Mike Puckett's Blog

eDrawings For iPad!

Today SolidWorks released a new app for the iPad called eDrawings for iPad.  I have been playing around with it for a few days and thought I would share some tips for using the app.

The app is $1.99 U.S. Dollars and is available via the iTunes App Store.

The app takes advantage of the multi-touch gestures available on the iPad:

• One finger rotates the model
• Two finger drag pans the model
• Three finger drag slides between the file menu and the document
• You can pinch to zoom
• And double tapping fits the model to the screen

If you are viewing an assembly that has an exploded view, you will be able to see that view as well.  Configurations also carry over so you can view them.

The fly out menu is where you access the configurations as well as being able to tough on a part and have that part highlight:

Once you purchase the app the first thing youre going to want to do is add some of your own content to it.  So what are the best ways?  Well I'll show you two simple and free ways.

Adding files via iTunes:

Once the app has been installed, and you have synced your iPad with iTunes, you will notice when you have your iPad selected in the left hand navigation pane, then you select "Apps" from the top menu, you will see eDrawings appear in the list of apps you can add files too.  Simply click the add button and you can then drag and drop files to the iPad. 

Click sync, and your files will appear in the User Files tab in eDrawings.

(Inserted Note)

• The following example uses the Dropbox program, but you are also able to use Box, SkyDrive, SugarSync, Google Drive and an FTP site.

Adding files via DropBox

Dropbox is a service that allows you to store and share files via the cloud.  Once you install the app or program onto a computer or any device, they will all share one common folder whose contents are available at anytime.  You can even access your files via a webpage.  The service is free for up to 2gb of storage, and they sell monthly plans for larger storage abilities.

I downloaded and installed the free app to my ipad, and then downloaded and installed the free program to my SolidWorks laptop.  Once that was done I dropped a folder containing a SolidWorks assembly into my 'dropbox' folder.  I then went to my ipad, launched DropBox and my folder was there.  I selected one of the files and of course DropBox is not able to display the SolidWorks file.  So I touched the 'open in' icon, and eDrawings is one of the options:

Selecting eDrawings then launches the app and opens your model:

From this point you can then use the normal functions found in the app.  But how about displaying your model in a meeting?  The iPads 10.1 inch screen isn't the best screen for a bunch of people to look at.  You can plug it in to a projector or tv using an available plug, or if you have an Apple TV you can use Airplay Mirroring:

Airplay Mirroring is something new that came to theiPhone 4, iPad 2 and the iPad 3, along with Apple TV 2 and 3.  You can read more about that here: Apple Airplay Mirroring.

One Heck Of A Week At SolidWorks World 2012!

Having just arrived back home from the five hour from San Diego, I figured it was a good time to sit back, relax, and maybe share some stuff from SolidWorks World 2012 while it's still fresh in my mind!

For the Certification team SolidWorks World each year actually begins about 5 days before the actual conference opens.  This year the SolidWorks Certification team decided to meet in Las Vegas for 3 days before driving down to San Diego.  This gives us a chance to sit down and discus issues with our developers, and with each other, as well as get a chance to discus what's in store for the new year.  This year we have at least five new exams scheduled to be released, so keep an eye out for them.

On Friday we jumped in a couple of cars and hit the road for the drive through the Mojave Desert.  Both or Sweedish and German counterparts were amazed at the desert landscape, and the utter lack of anything green for nearly 200 miles!

Arriving at the conference is always fun for me, it's a chance to check out the venue, meet up with coworkers I have not seen in a year, and to sneak into the general session to catch up with our production team and see what awesome new stage tech they have brought for us this year.

Of course the weekend is also full of work stuff like helping to unpack shirts, set up computers, and then on Sunday conduct testing for 220 people.  This year we had 180 people brave the CSWP exam, and 57 of them passed.  We also had 2 new CSWE's as well.

As you may have heard, this years SolidWorks World was the biggest ever.  The previous record of 5,100 was blow away by an attendance figure of 5,950 that was announced on Monday morning.  By Tuesday afternoon I had heard that number had crept even higher, so perhaps we'll get an official number next week.

The conference was so big it even got the attention of the locak Fox station that stopped by to do a story, you can see that clip here: SolidWorks In The News!

Here is a video recap of the day one general session:

 

Next up will be what I see as the most important night of any SolidWorks Worlds, the CSWE/CSWP Event!

What Will Users See At The CSWE-CSWP Event?

Well besides a bunch of military aircraft and one large ship?  They will see plenty of pretty cool renderings of products created in SolidWorks by CSWE's and CSWP's from around the world.  Here are just a few quick samples:

How about a Pagani Zonda:

Or a battery powered scooter:

Or even a multi-level parking structure:

And those are only three of the over 100 images we received to show off on Monday night aboard the U.S.S. Midway!  Hope to see you there!

