It’s already August, and the summer has been a really hot one here at CAP. The feedback from our training surveys continues to show that the CAP community recognizes the value. Here’s a recent quote from one of our students: “The instructor was fantastic. Well organized, communicated clearly, fielded questions very well, kept the class on schedule, etc. etc. All of this can be very challenging with each student having different backgrounds, skill levels, and exposure to SolidWorks.”
We are pleased to introduce KAP’s Corner. This monthly column will provide an in depth look into a variety of CAD topics. It’s full of useful tips and tricks, the latest innovations from SolidWorks, shortcuts through the interface, best practices and ways to maximize your CAD experience. KAP’s Corner is authored by Keith Pedersen, CAP’s resident technical guru.
Keith will also be speaking at the Charles River Museum of Industry on August 4. Come hear the latest on the “State of the Art of Solid Modeling”. If you have an industry event or are seeking a speaker for your technical group, please contact us about our availability to speak on the latest state of the art developments in CAD and the rapid prototyping industries.
Tell us what you think! This is your last chance to complete our CAP Communication Survey. Five lucky respondents will win our drawing for a copy of the new self-study guide, "CAD Productivity Tools", a $35 value.
As a service to the CAD community, CAP has assembled a list of consultants and job shops as a resource (CAP Consultant Network). Many of those listed are CAP customers who have attended our training seminars. However, the list is open to anyone who has the latest release of SolidWorks and SolidWorks is their primary CAD system, and/or a Dimension 3D printer for rapid prototyping. If you are currently listed as a resource, please take a moment to review your listing and provide any updates. If you would like to be included on the list, please send us your latest information.
CAP continues to grow. This month, we welcome Matt Parker, who joins CAP as an inside sales representative. Matt recently graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy with a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Logistics. Matt interned with Progress Energy Corporation, a Fortune 250 company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has friends and family throughout the entire New England area and enjoys traveling, working out and playing guitar.
SolidWorks "Hottest Company of 2005"
Start magazine again names SolidWorks one of manufacturing's ‘hottest' companies.
The fourth win in five years reinforces the company's market leadership and drive to make product design easier and more productive. Read more about SolidWorks Hottest Company of 2005...
Events and Seminars
State of the Art of Solid Modeling
8/4 7:00 PM Charles River Museum of Industry, Waltham MA
CAP’s Keith Pedersen will be speaking at the Charles River Museum of Industry Thursday evening Aug 4 at 7 PM. This event is hosted by the New England Model Engineering Society. Keith’s topic is “State of the Art of Solid Modeling”. The event is free and open to the public. Click here for directions.
Upcoming Tradeshows
Mark your calendar. The fall is rapidly shaping up to be a busy one. We will be at the following industry events. Stop by our booth and see the latest on SolidWorks 3D CAD software and experience live the benefits of rapid prototyping with the Dimension 3D printer.
We are continuing our series of introductory events for new customers as we grow our community of users. Our SolidWorks seminars are geared toward professionals transitioning from a 2D to a 3D environment, as well as seasoned CAD users who want to explore the benefits of using SolidWorks in their design workflow.
Interested in 3D printing for form, fit and function? Our summer roadshow continues to gain momentum.. Attend one of our Dimension 3D printer open houses. Click here for upcoming dates.
Training
Upcoming classes
Check here for our schedule of upcoming classes. Our recent survey shows a high level of customer satisfaction: "I had recently taken a Solidworks "Intro" course at a local university. It consisted of over 40 hours of instruction. Due to many factors the couse was not very effective. I feel I learned nearly as much in one 8 hour class at CAP as I did in nearly the whole course at UMASS. "
The 14th major release of SolidWorks is shipping this summer! This exhaustive presentation will educate you about all the new features and enhancements in the new release. Emphasis is on teaching existing SolidWorks users how to make the best use of the new capabilities, and what things have been improved to make your design work easier with SolidWorks 2006. Sign up here.
