One of my favorite model is this Universal AC plug. This is special because there is NO data sheet been given and need to get the fine detail as close to the actual one as possible. Have a look…

Here is the actual picture, taken from supplier website:

Check down here for the supplier link:

http://www.wonpro.cc/en/products_list.php?catalog_id=44

You can download this and my other designed models via my 3D Content Central page. I am proud to be one of designer that contribute design at 3DCC for making SolidWorks… working world…a better place..

http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/Contributors.aspx?id=832104

And please leave a comment while you at it. Cheers.

No, you are not dreaming Neo… You can enter a virtual realm and explore endless possibility of it. Thanks to SolidWorks Innovation Day , this is the close you can get to a reality and people  around the world is there with you in the same time.

Recently, I went to the Solidworks Innovation 2009 Virtual Event from comfort of my office. Just get a wired PC connected to the internet, and make access  via Internet Explorer (I had to make a exemption of it due other browser don’t successfully load the page.IE suxs by the way.)

After login, I wait a while for the API and page to load up. At first , the progress stuck at login ‘success’ phase, after nearly half an hour, I decide to switch to IE, even though I didn’t like it. Since it works with 3D Content Central  Viewpoints 3D… I tought it may work here..

OK, the first view  that you expected from an actual seminar..is the lobby. They done great job  putting the button in the right place without troubling visitor to figure what to do with it.

The Lobby consist of 3 section, the center, where they show glimpse of whats going on later. The left wing is the Exhibit Halls where the join venture company show their demonstration.The right wing is the Auditorium, and this is where most of the people will hang out, waiting video from spoke person to be reveal.The event schedule already been release before, so that people what to expect from it. Think of it when you line up at the cinema.. we go more detail later.

The neat feature is the live chat function .You can see other visitors in the same room as you or all at other places during event. All the basic info like  country and the company they’re from is display beside each persons name. You drop a chat with someone or invite to a private group discussion. There is even a business card exchange function as in real life.  If you plan to scout a new job at a new company, this is the place.

OK, we move to Exhibit Hall. Here you can see virtual company booth that can be interact and zoom in.

This is the booth. Each table can be interact to show on which topic or section it been represented. One thing that I would to complain is the absence of a booth girl. What gives? At least a non animated  picture should be fine.  I hope to see this in next year event.In certain section, you can even swipe a virtual badge in order to call in the authorized representative to assist you. That  person will private message by once he acknowledge your request.

Zooming in, it will pop out a list of video title  that you can pick. Click on certain title and the will show in a bigger screen like below.

On a good side, the buffering time of the video is kept short and the video showed flawlessly with out the need to pause and wait for it. The audio and video is crystal clear (for a flash embedded) and you the feel that a real person been giving a speech to you.

So, we go back to the main lobby. Here I show you the layout and the list of available booth .

Another neat feature is the Event Bag or goody back feature. Yes, like in real life, people will gather up brochures and papers while walking around from spot to spot.In here you can pick a PDF files, similar to brochures that you can store temporarily for later viewing.

To better utilize this function, you can filter it first at the Preference, and pick what interest you.The event will automatically recommend you on what to collect to your goody bag.

Just remember to download all in your bag before log off,so that  you can have a look  once you reach your desktop….same as you reach at home.

Lets go the main part, the Auditorium

I like the blue curtain on the side and small heads on the bottom screen, it give the sense of a real seminar to it. Again, the loading time of each video is acceptable.. with minor buffering. The just sit back and enjoy the event and give the full experience as in real seminar.

Even opening video is breathtaking, I’m so really into touching thing and model it as it in real life. Perhaps in the future we can model a product as visualize in the opening video.

So, there you have it.. my review of this in virtual event.  For those who still haven’t go there, head over to http://innovationday.veplatform.com to register and experience now.

Let’s say, some day… that day may come (line from Don Vito Corleone, Godfather 1 movie ^^) you got call from a lady, usually a HR are or the receptionist, saying that you been invited to come to certain company for a job interview.

Ok, after you finished jumping and scream excitement to friend and neighbors,  there are things need to be prepare for this interview in order to guarantee it’s success.

For general things, head to this website Preparing for an Interview , courtesy lowyat.net. I will explain things that I did and hope this help in your future interviews.

