Keys to Success

Often times, it’s the obvious that’s overlooked! In teaching Essentials many students first learning SolidWorks, inadvertently turn on or off selection filters. Did you know that by simply selecting “F5” you can easily expand and capitalize on this feature?

F5 invokes the selection Filter tool bar. Selection filters can then utilized to filter through specific types of items in the graphics area.

Key board short cuts include:

E, for Edges
X, for Surfaces
V, for Vertices

It’s the little things…

Chicago SolidWorks Users Group Meeting

The next CSUG meeting will be held:

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Time:  5-8 pm CT

DES PLAINES Campus of Oakton Community College
Room 1608, 1600 E. Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL  60016

AGENDA
5:00 - 5:30 pm:  Sign in & networking
5:30 pm:  Pizza is served
5:30 - 5:45 pm:  CSUG business
5:45 - 6:00 pm:  Current Job Market Outlook, presented by Sterling Engineering
6:00 - 7:30 pm:  Redneck Workarounds - The SolidWorks Equivalent to Duct Tape & Baling Wire, presented by Adrian Fanjoy and Josh Altergott from Computer Aided Technology, Inc.
7:30 - 8:00 pm:  Q&A session, door prize drawing
8:00 pm:  Adjourn

Examine how day-to-day modeling and administrative challenges can be overcome in inventive and sometimes bizarre ways.

No RSVP is necessary for the meeting, headcount for food is based on past attendance.

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with the User Group President, Denny Bahl, please contact him at president@csug.org.

Follow-Up To No Engineer Left Behind & Virtual Job Fair

What does the design and engineering community need as we head into 2010? I'd be interested in your feedback.

Our No Engineer Left Behind program provided displaced designers and engineers with free SolidWorks training, software and opportunities for internships.

Our Virtual Job Fair is connecting employers with engineers nationwide, over 800 jobs available, at http://funtech.veplatform.com.

What's Next?

Adding Multiple Serial Numbers to SNL Network License Administrator for Activation

In SolidWorks 2010, the need for a Dongle to run a Network License (SNL) has been eliminated. You will now simply ACTIVATE your serial numbers like you would with a Standalone serial number.

This brings up the question:

“What if I have Multiple SNL serial Numbers to enter in the SolidNetwork License Administrator? There is only 1 spot to enter a serial number in the GUI during setup.”

To enter multiple serial numbers, you currently have two options:

1. New\First time installation of the SNL Administrator:  At the FIRST installation of the SNL Administrator software, when prompted for the serial number, enter all of the SNL serial numbers you have in the single line separated by a comma. As in the (.jpg) shown above.
   
   Ie. xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx, yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy
   
   
2. To add additional serial numbers to an EXISTING, SNL Administrator installation:
   
   If you already installed the SNL Administrator with one serial number and need to add additional serial numbers, then edit the following registry key and enter the additional serial numbers in a comma separated list: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Licenses\Serial Numbers\SolidNetWork License".

You should then be able to start the SNL Administrator, select Modify and select the new serial number from the dropdown and activate it.

*IMPORTANT side note:

Since we no longer use dongles to run the SNL Administrator, once you upgrade your SNL Administrator to 2010, you will need to send your current Dongle back to FISHER/UNITECH.

Sheet Metal Views for Manufacturing

When creating a Sheet Metal product, your manufacturing team may need instructions to complete the final product. A way to manage this is through Configurations. After completing the final product, the sheet metal bends are saved in the “Flat-Pattern” feature.

Configurations can be created for each “Stage” of the process.

The bends for each “Stage” are controlled in the Flat-Pattern feature by using Suppress.

For example:

• STAGE 1 has all bends Unsuppressed (Flat-Pattern toggled on)
• STAGE 2 suppresses the front tabs
• STAGE 3 suppresses the front tabs and rear flanges
• STAGE 4 is the finished product (Flat-Pattern toggled off)
  

Each “Stage” can then be saved as a Model View and organized in the drawing to show the manufacturing sequence.