Taking An Exam At SolidWorks World 2012?

If you're one of the man ypeople signed up to take an exam at SolidWorks World this weekend, you might want to revisit this old blog post of mine to get some hints on how to make your screen layout just a bit easier to deal with during the exam!  Click the link below.

This weekend, version 7.0 of Virtual Tester was released online.  Virtual Tester is the software that manages and delivers all of the SolidWorks Certification Exams.  The system is an online tool that manages the entire database of nearly 40,000 certified SolidWorks Users around the world. 

via www.mikescadblog.com

Are You Ready For SolidWorks World 2012?

Neither am I!  Planning wise that is!

Each year SolidWorks World seems to get busier and busier, and that translates into more and more preparation for the event.  Would I have it any other way?  Not a chance!  In fact by the time Wednesday afternoon (the last day at SolidWorks World) rolls around, I'm ready to do it all over again!

The days at SolidWorks World can be long, by the time Monday starts we're pretty much out of our hotel rooms by 6:30am, and are lucky to make it back to our rooms by 12:00am midnight, just in time to get 5-6 hours of sleep and do it all again the next day.  But I wouldn't want it any other way!

After attending 6 SolidWorks Worlds, I still look forward to going just as much as I did in 2006 when it was in Las Vegas.  How excited can I still be?  Well as I sit here writing this, I am waiting for our official employee pre-conference briefing webinar to begin.  And yes, I have connected 10 minutes early just to make sure I am connected and ready to listen in, and not miss a bit of information!

So if you still haven't registered to go, but were thinking about it, it's still not too late!  You can register online until 11:59pm on Friday Feb 10th, and then you can even register onsite beginning at 7:00am on Sunday Feb 12th.

Hope to see you in San Diego!

Letting Loose On The Weekends

There is that saying about all work and no play, well it's a pretty good saying to follow!  Over the past few years here on this blog I have shared with you a few different hobbies I like to mess around with including R/C cars, SCUBA diving, and other fun stuff.  Well over the past 10 months I have taken up a hobby that has a bit more speed to it.

Here is a quick video of me partaking in my new hobby this past weekend:

 

That is a 2012 CRGRoad Rebel Shifter Kart.  It's motor is a 1999 Honda CR125 dirt bike motor that is basically a 125cc two-stroke motor with a 6-speed gearbox.  It is capable of accelerating from 0-60 in under 4 seconds, and has a top speed of just over 100MPH, all while sitting just an inch off the ground!  On the tracks we run on, it's also capable of hitting as much as 2.5 G's in turns, both positive and negative G's.  Stopping, or slowing down the kart for the turns is handled by a front and rear brake system that has is bias adjustable, and uses ceramic brake discs for better braking under extreme brake loads. 

Since it's a two-stroke motor it runs on a 32:1 mix of oil and 100 octane gas.  Here in Nevada you can purchase 100 octane gas at the pump for the low cost of $6.50 a gallon.  A gallon of mixed fuel is usually good for about half a day at the track.  The power is transferred to the rear wheels via a chain, and there is no differential meaning that in order to get around a corner, the chassis has to be set up in a way that will allow for the inside rear tire to lift off the ground so the kart can turn more efficiently.  There is no suspension, so the design of the frame is such that it will flex and twist to achieve the needed changes to get around a turn as fast as possible.

The kart also has a data acquisition system that records a number of channels including, motor temps, lap times, and rpms, and it also has a gps system that is uses to map out the track you are on, provide gps measured speed, and also the G loads via an on board accelerometer.

Here is a sample track map generated from the system.  The yellow lines represent the path the kart took and that data was then imported into Google Earth and overlaid automatically based on the gps coordinates:

 

Here are a few pictures of the kart itself:

And yes, the kart is designed in SolidWorks!  Along with probably most of the add-on parts!

BOXX Raffle At The CSWE/CSWP Event At SolidWorks World 2012

Are you all set to head to SolidWorks World 2012?  Ready for a chance to win a high end computer workstation while you're there?  Well SolidWorks Solution partner BOXX has stepped up to the plate.

The first thing you'll need to know about having a chance to win this powerful workstation is you have to be a Certified SolidWorks Expert (CSWE),or a Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP), and you have to be attending SolidWorks World 2012 and be present at the CSWE/CSWP party on Monday night February 13th.

If you meet those requirements, simply go to the entry website and fill it out: Boxx Tech SolidWorks Solutions.

