Disqus - Latest Comments for Charles

Re: How SolidWorks Viral Marketing Ideas Could be More Effective

Charles — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:16:44 -0000

Oh the irony. Sorry, but your embedded video comes up with a dead-link Red X.

Re: How SolidWorks Viral Marketing Ideas Could be More Effective

Charles — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:25:16 -0000

Still a red X, I guess it must be some plug-in type problem that my work computer won't allow me to see. Sorry, I wasn't meaning to be sour, just found it amusing.

Re: How to Get Print Quality Graphics from Solidworks

Charles — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:04:23 -0000

Also, if you have a newer nVidia card (and I would assume others, ATI's can do it too), make sure to go into your graphic's cards settings, and turn on the HARDWARE anti-aliasing. This is not the same as Solidwork's antialiasing.. it works better, looks nicer, and uses nominal computing power. Heck, you should always have it on.

Re: Hiring Someone With SolidWorks Experience. What Would You Do?

Charles — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:02:15 -0000

Well, let me be an age-ist. If someone is young and computer savvy, learning new software should be a piece of cake. Going from 2D to 3D mentality can take a little while for anyone, but even that can't be too difficult, eh?

Re: 42″ Flat Screen All-in-One Computer

Charles — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:15:42 -0000

My living room already has a 0 db 40" 1080p computer...

It is a (still has that new smell) samsung LCD tv, with my computer in the basement below. I ran the video cable up to the tv (thus no noise in the living room).

I'm not sure how expensive that fancy one is, but I'll bet my setup is a lot cheaper, you just have to have access and a place for the computer in the next room over (or in my case, below). I also have a HDTV card in the computer for recording shows.

Wireless keyboard and mouse sit on the coffee table. There is a receiver directly underneath the floor where they normally sit.

Re: Streaming Video Gets High Def

Charles — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:19:39 -0000

Nice. I've been waiting for internet based HD. See my other post in the Q45 entry, but I already watch homestarrunner.com in HD every week!

Re: 42″ Flat Screen All-in-One Computer

Charles — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:40:18 -0000

I got the best 40" I could afford. It was a samsung LCD - LNT4061 which is 1080p. It is $1,515 at amazon right now, I got it at Amazon 2 months ago for $1,340 on sale. That, however, was the only expensive part.

The PC is an old computer, AMD Athlon 1800, with 756MB RAM. It has an old ATI HDTV Wonder card, which isn't all that great, but it's what I have. It has a nVidia based graphics card, FX450? If that sounds right. I got it for the DVI output, which worked great on my old LCD monitor. Now it is running through a HDMI connector to the TV. The computer barely meets the minimum specifications to run the HD decompression with the HD card. 1080i signals put it to it's max... (never actually seen 1080p broadcast). So if anyone is interested in it themselves, go for a newer processor.

The built in tuner for the TV is far superior to the computer card, so I only go through the PC when I want to record something.

As for the interesting part, yes, it means I get a computer at 1920x1080 resolution in the living room at 40" big. Text is hard to read from the couch, but pictures look gorgeous. Hitting things like youtube and homestarrunner look great, although my computer can't handle some video at full resolution. I'll upgrade that PC here sometime, but I just spent all my money on a TV...

Re: Streaming Video Gets High Def

Charles — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:58:27 -0000

Well, if you want to see it even just a little bit bigger, after you load the sbemail165.html, replace it with sbemail165.swf. This will load the flash fullscreen on whatever you have... Then you just need the HD screen. =)

Re: Streaming Video Gets High Def

Charles — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:25:11 -0000

Excellent Tom. Two thumbs up for that one.

Re: The Thumb Wrestling Continues

Charles — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:22:58 -0000

I am ready to go paperless at work. I am about to finish going completely paperless at home (once I get a good digital backup system working).

I'm not sure it will ever happen, but if it does, I will be thrilled. We should all be carrying Thinkpads instead of Notepads.

