The 2012 financials for SolidWorks...

Dassault Systemes North American Headquarters

The 2012 financials for SolidWorks indicate continued growth and momentum

Many SolidWorks users are keenly interested in the goings on of the company and where the software may be going both in the way of further development and new direction.  To gain a sense of the current business health of SolidWorks, it might be helpful to look at the company as it has grown over the years and what the current Dassault Systemes 2012 financials reveal*.  In summary, most will find that SolidWorks is, well... very solid.

History and milestones

A brief review of the history of SolidWorks shows continued growth both from within and from acquisition.

• 2013  +2M licenses sold @ 26% commercial / 74% educational; Announced upcoming release of SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual
• 2012  Added SolidWorks Plastics and SolidWorks Electrical to portfolio
• 2011  Bertrand Sicot as CEO; Added SolidWorks Costing to portfolio; Dassault Systems creates the American Campus in Waltham, MA  USA; Updated logo
• 2010
• 2009 +1M licenses sold @ 34% commercial / 66% educational; Added Sustainability to portfolio, Updated product names
• 2008  Acquired Priware, incorporated CircuitWorks, Significant IU enhancements
• 2007  Jeff Ray as CEO; Acquired Seemage; Added 3DVIA Composer to portfolio
• 2006  Acquired Conisio, Added PDMWorks Enterprise to portfolio
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002  Added PDMWorks Workgroup to portfolio from Design Resource Technology, Inc
• 2001  John McEleney as CEO; +118k licenses sold, Acquired Structural Research and Analysis Corporation; Added Simulation to portfolio, Updated logo
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998
• 1997  Acquired by Dassault Systems @ $310M
• 1996
• 1995  Shipped first seat of SolidWorks; Headquarters in Concord, MA USA
• 1994
• 1993  John Hirschtick as CEO; Founded in Waltham, MA USA dba Winchester Design Systems

SolidWorks Licenses

As regards SolidWorks licenses, a notable statistic that stands out is the ever growing percentage of education license sales over commercial, currently at a 2.8:1 ratio.

Another is the software reaching the milestone of 2 million licenses sold. However, this statistic should not be construed as the actual number of current users as SolidWorks infers. It's simply the total number of licenses sold since 1995.  A much better barometer of the health of SolidWorks is the number of licenses or seats sold each year, as this graph indicates.

SolidWorks Revenue

The 2012 key figures delivered by Dassault Systemes indicate that within their total revenue of € 2,083.3M, SolidWorks software provided € 403.2M, or 19.3%.  Generally speaking, SolidWorks has routinely contributed at around 20% over the years since being acquired by Dassault Systemes in 1997.  So not much has changed there.

What has changed is the profitability.  Whereas SolidWorks sales generally mirror the overall economic trends, the revenue generated by SolidWorks is showing a steady increase.

SolidWorks Headcount

An clearer indication of momentum within SolidWorks is the employee headcount.  While it has shown moderate increase over the years, in 2012 it jumped significantly from 848 to 1,015.  One can only speculate as to what all that extra effort is going toward, but SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual would seem to be at least one reasonable choice.

In conclusion, the statistics indicate that SolidWorks continues to provide a viable tool that CAD consumers appreciate.  Certainly, as technology and leadership shape SolidWorks from within, it seems well positioned within the framework of Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to continue pressing diligently toward their goal.  A goal of gaining an ever increasing share as the CAD software of choice among the worldwide design community. 

* data and information derived the Dassault Systemes Annual Report 2012 and SolidWorks Company Fact Sheets

netvibes... CAD web as you want it, and everything else too!

Keeping aware of business trends and managing time effectively are two very important aspects to any CAD entrepreneur, and netvibes addresses both.  Founded in 2005 and acquired by Dassault Systemes in early 2012, netvibes provides a personalized web dashboard that can be tailored to any variety of digital interests and subjects.

Herein lies the tremendous value of netvibes for people and business.  Rather than taking time to routinely peruse the variety of websites and blogs you typically might navigate to stay informed, simply use netvibes as a single, convenient means to view all the latest digital information that is relevant to you.  For example, say you want to keep up to date on topics and blog commentary specific to Solidworks.  Then create a Solidworks dashboard and add RSS feeds from the published web sources of your choice.  It's that simple, and netvibes will do the work for you.

Beyond having a single dashboard, you can also create additional dashboards for other interests too.  Whether for personal or for your CAD business, the apps and widget selections allow you to keep informed of news and even email, all under one netvibe account.

