Author Archives: stevemcgrath
Discover Howe & Howe – the Black Ops Bros
Another day, another cool Discovery Channel show tight with the SolidWorks community. The “Black Ops Brothers, Howe & Howe Tech” show stars Geoff and Mike Howe, who have been called “The Wright brothers of the military.” Hey, we admire the
... ContinuedThe young life of Riley
Riley Lewis, 13 and a quarter years old, is an archery instructor, jazz flutist, blacksmith (in the Victorian style), inventor, and the youngest known user of SolidWorks software. After a 15-minute chat, you want to add genius to the list,
... ContinuedNot your father’s John Deere #sww11
Nope, this tractor is quarter-scale, stripped down for competition, and optimized to ride a one-inch wheelie down the 200-foot pulling track. In the Midwest United States and increasingly in the South, grownups have leagues where they compete on these things
... ContinuedThis time, he nailed it
David Suelflow walked into room 217 of the Henry B. Gonzalez Conference Center this morning a SolidWorks World 2011 “attendee.” Two hours, forty-five grueling minutes later, he walked out a Certified SolidWorks Professsional, or “CSWP.” From the exam room, he
... ContinuedFive Questions Friday with Elmer Plett
Name: Elmer Plett Title: Engineering Support Technician Company: Pro-Fab Industries, designer and manufacturer of alternative energy heating systems, including high-efficiency indoor and outdoor wood boiler models and more traditional outdoor furnace designs. Job description: I provide technical assistance to the
... ContinuedSolidWorks helps Amtrak keep rolling
“We’re as high tech as the airlines, and often faster point to point, but there’s room to breathe and no one gets stuck with a middle seat.” So says Amtrak's Bruce Hoffman, manager of document control for the national rail
... ContinuedCurbing energy demand at the source
When we think of solutions for our energy future, many of us see visions of wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal pipes, and possibly nuclear power plants. That's the supply side, but innovators are working just as hard and creatively on
... ContinuedFive Questions Friday with Susan Evans of MCAD Technologies
Name: Susan Evans Title: President and Founder Company: MCAD Technologies, Inc. MCAD specializes in sales, support, and training of engineering productivity tools, including 3D solid modeling, design validation, product data management, product documentation and 3D color printing technology. Hometown: Tolland,
... ContinuedOf snow and tarmac
Although it’s sweltering in New England, Shawn Watling’s mind is on ice and snow. The Canadian snow machine racer and SolidWorks user has just won a Popular Science Award for inventing a way to make sleds faster, greener, and more
... ContinuedDonJoy braces minimize knee misery
Knee problems prompt an estimated 12 million doctor’s office visits each year in the United States alone. More than 600,000 arthroscopic surgeries are performed annually, 85 percent of which are on knees. Nearly 300,000 knees are replaced every year here.
... ContinuedCardiovascular Systems Inc. – Transcending Mere Business Results
Although I’ve met thousands of passionate designers and engineers, my conversation with Christopher Narveson stands out. Along with his team of designers and engineers, Chris designs life-saving devices that clear deadly blockages from clogged arteries. Every engineer takes pride in
... ContinuedRacing toward a greener future with Formula Hybrid
As a featured arena for NASCAR paint-swappin’, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., ain’t exactly blooming green. Stock cars consume gas and rubber like Mountain Dew and corn chips, and no one complains if you leave your rig
... ContinuedOut of this (SolidWorks) World!
A little bit of SolidWorks World 2010 will go into orbit if University of California Irvine students successfully complete their ambitious space camera. Already presented to NASA in a formal design review, “CubeSat” would float in near-zero gravity, point itself
... ContinuedA mighty wind @ World
When a hurricane tore the roof off a customer’s plant, recalls Jason Williams, all that remained intact were some steel girders and an industrial fan – a Big Ass fan. Please pardon the language, but that’s not us cussin’. Big
... ContinuedAmtrak has arrived at ‘World’
If you’ve luxuriated in the sleekness of Amtrak’s Acela, you can thank two SolidWorks Worlds 2010 attendees, Bruce Hoffman and John Campbell. They and their teams use SolidWorks software not to design new train cars – those last for decades
... Continued