1. Dress to impress – Long sleeve for fresh graduate and newbies, short sleeve are for pro. Depends on what job you interview, short sleeve showed that you are up to some elbow greasing rather than starring at a monitor all day.
2. Latest certificate first, school days later – This what I been suggested on my recent interview, the person said they are more likely to know what been doing recently rather than high school track record.For the school things, they would like to know you are active or not,rather than being a nerd.
3. Be a chatter box – don’t be a half duplex communication like walkie talkie. If they ask something, tell them more and try related to the things that you did, or cook something up. A general tips is, dont let the interviewer spend more time reading your certificate rather than your face.
4. Print out your design – “Print , or it never happened”, don’t just say that you did this, did that but nothing to prove.The interviewer are more interest in this rather than your colorful certificate and big number CGPA. To further prove that you made this, explain to them the step that you perform until you finished it.
5. Be prepare for the test – They wont just simply buy your story, high chance is they will throw something for you to design in a certain time on your first interview. When design against time, make you have an arsenal of shortcut keys memorize to speed up the design. Make sure you ask interviewer first, what version of solidworks been using in that company, so that you know the button location and work a round for a feature that  not been implemented on old version.
6. Ask when you will know the result – In generally, they would say 2 weeks. In truth is, if the company interest on you, they would call and tell the good news all call for a second interview. After one week, they is a higher chance they found some lucky bastard that better than you. This is base on my experienced.

For a bonus tip, it help to learn how to read body languages, this help to know whether a person buying what you said or you loosing them.You can google it a round, or go watch Lie To Me, a very interesting series, close to CSI.

So, good luck and may the force be with you.

For those who have facebook, I created a trivia quiz, just for bragging .. how good you all in solidworks.Head over here:

http://apps.facebook.com/solidworks–cgcdbfh/

The question is base from SolidWorks’s wikipedia website and some base in the environments itself. Just pay attention to detail when answering it.

For more tips… and answers, you can study at this website:

http://www.engatech.com/tip-archive.htm

P/s: Guru Pitka will be rewarded for those bright headed.

Ok, if you been using Solidworks, chances that you are a Mechanical Design Engineer would be high.  Others may work as a product designer, lecturers and other that would use a CAD software.

Recently, I search on  Malaysia’s jobstreet.com, using the Salary Report Tool,  just how much a person like me, a MDE would be paid on certain position level. Here is the result:

Even for a fresh graduate, it consider high payment for job that involve sitting in a air conditioned room, clicking mouse, while alt+tab with facebook website from time to time.

Well that’s the usual..routine case.

Actually you been pay to create things that people imagine,  and that it is not easy..so it well suited for what you been paid.But the more into this field, the wiser you get and more you can demand for a salary.Just need to show off what you can do during interview.

So… that numbers is what you will be having in your bank account each month, comparing it with a government job, at least your life will be more open and challenging rather than a predetermined work slave at government offices.

That’s what my dad said.

The reason for me to start blogging,well…. after been reading my friend Red Hat/Linux blog… I been thinking I should do the same with Solidworks, it is my interest anyway.

After all, there are quite a number of solidwork blog such as from engineers like Gabi Jack, Josh Ming, Mike Pucket, been post and sharing their ideas. So, why not I make my own?

Each engineers have their own style of modeling.For me, Im into mould design, others might be proficient in sheet metal, surface modeling…or welding. Other then that, my blog serve a purpose  that in the future, I can back track in this site on some technique or method, as it been feature in my blog rather then goggling it back in the internet.Neat huh?

Whats my story with SWUGN? (dude..what is it?….shut up! Im getting there)

One day, some guy from Facebook added me as friend (normally I would reject guy request)..I believe he notice my blog as I posted in Solidworks Asia facebook group

This fine chap, introduce himself as Mr. Lau and said he like my idea..huh? Wah.. I go fan now..naiss. But later I found out that he is the Product Manager of  a company that authorized solidworks distribution in Malaysia..

He spark me with an idea…SWUGN?

I’m not sure I get this right or not, his plan were to take over the world by a league extraordinary solidwork geek that can design weapon of mass destruction for him…thus world domination.

“Join me and your life will be spare”, Mr. Lau said.

Then I say, “Never! Feed me with Big Mac first.. then I join your army of the forsaken brotherhood”

Ok.. that was not  really happen. SWUGN is a group of users( engineers or student) that committed to promote Solidwork modeling and design in Malaysia.

