Author Archives: Fielder Hiss
A Visit With the Laney SolidWorks User Group
I recently had the pleasure of attending a pretty unique user group event at Laney College in Oakland, California. The group is run by Elise Moss, a long-time supporter of SolidWorks and instructor at the school. If you’re not familiar,
... Continued3D Sketch and Loft
Product designers often require significant interactive control over the shaped they are creating. With improvements made in 2006, it is now possible to use a single 3D Sketch to create a loft Feature. In addition, you can dynamically edit the
... ContinuedFit Spline can overcome the mystery of splines
Often times I hear from engineers complains about the splines in their design tools that they are just too difficult to use. When probing deeper into their response, I discover that its not that they are necessarily difficult to use
... ContinuedU.S. Digital to increase sales by 30 percent
If you go to visit any designer you will notice one thing in common on the shelves around their desks. That’s stacks and stacks of component catalogs. These are the parts you buy to build your products. Often you spend
... ContinuedLet your titleblocks fill themselves out!
I often speak with customers who tell me how they have used SolidWorks to become more efficient in their design and documentation processes. I have found that even the simple tasks we take for granted can yield significant time savings
... Continued“These holes don’t line up” – Sound Familiar?
The biggest problem with 2D CAD software is still that when you go to assemble parts holes just don’t line up. If you are using 2D do you ever have problems with interferences due to misaligned holes or incorrect fastener
... ContinuedKoenigsegg Supercar
Here is a pretty cool article on the Koenigsegg supercar. I have seen Christian speak a few times and he is pretty inspiring. Can you imagine traveling at 240+ mph in a car? Everyone at SolidWorks is pretty excited about
... ContinuedTake control of your assembly cuts and holes with Feature Scope
Did you ever want to make an assembly cut or hole in which feature only affected certain components in the assembly? Many companies ask me about applying manufacturing features at the assembly level and how to manage what components will
... ContinuedSketch blocks – the “napkin sketch” that you can use to drive your design
SolidWorks “sketch blocks” is functionality that greatly expands the power of the sketcher. Sketch blocks can be used to simulate the kinematics of complex mechanisms as well as act as “skeletons” to help manage assemblies. The 4-bar linkage above is
... ContinuedIs RoHS compliance important to your company?
I was reading a recent article in Machine Design titled ‘Do your CAD designs comply with RoHS?’. The article begins: ‘Beginning July 1, 2006, the Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive mandates certain hazardous substances be significantly reduced
... ContinuedSmart Components Take Assembly Design Automation to a New Level
There were some awesome presentations at SolidWorks World on how to save time assembling components. Almost every time a component is assembled, other components (such as fasteners) and features (such as holes and cuts) are also required. Take for instance
... ContinuedSolidWorks® 2006 X64 Pre-Release is now available
SolidWorks® 2006 X64 Pre-Release is now available to Subscription Service customers. For more information about this release or to download your personal copy, visit: https://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/downloads.html. We would like to thank you for your role in making SolidWorks the World’s #1
... ContinuedIs this the latest revision?
Have you ever wondered if the version of the design document you are working on is the latest? A few users at SolidWorks World told me stories of sending the wrong version of a document to a supplier or worse
... Continued‘MythBusters’ make surprise appearance at SolidWorks World 2006
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 23, 2005 — Can you spark a gasoline fire with a cell phone? Is yawning contagious? Can Pop Rocks and soda be a lethal combination? “MythBusters” Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, who answer questions like these for
... ContinuedSolidWorks Corporation adds motion analysis software to SolidWorks Office Premium
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 23, 2006 — SolidWorks Corporation today continued to define the standard in CAD by incorporating COSMOSMotion™ software into its SolidWorks® Office Premium software package. COSMOSMotion’s analysis capabilities will help the many SolidWorks users who design assemblies with
... Continued