Articles by: Rod Mackay

Rod has been using 3D CAD software for over 25 years and has trained thousands of designers to use their CAD systems more effectively. Rod is the Javelin Webmaster and is based in Ottawa, ON., Canada.

Working Better in 2012 through Data Management

SolidWorks Enterprise PDM

If you’re like most people, you’ve built a list of Resolutions for the New Year. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve put “Find ways to work smarter & faster” on that list of To Do’s. Enter EPDM. EPDM is to data management what SolidWorks…

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Take a look at some cool entries for our 2011 SolidWorks Design Contest

Fully Adjustable Walker

Our SolidWorks Cool Design Contest is still open and currently accepting entries from commercial and educational customers. I thought we would share with you just a few of the cool designs we have received so far, along with the product descriptions provided by the designers….

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How to prepare pictures of real parts or hand drawn sketches as input for SOLIDWORKS 3D models

Remote Control Sketched Elevations

As SOLIDWORKS users, sometimes we have to convert hand drawn sketch into SOLIDWORKS model provided by a creative professional, such as an industrial designer. Quickly adjusting the images in Adobe Photoshop can provide more accurate results when the images are used as modelling aids in…

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Let’s do Less Work… (with automation)

            How about this? Do less work + yet get more accurate and error-free drawings and sign-offs? Sound good? Then this post is for you…   I wanted to write a short blog outlining some of the very nifty ways…

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Video Games meet CAD (at work too!)

Check out the YouTube video here It’s the 40-hour workers’ dream: playing video games all day while getting paid to do it. But not many of us get to experience that daydream. The next best thing? Perhaps what I’m about to show you… I’m about to…

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Be an Electrical Design Super Hero (wearing a tight spandex costume is optional!)

Everyone wants to be a super hero, but suiting up and fighting crime is probably not something you’ll be doing any time soon. However you can be a super hero at work, and if you are an electrical designer you can learn how to fight…

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3 Reasons Why Manufacturers need CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

The team at Audaxium (Javelin’s sister company) has a long history with manufacturing companies.  We’ve spent more than our fair share of time working with Engineering departments talking about design.  We’ve taken over whiteboards during ERP integration planning sessions.  And we’ve helped companies improve their document control systems. But some of the most intriguing discussions take place when we sit down with owners and managers who are responsible for sales, and growing the business at smaller companies.  Sales is about Customer Relationship Management, no? “We don’t have sales people.  We don’t need CRM.” “Our sales reps are fine, they know their customers well and they use Outlook to manage their contacts.” “We really only sell to existing customers and we have a lot of repeat business.” Those…

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SolidWorks World 2011 Day 3 General Session Presentation

DS SolidWorks have posted a video for the SolidWorks World day 3 general session on their YouTube channel and we have it available in this post for our readers. For the last day the general session includes: The SolidWorks certification team present awards for SolidWorks Certified Experts. Mark Schneider announces the winners of this year’s Model Mania contest. Neil Cooke presents a demonstration of SolidWorks Live Buildings, a new 3D tool for the AEC market. Fielder Hiss and Neil Cooke present a demonstration of SolidWorks n!Fuze, a new online sharing and collaboration tool for SolidWorks users and 3D content. The top ten list of enhancements and changes as requested by customers on the SolidWorks forum. The session closed out with stories about some of the…

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SolidWorks World 2011 Day 2 General Session Presentation

DS SolidWorks have posted a video for the SolidWorks World day 2 general session on their YouTube channel and we have it available in this post for our readers. The second day general session includes: Richard Doyle, who manages the SolidWorks User Group Network, presenting awards to SWUGN leaders SolidWorks founder Jon Hirschtick introduces some really cool SolidWorks customers including: Barrett Technologies who design robots. MAKO Surgical who use robotics and software to make surgery better. Local Motors, a company that builds cars based on crowdsourced design efforts. To learn more about the presentations delivered on day 2 read the comprehensive post on the SolidWorks blog.

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