SolidWorks n!Fuze... cloud based file collaboration

Online sharing and collaboration for CAD designers and engineers may become easier with the SolidWorks Add-In application entitled n!Fuze, soon to be available in a public preview / beta launch.  Intended for smaller-sized companies looking to collaborate in the design process, SolidWorks n!Fuze delivers on all fronts of concern for the typical designer.

(C) DS SolidWorks

Developed on the ENOVIA platform, n!Fuze allows for sharing and collaborating designs and ideas securely with anyone you want, inside or outside of your organization, wherever they are.  That mix includes SolidWorks users and those who don't use SolidWorks.  As an Add-In for SolidWorks 2010 and 2011, n!Fuze is cloud-based and integrates seamlessly with no additional IT support, servers, or central administration to be concerned about.

While it should not be considered a PDM system as in the sense of Enterprise or Workgroup PDM, it does carry beneficial collaborative features that address the unique needs of the design process. These include commenting with files and projects, managing versioning of files, and illustrated dependencies in assemblies.  The arrangements of n!Fuze include a one month free trial, with monthly subscriptions available for purchase through the 3DStore.  Subscribers can then invite non-subscribers to collaborate for free, and all support will be from a community based forum.  Online storage capacity starts at 15GB, with an additional 50GB available for purchase.  As advertised n!Fuze looks to be easy to buy, easy to use, and accessible instantly from anywhere!  Sales presentations aside however, SolidWorks users are eager to see if this most recent foray into cloud based applications will prove to be a practical and reliable solution to design collaboration.

DraftSight 2D & Autodesk 123D... the new free market of CAD?

An interesting business dynamic is taking shape in the world of CAD these days, and it all is coming down to nothing, literally. Or shall we say, free!

Free CAD software is nothing new, however it typically is synonymous with low-end use and far removed from the major arenas of engineering or manufacturing reputability. That has changed in recent months. Earlier this year Dassault Systemes made available the general release of DraftSight, the free 2D CAD program intended to free the captive audience of Autodesk. Now Autodesk has announced they will soon be releasing Autodesk 123D, a free 3D CAD program that may be intended to break the bonds of loyalty evident in the world of 3D. Both business approaches seem to be built upon the age-old battle hardened precept of 'divide and conquer'!

Understandably, each developer is touting the capabilities and possibilities of what their respective software may accomplish. Also to be taken in stride is that those capabilities are somewhat limited due in part to the software being free. What isn't apparent just yet, is how this cost free aspect will shape the software decision making process for product development, say in three to five years. For the sake of this article, we will focus on how this changing landscape may affect a CAD business owner and entrepreneur.

As any SolidWorks CAD license holder can attest, the yearly expenditure for an annual license renewal is a cost that we simply anticipate and accept without much grumbling, since there is no room for negotiation. You either renew to the latest release thus minimizing your expenditure, or get left behind and place yourself in the position of paying the additional first time cost all over again when buying anew. For those with company departments where license fees are multiplied by the number of seats required, the cost burden is obvious! So as a CAD business owner, what if you could reduce your annual software expenses to zero and still more than adequately satisfy your client needs? Would you? Probably, if you could (1) quickly become adept with the new software interface, (2) ensure file compatibility with other major CAD platforms, and (3) manage your files effectively.

For any number of reasons, most CAD users can relate to their loyalty to a particular CAD platform, and that loyalty has been leveraged successfully for some time. So will we begin to see CAD software loyalty yield to the desires and sensibility of a free market approach? Will we see some measure of migration of CAD users crossing over the demarcation of SolidWorks / Autodesk simply because of the cost advantage that being free affords for either the 2D or 3D camps? Perhaps so, and it's not really too difficult to imagine. Especially so when taking into consideration that many small CAD business owners would jump at the opportunity to see their annual budget for CAD software drop from their ledger! Then again, loyalty might just keep many of us grounded until both ample evidence and simple economics prods us from our comfort zone.

New SolidWorks logo... a sign of the times?

(C) DS SolidWorks

Dassault Systemes has recently unveiled the new logo for SolidWorks. While curiously unheralded, this new logo speaks aptly about the product in terms of its joint relationship within the array of global business products managed by DS.  So it is not surprising then that the similarity in font among the products is readily apparent.

For years now, SolidWorks users as a community have displayed a large measure of confidence, support, and appreciation in the product, which is the tangible result of effective leadership and capable programmers.   Not to be overlooked is also the genuine interest ascribed by the VAR's with whom we interact with routinely.  First impressions aside however, new logo initiatives oftentimes indicate well thought executive efforts toward presenting a fresh, new approach to forthcoming product and marketing strategy.

Of course, many corporate business initiatives are designed to foster a dependecy on a product.  That is how a global business thrives, and to a humorous extent may even explain our relegation to the term "user"!  If the past is any indication of the future, then SolidWorks users should continue to see and experience a remarkable product tailored to their needs, along with integrated file management choice that meets and exceeds our expectations.  The business challenge for DS is to retain that well earned reputation of being a trustworthy corporate citizen, while walking the fine line of investor / user expectations.

Yes, it will certainly be interesting to see what the future holds for SolidWorks!

SolidWorks World 2011 presentations now showing... online!

For the SolidWorks CAD user who didn't attend SolidWorks World 2011 in San Antonio, Texas on January 23-26, you can now gain added insight on a variety of current user topics with the  SolidWorks World 2011 presentations now available online.
 