SWUGN stand for SolidWork Users Group Network. Hey, when I write it up.. doesnt seem bad at all..SWUGN..hmm.my brain may been processing SWine that time when he propose that name…thats why I cannot agree.

Actually, it is something like this:

What we gonna do actually?

First, we act as a hub for all solidwork user in Malaysia (for now) to share their knowledge and experience of solidworks.So it will call M(Malaysia)-SWUGN (now seem like a military rifle model)

So, the first act is to get all this people together in one group. This can be a discussion forum ( like lowyatt.net) or the simplest thing is via Facebook group. Promote to people and give the website address.

Once we get people together, here is some idea of mine that we can do:

1. Gather up job related to Solidworks and share -  For members that been working, sometime their company need urgently a designer. They can post up a job advert of their company to this site. Someone can try their luck without going to site like Jobstreet.com. Heck, if you want a solidwork designer… you come to a right place.
2. Freelance for hire – I myself hate to do drawing and spread sheet… detail dimensioning and exploded drawing. Its tedious to done especially whet it is a lot and you have other things to do as well. Why not get some student to do for you?  For some cash, they would not reject this request.  Plus, its a good way to spot some talented person to hire.
3. Design challenge- For the elite and veteran… put your self to a test with weekly design challenge. For each week, somebody go snap something in real life and challenge it to be model in virtual world.  Solid extrusion or surface modelling? make your move. For best result, photoworks recommended.

So, this some of idea that can be  implement in SWUGN. Perhaps, in future, when we gain more members… there more things can be done. Then Solidworks will be huge in Malaysia.

Here something that the others been doing: http://www.swugn.org/

Actually, I’m tired living in a country that re-brand  something and claiming its ours. It took years to develop and design but when come here, peel of the old brand and stick “Made in Malaysia” on it. Do I need to feel proud? Hell NO!

I’m proud if the Petronas Twin Tower been design by local, kampung born Malaysian… not some Argentine-American architect. Where do our engineers/architect/designer gone to?

And buying submarine is not a thing that need to be proud of… its just buying, because we cannot afford to make it.That’s is a shame for a well develop country like us.

So… its time we get our act together and do something to this country. Together, we can even design and make a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier (USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76)at Port Klang.

Now, that is something can brag about.

OK  OK, the title does not make sense anyway but I would like to share with you all some tips on sketching, the foundation of Solidwork modeling… well, other thing also…. so that you can make knock out punch of your design..anytime.

In sketching, there a two things need to understand and know where to apply; Dimensions and Relations.

First of all, the preparation  before sketching…

If you are new to  Solidwork and still learning it, hovering around and clicking icon in different place does not make  a big deal… but when you getting better, the urge to minimize such delay kicks in. That is why most designer use ‘shortcuts’ to sprint things up.

Depends on the user style…some like to organize their buttons on one side to minimize mouse movement  or while others like to right click the right mouse button to access the sketching buttons.

For me, as a gamer… prefer to dual-wield my input peripheral (mouse and keyboard) rather letting my right hand do the clicking and the lefty..well… touch some place the should not be mention here.

Since I’m used to FPS or RPG game key layout, the combination that I would like recommend to assign  as shortcut is:

(Tools –> Customize –> Keyboard)

Alt + S  = Smart Dimension

Alt + R = Add Relations

You be using this two a lot during sketching. Because in sketching, Dimensions and Relation is important, as I mention above

OK matey… lets start sketching.

The first thing you encounter when creating new part is to pick a plane as base. Before start anything, imagine the end product will look like and how it will stand, here is some guideline:

• Single thickness extrusion (chocolate bar,coin) = Sketch from TOP
• Cylindrical that need revolve (Tin can,bottle, vase) = Sketch from FRONT
• Model that need to mirror = Sketch from RIGHT (mean you need to model in one side, the final step is just to mirror to complete whole design)

Once you pick the plane, make sure to start at origin to avoid under define to your sketch later.

Press ‘S’ to pop out a sketch control button at you mouse tip rather dragging the mouse to the buttons at top screen. Exercise this method and you will cut sketching time a lot in the future.

I am lazy  to go through detail like how to use guideline to horizontal or vertical and read relation icon, I just point some detail that you might miss or dint know.

Lets continue…

Once you start dragging, notice the decimal number near cursor like above pictures? and it will change value according the distance or the way  you drag the mouse.Well, this number is a guideline on how the size it will be so that you would not end up sketching a M8 nut to a size of a 17″ inch wheel.