Of the three tiers available, the basic is free and has enough customization to certainly be of value.  Although it was reported that netvibes had its own pains inherit to any growing business, it appears that at least for the present it is here to stay.  Gigaom reported last year that Dassault Systemes purchased netvibes for roughly $26M (US).  Highlighting their commitment to make this a reputable part of the 3DExperience, Bernard Charles (President and CEO of Dassault Systemes) and Freddy Mini (CEO of netvibes) have provided encouragement to look into netvibes, as seen on the Dassault Systemes / netvibes product page and video.  As it is being touted, the dashboard intelligence of netvibes should be a tremendous asset to any CAD entrepreneur looking to be most efficient with their time and efforts at keeping informed.

Certified in Solidworks... to be or not to be?

From its inception, the Certification program for Solidworks has served as "a benchmark to measure your knowledge and competency with Solidworks software".  There have been significant refinements to the program over the years and at present there are a variety of levels and areas of interest as outlined on the Solidworks Certification site.  Each year at Solidworks World, candidates are allowed to take either Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA), Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWPCORE) or any of the Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Specialist exams.  The current program then certainly encourages consideration for anyone looking to assess or promote their skill with Solidworks.  Along with the sample exams provided by Solidworks and information found in The Solidworks Blog, searching online can also reveal a number of articles that address general exam content and collectively this information may serve well in preparing for a successful exam.

(c) DS Solidworks

One benefit of Certification in Solidworks is that it demonstrates proficiency due in part to the time constraint imposed by an exam.  While there is certainly nothing new to be found in an exam, a users competency in the software is revealed in the ability to model and navigate through the test criteria decisively.  In this regard, most users could certainly attain the desired results with a good working knowledge of the exam set and given enough time.  A Certification then clearly validates a users ability to attain the desired results effectively and accurately.

Solidworks has a very respectable arrangement to the Certification program, being both accessible and a fair representation of the software.  Whether Certification affords a secular advantage is mixed, as it may for some and may not for others.  Regardless of this, simply by recalling or contemplating your first impression of Solidworks and how it may have affected your secular goals, perhaps the most notable benefit to gaining Certification in Solidworks is the milestone and significance of genuine personal achievement. 

Here are a few recommendations for taking a Solidworks Certification exam:

• ensure you have a stable internet connection
• if available, use a dual monitor arrangement to view both the Solidworks program and the VirtualTester Client simultaneously
• have a folder location already prepared and easily accessible in which to save the models you create, and those you may need to download for an exam
• ensure you have an adequate window of time and an environment free of distraction
• endeavor to read questions and view images carefully and thoughtfully

Staples... Easy 3D printing !

Great news for 3D CAD users... very soon Staples will be providing full color and low cost 3D printing!  Yes... that's Easy 3D printing, along with their regular array of quality office products and printing services.

(c) Staples

As announced this week by Mcor Technologies, Ltd. at the Euromold 2012 conference in Frankfurt, Germany, Staples Easy 3D online service will enable anyone familiar with 3D design to create "low cost, brilliantly colored, photo-realistic 3D printed products from Staples stores" utilizing the Mcor IRIS commercial-class 3D printer.  Similar to ordering business cards, users would simply upload electronic files, and then visit their local Staples store for the pickup or have the item shipped to an address.

"Customized parts, prototypes, art objects, architectural models, medical models and 3D maps are items customers need today, in a more affordable and more accessible manner" Wouter Van Dijk, president of the Staples Printing Systems Division in Europe, said in the release.

According to Oscar Pakasi, director business development of Staples Printing Systems and responsible for developing the concept and the design of the Staples Easy 3D platform, the service will initially be available in the Netherlands and Belgium in early 2013, and will be rolled out quickly to other countries.  So while you're anxiously waiting, you can catch a glimpse of the action with this video provided by Staples Nederland.

To learn more about new Mcor printers, Design Engineering's Anthony Lockwood and Rapid Ready Technology's John Newman have published informative reviews on Mcor Technologies 300+ printer and the method of Variable Volume Deposition (VVD).  So the reviews are very relevant to the latest IRIS model.  In summary, this method of paper with a water-based adhesive yields eco-friendly models that are "remarkably resilient" with the look and feel of plastic.

So certainly some fresh, exciting and convenient technology to enhance product development!

Add a logo to a SolidWorks drawing... the smart way!