As for Inventor/Alias, I doubt it will mean a huge shift for current Solidworks users. It would take a serious improvement for us to shift to a new system; and that's probably true for most facilities. They may start getting more of the old AutoCAD users, who would choose Inventor over Solidworks...

Re: Where’s my comment?

Charles — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:50:24 -0000

I appreciate you using this over whatever everyone on typepad uses. When I try and post on any of those sites it fails.

Re: Make Your SolidWorks Model Stop Rebuilding

Charles — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:13:11 -0000

I already did this, and let's hope everyone else does too. This has the potential to save me HOURS EVERY DAY. No, I am not kidding. I've even resorted to "import part" workarounds for the most complex parts; how's that for "design intent".

Thank you for listening to my rant.

Re: Predictions? Resolutions? Bah! SolidWorks Tips for 2008

Charles — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:58:12 -0000

A good tip on derived sketches would roxor my boxors.

Re: The Greatest SolidWorks Tips for Derived Sketches

Charles — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:53:41 -0000

As Montgomery Burns would say, "Excellent."

Re: SolidWorks World 2008 Escalates

Charles — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:01:44 -0000

Damn! I'm missing out on steps and escalators! I feel so incomplete going to work today.

Re: SolidWorks 2009: Decimate the Weak

Charles — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:58 -0000

I think if they increase performace, than it is impossible for it to be a bad change. You can complain about UI changes if you don't like them. Noone will complain about true performance speed enhancements.

Re: How to Bring SolidWorks Models Into Adobe Flash

Charles — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:56:21 -0000

I was able to import data from Solidworks to .3ds by using 3D Studio... I exported an .stl file. 3D Studio can read both .stl (meshed surface) and IGES (nurb surface). Then I could export to 3D Rain. I haven't done anything with that in a long time! I may have to check out the new version of 3D Rain, my version 1.0 created some pretty large flash files...

Re: How to Bring SolidWorks Models Into Adobe Flash

Charles — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:50:50 -0000

I used to. It paid for a hefty chunk of my engineering school. After I get done with taxes I plan to revamp my personal page; it is down right boring right now. I used Swift before to do fly-in 3D text, and rotating text. I'm afraid the site it went on is now defunct. I will have to download the new trial and see how it does compared to my old version!

Re: SolidSmack is Back to Rockin’ the Joint

Charles — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:05:46 -0000

I now have expectations of wide-screen HD flash, made from eRain's Swift, and will be disappointed if it is anything but!
BTW. I am actively working on some Swift content, I'll let you know when I get it done! (it's pretty low priority tho')

Re: SolidSmack Loves You

Charles — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:32:46 -0000

I too have already created a geeky valentines day greeting:
http://forum.solidworks.com/forum/attachments/v...

Perfect for spouses who wear "I <3 Geeks" t-shirts.

Re: 5 Temptations of a Hardcore SolidWorks User

Charles — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:38:05 -0000

My models often have three levels of colors. You know, after it gets machined it changes the surface finish! Then it gets painted! It's important to have that in the model. (we use B&W drawings only)

Re: Who’s In Charge of The SolidWorks Real Logo?

Charles — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:56:57 -0000

Heh. Excellent.

Re: Bookshelf Design: Death of the Book?

Charles — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:00:03 -0000

I won't buy a Kindle for the same reason I won't buy an iPod (although I do on a non-DRM managed mp3 player). I don't want to pay money for something without getting a hard copy of some sorts, or the capability to produce a backup copy. If this means a CD, great. If this means a book-on-CD, even better. I can't stand DRM, however. What happens when something in the computer/harddrive/Kindle breaks? You've now lost your rights to whatever was on that device. Ouch!

When they can ship me a CD with the information on it (or whatever!), or are willing to distribute the content DRM-free, I'll jump! I can't wait for such a product to become available, so my bookshelves can hold priceless works of art.

Also, I think my wife would swoon if we ever had a bookshelf that looked like that middle one, with the color-coded books.

Re: Bookshelf Design: Death of the Book?

