When I go biking during the summer, I rely on the frame of my bicycle to withstand stresses such as vibration and impact. As I speed down the trail, I think about the engineers and their process of designing a product that adeptly serves the needs of their customers. How... Continue reading

Imagine this scenario: you’re working from home and a team member asks to you to review their product designed in SolidWorks. You do not have access to your work computer, which has SolidWorks, but you need to provide feedback quickly to keep the design process moving. How do you view... Continue reading

Here at SolidWorks we often get asked the same question: “Where can I find materials to help me learn how to use SolidWorks?” Well, we have many resources for SolidWorks users of all levels to check out. If you’re a fan of textbook learning, you can find ample books online... Continue reading

It’s no mistake that a New York Times headline from last September read "Space Tourism is Here". While the human race has already reached the final frontier, the majority of people have probably never ventured into space, let alone traveled beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. With the recent upspring of private... Continue reading

This Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year. The day is usually celebrated with a drink of choice, but did you know that design plays a big role in actually shaping the way we drink? A great deal of design-thinking goes into making... Continue reading

Since 2011, when we first featured Donn McKinney’s U.S.S Missouri project, our friend Donn has further progressed in his work. To give some background to those of you who are unfamiliar with Donn’s project, Donn, a fan of World War II-era US battleships, is currently building a fully operational virtual... Continue reading

As business models and office spaces evolve to meet the expectations of the 21st century, more companies are embracing green, open spaces and collaborative environments. Many offices are designed with sustainability in mind, such as the Dassault Systemes Boston Office which uses Teknion Furniture, a SolidWorks customer. Teknion Furniture prides... Continue reading

As we discussed in Part One of the series, the Maker movement is harnessing ideas and technology to spur innovation. MakerBot’s Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer is bridging the gap between engineers, researchers, designers and creative professionals to create amazing, true-to-life products, quickly and easily. SolidWorks Simulation and Workgroup PDM... Continue reading

WIRED’s editor-in-chief Chris Anderson recently published a book suggesting that the Maker movement will likely transform the U.S. economy. Anderson believes that as the Maker movement gains momentum, the American spirit of tinkering and building will be re-tooled and made more user-friendly for the Internet Age. In his book, Anderson... Continue reading

Every family has its own set of holiday season traditions: getting together with loved ones, building an awesome gingerbread house, or hitting the slopes (for those of you in colder regions). This year at SolidWorks, we are keeping our own tradition. We’re publishing our second annual Holiday Gift Guide filled... Continue reading

Manufacturers such as Honda, General Electric and Boeing use heavy power tools and equipment for their design and engineering needs. However, lifting these loads can cause worker fatigue and injury while decreasing productivity. To alleviate worker payload-associated stress and reduce workplace-related injuries, Equipois, Inc. designed the zeroG human-assist mechanical arm... Continue reading

Similar to Felix Baumgarnter’s contribution to the future of space travel, SE Corp., an analysis consulting firm, has enabled the use of the Kennedy Space Station for at least another 50 years. Using SolidWorks Flow Simulation, SE Corp. analyzed the impact of an inadvertent rocket fuel ignition inside the Vehicle... Continue reading

Whether you’re trying to cool off your living room, restaurant, industrial plant or business, you’ll probably need a “big ass fan” to circulate high volumes of air and get the job done right. Big Ass Fans, a Kentucky-based manufacturer, produces high-volume, low-speed ceiling and vertical fans with a sleek design.... Continue reading

Music legends such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, and Kurt Cobain all have one thing in common aside from greatness: the Fender electric guitar. Offering a wide array of electric guitars such as the Stratocaster and the Telecaster, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is also known for... Continue reading

Complex technologies, such as desktop computers, involve many different components that have the tendency to overheat, including multiple printed circuit boards. How do you measure the impact of electricity and heat running through your product? POLYRACK Tech-Group employed the help of SolidWorks Flow Simulation for integrated packaging solutions that address... Continue reading

Construction of offshore platforms can often be costly and dangerous considering weather conditions and the possibility of drops into the cold ocean. For reliable and innovative vessels and equipment designs, the industry turns to Leenaars Marine & Offshore Design BV. With over 30 years of experience in the maritime industry,... Continue reading

As recycled materials become the new norm in many paper and plastic products, an efficient recycling facility is key for managing the influx of recycled items. CP Manufacturing designs plants that divide paper, plastic, rubber and all sorts of recyclables through a series of automated processes that separate material by... Continue reading

You may recall Matt West’s blog post last year about Design That Matters, a non-profit organization that aims to provide affordable phototherapy treatments to developing global communities. Design That Matters also presented at SolidWorks World in 2009. This year the organization received a silver award for the 2012 International Design... Continue reading

Car maintenance is a necessary evil for most car owners – you know you have to do it, but many of us avoid it or put it off until the car needs repair. While going to the auto mechanic may be costly, some drivers still choose to leave that work... Continue reading

From experience, I know that the perfect shoe can be hard to find, especially when you are looking for anything ranging from casual shoes to hiking boots and occupational footwear. To be able to walk a mile in your shoes, you have to rely on a comfortable pair. With Wolverine... Continue reading

Being a recent Brandeis University graduate and long-time Massachusetts resident, I have seen my fair share of BigBelly Solar waste compactors. They’re all over Boston and the Brandeis campus. Throughout my college years, I always wondered what differentiated this barrel from all the others and why it occasionally grumbled. After... Continue reading

As I was pouring my cup of coffee this morning, it occurred to me that every coffee capsule I put in the machine produced the same result: the flavor remains just as tasty no matter which package you choose. Being a huge coffee nerd, coffee taste, bitterness and freshness are... Continue reading