NVIDIA is Taking CAD Rendering to The Cloud

Last week I blogged about 3DVIA releasing their iPhone app allowing users to view 3D models right from their iPhone. Today I read about news that takes that even a step further.

At the Web 2.0 Summit last week in San Francisco, NVIDIA announced a GPU-powered 3D web platform called the NVIDIA RealityServer (3.0). RealityServer consists of Tesla GPUs, rendering software and a Web service environment. All of these services are integrated to deliver a platform that allows for photorealistic image viewing via The Cloud.

What this means is that any device with Web capabilities will be able to perform high-end imaging. This allows for use by a wide array of professionals from artists to scientists. It allows them to take their work with them in their pocket to show clients and patients current projects on-the-go!

Now, like with all new technology, it is currently a bit limited due to available hardware. Many smart phones are still not powerful enough to give you the full experience...yet. But this is exciting news for the future.

There are two really good articles about NVIDIA's new project. One is HERE at Develop3D.com, and the other is HERE at HPCwire.com. These articles really go deep into the technical aspects of this technology and why it works.

Thogus Rapidly Re-Engineers Itself

From Plastics News
By Robert Grace

AVON LAKE, OHIO (Oct. 20, 12:15 p.m. ET) -- Matt Hlavin, third-generation president of Thogus Products Cos. in the Cleveland suburb of Avon Lake, considers his firm to be “a 51-year-old startup company.” Indeed, the custom injection molder has changed its stripes enough that one could argue it’s been reborn.

For starters, it just changed its name to the plural, from Thogus Products Co., after realigning its various operations into four distinct businesses. (Jack Thompson and Walter Gus founded the firm as Master Mold & Die in 1950, but the company changed its identity to Thogus in 1958.)
In the midst of a down economy, the firm in 2009 has invested $2 million to buy its largest-tonnage injection press yet, along with seven servo robots and two fused deposition modeling machines for rapid prototyping and low-volume part production. More FDM machines are probably on the way.  The company also has brought in-house 223 tools since just last November, and reorganized its factory floor into more-efficient manufacturing cells.

At the beginning of this year, “We had our presses in a line, with an operator at every press. Now one operator can monitor six presses” due to the new plant layout, Hlavin said.
But 2009 has not been without its pain. In part due to a new management approach and in part due to the recession, Thogus laid off 15 full-time employees in February — its first layoffs ever — along with a number of part-timers. The move essentially halved the size of its then-110-person workforce. But it has acted to leverage that into a positive, and while altering its approach to hiring.

Now with 57 employees, Hlavin said the firm’s new work-flow processes have allowed it to slightly increase throughput with no slippage in quality.

“We’ve changed our type of employee,” he explained. Most of the firm’s new hires now are process engineers. “We’ve become very young. We have 24- and 25-year-olds running the floor now. Morale is very high. We’re trying to create a Google-type atmosphere,” where the company “is a destination, not a place to work.”

Hlavin said the plant already is working around the clock, and he plans to have it open 24 hours a day to customers who wish to come in and brainstorm or plan around innovation.
“We beat our best September ever [in both dollar sales and profitability] by 20 percent,” Hlavin said in an Oct. 6 telephone interview. He estimates the company’s October will best September by a similar percentage.

Due in part to the firm’s tool-transfer strategy, which has facilitated the huge influx of new tools and programs — including 83 in just the past 30 days — Hlavin projects Thogus will increase sales by 50 percent next year from the $10 million forecast for 2009. Four years ago, the firm had sales of less than $5 million.

In late September the firm paid an undisclosed amount to acquire privately held Alpha Pack Biomedical Engineering & Design, a four-person company in nearby Westlake, Ohio, thereby doubling the size of its engineering department. Medical products make up about 30 percent of Thogus’ current sales, and Hlavin said he intends to get his firm certified by the Food and Drug Administration and to keep building that part of the business.

Earlier in the year Thogus added a 165-ton, tie-barless Engel injection press. It recently acquired a 720-ton Nissei; previously its largest machine had been a 420-tonner. The firm now runs 27 presses at its 76,000-square-foot plant, focusing on short-run jobs. It runs more than 300 materials at any one time and averages 4.8 setups per machine per week.

