by Madison Bryce on June 21, 2018
Have you ever needed to create a series of parts that were similar but slightly different in a few features, dimensions, colors, etc? In SOLIDWORKS, you can easily create a part then configure it to the exact specifications necessary for the other parts without the tedious recreation process. In this blog, we will use K’NEX pieces to demonstrate this process.
This is the first in a series of two blogs based on configurations modeled by K’NEX. Today we will discuss how to manually configure K’NEX connectors and then how to use a design table in SOLIDWORKS to configure K’NEX rods. In part two, we will discuss how to configure a K’NEX assembly and how to use tools like DriveWorks to create configurations. Let’s get started.
by Amanda Osbun on June 19, 2018
Ever since the release of the new 
by Angelle Erickson on June 18, 2018
Completing a 
Switching to a different CAD software may seem like a daunting task. Not only is it essential to evaluate your company and its personal needs to decide if switching is right for you, but here are three questions that you should ask yourself before switching to 
by Christa Prokos on June 11, 2018
Are you interested in 
by Peer Larson on June 8, 2018
If you’re like me, then you like archery. There’s a lot to like about it - the serenity of nature, the simplicity of a bow and arrow, and the cool morning breeze as you line up your shot. While there are many of you out there that are far better at it than I am, we can all agree that practice is the key item that makes good archery possible. Also, a great excuse to do it more.
Before enrolling as an engineering student at the University of Michigan, I had used CAD software for several years. During that time I’ve experienced formal classroom settings, informal settings, as well as learning the software by simply clicking around until I found a solution. Even though I eventually accomplished what I was trying to do, this method was time-consuming and didn’t always yield the most effective solution.
by Toby Schnaars on June 1, 2018
In my 
by Matt Haywood on May 25, 2018
SOLIDWORKS Visualize
Whether you’re just getting started with buying a license of 
by Nathan Sneller on May 21, 2018
If you’re a 
by Amanda Osbun on May 18, 2018
SOLIDWORKS CAM
The
by Jodi Degenaer on April 27, 2018
SOLIDWORKS 2018
Have you ever heard the phrase, “you get what you pay for?” Although the connotation can be limited, it’s important to know when it’s true - especially when it comes to software tools for your business. Companies who want to scale and remain profitable need to know when the benefits outweigh the costs and how to make the right investments for their long-term growth.
In computer aided design, accuracy and speed are key. Engineers and designers are often strapped for time, with a long list of tasks that need to be tackled every day. Optimizing workflow is key, but it can be hard to set aside time to learn the tools you need to get the most out of SOLIDWORKS. To help address this issue, we’ve compiled a list of SOLIDWORKS tips every CAD user should know, with advice on everything from speeding up assemblies to leveraging little-known tools.
by Nathan Sneller on April 11, 2018
Trying to work effectively with a slow SOLIDWORKS large assembly that is slow to open, slow to work with, and slow to save is frustrating and can cause unwanted setbacks. In this blog series, we’ve been covering different steps SOLIDWORKS users can take to avoid delays and make working with large assemblies a much smoother process.
by Lindsay Early on March 30, 2018
A question I often hear from new SOLIDWORKS administrators is “how do I change the PDM Admin password in SOLIDWORKS?” When I hear this question, it’s usually for one of two reasons. Either, the administrator needs to change it to a more secure password, or the administrator has misplaced the password and needs to reset it.
In our SOLIDWORKS 2018 blog series, we're covering new features and enhancements throughout the entire SOLIDWORKS 2018 portfolio. eDrawings 2018 is a great tool that lets users open, view, and save 3D CAD files straight from 
by Rodney Harper on March 23, 2018
With more than three million users worldwide, SOLIDWORKS products are some of the most widely recognized 3D software tools on the market. Creating designs on everything from 
by Ken LaVictor on March 22, 2018
When 
by Stacey Clement on March 20, 2018
Jim and Mike Ring have had a passion for building innovative cars since childhood. Even at an early age they were busy building and painting cars anywhere and anytime they could. Now as successful adults, Mike and Jim carry their passion and imagination as co-founders of their company 
In February of 2018 I was honored to be selected by to present at the annual SOLIDWORKS WORLD 2018 user conference. This year the conference was held in Los Angeles, California. My breakout session was focused on SOLIDWORKS Surfacing and was called “Beginners Surfacing for Beginners” and took place on Tuesday, February 6th at 10:30 AM. It was attended by 181 SOLIDWORKS users.
