Author: Ricky Jordan

  • Da Vinci Cart by SolidWorks

    Da Vinci Cart by SolidWorks

    Check out this new site from SolidWorks showing Leonardo da Vinci’s Self Propelled Cart.  The features of the cart are demonstrated with SolidWorks 2008.  The design of the mechanism in the cart is absolutely amazing!  Believe it or not I actually found a link to this on Facebook of all places. Also on the site…

  • SolidWorks Tip: Combine Isolate and Show Hidden Components

    SolidWorks Tip:  Combine Isolate and Show Hidden Components

    Here is a quick little video tip for you.  You can combine the Isolate command with the Show Hidden Components command.  This powerful combination gives you more ability to select components for view directly in the graphics window without having to search through the FeatureManager Design Tree. The Show Hidden Components command is new in…

  • 3dvia Shape

    3dvia Shape

    It’s time now for the third installment of my series of reviews on 3dvia.  In case you missed it, make sure you check out my first and second reviews. This review will focus on 3dvia Shape which is one of several software applications that are part of the 3dvia site.  When you see 3dvia Shape…

  • SolidWorks Community Survey

    SolidWorks has released a Community Survey to better gauge what users are after when accessing and participating in online communities.  The survey is a bit long but I highly recommend that you check it out if you participate in online forums, user groups, the Customer Portal, 3D Content Central, Blogs, or SolidWorks Labs. The timing…

  • SolidWorks and Animations

    SolidWorks and Animations

    Animations are certainly NOT my specialty when it comes to SolidWorks.  I have created a few animations over the years but I have never really been completely satisfied with the quality of the videos I have produced.  Is it because of shortcomings in the software?  No, it is mainly my lack of time to learn…

  • Direct Modeling: The future?

    I’ve put it off writing about this subject matter for quite some time now but with the recent announcement of yet another CAD company touting Direct Modeling, CAD 2.0, Non-History based modeling, or whatever other industry term that is out there, I thought the time was right. Siemens announcement yesterday no doubt shook some foundations…

  • New Improved SolidWorks Knowledge Base

    New Improved SolidWorks Knowledge Base

    One of the most useful tools in the SolidWorks Customer Portal has had a bit of a facelift today which is sure to be a hit with all SolidWorks users.  The SolidWorks Knowledge Base allows you to search posted Solutions and known Bugs (SPR’s) to get more details on topics across all SolidWorks products.  It…

  • 3dvia – Community and Studio

    3dvia – Community and Studio

    Well, its time for Chapter 2 in my definition search of 3dvia.  In case you missed it, make sure you catch the first installment of my posts on 3dvia. This time out we are going to look into the Community and Studio sections of the site.  The Community area can be accessed by clicking on…

  • 3dvia – What is it?

    3dvia – What is it?

    If you frequent ANY CAD or 3D related web sites these days you can’t help but have run across 3dvia somewhere.  I’m sure many of you have been wondering like I have what its all about.  I’ll take you along with me as I begin to find out for myself just what exactly 3Dvia is. …

  • SolidWorks Rx 2008

    SolidWorks Rx 2008

    One of the enhancements of SolidWorks 2008 that you might have overlooked is the revamping of SolidWorks Rx.  The UI has now gone to a multiple tab interface that groups different features that can be used to maintain your system. When you open SolidWorks Rx (Start->All Programs->SolidWorks 2008->SolidWorks 2008 SPX.X->SolidWorks Tools->SolidWorks Rx) the Home tab…

  • SWUGN Technical Summit Nashville – 2008

    SWUGN Technical Summit Nashville – 2008

    The 2nd SWUGN Technical Summit of 2008 was held in Nashville, TN today.  An enthusiastic crowd of 86 SolidWorks users came out to see presentations on both general and specialty topics.  Richard Doyle, who is the User Community Manager for SolidWorks, had a last minute scheduling conflict and had to miss this year’s Summit in…

  • Windows Live Writer

    Windows Live Writer

    I had lunch today with Brian McElyea who most of you know as the CADFANATIC.  He told me about this cool new program called Windows Live Writer that you can use to post messages to your Weblog.  So I guess I would consider this post the first test!  I’ve been looking for an alternative method…

  • 2008 SWUGN Technical Summit – Nashville

    In just over a week (Wednesday April 9, 2008) SolidWorks users from all over the Southeast will gather in Nashville, TN for the 2008 SWUGN Nashville Technical Summit.  Last year’s event set a record for attendees with over 115 people!  If you live and work anywhere near this event, you don’t want to miss it! …

  • CircuitWorks acquired by SolidWorks

    SolidWorks announced today the acquisition of Priware Limted, the maker of CircuitWorks.  You can get more information on this by checking out the SolidWorks Press Release and Priware website. The exciting part of this announcement is that starting with SolidWorks 2008 Service Pack 4, CircuitWorks will be included as part of SolidWorks Office Premium.  (As…