During an August plant tour in Avon Lake, Hlavin recalled how a dozen years ago his firm generated 56 percent of its sales from the Big Three automakers.

In July 1997, “we got our QS [quality] rating, and fired our three auto customers the next month.”
“We didn’t want to be Thogus Savings & Loan,” he said.

The firm broadened its scope, and ventured into much more custom work. It also identified tool transfer and advanced material development as strategies, and partnered closely with its resin suppliers, particularly PolyOne Corp. and Sabic Innovative Plastics, which between them supply Thogus with 90 percent of its materials.

About two years ago, the firm installed enterprise-resource-planning software from Paso Robles, Calif.-based IQMS Inc., and late last year hired Berkely, Mich., consultants Harbour Results Inc. to thoroughly revamp its work flows, while also creating close vendor partnerships and adopting a vendor-managed inventory system.

Beginning last January, Harbour partner Scott Walton virtually embedded himself in the Thogus facility — initially for two weeks per month, before scaling back to about three days per month. Walton, a former Nypro Automotive president, brought operational experience and a fresh eye to the shop floor, Hlavin said. That, combined with its implementation of the ERP software system, completely transformed the way Thogus does business. Now, Walton is helping the company with everything from strategic planning to assessing possible acquisitions and potential hires.
During the plant tour, quality control manager Blair Mumau said using the IQMS software “transformed our daily production meetings.” Suddenly, workers were able to closely track scrap rates, and do final quality inspections and audits right at the press. The software also helped Tho­gus better manage its internal tracking system, allowing it to automatically label incoming materials and parts, rather than having to do it manually.

Russ Wolfe, Thogus vice president of business development, added: “Unexpectedly, IQMS also helped us to estimate and quote jobs. We still probably only use a portion of what IQMS offers.”
Meantime, one of the molder’s more successful moves recently has been its adoption of rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing.

Earlier this year Thogus purchased a Fortus 3D production system from Stratasys Inc. and shortly thereafter bought a second such machine. The models they bought cost roughly $200,000, including the required software key and various materials licenses.

Working directly from a computer-aided-design file, the Fortus machines essentially “print” prototype and low-volume production parts using an additive fabrication process and engineering thermoplastic materials. With a build envelope of 16 inches by 14 inches by 16 inches, it can produce a three-dimensional part in less than 24 hours.

Stratasys, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., said its Fortus line yields parts that are “30-300 percent stronger than Stratasys parts produced with 3D printers, even when using the same materials.”
Hlavin is completely sold on the technology. Both of his FDM machines are running 24/7 now, and he said he’s in negotiations to buy many more.

“We understand material science and the process,” he said, noting that he believes Thogus is the only firm in the country currently running all the materials Stratasys offers for this system. That includes ABS, polycarbonate and various blends, as well as poly­­phenyl­sul­fone and poly­ether­imide re­sin.

“One of our biggest challenges is capital,” he said. “This allows us to make production parts without tooling.”

Hlavin said Thogus currently is printing production parts for six customers, mostly targeted at the medical, food and beverage, and general industrial markets.

On the prototyping side, he said, “Half the parts we’re printing are for other molders,” meaning Thogus essentially has become a service bureau for some of its competitors.

“We’re helping one customer take his part to market now,” he said, noting the company is even helping to teach Stratasys and some of its resellers about all the possible product applications for their systems.

Because that activity is becoming such a significant part of the business, Hlavin said Thogus just incorporated it as a separate company called Rapid Prototype + Manufacturing LLC.

As a result of a just-completed corporate realignment, Thogus Products Cos. is the umbrella entity that includes its traditional custom molding and contract manufacturing. The company comprises three other businesses:

* The newly formed Rapid Prototype + Manufacturing unit.
* The newly acquired Alpha Pack Biomedical Engineering & Design.
* Radiation Protection Technologies, an existing metal- and lead-replacement business.

As if running his fast-moving company isn’t enough, Hlavin assumes the presidency of the Indianapolis-based Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors, a grass-roots trade group widely known as MAPP. But then, such industry interaction is consistent with his overall approach.