So next time don’t go happy-doodling like  it  was a Microsoft Paint. Pay attention to number , sketch respectively. (Do I sound like don’t drink and drive commercial?)

Once you finish your doodling… I call it doodling, because with out dimension….its just a concept, fresh from your brain…that Blue line need to turn bad to to Black.

The Blue line is under define,  a doodle. To give them attitude, you need to define them with relation or dimension.Once the turn black, any change will affect the other line if related to them. This how things been done hommies~

Hit Alt + S and start dimensioning from the maximum length (edge to edge)  and then after that,continue with inner side ad the doodle doodle line. Be aware on which to dimension first or you might end up with over-defined =  RED (If you keep ignore the YELLOW) at the end.

If you cannot figure out whats wrong and dunno how to fix it, allow Solidwork provide some solutions for you:

1. Hit the “Over Defined” button at the below screen
2. The Sketch Expert will pop out and offer options to solve the problem.
3. Pick “Diagnose” and browse through possible solution.
4. Remember, always pick option that have the least relation deleting step to avoid further problem.
5. All solution will solve the conflict but, only the best one will stay you out or trouble in the future..so,choose wisely.

But if thing get out of hands and your sketch have more yellow and red rather then black or blue lines… its time to wipe it all and start over again:

Display/Delete Relations –> Relations: [All in this Sketch]–> Hit “Delete All” button

Move your ass from your PC and take a walk and have a coffee break. Its frustrating at first but you get over it. The second time you do it, you already know what that to be done and what is to avoid. Dont finish the sketch of you are not happy with it.

OK lets move to Relation.

Relation is a bit tricky to manipulate and understand for beginner. For any line in sketch, you address it on what it will need to follow and posses relative  the origin. You can say it is a duplicate that you can control what to have from original or not .For me, I sometime I  use it to eliminate the need to dimension a same thing…I like my sketch to be neat and have only the necessary dimension.

For example:

Now the right circle have the same diameter as the left one with out putting dimension to it. For lines, you can assign it so that have a same parallel angle or been overlay on top of its original source.

Another thing need to understand about this blue doodle line is they tends to follow any fully define dragging them. It will come to nuisance sometime dealing with it.And by dragging the doodle line, if it move on certain direction..then you know where to put dimension so that it will lock in place.

Another good habit is to sketch or add relation base on construction line. You have a great direction once apply it properly.

Lastly, the ultimate way to define sketch is to use the “Fully Define Sketch” function. All the dimension and relation will apply relative to origin location.

Tools–> Dimensions–>Fully Define Sketch

Yes…it may save the  trouble from doing the manual step that I just explained…but bear in mind…use this in simple sketch… not in complex because you are not in a full control and if you do a major change like delete the existing line, at the end of the day, you might end up delete all the relation and sketch and start all over again. Use with extra, extra caution.

So, I bid you all farewell for now and happy sketching.

Click for more candy

Demn, this is my situation, I have Nvidia Quadro FX 570 at my workstation but working with Solidwork basic edition.

At my home I installed Solidworks with the Premium edition, but stuck with ATI RADEON HD 4850 card. Im just waiting this card go die so that I can get the Solidwork certified graphic card to start rendering.

There is a flash bios mod…converting RADEON to FireGL (solidwork certified graphic card).

ATI Radeon To ATI FireGL Mod Guide Rev. 5.1

4850 / 4870 mod to fireGL

The diffrent between  Radeon and FireGL is just bios firmware while the performance is much the same.Its just a marketing scheme so that the FireGL can be sold at higher price do the fact CAD engineers are richers from gamers.

DISCLAIMER: I haven try it, be sure you willing to regret if things get screwed up.

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In my opinion, using CAD need a lot of experience. Enough said.

“Dad, what is your job?”.

“I’m a mechanical design engineer, sonny boy”

“Uh?”

See, its kinda hard to explain it. In lame definition its like you are rocket scientist to design that related to law of gravity, force, inertia which is not in my case.Well, that’s another kind of ME (Mechanical Engineer), but mine is man the keyboard and mouse all day long, thinking of something to craft from a thin air.

Think of me in situation that somebody sparked a new idea, and then you…which in this case is me, need it to be close to reality as possible.Be inspire, be creative…. Its kinda art actually.

