Mike Puckett's Blog

Apple Fans, Solidworks Fan?

Today marks the release of the second version of Apples iPhone. iPhone 3G as it is called brings with it a number of improvements that original iPhone users have been asking for since its initial release last year. As an owner of the original iPhone, I can say that it does lack in sevral areas. Apple doesnt have an enhancement request system, so where do they get their ideas for improvements?

So this morning I decided to head down to my local Apple store and wait in line to see what the buzz is all about, and to see how fanatic Apple fans are. Getting here about an hour before store opening, I found a line with about 300 people. The earliest arrival were here camped out at 10 pm lastnight. The excitement of these people is something like you might see in a child on Christmas morning, or mabey even the few thousand people that line up at the doors of the general session at Solidworks World!

We all have our passions, and for Solidworks fans, it comes out when beta is released, when the new version is launched, and when solidworks World gets underway each year. The excitement is all part of the fun.

Now with about 20 minutes until store open, there are well over 400 people in line. Now all we need are those guys that guard the doors at Solidworks World general sessions to keep us entertained!

Solidworks Beta 2

I'm not sure what is going to get a better response, the launch of iPhone 2.0 tomorrow, or the release of the Solidworks 2009 Beta 2.0 Service Pack.  Yes thats right, this year it is a service pack, as opposed to a full download and install.  Early indicators are that the service pack method is working quite well for most users.

So if you already haven't done so, head on over to the customer portal, and join in the fun.  Beta 2 is supposed to last a couple of weeks, and then be followed by the final Beta build for a couple of weeks.  Following that will be the pre-release periods where information about the new version is allowed to be publicly released.

Start Getting Ready For Solidworks World 2009!

If you enjoy speaking in front of people, and would like to go to Solidworks World for free, then head over to the Solidworks World 2009 Call For Papers Website.  By submitting your presentation idea, you could be chosen to present along side a group of other well known Solidworks users.  You have the option of presenting a hands-on session, or a break-out session where you present on a big screen, and everyone watches.

Here are a few hints to get a good audience:

1.  Keeps the slides to a minimum.  There is a saying "Death by Power Point".  You can do some nifty things with power point, but that gets boring.  Use Solidworks live as much as possible.

2.  Tips, Tricks, & How-To.  Users love to see how they can do things better and faster in Solidworks.  The tips and tricks presentations are usually the most attended.

3.  Practice.  Speaking in front of people isn't all that bad, I actually find it fun!  Before your trip to Solidworks World, attend a local user group to give your presentation, or give it to the people at your work.  The more polished your presentation is, the better it will be received.

4.  Q&A.  Leave time at the end for the questions people will have.  If you get stumped by a question, open the question up to the entire room, and someone is bound to know.  Just make sure to leave sometime for questions, people are going to want to know how and why you did something.

5.  Have Fun.  No one likes a speaker thats real stiff.  One of the reasons that I enjoy Matt Lombard's presentations each year is because he is a comical guy.  He isn't afraid to make fun of himself, and keep the session on a light note.  Who else do you know that carries a spare mouse in their bag?

So will I be presenting?  If I had the time, I would do it.  I give about 2-3 presentations a month between work and the user group, so I get my fill!  Mostly though, I simply don't have the time at the conference.  Between running from session to session, and posting entries on line, time is scarce from about 7-5 during the conference.

Don't Take My Word For It...

I have written several times on here about the benefits of participating in the online Solidworks Community.  Devon Sowell posted an interview today with a guy named Gary Swingle who happened to be the 50,000th person to join the Solidworks Online Forum.  Reading the interview, there were a couple of points that really stood out to me that re-enforces exactly where the Solidworks Community has grown from.  This is pretty good evidence that using these resources that are available to everyone, is a great thing.

Head over and read the entire interview, and I think you will see lots of similarities of how you got started.  Like Gary, I too pretty much had to learn Solidworks on my own, and like Gary, I also have discovered lots of ways to do things differently by reading posts in the forums.  And if you haven't already done so, head over to the forums, and join in on the discussion.

Free Plastic Filling Analysis Software?

Simpoe-Mold has announced that they will be offering a free 'basic filling simulation' program called e-Simpoe at the end of July.  Here are a few quotes from the press release:

"e-Simpoe, although a free version, will provide basic filling simulation functionalities, including melt front animation, to take into account manufacturing constraints early into the design stage of plastic parts.

e-Simpoe directly fits into SIMPOE strategy to develop and democratize design validation for the mainstream MCAD market.

Moreover, e-Simpoe can be also used as a viewer  to consult simulation results performed with any of the commercial SIMPOE softwares, whether they are filling, packing, cooling and/or warpage simulation results.

e-Simpoe will be  delivered with an on-line tutorial and on-line help, and will benefits from the same user-friendly and intuitive interface as Simpoe-Mold."

Simpoe-Mold produces a suite of three plastic filling simulation programs, one of which runs directly inside of Solidworks.  Simpoe-Works which is the Solidworks add-in runs as a tab on the feature manager inside Solidworks.  I had a chance to play with this software at Solidworks World 2008 in San Diego.  As a former (and recovering) Moldflow user, it was nice to see an easy to use, and easy to understand plastic filling program.  We are contemplating replacing our Moldflow license with Simpoe Works in the near future.

If you would like to participate in the beta for the e-Simpoe product, send an email to: beta-simpoe@simpoe.com, and they should be able to get you set up.  I'm sending in my request today!