“It’s all about collaboration,” Hlavin said.

Creating Configurations Using Design Tables

Many people use configurations to quickly create a variety of different versions of the same part or assembly. The best way to create these configurations is to develop them using Design Tables. With Design Tables you can easily control dimension values and the suppression states of features such that the limits of your results are controlled merely by the limits of your imagination!

Key information required for setting up a Design Table is the name SolidWorks has assigned to the dimension(s) you want to control. In order to see these names using SolidWorks 2009, you need to go to and select Tools, Options, System Options and select Show dimension names under the General tab on the first page.

With the new release of SolidWorks 2010 this selection switch has been moved to be more accessible. Simply go to the Heads Up Display at the top of the viewing area, select the Hide/Show glasses icon and you find it at the bottom of the pull down!

Be Efficient with "Starter Parts"

If you ever feel like you are creating the same part over and over, you should be using "Starter Parts."

Here's how to customize SolidWorks so when you choose "File"..."New" you can get a jump start on the creation of your model.

Let's say that an angle weldment is common for you. Create the model and don't save it as a part file. Save it as a Template file. For example...save it as "angle_weldment.prtdot."

It is a good idea to create a custom folder for these files. For example I will use a folder named "my starter parts". Then you will need to go to "System Options"..."File Locations"..."Document Templates"... and add the location of this folder.

Now, when you start a new Part file and you choose "File"...New" you will get the TAB that will let you select this template, and the part will be already created to the point at which you saved it as a template.

Advanced Topics: How about adding configurations and controlling feature suppression? How about controlling dimension values using a Design Table. YES YOU CAN!

SolidWorks Flow Simulation Capabilities

Flow Simulation is based on advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques and allows you to analyze a wide range of complex problems. If you were wondering what the capabilities of SolidWorks Flow Simulation include, below is a summary:

• Two-and Three-Dimensional analyses

• External and Internal flows

• Steady-state and Transient flows

• Incompressible liquid and Compressible gas flows including subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regimes

• Water vapor (steam) condensation

• Calculation of relative humidity in gas flows

• Non-Newtonian liquids (laminar only)

• Compressible liquids (liquid density is dependent on pressure)

• Real gases

• Laminar, turbulent, and transitional flows

• Swirling flows and Fans

• Multi-species flows

• Flows with heat transfer within and between fluids and solids

• Heat transfer in solids only (no fluid exists in the analysis)

• Thermal contact resistance

• Thermoelectric coolers

• Surface-to-surface radiation

• Flows with Gravitational effects (also known as buoyancy effects)

• Porous media

• Fluid flows with liquid droplets or solid particles

• Walls with roughness

• Tangential motion of walls (translation and rotation)

• Flows in a rotating device (global rotating frame of reference) or in local regions of rotation

• Cavitation in a water flow

Used Dimension 3D Printers Now Available

It’s that time of year.  We have used machines available!

These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you've been on the fence in 2009 with your investment in rapid technology, this will be the best opportunity, from a pricing standpoint, to bring 3D printing in-house.

The list below highlights the quantity of machines available, followed by machine type and price.  The machines will not be available for delivery until late November 2009.

The machines come with a full warranty, as if they were brand new.  If you are interested, please get in touch with FISHER/UNITECH as soon as possible.  When they're gone, they're gone!

Please contact your account manager for further details.

Don't Know Who Your Account Manager Is? Please contact:
Lisa Van Giesen @ 800-816-8314, ext. 7129 or lvangiesen@funtech.com
Joe Rocca @ 800-816-8314, ext. 7114 or jrocca@funtech.com

• (8) uPrint @ $11,920
• (7) BST 768 @ $14,000
• (4) BST 1200es @ $15,120
• (6) SST 1200es @ $26,320
• (4) Elite @ $23,920
  

Mouse Gestures

I'm a huge fan of Mouse Gestures. I've been using them for quite some time in Firefox to navigate web pages. The addition of this type of navigation to SolidWorks was one of my favorite enhancements for SolidWorks 2010. Lets take a look.