Date*
Time*
Location
8/18
1:30-4:30 PM
Burlington, VT
8/23
1:30-4:30 PM
Westborough, MA
8/25
1:30-4:30 PM
Manchester, NH
9/20
1:30-4:30 PM
Portland, ME
9/23
1:30-4:30 PM
Peabody, MA
Our popular CAP U series explores intermediate and advanced topics for the 3D user. These seminars are open to all subscription customers, and are recommended for users who have already completed SolidWorks training classes.
*NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change. Please check our website for the latest schedule.
Rapid Prototyping Corner
The Dimension printer from Stratasys is the most popular rapid prototyping system in history. Stratasys shipped 36 percent of all RP units worldwide and shipped 49 percent of all RP units shipped by U.S. manufacturers in 2004. As of the end of 2004, Stratasys has the highest global installed base of RP systems, and has become the first manufacturer to sell over one thousand systems in a single year.
White Paper Available - Fused Deposition Modeling
What is FDM and how does it compare to SLA? Compare the benefits of fused deposition modeling with stereolithography. Download this white paper on 3D printing technology to learn the latest industry buzzwords or just to see a photograph of a brain gear built of ABS plastic as a one-piece assembly. "Fused Deposition Modeling: A Technology Evaluation" by T.A. Grimm and Associates.
Rapid Prototyping Roadshow
CAP is taking the Dimension 3D printer on the road! Make your reservation early to experience the power of rapid prototyping and see how easy it is to create functional models in your office environment with this proven system. Join us at this live demo for a fast-paced and fun event. Come see and touch the many functional parts, including our legendary jet fighter that we created at CAP.
Attend this event and register for our drawing. One lucky attendee will win the opportunity to build a model of their own part on the Dimension 3D printer! Compliments of CAP. Note: Some restrictions apply - details will be presented at the meeting.
"Having the machine in the room purring in the corner and constantly delivering our prototypes has made it an integral part of our team." - Robert Emmanuel, Harman Becker Project Engineer
Request for customer parts to display at CAP
We are always interested in showcasing the engineering talents of our customers. Have you created an innovative model that we can display and share with others? Please contact Bonnie at CAP. We will gladly include it in our repertoire of functional and fun prototypes.
Hot Tech Tips KAP's Corner - Mirrored Parts
This month’s article features a discussion on mirrored parts. There are several methods available for modeling mirror-image parts in SolidWorks. The selection of a technique is dependent on how you want changes to propagate. Should changes to the mirrored part be editable and automatically propagated between similar parts? Or should your mirrored part be independent of editing changes to the original part? Also, how will these part files be treated in your company document control system? To find out which method is best for you, download our first installment of KAP’s Corner - Mirrored Parts.
SolidWorks Tech Tip: Open Contour Cut
To quickly slice a piece of material off of your part, you can create a Cut using an open contour. [An open contour is when the entities of a sketch do not form a continuous closed loop. The simplest open contour is a single line.] The effect of this Cut is similar to a section line in a drawing.
Sketch an open contour so that it divides your part into two different regions. Launch the Cut-Extrude feature, and SolidWorks will create a Cut which will remove one of the two regions. SolidWorks automatically sets the end conditions to Through All in both directions. You can toggle the option "Flip side to cut" to decide which of the two regions you want to cut away.
Bonus: You can also perform an Open Contour Cut as an Assembly Feature.
Feedback
We always appreciate hearing from you. Please take a moment and complete our CAP Communication Survey. Five lucky respondents will win our drawing for a copy of the new self-study guide, "CAD Productivity Tools". Please send any additional suggestions, issues or comments to marketing@capinc.com
At Computer-Aided Products, we empower our customers to make more money with their CAD design environment. We are a value-added reseller (VAR) for SolidWorks and the Stratasys Dimension 3D printer. We specialize in transitioning designers from a 2D environment to a 3D solid CAD world, providing the training and service you need to get up to speed quickly. Our partnership with the best CAD solutions in the industry, along with our years of expertise and practical experience, provide a solid foundation for your CAD future.
Computer-Aided Products, Inc.
Serving all of New England with offices in Manchester NH, Peabody MA and Westborough MA
(800) 424-2255
www.capinc.com
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