Stratasys released the Mojo 3D Printer this week. It’s a revolutionary 3D prototype printer that utilizes the trusted FDM technology to create accurate, durable prototypes. It’s small enough to sit on a desk or table, and affordable enough to serve as a justifiable solution for a small business. Check out this video for more info :
Visit Prism Engineering for more information, or to download a whitepaper.
On Monday, Prism exhibited at the Philly Robotics Expo at Drexel University’s Bossone Center. It was an event that was part of Philly Tech Week 2012. It was a great event, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.
The Robotics Expo showcases student designed and produced robots, mini-competitions, and seminars, all of which focused around STEM. For the second year in a row, I was shocked at the level of complexity and ingenuity of some of the exhibited robots. It is also incredible to talk with some of the younger attendees, who have created robots with the ability to catch AND throw basketballs!
I had SolidWorks open on my laptop for people to see, and I had a few kids come up that wanted to try the software. Within seconds, they were able to spin the 3D models around, pan, zoom, and actually move assemblies. This younger generation is growing up with this technology at their fingertips, so they are able to adapt to it very quickly. This gives great hope for the future, because these kids are going to be our engineers and scientists of tomorrow. I know that I speak for all of Prism Engineering when I say that we were very excited to be a part of such a great event and we look forward to returning next year!
~ Dan Wagner, Applications Engineer
In my previous blog, I showed you an example of a problem a customer ran into using pull down type fields in his data card. What I didn’t show you was how those types of pull downs are created in the first place. So, this blog will get down to basics.
Good question. Think of it as category and subcategory. I could have a pull down with a list of manufacturers:
Then, I could have a second pull down that will display different car models depending on what I selected in the first list. So for example, if I chose Volkswagen in the first list, my second list might be limited to:
Where as, if I chose Toyota in the first list, the second list might be limited to:
Pretty cool, right? In the case of my previous blog, I used a list containing “A, B, C” in the first pull down and the second pull down would display “A1, A2, A3″ or “B1, B2, B3″ or “C1, C2, C3″ depending on what was selected in the first list. Let’s see how I did this wonderful bit of “EPDM-ing”.
What you get next, is a simple window where you can enter in the items of your list in the order in which you would like them to appear to the user. Be sure to name your list in the “List name:” field, and also be sure to save your list when you are done. Fortunately, EPDM is polite enough to ask if you want to save if you attempt to exit the list editor without saving first.
You will need a list for each category and subcategory. So I created a list for my main categories of “A, B, C” and separate lists for “A1, A2, A3″ etc.
Here are all my lists next to each other. So, you can see what I did:
The second combobox needs to be dependent on the first. So, the variable it is being controlled by is “List 1.” That’s the list that has A, B or C in it. If the list 1 variable is equal to A, then the second combobox should display “List A1-A3.” If the list 1 variable is equal to B, then the second combobox should display “List B1-B3.” If the list 1 variable is equal to C, then the second combobox should display “List C1-C3.”
And that’s it. With a little bit of practice, I’m sure you will be using intelligent, cascading style pull downs in your own data cards.
I look forward to hearing any questions or comments on this topic. So, please feel free to post comments below, or to email me at SWTech@prismeng.com.
Thanks for taking a look at today’s blog. Until next time, I wish you happy data management.
Stephan Hess
I ran into an interesting challenge while helping a customer through an evaluation of EPDM. He wanted cascading style pull downs on his data card. This, in itself, is not a big deal, but he ran into a problem that I had not considered before. If he selected values in his pull down menus and then went back to the driving pull down to change its value, it would leave old information in the other fields creating an impossible combination of values.
the old value of “A3″ which really should not be a possible value if the first pull down is now set to “B.” Grrrrrrrrrrr…
Stephan Hess
When we do implementations, it’s very common to find that
customers use PDF files as their officially released document. This becomes especially important for departments within the company that are not CAD users. Fortunately, SolidWorks EPDM has configurable tasks built in that not only allow the creation of PDF documents, but you can also trigger these events from your workflow automatically.
From within the EPDM administration tool, expand your
vault and then expand the “Tasks” node. Open the “Convert” task.
When you begin the Convert Task, the following bullet points illustrate the nine options that appear in the blue left-hand column:
Input Card: You may build and use a data card to input descriptive
metadata that will display on the resulting PDF file’s data card.