The technologies you use during your design to manufacture process are critical to your success. There are costs to control, time you can’t waste, and quality you can’t afford to compromise. If you use 
by Jay-Shan Jackson on March 14, 2018
Over the years I’ve had many opportunities to use 
by Chaz Stipkovic on March 9, 2018
Another exciting SOLIDWORKS World event has come to a close, where over 5,000 SOLIDWORKS users attended and brought home new knowledge to incorporate into their everyday workflow. If you weren’t able to attend, or you’re new or unfamiliar with SOLIDWORKS Mold Tools, this blog is for you.
by Rachael Buhl on March 8, 2018
SOLIDWORKS World 2018 offered many different breakout sessions on an array of interesting subjects. However, if you weren’t able to make it to the Los Angeles, California event this past February doesn’t mean you should miss out on informative presentations. This blog covers what Fisher Unitech SOLIDWORKS Expert, Rachael Buhl, presented to users on how to simplify your custom property input with the custom properties tab.
Electrical systems and printed circuit boards are all around us, embedded in an endless number of items. Your cell phone, computer, television, the lamp on your desk, the key fob in your pocket; even the very room you’re sitting in. Increasingly, anything you interact with contains a circuit board, and every circuit board needs a supply of electricity.
Virtual simulation is not only for specialists and final design validation. It’s an intuitive design solution for all product engineers in all industries. Using simulation software, you can set up virtual real-world environments to test your product designs before manufacturing them. If fact, it pays to use simulation software. You will lower your costs and shorten your time-to-market by reducing the number of physical prototypes before going into production.
by Ethan Harper on March 2, 2018
When the 2017 year ended for my 
by Heather Dawe on February 27, 2018
One of the most highly anticipated events at a 
by Drew Buchanan on February 23, 2018
SOLIDWORKS 2018 released a ton of new features and enhancements that we’re excited about. In our “What’s New” blog series, we’ve been covering the entire SOLIDWORKS 2018 portfolio. In today’s blog we will be covering some of the great new features in the 
In February, thirty Fisher Unitech employees went to Los Angeles, California to take part in 
by Ryan Henigan on February 20, 2018
With a new year comes a new 
by Aaron Winthers on February 16, 2018
Are you an engineer who is spending too much of your time modifying existing designs instead of creating new ones? Are you a technical lead who wishes that there was a way to substantially automate your supply chain with the press of a button? Are you a company executive who wants the competitive edge of allowing your customers to configure your products online? If you answered yes to any of these questions then DriveWorks is for you. 
Do you often find that your SOLIDWORKS large assemblies are sluggish? Do you experience slow open time, lag, and a slow save time? If you do, you’re not alone, but there are several variables you may not have considered that could be causing this lackluster performance. In this blog series I’ve been covering each of those variables to help you get your SOLIDWORKS large assemblies opened, working, and saving faster.
by Angelle Erickson on February 12, 2018
In today’s global marketplace, great products need to get built faster than ever. That’s why 
by Stacey Clement on February 7, 2018
The Day 3 General Session of 
The Day 2 General Session of SOLIDWORKS World 2018 on February 6th at the Los Angeles Convention Center showcased engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs explaining how they used SOLIDWORKS to turn their visions into reality. For example, Boom Technologies is developing a supersonic jetliner that can fly from New York to London in three and a half hours, half the time it takes to get there today. SG Robotics uses 
A decrease in productivity can create a landslide of side effects amongst your engineering and design teams, and ultimately impact time to market. That’s why SOLIDWORKS 2018 made improvements and offered new features to keep your design process flowing smoothly.
by Angelle Erickson on February 1, 2018
Pop quiz: What level user should a person be to consider 
There is a lot of buzz in the 3D CAD market right now about companies looking at 
oday we’re going to talk about what we can do to reduce the amount of data being opened by using the automatically load components lightweight option. In my
Welcome to part two of my “Large Assemblies and How to Make Them Faster in SOLIDWORKS” blog series. In this blog, I’ll be discussing different actions you can take to make your assemblies easier and faster to work with.
by Sean O'Neill on January 18, 2018
If you’ve ever tried importing third-party 3D CAD data into your native 3D CAD software, you’ve probably most commonly associated this process with one word: pain. Your 3D CAD platform of choice has many disparate features that come together to present you with the interfaces you associate with terms like “Creo files,” “Inventor files,” and so on. This includes the modeling kernel in use, the information set, and versioning concerns.