The idea don’t have restriction, but when come putting  it together… the hard part begins.

To be honest with you all, Solidworks is easy to learn, and I really stress on that. The tricky part is to apply what you knew and implemented it at the right way and the right sequence and the right time.

“How you design actually?” If your kid ask.

The first thing is to gather information as much of possible rather then jump and open a new sketch. Dont just do it if somebody said that this thing need certaint length, width and height, you should need to know more detail…like is there any hole? Does the edge need to chamfer or not? What is the possible variable on design?

Make sure you have enough information to start a model foundation which in this case, the Sketch.

The best thing to do is to ask for the data sheet or technical drawing of the product that you need to model. Remember, if you cannot imagine the end product, don do it yet.Make sure you can visualize in your head first.

Next, model first, finishing later..

Don’t bother to put chamfer or fillet to the edge on a half done project. Later you might mistakenly following curve tangent rather then edge to outline another segment.The worse is when the chamfer/fillet is on the part that you need to delete later and it is related to others.

Another thing is need to know when to model using a ‘feature’ or just by ‘drawing’…

For instance, why you need to sketch a rounded edge rectangle when you can can just make ordinary rectangle and apply fillet feature later?  Another example is if you intend to put a screw hole, why draw a extrude cut hole when you can just use the hole wizard feature. You have more control of the thread size and end finish (counter sink or through hole) if want to modified later.

Try to utilize the feature provided in Solidworks, if the thing you making have a repeating profile= pattern it, if you think it have a symmetrical line = mirror it, don’t waste you time on sketch things that can be made using feature, it’s the foundation and keep simple and tidy…you don’t want to mess it around much.

Once you done with it, there is something need to consider = TOLERENCE.

In Solidwork virtual environment, all can be seen as match that has been made in heaven, when come to real thing.. nothings perfect. That’s why you need to leave a margin for error , and inform the toolmaker how much they can screw up. Normally, +/- 0.3mm should sufficient, so it should be that  gap between parts when parts mate in Solidworks assembly.

If you designing something that need to be injection molded, please bear in mind that its not everything can have 90 degree shoot straight towards the sky. All the profile that perpendicular to the product floor must have at least 0.5 degree of draft angle.

The reason is that injected material is shrinked down once it cool off in the mold.This will be inform by manufacturer how much shrinkage  percentage can happen. Draft angle can eliminate the problem that material stuck to the core or the cavity of the mold, and help the ejecting process by the ejecting pin. For more info can be read at here: http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/dep/draftangle.htm

When to making assemblies, one rule of thumb needs to remember, DO NOT MAKE FUKIN BIG assembly!

You can actually assemble parts that is from an already made assembly file, making it a sub assembly. To much parts in one assembly will fryour workstation like playing Crysis game on a Pentium 2,if it can run.But “lightweight mode” can help if still want to do large assemblies.

The most important thing tips, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR WAY BACK.

Please don’t go happy extruding or digging hole on top of other thing when you can modify the original sketch. Later in a future when you need modified something; you have hard time dealing with invalid relation or over defined sketches, and that is the closest thing to hell for design engineer if you don’t know what you are doing. The may end up delete all the sketch relation or even worse.. make a new sketch.

Here is a tip; if you want know your way back, MAKE YOUR ROAD SHORTER. Try to eliminate the modeling step as much as possible, the tree that branches on your left screen. If you tend to make a long list of step, cut it back, later on it will save your time or life. In addition,don’t be lazy. Fully define the sketch… don’t over look the yellow warning, and for god sake, don’t  “Distance Mate” in your assembly just for fun, unless you are dumping the design to another guy that you hate.Please mate respectively.

So, there you are son… how to design and save your time and your ass in the same time.  Designing is a subject to changes, and you will never know when it will come, trust me….It happened to me a lot. This serve as a mental note to me and hope it will help you guys out there to understand more on Mechanical Design

Anyway, I attach my recent rejected by my management design due to their monkeys late to spark any idea over their brain since 2 weeks when I start doing this thing.Since it will not be implemented in final design, it safe to post it here.

It’s a lithium polymer cell pack for mobile telecommunication antenna base station all over Malaysia. This what happen when you substitute a monkey for a brain to decide which battery cell is FCC approve rather go the cheap one….sigh.

So, I’m signing of now… cheers to all.