You can have the task execute as a different user other than the logged in user. That is, you can execute the task with a user that has the permissions to do so. I recommend the default option of <Execute as logged in user> and be sure to allow task execution in the user or group settings.
Here you decide which computer is going to execute the task.
Only computers that are enabled to run the task may host the PDF conversion.
“Is my machine enabled?” That is a very good question:
In the bottom right of your Windows 7 desktop is the notification area. (You’re on Windows 7, right? XP support stops next year for SolidWorks). Select on the up arrow and select the EPDM blueberry. Choose “Task Host Configuration.”
Check the box for your machine to enable it. Also, be sure that
the appropriate vault is selected if you have multiple vaults.
Here you will enter what you will see when you right mouse click on
a file in your windows explorer while you are in the vault. “Status bar help text” allows you to control what is displayed when you hover over the menu command similar to a tool tip.
Here is where you determine what file type is going to be exported.
There are several to choose from:
This is also where you decide which configurations are being exported and which sheets will be exported. The critical thing that I will mention is you can allow the user to control these settings. You will notice there are several opportunities to check the option “Allow the user to change this setting.”
Rather than using an input data card for your exported PDF’s, you
can copy existing information from the original drawing’s data card over to the new one. This is the method I use most often. It keeps you from inputting data twice.
On this page, you set the output path of your newly created PDF files.
You also determine what the new PDF file will be named. The right arrow next to the output path allows you to choose variables to assist in naming the file. On this page, you can also choose a secondary path for output and decide what you want to do with duplicate files.
Here you determine which users or groups will have the ability to execute this task.
On this page you can set what the success notification reads and who will
get the notification. I recommend that the person that launched the task receives the notification.
In the unlikely event of an error, you can specify what the message reads
and who will get the message. Maybe you would pick someone you have a grudge against and have all the error notifications go to them, or it may be better to have the person that executed the task receive the notification. Just like the step above.
I mentioned earlier in this blog that you can execute these conversion tasks in the workflow. Edit the properties of the transition that you would like to trigger the task. Typically, that would be the transition that sends the files to the approved state. Create a new action and select execute task from the pulldown. Typically, PDF’s are only created for drawing files, so be sure to have the action only run on SLDDRW files..
After completing all of these steps, you will have successfully automated the process of creating a PDF!
I look forward to hearing any questions or comments on this topic. So, please feel free to post comments below, or to email me at SWTech@prismeng.com.
Thanks for taking a look at today’s blog. Until next time, I wish you happy data management.
Stephan Hess
Philadelphia, PA – March 28, 2012 – Prism Engineering, Inc., a leading provider of CAD/CAM products and training services in the Mid-Atlantic region, announced today an agreement to acquire Dominion CAD/CAM of Lynchburg, VA.
Effective immediately, Prism will replace Dominion as the sole provider for Mastercam sales, technical support, and training services in Virginia and will also be authorized to represent Mastercam in West Virginia.
Mark Summers, President of CNC Software (Mastercam Developer) stated, “The acquisition of Dominion CAD/CAM by Prism Engineering should be advantageous for Mastercam customers in the VA/WV area as they will now have direct access to a large and diversified support staff at Prism, which has been one of our most successful Mastercam resellers over the past 21 years.”
Prism Engineering’s Mastercam Division was recognized in recent years for its outstanding performance in both sales, with a “Top Ten North American Sales” ranking, and Technical Support Services, with a “#1 Maintenance Renewals World-Wide” ranking.
“We are extremely pleased with the opportunity to acquire Dominion CAD/CAM,” said John Ewell, President of Prism Engineering. “We look forward to leveraging Prism Engineering’s wide array of Mastercam services and machining experience with our new customers in VA and WV.”
“This is great news for Mastercam users in our area,” said Todd Patterson, former President of Dominion CAD/CAM. “The merger with Prism Engineering’s talented and award-winning organization will provide a significant improvement in technical support response time, overall customer service, and we’ll now have a host of new products and services to offer our customers.” Patterson was assigned as Regional Manager for Prism’s new Lynchburg, VA office and training center.
Prism Engineering will host three additional Virginia Mastercam X6 Rollout events during the month of April to accommodate Mastercam users in our new region: Roanoke, VA, Chester, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA. Please review details here.
