SolidWorks - An Overview

Not so long ago, companies had massive drafting departments. Workers hand created detailed technical drawings that concisely conveyed all the specifications to convert an idea into a physical form. But, about twenty years ago Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software programs debuted on the market. Training a CAD operator could eliminate a handful of drafters.

As the use of personal computer increased, eventually engineers, designers, and architects began doing their own drafting work. Today anyone involved in any kind of design work from cars, perfume bottles, and even students, use Computer-Aided Design programs. One of the best known packages on the market is SolidWorks.

Introduced in 1995, SolidWorks is a three dimensional mechanical CAD program that runs on Microsoft Windows. This year SolidWorks sold its one millionth license, making it one of the most popular products in the 3D mechanical CAD market. With its Windows-like user interface and use of standard conventions, such as toolbars, menus, and icon command buttons, SolidWorks feels familiar and is relatively easy to use considering its complex nature.

Work usually starts with a two dimensional sketch. At first it looks like a geometric sketch consisting of points, lines, and arcs. Then dimensions are applied to define the size and location. Relations are used to define attributes - for example if certain parts are to be parallel or perpendicular. The set dimensions and relations drive the geometry which is why it is known as parametric feature-based approach to creating models.

Prior to programs like SolidWorks, designs were sketched on paper and then prototypes were created to test ideas in the real world. Things often didn't work out and it was back to the drawing board, literally. SolidWorks allows users to do all the testing and simulating virtually. The virtual prototype behaves as it would in the real world because users input all the characteristic of the real thing.

This has dramatically changed the way products are designed. Multiple changes can be quickly made and tested. SolidWorks was the first to offer users the ability to roll back through the development of the design to make changes and add additional features. With parametric software changes made to one area are propagated to all other areas of the design automatically. The result is a dramatic reduction to the amount of time devoted to design and testing.

Solidworks offers another tremendously beneficial feature allowing users to put together components - creating a virtual assembly. Each piece is individually designed and then one can see how parts interact together. Tests can be run to make sure components assembly properly and don't interfere with each other as they move. With this application both pieces and a final product can be designed and tested without even setting foot in the factory.

When a design has been virtually tested and assembled, SolidWorks offers several different tools that automate the drawing process. Using the information in the three dimensional design, SolidWorks creates drawings that are needed by manufacturers to provide quotes and determine proper manufacturing processes.

In short, software applications such as SolidWorks have revolutionized the manufacturing industry as well as many other design industries. While mainly used for commercial applications, even the layperson can have fun tinkering with SolidWorks. There are endless applications and many user groups that meet regularly.

JUNIOR CIVIL ENGINEER Civil Engineer Civil Engineering

Computer Graphic Visualization Technology Overview

Visualization, especially the development of Virtual Environments (VEs) make a significant impact on how construction project stakeholders can perceive and successfully complete their projects; sales, marketing and manage the properties.

The purposes of visualization general fall into two categories:

Improve the design or construction works
Make sell which either sell the design or sell the property

Most times, the different visualization purposes will affect how to get the visualization projects done. Understanding of visualization technology and workflow will make signification impact on the budget and how well the goal can be achieved.

This article will overview below major areas, but provide detail in separated articles.

About visualizations, there are:

Three major categories

Visualization (texture mapping, ray tracing, lighting and photo editing)
Animation/simulation (fly-by, walk-through)
Modeling (solid modeling, surface modeling, wireframe modeling)

Three major process steps

Content creation (3D modeling, texturing, animation)
Scene layout setup (lighting especially but also the creation of the surface or mesh)
Rendering (instant rendering and no instant rendering)
View flow and interactive system setup (this doesn't apply to the traditional static graphic)

Six major technologies

Static rendering: either 2D or 3D imagery. Photorealistic rendering needs high-end hardware, software and comprehensive library. It is foundation of following solutions.
Animated images: multiple static images are put together and show the images in sequence automatically. Such as via GIF image or scripted web pages, etc.
360/720 degree virtual view: view the space or item in 360 degree freely with limited zoom in and zoom out. Single viewpoint. Can be delivered in Flash, QuickTime or other scripted computer language.
Animation: images are display smooth move at 24 to 30 frame per second. Such as via Flash, QuickTime, Windows Media files, etc. The route either pre-setup or have single viewpoint. It also knows as fly through.
Virtual Reality or Interactive virtual model: It is simulated 3D virtual environment which user can interactive with. This technique is invaluable to modern architects, engineers, real estate developers, facility manager and marketing professionals as it allows them to simulate most scenarios that they will encounter during the design, construction, and eventually the life of the structure they are attempting to build, manage and sale. Virtual reality allows the project team members to essentially create their structures and test them without wasting any of the resources necessary to complete the structure in reality. For the marketing, sale professionals and potential buyer, they sale and explore every possible units, layout, appliance, material, color, textures options long before the model unit available.
Mixed Reality: It combine real and virtual world to create a new environment which real and virtual world co-exist and interactive in real time. The real world can be still picture or steam live video via locally or remotely camera. Mixed Reality brings the interaction and virtual world to another level.

Three styles

Photorealistic
Non Photorealistic
Non rendered computer graphic

Five major delivery structures

Standalone file
Interactive CD
Client - server structure
Browser -server structure

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AutoCAD 2009 Overview in 5 minutes

Some friends of mine who helped develop the popular design software, AutoCAD, produced a quick demo reel...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlJJoNcV598&hl=en

JUNIOR CIVIL ENGINEER

An overview of gas production Metrics

Few people who use gas in their daily life of the gas production metrics used to measure the quality of gas deliberately placed on the market for end-user consumption. In each area, where you use an existing process and there is an exit, whether it is material or not, the data for measuring actual results against what you want, too. These measures will be quantified by numbers, and often called key performance indicators or metrics.

The gas --Production, has seen one of these things is in exploration. Significant amount when money is invested in order to find the best and richest resources of gas, which is oil. These are then gathered and gas installations are located, where is the actual implementation. Among the costs of exploration, are not transformed in a statement that a large amount of investment lost, as another should be done.

Once the exploration is successful, it is too late. There must be an equitable distribution orAllocation of resources, including financial resources, personnel and distribution of tasks. Infrastructure must be built, which means a further significant investment, must take place. These are then identifying the number of oil wells, to be productive against the financial performance compared to quantify the total investment.

Another thing as a metric for production of gas used is the development and actual production. Capital expenditures included in the identificationDevelopment plans for the wells and the gas plant. The costs for other resources are also taken in, and they are drilling, personnel, facilities and equipment. Investment measured the metric is real, the allocation of resources. This includes the development of expenditure.

The ability of professionals who are working for the gas plant is also part of the metric. Human knowledge and skills are always indicators, such as running a business. In addition to these, their decisionsis a significant business impact. Incompetent for the job will cost someone has lost a considerable amount of money. He lost only a marginal error in the society to convert a fault and money always remarkable. In fact, every error as a defect. The degree of control is also measured to see how effective the management of the business away. In essence, read the full functionality of professionals.

There are virtually hundreds of metricsmeasured and quantified to see the overall efficiency of a gas plant. From one department to another, almost the same metrics, adjustments, however, are less applicable, depending on the nature of the investment segment. From a general point of view, all aspects considered. These include refining or oil. These parameters also to ensure the marketing of the produce to see the product. The process was also measured to verify that it is still effective. Some processes can be eliminated in order toto accelerate and stop in front of existing procedures with the technology changes. That is to say that the parameters of gas production, and not with the basics, is virtually infinite.

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