The capability to add a logo image into a SolidWorks drawing template has been around for some time, and is certainly a recommended method toward presenting a professional drawing.  However, you may want to take a few minutes to reconsider whether the standard method of inserting a logo graphics file is really the best method. 

Granted, it is relatively easy to insert a JPG or PNG file into a drawing sheet format by means of using the Insert > Picture command, but these types of graphics files do not translate very well when a SolidWorks drawing is saved into DXF or DWG format.  Oftentimes, the logo image relocates to an obviously unintended area of the drawing, and the file size becomes noticeably larger.

So what are the alternatives to inserting a logo graphics file?  Well, if a company logo utilizes a common font, then simply inserting an Annotation in the proper font should work seamlessly.  But when a company logo is unique or includes a colored graphics image then a little pre-work may be necessary.  In this scenario, you will want to use various SolidWorks Sketch and Block tools to transform the original logo image into a SolidWorks Block.

The Block can then be filled-in by applying Area Hatch/Fill, and selecting the Solid option in the Area Hatch/Fill - Properties.  You may notice that the fill color is black, and yes... as Henry Ford is credited and paraphrased as saying, "You can have any color as long as it's black."

Depending on the logo block design, you may have several regions to fill.  Therefore, just apply the Area Hatch/Fill command individually to each of the regions or areas, as desired.

Once the Block has been sized and saved in its final form, it can then be easily inserted into a drawing sheet template.  The obvious advantages will become apparent:

• the block will translate easily when the drawing is saved into DXF or DWG format
• the file size of SolidWorks, DXF, or DWG drawings will remain very reasonable making file management and the sharing of files much more efficient
• the need for color toner when printing drawings will have been reduced or eliminated

So there are definite benefits by simply taking the time to convert a logo into a Block.  The result is a stable SolidWorks drawing template, far better than excitedly rushing to insert a logo image and then overlooking the ramifications of having done so.

TeamPlatform... real design collaboration

There was a time when exchanging files through email and ftp sites defined collaboration.  That no longer is the case. TeamPlatform has redefined the new norm for design collaboration with an impressively functional and secure web service! 

(c) VisPower Technology, Inc

Design firms and individuals providing CAD design services will certainly find TeamPlatform worth looking into.  Among the three web-based plans that are offered, the Personal membership is cost free thereby providing a great incentive for potential users to take that next step in genuine collaboration.  In doing so, VisPower Technology, Inc has commendably demonstrated they are sincere in encouraging interest and confidence in their service.  Two additional plans are tiered for Team and Enterprise use and both of these are reasonably priced.  All plans allow for unlimited free Guests.

A brief review of just some of the notable features of TeamPlatform include:

• A dashboard, interface, file sharing and management that reveals a refreshing and clean sensibility

• Superb viewers for both 2D and 3D, along with intuitive markup capability

• Version control with history, task and workspace management that speaks 'this is real collaboration'

• Many of the file management features are made with the Solidworks user in mind

• Mobile compatibility that ensures the benefits of TeamPlatform will extend well beyond the desk   

Sure, bouncing project files back and forth by email can be exciting, especially so when you're not sure which version you may be looking at!  But for any who want to collaborate in the truest sense of the word, TeamPlatform has just what real design collaborators are looking for!

In an upcoming post we will look at the potential of using TeamPlatform as a longterm CAD vault.

Use More Monitor... with Less Mouse Motion

Among the variety of SolidWorks tips that are regularly shared among users, a recent post on the official SolidWorks Blog entitled Stop Mousing Around! is genuinely worthy of recognition and appreciation.  In this post Matthew Lorono (Definition Product Manager at SolidWorks Corp.) shared an overlooked but incredibly effectual feature in Windows that involves... are you ready for this... Mouse Properties.  So why should something so seemingly basic as Mouse Properties garner such attention?

Well, over the years CAD users have embraced the benefits of increased monitor size.  Today many are likewise expanding those benefits by increasing the number of monitors.  Overlooked however, is that many have also steadily increased their mouse (wrist) movements to accommodate these larger spans... unnecessarily.

  

To facilitate adjusting your mouse, Mouse Properties can be accessed in Windows by selecting:
Start > Control Panel > Mouse > Pointer Options.  The Pointer Options page contains a Motion slide bar that ranges from Slow to Fast.  To reduce the amount of wrist motion required to move the mouse pointer, simply increase the speed of the mouse pointer.  It may take only a few iterations before finding a personal setting that yields an agreeable balance between motion and speed.

Yes, this is one of those rare tips that produces immediate and lasting improvement for essentially any CAD user.