SOLIDWORKS Page 4

The cloud is very much a commodity these days. For years, we have been using the cloud to store files that are safe from local penetration (like fires, water damage, theft, etc.), take up less space (rather than piles and piles of paper) and are easier to find (using a simple search command rather than routing through a filing cabinet). However, it is important to understand that the cloud is so much more than just a glorified external hard drive. Now, project teams can immerse themselves in cloud-based tools and applications, not just for storage, but for creation. Just like the cloud offers many benefits over a traditional file storage process, the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE® Platform by Dassault Systèmes offers a true start-to-finish design experience that anyone can leverage to be more efficient. You just need to know how to use the software to fit your role in the project.

Recently we have seen STL and mesh files make their way into mainstream modeling workflows. As a result, in every release for the past few years, SOLIDWORKS has been making it easier to work with imported mesh and graphical geometry. Now, with SOLIDWORKS 2020 it’s even better.

As a TriMech Application Engineer (AE), I have the unique opportunity to visit clients far and wide. Each of these visits is different, and they range from client seminars to a quick review of the products that our clients already have. This doesn’t just ensure our clients have the knowledge they need to use their hardware and software, but also gives them access to all the support and services we provide to help them make the most out of their investment. In this article, I review some of these services and how we help our current and new clients achieve their project and business goals in ways you might not expect.

With the design cycle getting shorter each day, having a physical prototype in your hand is more important than ever. SOLIDWORKS 2020 makes it easier to go from design to prototype with the latest enhancements to 3D printing. From visualizing your model, preparing it to be printed and finding a vendor, SOLIDWORKS 2020 gives you some great tools to be able to fully adopt and implement 3D printing to your workflow. It’s all found in the file menu, by clicking File > Print3Ddirectly in the software.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical can generate various reports for a project. Reports in this case are sets of data that show information applied in the specific project. Some of the most common reports are bill of materials (BOMs), list of wires, list of cables and drawing list. Users may want to modify a report to present data in a different format to better meet their needs and to provide additional information. Knowing how to alter a report is very important because it can enable the user to read and understand data easily. In this blog article, I will show you some tips and tricks to modify reports inside SOLIDWORKS Electrical.

One of the most exciting parts of 3DEXPERIENCE World was the Playground, which was previously known as the Partner Pavilion. It's exciting to see how different SOLIDWORKS solution partners gather to showcase their newest products and technologies and how we can do some networking with other folks within the industry.

Almost everybody loves chocolate, right? That’s exactly what I was thinking when I was working on some models for our previous Halloween and Christmas candy articles. As I was working on those projects, I came across a surprisingly quick and easy way to apply full-color patterned textures to CAD models for 3D printing on the Stratasys J750 and J850, using SOLIDWORKS Visualize, and had the idea to use this method to make chocolate bars for Valentine’s Day!

We had an amazing time at 3DEXPERIENCE^® World 2020 and in the blink of an eye it was over! Today, everyone was very excited during the general session as multiple Dassault Systèmes partners shared some of the neat projects and ideas they are working on. It really is exciting to see how these companies and individuals are coming up with new products that are impacting our world. 

I can’t believe it is already day three of 3DEXPERIENCE^® World. This conference has been just as amazing as prior years and still has elements of SOLIDWORKS^®. Today, I got the chance to explore the Playground, formerly the Partner Pavilion, which is the are where you can walk around and check out products and demos from different partners, like you would in a tradeshow.

After two years of using SOLIDWORKS^® and almost two years of working with TriMech as an Application Engineer, I was finally ready to go to my first 3DEXPERIENCE^® World! Many of my team members have described all the events and seminars that are held and I just knew I had to go. As a SOLIDWORKS engineer, I’m always interested in learning new tools and techniques to share in the demos and classes I host.

For me, day one of the very first 3DEXPERIENCE^® World started with a short early morning flight. This year, I was selected to present and wanted to make sure I had my presentation backed up in multiple places. My mind is put at ease because as soon as I connect to any WiFi, I can access it through my laptop or through my phone via 3D Play on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. I am so excited to learn so much more about this platform at 3DEXPERIENCE World.  

Undo and Redo are core functionalities we use without a second thought. It’s part of the reason we can model without a care in the world, right? We can always undo whatever potential mistake we might make. Even the most basic, fundamental and core functions can be improved. In SOLIDWORKS 2020, Undo and Redo have been improved, but you might not have noticed yet if you haven’t really needed it.