Mouse Gestures allow you to set up a series of commands that are environment specific and commence based upon the direction you move your mouse while holding down the Right Mouse button. The commands can be customized as well as the number of commands that show up (4 Gestures or 8 Gestures).
Customizing Mouse Gestures is done as follows:

1. Go to Tools;Customize
2. Select the "Mouse Gestures" tab
   
3. Select how many gestures you would like displayed
4. By clicking the header at the top of each column, the column is filtered to show all gestures that have already been assigned
5. Click the box next to the command you want to assign a gesture to and choose the direction you would like assigned to the command.

In the end, I think you'll find that Mouse Gestures can help to significantly reduce the amount of mouse travel that's required and ultimately, help you navigate the software more efficiently!

SolidWorks 2010 Download Now Available

SolidWorks 2010 SP0 is available for download
This service pack is now available to Subscription Service customers. To download, click here. Or log into the SolidWorks Customer Portal at https://customerportal.solidworks.com and click Download Software and Updates to access the update.

For a listing of SPR's fixed in this Service Pack, click here.

Technical Support Case Study: Helix Feature Fails

[Case Study]

User receives the following error when creating a helix feature, “You are critically low on desktop application resources. Close some other application or some SolidWorks documents to free up resources, then click OK to continue using SolidWorks”

[Scenario]

User has a Windows XP 32-bit system, with 4GB of RAM and is using a SolidWorks certified video card and driver. After upgrading from SolidWorks 2009 SP3 to SolidWorks 2009 SP4.1, every time the user tries to create a helix feature the following error is thrown: You are critically low on desktop application resources. Close some other application or some SolidWorks documents to free up resources, and then click OK to continue using SolidWorks. After selecting OK, SolidWorks then crashes.

Resolution Attempt #1

The computer is rebooted to free up all resources and with no other application started, the helix feature is tried again. The results are the same, error message is thrown and SolidWorks crashes.

Resolution Attempt #2

The 3GB Switch for Windows XP 32-bit is enabled in the boot.ini file and the computer is rebooted. In theory, the 3GB switch allows for more memory to be used towards desktop applications. By default, all RAM memory is split 50-50. 50 percent use for the OS (operating system) and 50 percent use for the desktop applications. By enabling the 3GB switch, the ratio is changed to allow more memory for desktop applications. In the end, the results are the same, the error message is thrown and SolidWorks crashes.

For more information on the 3GB Switch, please see the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

Resolution Attempt #3

The Windows Desktop Heap is modified, which is a portion of memory set aside in the OS kernel that manages User Interface Objects (i.e. windows, menus, icons). It is important to understand what portion of desktop resources are being depleted, as arbitrarily changing values in the registry may have negative consequences and may not even address the root cause. Taken from SolidWorks knowledge base solution ID: S-031640

Again, the results are the same, error message is thrown and SolidWorks crashes.

For more information on Windows Desktop Heap, please see the following links:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ntdebugging/archive/2007/01/04/desktop-heap-overview.aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126962/

[Final Resolution]

After three attempts, the issues were identified and resolved by registering the Windows system32 file called msflxgrd.ocx. This file is a ActiveX control file (similar to a DLL) and is used for Visual Basic and C++.

To register this file:
Click Start > Run > and type CMD > then hit OK
Type the following in the command prompt: regsvr32 "C:\Windows\system32\msflxgrd.ocx"
Hit ENTER
A confirmation message will display saying that the file has been registered.

***

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call contact our technical support team by calling 800-816-8314 or logging a support case at http://support.funtech.com

Thank you.

3DVIA Mobile Allows You to See Your Models on Your iPhone

Need to level a shelf? There's an App for that. Want directions to your nearest coffee shop? There's an App for that. Need to show your latest 3D model to a client on the go? Now, there too, is an App for that!

3DVIA has created an application that allows you to view your models right on the iPhone screen. Due to limitations of the iPhones smaller screen, the models will not be as high quality as they would be on your desktop/laptop. However, this is ideal for giving your clients, co-workers, or friends an idea of what you are working on when you are away from your workstation. Even better news, for a limited time, this App is free!