The computer to be given away at the event is packed full of the latest workstation tech including:

• CPU: Intel i7 Quad Core Enhanced Performance 4.5 GHz
• RAM: 8GB DDR3 2133MHz
• Video Card: NVIDIA Quadro 4000 with 2GB memory
• Hard Drives: 20 GB SSD cache hard drive; 1TB SATA
• 20X dual layer DVD+/-RW Writer
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64-bit 

And the best part?  The winner of this powerhouse computer will walk away with the actual computer from the event!  No waiting for this bad boy to be built and then shipped, you'll be plugging it in as soon as you get back to the office.

So how do you get in on the action to possibly win?  Well as stated before you must be a CSWE or CSWP, you must be attending SolidWorks World 2012 in San Diego, and you must be present at the CSWE/CSWP party on Monday night February 13th to win.

What if you don't meet those qualifications?  Well there is still time to register for SolidWorks World 2012, and you can even take and pass your CSWE or CSWP exam before you arrive!

We'd like to thank BOXX for stepping up to offer this great prize, and we hope to see you all in San Diego!  Find out more about their SolidWorks Certified solutions.

BOXX is the host of this contest, and is responsible for all rules and regulations.  You can find those rules here: Contest Rules

Consumer Electronics Show 2012

One of the fun parts about living here in Las Vegas is the fact that just about every trade and industry has an annual trade show here in town.  With out a doubt the Consumer Electronics Show is the largest convention of the year.  It's so big that it generates over 150 million dollars in non-gaming revenue for the city, and this year attracted over 3,000 companies, 153,000 attendees, and launched over 20,000 new products.

I spent a day and a half traversing the halls of the show which took up the same space as 30 football fields, over a million square feet!  I stopped by a few booths to chat with company's that I knew were using SolidWorks, and ended up running into lots more customers who as soon as they saw my SolidWorks shirt proceeded to tell me how much they love using SolidWorks, and explaining to me how they used it to design their product.  Here are a few of the cool tech items I saw at the show, some of which I wouldn't mind having in my own home!

The MakerBot Replicator by MakerBot

3D Printers have been around for years but in the last few years the push has been to make them more affordable so that everyone can buy one.  The MakerBot is a cool little printer that is extremely affordable and stands out from it's competitors in the DIY market with one huge advantage, it can print dual colors!  MakerBot debuted their 'Dualstrusion' version at CES and pretty much captivated the 3D printer industry part of the show.  The dual color printing is what sets their product apart from the other printers in this range of the market.  These guys have used SolidWorks to design many of the parts of their product, and chatting with them you simply get the feeling these guys love what they do!  You can check them out here: MakerBot Industries

Urban Green Energy

A few years ago at SolidWorks World there was a similar device on display that allows a house to generate energy via wind.  These guys have brought to market a system that you can custom order and then have installed at your house to generate electricity from wind.  You can either choose a battery type of system that stores energy, or a system that will power your house and sell extra energy back to the power company.  I didn't know this company used SolidWorks, but when I stopped to chat with them the first thing they mentioned was SolidWorks and how they used it to optimise the shape of the fins, and to also study the structural integrity of the system as well.  I briefly chatted with them about SolidWorks Sustainability and they were pretty excited to look into it so they could find out of they could make their green product, even greener!  You can check them out here: Urban Green Energy

Mercedes 

Car companies are getting more and more into tech these days.  Smartphones have paved the way for smart cars now.  One of the big trends at the show on the automotive side was 'apps for cars'.  No they don't mean playing angry birds on the windshield of the car, that might get a bit distracting!  Mercedes was showing off a prototype system that is basically a windshield size heads up display.  As you drive past a business you simply make a hand swiping motion and on the display an information window will come up showing reviews of the place, menus, and it will also allow you to make a reservation.  Of course one of the on lookers asked how distracting that will be to the driver, and the BMW rep simply replied, by the time this is out on the marker, cars will be driving themselves!  Here is another picture of their concept car:

Case Mate

There is so much mobile industry products at CES it's easy to get overwhelmed.  One of the stand out company's was Case Mate who was launching a new iPhone case called the Phantom.  The case is a two material injection molded cover that is designed to make your iPhone pretty much destruction proof.  The idea was to create a case that's both durable and affordable.  Case Mate had so much confidence in the case that one of their sales guys spent 4 days at the show repeatedly dropping his phone over and over to show how sturdy the case was.  And yes, they use SolidWorks to design their products as well.  I was speaking with one of the design engineers who told me they use a sketch program to mock up the design of a new case, and then when they are ready to make a final design that works, they put sketch pictures into SolidWorks and design away.  Pretty cool stuff from a company that loves their products.  Find out more about them here: Case Mate

 3D Everywhere!