About Prism Engineering, Inc.: Prism Engineering is a leading provider of 3D CAD/CAM, analysis, data management & prototyping solutions in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic. Major product offerings include: SolidWorks®, SolidWorks® Simulation, Enterprise Data Management, Mastercam for CNC Machining, and Dimension 3D Printers. Prism also offers a host of complimentary Training and Support Services at its five regional facilities & training centers located in Suburban Philadelphia (HQ), Allentown, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD and Lynchburg, VA. For more information, please contact Prism at 888-441-9696 or visit www.prismeng.com.
About Mastercam: Developed by CNC Software, Inc., Mastercam is Windows®-based CAD/CAM software for 2- through 5-axis routing, milling and turning, 2- and 4-axis wire EDM, 2D and 3D design, surface and solid modeling, artistic relief cutting, and Swiss machining. CNC Software is a privately owned corporation founded in 1984. The U.S.-based company provides Mastercam CAD/CAM solutions to more than 165,000 installations in 75 countries in industries including mold-making, prototyping, automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer products. Mastercam runs under Windows 7, Windows Vista®, and Windows XP, and is compatible with all other CAD/CAM systems. For more information about CNC Software, Inc. and its Mastercam family of products, contact CNC Software, Inc., M – F, 8 AM – 6 PM EST at (800) 228-2877 or (860) 875-5006,-671 Old Post Road, Tolland, CT 06084. Or visit www.mastercam.com.
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Contact: Elizabeth Shovlin, Marketing Coordinator: 215-449-0415, eshovlin@prismeng.com
Data management has always been a focus for engineering and production companies. Even companies without a PDM (product data management) system utilize data and revision management.
Consider the example of drawing a “title block” or “revision table” in SolidWorks. In many ways, drawing title blocks and revision tables is a form of data management. Engineers and designers maintain current revision numbers (or letters), sign offs, design changes, and “where used” information from the title block and revision table. This may work out OK when your engineering team is only one or two people working on one project at a time, but as your company grows and your productivity increases, your team may need to look to a computerized system to handle product data management (PDM).
Enterprise PDM (EPDM) is a great Windows-based data management solution for SolidWorks users.
1. Workflow Management and Notifications
The workflow management in EPDM will allow for seamless approvals and can incorporate digital sign-offs to approve revisions. The built-in notification system can instantly notify required users when a document is ready for review and can be moved through the design process without email, phone notifications, or verbal confirmation.
2. Company-wide data management solution
While EPDM is known as, “The data management solution for SolidWorks,” it can also manage revisions of ANY windows-based document. Word docs showing ECOs and .jpeg images illustrating proposed changes, excel spreadsheets or any other windows-based document can be checked into the EPDM vault and revision managed. Document workflows can be tailored to handle these file types using different rules that SolidWorks file types.
With this capability, EPDM can then be utilized by EVERY department, not just engineering: legal, marketing, order management, manufacturing, etc could all use EPDM to handle their data management needs.
3. Instant cross site and multi-site collaboration
With EPDM, collaboration becomes instantaneous. Users and viewers from different departments access all files in the vault (provided they have permissions) at any time during the design process. If a company has multiple facilities in different locations the EPDM vault can be replicated so that the data in the vault will instantly reflect changes made at any of the sites. Should one of YOUR customers need to approve a working design they can be given temporary access to the files and allowed to view their files, even from offsite.
This small list only scratches the surface of the possibilities and advantages you will gain by implementing Enterprise PDM. For more information please feel free to contact the Prism Engineering technical team.
Hope you enjoyed this post,
Andy Billiard
Certified Enterprise PDM Professional (CPDMP)
Prism Engineering, Inc.
Joy of joys, I got my new X6 in the mail. So I install, and right away I notice that my background is some dark blue and not the cheesy shade of chartreuse mandated by corporate policy that I had to set up in X5. To make matters worse, my posts and the spiffy tool library I painstakingly created are nowhere to be found!
Now what?
Well, I learned a hard lesson the last time, so I know I can’t simply copy my X5 files and drop them into the X6 locations.
1) First ,I create a folder on the Desktop. I call it Migrate.
2) Then, I go to the C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\CNC_MACHINES. This is where my Machine and Control definitions are. I copy (make sure to copy, not move) any custom definitions I have from C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\CNC_MACHINES to Migrate.