For a quick video, and directions on how to get these models up and running on your iPhone click HERE for Matthew Wests' post on the SolidWorks blog. He takes you step by step through the process of downloading and viewing your models right from your phone screen!

3DU Instructors - Question of the Week (10-01-09)

I got some great questions in the middle of Advanced Assembly class this week and instead of waiting until next week to post them, you get to read them now!

How do I customize a flyout toolbar? Or, how do I create a new flyout menu?

1. First, open the associated toolbar of that flyout menu. Customize the associated toolbar and the flyout will also update. For instance, let’s customize the Curves flyout menu to include some other surfacing tools.

2. Right click anywhere in the command manager and turn on the Curves toolbar.

3. With this toolbar open, let's right click anywhere in the Command Manager and click on Customize at the bottom of the pop-up menu.

4. Go to the Commands tab and select Surfaces from the category list.

5. Drag and drop the Delete Face and Extruded Surface into the Curves toolbar.

6. Click OK to exit the Customize Window.

7. Click on the Curves flyout menu. Notice I only see Extruded Surface. This is because flyouts behave a little differently from a normal toolbar. If a command is not able to be used (grayed out) then it does not appear in the flyout. Now if I had a model open that had surfaces in it, both the surfacing commands would appear in the flyout.

Regarding the creation of BRAND NEW custom flyout toolbars, I’m still working on this question. I don’t see any obvious ways to do this other than to find an unused existing flyout toolbar and customize it. Changing the graphic is where I’m starting and I'll see if it’s something that can be added to the registry or install location. I’ll have more on this topic next week.

SolidWorks 2010 Launch Events

Our first batch of SolidWorks 2010 Launch Events finished up last week. We held events in ten locations including Troy, Grand Rapids and Traverse City, Michigan, Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and South Bend, Indiana, Springfield, Missouri, and in Lenexa, Kansas.

We would like to thank everyone who came out eager to see all the new features and functionality in SolidWorks 2010!  In total, we had nearly 450 people register for our events.  And we have more scheduled this week, and next!

I took a ton of pictures and was ready to share all of the highlights of the day...until I unloaded all the pictures from our camera to my hard drive...I never said I was a photographer...

A few pictures came out clear enough to make out human form, I'll at least share those with everyone.



This is probably the best picture I took all day. It's not even from our camera, it's from my cell phone. After a little Photoshop doctoring you can see that we had a pretty nice size crowd in Troy.

Here is our Marketing Manager (my boss, and fellow blogger), Lisa Van Giesen, presenting our Virtual Job Fair to the audience (shameless plug). We are currently approaching 1,000 unique visitors to the Fair with over 800 available job positions. If you haven't checked it out yet and you're looking for work or a career change check it out here http://funtech.veplatform.com/.

Once again, we greatly thank everyone that took the time to join us this year. We'll be scheduled SolidWorks 2010 webcasts covering SolidWorks, Simulation, EPDM and 3DVIA, so if you missed one of our live events, you'll have another opportunity to see What's New!

Stay tuned to our blog for details!

Upcoming events this week & next for SolidWorks 2010:

• Tuesday, October 13th, St. Peters, MO
• Tuesday, October 20th, Milwaukee, WI
• Wednesday, October 21st, Palatine, IL
• Thursday, October 22nd, Rockford, IL
  

How to Transfer a License of SolidWorks to a New Computer

Several users have asked me how to transfer their SolidWorks license activation from one machine to another. Below are the steps and some screen shots on how to move a license and how to modify your existing SW serial number if necessary. It should only take about 5 minuntes to complete this task.

1. Launch SolidWorks on the current computer you want to change.

2. Go to the Help menu and transfer the SW activation on that machine back to the SolidWorks product activation server.

3. After SolidWorks closes, go to the Control Panel, and select “Uninstall or Change a program.” (add/remove for Windows XP).

4. Select your SolidWorks installation, and pick “Change” if you are going to modify the SolidWorks serial number. Or "Uninstall" if you no longer want SolidWorks on that computer.

