FDM Means Lean Manufacturing

A new video case study reveals how a medical-device manufacturer uses FDM in all stages of its product-development cycle, even creating end-use parts for low-volume equipment. The video applies to any industry where designers and engineers seek to cut manufacturing time and costs.

“FDM is saving us time and money everywhere in our operations,” said Dave Scott, Acist manufacturing engineering manager. Dimension and Fortus systems help Acist constantly improve ease and control through quick functional prototyping and durable, attractive end-use parts. With greater design freedom, Acist consolidated 15 parts into seven on a recent display-unit upgrade.

Check out the 3 minute video below:

New SolidWorks Downloads Available

3DVIA Composer V6R2012x is available for download from the Customer Portal.  Customers with maintenance contracts as of November 30, 2011 are eligible to receive this new release. 

SolidWorks 2012 SP2 is also available for download.

Connect the Design Dots Video

Check out the latest video from our YouTube channel.

This video shows how you can expand insight into your design by using SolidWorks.  In this clip, shown using a sheet metal stamping example, we investigate cost, environmental impact and safety early in the development process.

Central Indiana SolidWorks User Group Meeting Announced

Bring a colleague and register now!
Click Here to Register

Date: Thursday February 23rd
Time: 4:30pm - Registration & Networking, Meeting Begins at 5:00 pm

ZIPP Speed Weaponry
5315 Walt Place
Indianapolis, IN
 

• Presentation:  "Where Did it Come From and Go To? Formats, Templates etc." by Peter Fischer
• Dinner: Sponsored by SWUG Corporate
• Technical Presentation:  "Advanced Assemblies," by Matt Herald, FISHER/UNITECH
• Followed by SolidWorks "Tips & Tricks," all participants are invited to bring their ideas
• Door Prizes: 7:30pm, followed by a plant tour of ZIPP Speed Weaponry

SolidWorks Position(s) in Fenton, MO

Beckwood Corporation in Fenton, Missouri, is looking for a mechanical design engineer.

Position Summary:  Produces custom structural designs and drafts for hydraulic machinery and equipment pursuant to company products. Generates final design details of finished products as well as preliminary concept drawings for sales purposes. Participates in R&D projects for new product development as well as existing product improvements. Must have the ability to work well with other departments (Hydraulic and Electrical).

The company is also taking applications for a SolidWorks Drafter position.

Position Summary:  Produces part, assembly and detailed drawings, Bills of Material, and other drafts per product designed 3D models provided by others. Must be able to perform in a fast pace environment and SolidWorks experience is required.

Resumes can be sent to jschroeder@beckwoodpress.com or call 636-343-4100 x 101.

More Free DriveWorks Training

DriveWorks has scheduled additional free training next week on DriveWorks Solo.  It takes place over three (3) days made up of one (1) hour sessions and will be taught by a certified DriveWorks Solo Application Engineer.

The times are as follows:

• Session 1:  Tuesday, January 24th - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET
• Session 2:  Wednesday, January 25th - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET
• Session 3:  Thursday, January 26th - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

Temporary SolidWorks Assignment in Greenfield, Indiana

Bastian Automation Engineering is looking for a temporary design/detail engineer in Greenfield, Indiana.

This is a two-four week assignment.  Required skills include:

• SolidWorks Design Experience
• Data entry
• Minimum experience: 1-2 years
• Custom attributes
• Custom title blocks

•  AutoCAD design experience
• Custom attributes
• Custom title blocks

If interested, please contact:

Trevor Akers
Applications/Sales Engineer
(317) 467-2583 ext. 1029
Bastian Automation Engineering
2155 Fields Blvd
Greenfield, IN 46140

SolidWorks Modeler Needed in Kansas City, KS

Griffin Wheel has an immediate need for a contract 40 hour work week SolidWorks modeler.

If you are proficient at modeling tools and machinery, this might just be the opportunity for you.

The project should last through the end of this March. However, the end date is not guaranteed. Other projects may be added later.

Duties will include: 

• Modeling of plant machinery using some existing drawings and measurements taken on machines in the plant
• Working closely with the plant engineer to optimize new designs and design changes to existing machines
• Drawings for machining and fabrication in our shop and for our outside contract fabricators
• Modeling of new (non-existent) tools and machinery with machining and fabrication drawings
• Work with some existing file protocol and help develop new drawing and file management protocol 

Successful candidate would be required to safely work around machines in plant, while measuring components of the machine. This is a foundry where molten steel is melted and poured.  This creates an extreme environment in some areas of the plant. Some climbing of ladders would be required to take measurements on existing machinery.

If interested, please send your cover letter and resume to:

Ken Stolfus
Plant Engineer
Griffin® Wheel
7111 Griffin Road
Kansas City, KS 66111
ph: 913 299-2223 xt10204
cell: 816 918-7525
fax: 913 299-4041
kstolfus@griffinwheel.com

Model Mania

Hopefully many of you are preparing to go to SolidWorks World February 12-15, 2012. (Let us know who you are, so we can try to find you there!)

Each year at SolidWorks World in the Partner Pavilion, you will find a modeling contest called Model Mania. The prize is pretty nice, and it's fun besides. Even if you're not going, looking over the models can be a learning experience. That's why all the previous years' models, as well as a video of one way that each can be accomplished, has been uploaded to the SolidWorks forums.

I've checked them out, and they're pretty cool! You can follow this link, but make sure to hit log-in at the top in order to be able to download.

DriveWorks Solo Headstart Webcasts

On Wednesday, January 18th, DriveWorks is hosting two Solo Headstart webcasts, that can help you get a jump start on the product.  The webcast is perfect for those of you who are taking part in the 30-day trial, or anyone interested in seeing the differences between DriveWorks Solo and DriveWorksXpress, included in every seat of SolidWorks.

This webcast takes you through the quick and easy steps involved in automating your design process with DriveWorks Solo.

You will learn...

• How to capture the parameters you want to control
• How to create a good looking and intelligent user interface to specify your products
• How to build rules that link the form inputs to the captured parameters that control your designs

You will see how you can start automating YOUR designs right away.
30 minutes of your time now could save you hours every single day!!

The webcast is offered twice per day.
Choose one of the sessions below
Click the link to view session times in YOUR own Time Zone

Wednesday Jan 18, 2012

Session 1 - Click Here to register
Session 2 - Click Here to register

System Requirements for viewing the Webinar PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer