chance to win one of several show gifts when they turn in their CETOL 6 Sigma poker chip!

3) How can your products help make a SolidWorks user’s life easier?

Our mission is to educate SolidWorks users on the advantages of incorporating tolerance analysis into their projects and to help them produce more efficient, robust designs that result in reduced costs and warranty issues while improving product performance and quality. 

4) How can customers connect with you at the show? How about before and after?

SolidWorks World attendees can find us at booth #437 in the Partner Pavilion. You can also find us at:

Website: www.sigmetrix.com 

Email: info@sigmetrix.com 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sigmetrix 

Telephone: (972) 542-7517

After all of these years of Great Aunt Eleanor giving me the silent treatment, you would think I would be the world expert on being ignored. However it has always been hard for me to remember how SolidWorks Enterprise’s “Ignore permissions in previous states” option works.

The help file leads you to believe it is a simple issue -basically saying when this option is off, EPDM will remember and use the rights from previous states. In reality, it is much more complex.

What makes it hard is that some workflow rights from previous states are used, some are not. To compound the confusion, you can have different behaviors depending on the rights in the current state!

So get out your crib sheets, here is how to calculate what rights you will have in a state when the “Ignore permissions in previous states”option is off.

• “Delete“ and “Increment Revision” rights are what I call negatives. If you have ever lost this right, you will not have it in this state even if this state specifically grants it to you.
• “Read file contents“, “Permit or deny group-level access to files” and “Share files to another folder” are positives, if you ever have had this right, you will have it in this state even if this state specifically does not grant it to you.
• The ”Checkout file” and “Rename” rights are not affected by this option. You will have this right if the current state permits it.

A state where the “Ignore permissions in previous states” flag is turned on, provides a temporary override of the above rules…kind of like “base” when playing tag. Once that file moves back into a state with the ignore option off, the above rules come right back into play.

Crazy powerful, and if you stop to think about it, this is the way most companies work. Thus the default is correct, most of the time this option should be off.

It may be completely mesmerizing to watch a wee desktop 3D printer do its thing layer by plasticy layer, but do you remember our interview with Enrico Dini? Creator of the D-Shape printer? The largest 3D printer in the world? Capable of printing large structures? The D-Shape printer. Imagine watching that thing in action. It’s the inspiration behind a new project by JF Brandon and will be used to print the structure said to be the largest 3D print in North America.

The Rygo

The Rygo is a project by JF Brandon, currently in the early stages of being funded at IndieGoGo, the Kickstarter-like crowdfunding site for North of the US border.

The Rygo will be printed in Italy by Enrico Dini’s D=Shape, itself the largest 3D printer of its kind, measuring 6 x 6 x 8 meters (20 x 20 x 27 ft). The Rygo was designed by famous 3D designer and sculptor Bathsheba Grossman of California, utilizing esoteric math and an artistic touch to craft a piece that would have been un-makeable by any other means.

The piece will stand 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and adorn the landscape in front of the Gropps Gallery, a gallery and an artist space in Vancouver, Canada. There are a lot of perks if you help fund the project. You can get in on the action over at IndiGoGo.

When Jeremy Losaw, NASCAR Racing Engineer and SolidWorks Mentor for the Ten80 STEM Racing Challenge sent me this video, I could not help but ask to share it with all of you. 

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Jeremy also sent me the part model he created in SolidWorks. 

You can download the SolidWorks model. Download Mini

Jeremy learned SolidWorks 98 at Union College and was a member of the FSAE team.  I love SAE collegiate events.  SolidWorks sponsors  the SAE events and I have learned a great deal from these young student engineers, especially as we developed our SolidWorks SAE curriculum with the University of Wisconsin FSAE racing team.

.Jeremy is the perfect mentor, he has worked in designing carbon fiber machines to NASCAR Racing parts.  Jeremy's outreach goes beyond the middle school and high school students too.  He helps out for the Clemson FSAE Racing team in his free time.  Marie

STEM - Science Technology Engineering and Math is truly integrated into the Ten80 Racing Challenge.   This project makes physics and math exciting and fun.

 With mentors like Jeremy and support from the US Army and NASCAR, Ten80 is certain to drive students towards science and engineering.  Marie

Decidedly pertinent as it was, he set forth, silvery landscaped before him and each step sending a minor chord of mischief through the white haze layered against the ground. On his back, the survivors, a small lot, best know for their gun arts and the ability to form bullets from these links.