5. The Installation Manager will come up with your current SolidWorks Serial number...

6. Delete your old serial number, type in the new serial number for SolidWorks you want on the computer, add serial number(s) for Simulation or Flow Simulation if purchased, and complete the installation.

7. Start SolidWorks, and reactivate with the new serial number.

Do you like the Shortcut toolbar?

Yesterday I came up with an idea for having multiple shortcut toolbars inside SolidWorks that users could customize to create groupings for all their favorite SolidWorks commands. The inspiration for this is that I have been doing a lot of surfacing of late and accessing the tools via the surfacing toolbar which I have docked on the left side of my screen. I would like to have these tools on the shortcut toolbar but it is already packed with all my sketch and feature tools. So my thought was, why not have a shortcut key that I can put all my surfacing tools on? For that matter, I could also use another shortcut key for my sheet metal tools. Wouldn't it be great if we had a few of these handy little customizable shortcut toolbars? Well, if you share my appreciation for the s-key, and if you like the idea of having multiple shortcut toolbars, then make sure to voice your thoughts by telling SolidWorks via an Enhancement request.

Whether you like my idea or not, I'm sure you have some good ideas of your own that everyone would benefit from. Do yourself and the rest of us a favor and log it. The process is quick and easy. Simply log into the SolidWorks Customer Portal and then click on the link for Enhancement requests. (This access is only available to customers with active SolidWorks subscription service.)

By the way, if you like my idea I bet you'll also like Mouse Gestures. Stay tuned to learn more about this hot new capability in SolidWorks 2010.

FISHER/UNITECH Named Michigan Proprietary School

It's been a long time coming (14 months to be exact) but FISHER/UNITECH was just named a Michigan Proprietary School by the Department of Labor and Economic Growth.  To read our press release, click here.

What this means is displaced workers, those who have received a termination or layoff notice and those who are employed but whose household income is less than $40,000 may be eligible to receive up to $6,000 in state-funded grant money for continuing education and training.  Candidates who qualify for this funding can now take advantage of SolidWorks software and training packages (provided by FISHER/UNITECH) with no out-of-pocket cost.

Both our Troy and Grand Rapids, Michigan, locations were approved as Proprietary Schools. 

What You Should Do
To find out if you qualify for available funding, you'll need to visit your local MichiganWorks! agency.  There are 25 agencies covering every county in Michigan.  You can find a complete listing of locations at the MichiganWorks! website at:  http://www.michiganworks.org.

On the same topic, I wanted to share a news piece from the Manufacturing & Technology e-Journal dated October 2, 2009.  Governor Granholm announced that Michigan has been awarded $38 million by the US Department of Labor (USDOL) to provide job retraining and career support for 8,600 dislocated workers in 24 counties in Michigan.

To read the full article, please visit:  http://www.mfrtech.com/articles/2578.html.

Don't forget about our Virtual Job Fair - online now through November 30th.  New hiring companies that have joined our job fair since it's launch on September 9th include:

• Fisher Coachworks
• General Sheet Metal Works
• Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
• Robert Bosch Corporation

You can access our job fair 24/7 for information on over 800 design and engineering positions nationwide.  Don't miss out - http://funtech.veplatform.com.

DriveWorks Solo is Released

Most SolidWorks users know that DriveWorksXpress is included in every seat of SolidWorks and provides useful rules-based functionality for engineers that conduct many repetitive tasks.  For those of you who'd like to take it one-step further, take a look at DriveWorks Solo.  It offers some striking benefits in Solo that are not included in DriveWorksXpress.

1. Customizable forms in the task pane
2. On Demand - the ability to preview the results of changes
3. Data Re-use and Look Up
4. Flexibility over where results are stored
5. A sales tool as well as an engineering tool
6. 30-day free trial

More resources are available about this great product online.

Find out more about DriveWorks Solo

Download 30-day trial

Watch DriveWorks Solo in action

Download DriveWorks Solo sample projects

Read Al Dean's review of DriveWorks Solo