3D Tv's have been at CES for some years now, but this year seems to be a break out year for them.  With glasses free 3D Tv's being displayed by Sony, and passive 3D Tv's being displayed by everyone, there simply was no way to avoid them!  LG seems to have stole the show with their awesome display at their booth:

And you thought your dual 30" monitors were cool huh?  I have a 3D Tv in my house and it uses the active shutter glasses which require batteries.  The passive system is the same thing you would encounter when you go see a 3D movie in a theatre.  The Tv companies seem to have figured it out quite well, and I would say that 3D Tv's are pretty much ready for prime time!

Of course if having a 3D Tv simply isnt cutting edge enough for you, then OLED is for you!  How about a 55" Tv that is 4mm thick (A little less then 3/16 of an inch) and weighs 16 pounds?

Here are some pictures of the Samsung model:

Can you spot the Tv in this side shot?

Rumored price tag is said to be around $10,000, but once you see the picture you'll want one.  And who wouldn't want a tv you could hang on your wall with velcro!

The CES show is an industry show only meaning it's closed to the general public.  But if you have connections into the industry this is definitely a show to attend some day.  You'll simply be amazed at whats out there!

500+ CSWE's and CSWP's To Visit The USS Midway Aircraft Carrier At SolidWorks World 2012

On Monday night, February 13th, 2012, CSWE's and CSWP's in attendance at SolidWorks World 2012 will board a bus and make the short drive to the U.S.S. Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum in San Diego Bay.  The annual gathering of Certified SolidWorks Experts and Professionals will board the retired U.S. Navy ship for three hours of food, drinks, entertainment, and networking.

The keel for the U.S.S. Midway was laid on October 27th 1943 and served in various wars, conflicts and humanitary missions around the world until it was officially retired from service on April 11th 1992.  When it returned to the U.S., it was the first time in 18 years the ship had made port on U.S. shores.

Here are some quick facts about the Midway:

• It carried an estimated 225,000 U.S. service personnel over its service life
• The U.S.S. Midway sailed in every ocean in the world
• The U.S.S. Midway is 1001'6" long
• It has a displacement of 700,000 tons
• There are 4.02 acres of flight deck
• The crew would consume 1,000 loaves of bread a day

The ship features more then 60 exhibits, 25 restored aircraft, and a self guided tour of the ship.  Attendees of the event will be able to tour the ship from the ships jail, all the way to the top of it's command tower where you can sit in the captains chair!

What will certainly be the highlight of the event will be the flight simulators that users will be able to take a ride in.  Experience a virtual launch from the flight deck, fly mock missions with your co-pilot, but whatever you do, don't eat before you fly and tumble your way through the sky!

So is it too late to join in the fun?  Never!  Registration for SolidWorks World is open all the way up until the event, and you can save $100 on registration until January 20th.  If you're a CSWP or CSWE, you save an additional $100!

If you're planning to attend SolidWorks World and are not a CSWP or CSWE, what are you waiting for?  You don't want to miss out on what's sure to be one of the funnest events ever!  You can still take and pass your exam before you go, visit the SolidWorks Certification site for more information!

We hope to see you on board the U.S.S. Midway at SolidWorks World 2012!

CSWP Isn't The Only Thing We Do!

The SolidWorks Certification Program is a pretty in-depth program.  On the outside we have several customer facing exams that include the CSWE, CSWP, CSWA, and a handful of advanced topic exams covering topics like mold tools, surfacing, weldments, sheetmetal, and FEA.  What you won't see, unless you work for a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller, are the exams that we provide for our resellers.  We have just over 10 exams that deal with a laundry list of topics all meant to improve the experience our customers have when they interact with their reseller.

Hands down the most complex and toughest exam we offer to our resellers is the Support Tech Core, and Support Tech Upgrade exams.  Every support technician that works for a SolidWorks Reseller is required to pass the core exam at least once, and then is required to pass the upgrade exam each year.

So why the sudden urge to share this with you?  Well this year as one of my projects I am taking over ownership of the content that is included in the support tech core and upgrade exams.  In the past it has been handled by one of our best senior support tech guys, Mark Johnson.  If you are a VAR support tech person, no doubt you know Mark well as he more then likely has worked with you on an issue here or there.  We're also still asking for his input on the exam as well as a group of other SolidWorks Support techs from around the globe.

The support tech upgrade exam is something we do each year that is released right along side the newest release of SolidWorks.  The next release will be this fall and will deal with new features found in SolidWorks 2012.  The exam is 30 questions in 30 minutes and a passing score of 24 or better is required.  The content mainly covers new functionality in core SolidWorks, and also includes technical support issues that may have been encountered during beta.

So if you're a reseller support tech, look for the CSWST 2012 exam early this fall, and good luck on it, we'll be looking forward to seeing how you all do.  SolidWorks 2012 is just around the corner, and there is lots of cool new stuff to see!