Charles — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:52:31 -0000

Wow. you guys make me sound like I'm and "old fogey". I don't even have a land-line phone anymore, because I think phones are outdated. I wish I had enough money to buy an electric car (don't count on me having one for a long, long time). I'm ready for a paperless world, I would love a digital book reader. I just hate DRM...

Re: There’s Cold Soup in My Technology: Two Sides of Yesterday’s Future Tech

Charles — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:05:22 -0000

I am currently reading a book by Robert Heinlein "For Us, The Living". I just started, but so far it contains some interesting tidbits. Written in 1939, it is a look into culture of the year 2086. The main character finds himself suddenly in that year; one of the quotes is "next you are going to tell me that watermellons don't have seeds!"

The funniest things actually get implemented...

Re: Disrupt Space and Time: Win a 3D SpaceNavigator

Charles — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:32:24 -0000

I see holographic displays (The university I attended already has one, but us peons can't afford it, and it takes up an entire room). I still see 2-D input devices, however. I just don't think humans have enough haptic control to do real 3D input. So I think the meat and potatahs of the software is mostly there! We just need some hardware upgrades to get us better interfaces.

Re: Friday Smackdown: Two Saddles Please

Charles — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:03:57 -0000

Sweet. I had to use a HDR technique to take a photo of my house. I didn't know it had a name though. Mine was not this nice, I think I'd need a better camera, and a more stable tripod to do this kind of stuff.

Re: What Does a LARGE 3D Interface Look Like?

Charles — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:22:38 -0000

My University (Missouri S&T) had a room that had flicker glass, and a projected image 8' tall. With it you could get stereovision and manipulate things. I saw it in 2001. At least it's a start. Have you seen the new ads for... I think it's Ford? They show goggles and interacting with models.

Re: SolidSmack Turns 1 Year Old: Still Cute, But a Bit Sassy

Charles — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:24:38 -0000

Lets see that new user interface! I want a shortcut toolbar!

Re: The 7 Best SolidWorks Keyboard Tricks

Charles — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:51:32 -0000

Looks like we might be able to get rid of those keyboards sooner rather than later. Just announced: http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/28/technology/micr...

Also,
"S" is for shortcut, "L" is for Line Properties toolbar, "A" is for Alignment toolbar, "CTRL+E" is for sketch, "CTRL+3" is for 3D Sketch, "CTRL+SHFT+S" toggles snapping, "CTRL+SHFT+C" is for coincident, "CTRL+SHFT+L" is for coLinear, etc for all sketch constraints. Plus all the typical windows/SW shortcuts, F, F5, CTRL+P, etc.

Re: Super Hot Falen Concept Car Designed in SolidWorks

Charles — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:05:28 -0000

And designs that look just a bit too similar to the new Ferraris.

Re: Friday Smackdown: Mechanical Beetles Attack

Charles — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:00:07 -0000

Excellent. I just replaced the transmission on my truck, and I kept the old one. I plan on pulling out all the gears and doing something interesting with them.

Re: Create Stylish SolidWorks Graphics without PhotoWorks

Charles — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:07:28 -0000

Realview + Shaded (no edges) is good, but can be even more with "Shadows In Shaded Mode" turned on. I keep it off for performance, but turn it on when I need the screenshot.

Re: Create Stylish SolidWorks Graphics without PhotoWorks

Charles — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:41:09 -0000

From what I've seen, it has to do with the location of the first light in the list. If it is just on the horizon, then the shadow will be long. Make sure that the first light is one mostly overhead.

The reason why I like shadows in realview is that in 2008 they will cast shadows on the part itself. This adds more realism and depth to the part. The shadows left on the "ground" are not all that important, imho.

Re: SolidWorks Tip: Connectors Anyone??

Charles — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:15:21 -0000

Ricky,

I'm afraid your link didn't work for me.

Re: SolidWorks Success Stories

Charles — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:43:38 -0000

Bucyrus video link doesn't seem to work.