This Blog is discontinued...

This Blog is no longer in active service.

SolidWorks now has other Blogs that are update more regularly:

http://solidworkscommunity.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.solidworks.com/blogs/solidworks/solidworks.html

SolidWorks World 2006 Video

Here is a link to a cool video that shows the highlights of SolidWorks World 2006 in Las Vegas - Mythbusters from TV, Seymour & Powell design consultants, racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, etc. Click here - 45MB download

Orange County Choppers

Did you know Orange County Choppers uses SolidWorks? They have been using it for some time for building thier bikes and even came to SolidWorks World last year.

This article is a great summary of how they use a bunch of tools, including SolidWorks.

Who's fastest? Who should judge?

PTC advertising is apparently now targeting SolidWorks. See this posting from Ralph Grabowski's WorldCAD Access Blog.

It is funny to see how things have changed in the 10 years since SolidWorks has been shipping product. SolidWorks has gone from a completely new company to the industry leader targeted by Autodesk and PTC marketing. But who should judge who is "fastest"? I would say users are the ultimate judge. And I think most people familiar with many CAD tools would tell you that they love SolidWorks and that SolidWorks users design the best products around the world.

3000 > 5000

I loved Ralph Grabowski's analysis of the attendance numbers for SolidWorks World and Autodesk University. http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2005/12/3000_5000.html

A couple more interesting numbers:

(1) I can tell you that the total attendance at SolidWorks World should be well OVER 3000, since there is still another 2 months for people to sign up.

(2) AU reported 90 exhibitors, and the SolidWorks World exhibition hall is already sold out, with 91.

(3) 100% of the attendees at SolidWorks World are 3D mecahnical CAD (MCAD) users. What portion of AU do you think is 3D? What portion is MCAD?

To be part of the largest and most vibrant gathering of 3D MCAD in recorded history, please visit www.solidworks.com/swworld and sign up today. Here is a link to the press release from SolidWorks about SolidWorks World.

3D Content Central

3D ContentCentral has millions of CAD models (2D and 3D, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Pro/E, and many more formats) available for download, including a user library where you can upload and download your own models

SolidWorks for Dummies

I don't think there are many SolidWorks users (or engineers and designers in general) who are "Dummies", but if you know about this line of books is really helpful in making thinigs simple to understand. And now there is one written about 3D CAD -- SolidWorks for Dummies.

You can get it at Amazon for under $20 bucks, and the book includes a free demo CD with videos about SolidWorks.

www.solidworks.com/dummies

My Favorite Car - Koenigsegg

The Koenigsegg CC holds the road speed record for a production car (242 mph). I'm putting it on my Christmas list!

Koenigsegg CCR has a very powerful engine thanks to the Swedish Lysholm twin-screw compressor and a new exhaust system made of titanium. This takes the engine’s power output to the extreme peak value of 806 hp at 6.900 rpm. The torque curve also shows high values over a broad revolution band with a peak value of 920 Nm (678 ftlb) at 5.700 rpm.

This link takes you to the best page on the Koenigsegg website - lots of pics of the car and a few really cool videos. My favorite video is the one of the world speed record - the best part is the sound, so get some good speakers and crank it up.

http://www.koenigsegg.se

SolidWorks HQ at night

This is the view from the outside while all the employees are hard at work inside.

Very Clever eDrawing

Someone emailed this to me and I thought it was quite clever - it really shows how looking at things in 3D vs 2D can change your perspective. If you need the free eDrawings 3D CAD viewer, go to www.edrawingsviewer.com - it allows you to publish from most CAD systems.... SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Pro/E, Solid Edge, etc.

Here is a link to download the eDrawings 3D file.