3) Next, I go to the location of my post processors. They will be in folders based on the product type.
Mill posts in C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\Mill\Posts
Lathe posts in C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\Lathe\Posts
I’m sure you can guess where Router and Wire posts are located.
…Alright, I’ll tell you:
Router posts in C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\Router\Posts
Wire posts in C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\Wire\Posts
I notice a folder called Tools located under the same folder that Posts was in. In there I find my custom tool library and copy that to Migrate as well.
4) Now for the X6 part.
I open X6 and click on File and look down the options and finally see Update Folder. It’s right above Migration.
Migration. That’s what I want to do. Why not use that?
Well, because it doesn’t work. ‘Nuff said. Truth be told, it does work, somewhat. Anyway, Update Folder is the location you want to use.
5) I set up the dialog box like this:
6) Then I click the green check.
It shows me the log file from the post update and puts all the updated files in the Migrate folder.
7) All I need to do now is copy the mmd-6 and control-6 to C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx6\CNC_MACHINES. Notice it’s mcamx6 now. The posts go to C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx6\Mill\Posts and the tools-6 go to C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\Mill\Tools. Lathe, Router, Wire go to their respective locations.
I’m done. Now my posts are properly updated and located where they belong. Tune in Thursday, March 15 @ 10am for a webinar covering Mastercam Migration and Configuration Tips & Tricks if you want a little more guidance.
As always, please contact Prism Mastercam Support if you have questions or need assistance during this process.
March 6, 2012-Philadelphia, PA-Prism Engineering, the leading SolidWorks value-added-reseller (VAR) servicing the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states, is the recipient of the prestigious SolidWorks Highest Customer Satisfaction Award in North America for 2011. Prism has now achieved its second award for Highest Customer Satisfaction in North America in the past four years.
“Prism Engineering has set a new standard for customer satisfaction within the SolidWorks World-wide Reseller Channel through achieving the North American Customer Satisfaction award multiple times in the past four years,” said Ken Clayton, Vice President, Worldwide Sales, DS SolidWorks. “Prism continues to make significant investments in its technical infrastructure, and this award enthusiastically validates SolidWorks customers’ appreciation for Prism’s services, reaffirming its status as a leading reseller in North America.”
The annual award, based on results from an exclusive customer survey distributed through SolidWorks to its North American users in 2011, was awarded to Prism Engineering at the SolidWorks World 2012 Conference in San Diego, CA on February 15, 2012.
“On behalf of the entire team at Prism, I accept this award with sincere appreciation for our valued customers’ business, and we pledge a renewed commitment to continually exceed their expectations with our high-level technical support and customer service,” said John Ewell, president of Prism Engineering. “The Highest Customer Satisfaction in North America award complements Prism’s drive to continually fulfill our customers’ needs, while maintaining exceptional relationships with our valued customers & suppliers over the past 21 years.”
About Prism Engineering, Inc.:
Prism Engineering is the Mid-Atlantic’s leading provider of 3D CAD/CAM Solutions and 3D Prototype Printers. Major product offerings include: SolidWorks®, SolidWorks® Simulation, Enterprise Data Management, Mastercam for CNC Machining, and Dimension 3D Printers. In addition to these products, Prism offers a host of complementary Training and Support Services at its regional facilities and Certified Training Centers, located in Horsham, PA (suburban Philadelphia), Allentown, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Baltimore, MD. For more information, demonstrations, and news about products and services, please contact Prism at 888-441-9696 or visit www.prismeng.com.
About Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.:
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a Dassault Systèmes S.A. subsidiary, is a world leader in 3D solutions that help millions of engineers and designers succeed through innovation. SolidWorks products deliver an intuitive experience in product design, simulation, publishing, data management and environmental impact assessment. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company’s website (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).
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Contact: Elizabeth Shovlin, Prism Engineering, Inc., 215-449-0415, eshovlin@prismeng.com
This is a short blog just to remind our readers that Prism Engineering has some great tips posted on YouTube.
To find us, simply go to YouTube and search for PrismEngineering (all one word) or use this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/PrismEngineering?ob=0&feature=results_main
You will find some great tips and tricks on this page, and we are always looking for suggestions as to what to upload next.
Enjoy!
~Toby Schnaars