(C) DS SolidWorks

You will find a plethora of presentations within the array of these relevant categories:

• CAD Administration
• Customer Success
• Data Management
• Design Automation
• Design Communication
• Design Validation
• Education
• Modeling Essentials
• Productivity Tools

The site is well arranged to allow for locating presentations by Presenter, Title, Category, or Weekday.  Be encouraged to look into these presentations, as these provide a great cost-free opportunity to enhance your skills and awareness of current user topics.

Recieve credit card payments directly... with Square!

For the CAD contractor, having a variety of methods to receive payment just makes for common sense. 
Reputable online payment solutions such as PayPal and Moneybookers are well established in the world of freelance work.  However until recently, many independent contractors may have been reluctant to handle credit transactions themselves due to banking contracts and processing fees.  That is no longer a concern with Square, co-founded by Jim McKelvey and Jack Dorsey in 2009.  The company is headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in Saint Louis and New York City.

(C) Square

Square enables people from all walks of life to accept credit and debit cards.  While currently available only for a variety of devices on the Apple iOS and Google Android platforms, the clear advantage of Square is its simplicity, both in processing and function.

Square's credit /debit card processing fees are static flat rates, accepting Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover.  That's it!  There is no activation, gateway, monthly, early termination, hidden fees or any additional costs to use.  Square also does not require a contract upon sign up and since they only charge per transaction, it doesn't cost you anything if you don't use it!

The application process is quite straightforward, only requiring (1) a US based bank account, (2) a US based physical address, (3) Social Security number, and (4) EIN number (optional for businesses only).  Once approved, Square will provide a free card reader within 1-3 weeks.

Square's download app enables accepting cards by simply plugging the card reader into the ear phone jack, and then swiping the card.  Additionally, the app allows the option to accept payments manually by entering card information for phone, mail, or internet orders.

While receiving payment for your CAD work is always rewarding, it's now much easier with Square!  With a free card reader that accepts all credit cards, and with no hidden fees, commitments, extra equipment, complicated contracts, monthly fees or merchant account required, Square is a revolutionary method for the CAD contractor to accept credit cards directly!

Secure File Transfer with your own Personal Cloud... Pogoplug

A vital aspect of CAD contracting services is to provide clients with a secure transfer of files.  Over the years this process, along with the tools available has developed progressively.  Today the doorway is well open with emphasis on file storage and sharing on the cloud.  However convenient this method may be, the cloud brings with it viable concerns over control, security, and protection of data.   These concerns are uniquely addressed with Pogoplug, a product having first arrived on the scene in 2009 that provides secure file sharing by essentially creating your own personal cloud!



(C) Cloud Engines, Inc.

Developed by Daniel Putterman and his company Cloud Engines, Pogoplug enables easy and secure web access to personal external hard drives, including a wifi option, that puts you in control of your own personal cloud.  With Standard, Pro, and Biz models available, Pogoplug comes with no fees, and no limits on its use.

For a CAD contractor, the notable advantage of Pogoplug is the ability to grant and share full file access to specific folders that you create and control, thereby eliminating the need for FTP sites. In addition, your personal cloud is accessible anywhere there is web access, including mobile devices.

Highlighted on CNNMoney.com, Cloud Engines sprang up as a small business startup with an innovative product to address a recognized need, and early on garnered the development support of those who know a good thing when they see it.  It is clearly evident that Pogoplug has great potential for CAD business owners and contractors in providing reliable and secure file sharing services.

SolidWorks Workgroup PDM - Perhaps the fastest ROI one might ever see!

Avoiding additional license and support costs, SolidWorks Workgroup PDM might just provide the fastest CAD file management 'Return On Investment' (ROI) that one might ever see!

To be certain, Workgroup PDM is not for every company. Rather it seems to be ideally suited for smaller-sized engineering departments (1-15) that could truly benefit from a CAD vault system, but who do not require a full-blown PDM system. Of course, committing to any CAD vault system is an investment, therefore there are a few questions one should consider. The answers will build confidence in the decision making process, while gaining important 'buy-in' from those directly affected with the decision.

What are the Costs?
Since Workgroup PDM is included with each seat of the Professional and Premium license, the upfront monetary investment is $0. The only intrinsic costs to consider are simply time for setup and providing a server.
Please note that one could also choose to simply use an existing computer that could function as the 'vault server', however many CAD Administrators have preferred to assign an actual server that is separate from any of the users computers.

How easy is it to Implement?
Anticipate that a reasonable amount of time will need to be allocated for preparations, setup, testing, implementing, and training. These aspects will initially affect the CAD Administrator and in-house IT, but is quite easily fit into the schedule, per se. Bear in mind that the benefits will far outweigh the time expended.

How easy is it to Use?
Because this is a SolidWorks Add-In, most will find it is very intuitive. Access to the Vault is conveniently provided through either the SolidWorks Main Menu / Task Pane or through SolidWorks Explorer. The usability is very straightforward and basic. Albeit limited, there are a number of capable features that make this a very practical means to manage and control files. Typically, SolidWorks users who previously had no PDM system to manage their CAD files will quickly embrace Workgroup PDM as a significant contributor to improved performance.

What Support can be expected?
SolidWorks has openly acknowledged that for the foreseeable future they will continue providing and supporting Workgroup PDM. They have also stated explicitly that there will be no further development of the Add-In.

That being said, it then becomes a personal decision as to whether to commit to a PDM system that in all probability will eventually be phased out. Does the effort to establish a temporary PDM system outweigh the alternative of not having one. Probably so, as the benefits become instantaneous.  It also places one in a better position to migrate organized CAD files to another PDM system in the future, should the need arise.