Victorior – The imaginations of. This is the art of Wanchana Intrasombat of Thailand. He brings amamzing composition to these intricate character and scenes.
Three Little Pigs – The comic styling of one John Branyan and his version (perhaps the best) of the three little pigs.
Marathon run – A guide to marathon running… ya know, if you’re into that sort of pain and torture.
Robot – A short by Jim Henson from 1963, that saw the conflict between man and machine and how it will end.
CouponYum – Print and share coupons. Browse by category or search for money saving offers.
Countdown – You’ve got 24 hours to get $#!@ done… better get started.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – “A poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story.” The film has won best animated short among other awards.

One of the things we've heard from SolidWorks World attendees over the past few years is that you'd like to learn more in advance about the SolidWorks partners who set up booths in the Partner Pavilion. So now through SolidWorks World 2012, we'll be posting a series of blog entries about some of the partners you might think about checking out, and the people who will be representing them. Today we hear from Geometric Technologies.

Geometric Technologies develops cutting‐edge productivity solutions for CAD/CAM industry. Our products DFMPro and CAMWorks are seamlessly integrated within the SolidWorks® platform, enabling intelligence and automation in design as well as manufacturing processes.

2. What products do you sell that might appeal to SolidWorks users?

CAMWorks® for SolidWorks is the first Gold Partner CAM solution designed exclusively to operate in SolidWorks. CAMWorks is an intuitive feature based CAM solution that helps manufacturers increase productivity and profitability through best-in-class technologies and adaptable automation tools that maximize machining efficiencies.

DFMPro for SolidWorks facilitates upstream manufacturability validation by helping in identification of areas of a design that are difficult, expensive, or impossible to manufacture. It automates the iterative design review process for manufacturability. Both the products are sold via a wide network of resellers  in over 40 countries.

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3. How can your tools help make a SolidWorks user’s life easier?

CAMWorks is seamlessly integrated within the SolidWorks environment, which facilitates automatic accommodating changes to the part model, thereby eliminating time consuming CAM system rework due to design updates and thus enabling true associative machining. It eliminates hours of complex programming through Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) that automatically defines prismatic machinable features, while a Knowledge Database (Technology Database) defines machining operations to automatically generate accurate toolpaths at the click of a button. DFMPro covers design for manufacturability checks within SolidWorks environment. This saves lot of time and effort for design engineers as carrying out such checks is not only tedious but also requires re-design effort. The ‘Rules Based’ interface of DFMPro cover checks for manufacturing process like

• Injection Molding (checks for undercuts, bosses, ribs, wall thickness, draft angle etc.)
• Sheet Metal (checks for slots, hems, bends, holes, etc.)
• Machining (checks for machining processes like Drills, Mills and Turned models, etc.)

DFMPro also facilitates collaborative design review process by generating comprehensive 3D reports in eDrawings format. This capability is very useful for suppliers to quickly generate eDrawings reports and share it with the OEM for their review, comments and acceptance.

4. Why should SolidWorks World attendees visit your booth? What will be special or exciting?

This year we are showcasing CAMWorksXpress, an easy to learn and easy to use SolidWorks integrated 2.5D machining CAM package for programmers and machinists. And CAMWorks Nesting, a new add-on nesting package integrated within SolidWorks to create optimized nested layouts of Parts or Assemblies. Using CAMWorks Nesting users can select single/multiple sheets, specify the part-to-part distance and sheet margin/collar. The package also allows associativity to the original SolidWorks part or assembly.

We also invite attendees to a presentation by Marc Bissell, Sr. Applications Engineer at Geometric on “Integrated Design and Manufacturing  - From Orders to Parts” in the Certified Partner Theater on Tuesday, 14th February, at 1:00 p.m.

We shall be displaying the new casting process capability of DFMPro, this will cover checks for wall thickness, undercut detection, fillet radii, etc.

5. How can customers learn more about your products?

SolidWorks World attendees can find us at booth #524 in the Partner Pavilion. You can also find us at:

Website:  www.camworks.com, www.dfmpro.com, www.camworksxpress.com 

Email address:  inquiries@camworks.com, product.sales@geometricglobal.com

Telephone number: 480.367.0132

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAMWorks/56627691761?ref=ts

Twitter handle http://twitter.com/follow_camworks, http://twitter.com/dfmpro

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/camworkstube,  http://www.youtube.com/user/dfmprouser