See the top 4 reasons for implementing DriveWorks Pro in your company.
DriveWorks Solo brings some advanced functionality to your design automation that cant be found in DriveWorksXpress. A great way to sample this advanced functionality is through our DriveWorks Solo 30 Day trial. Our 30 Day trial not only gives you access to our advanced design automation software but also to our resources such as tutorials and sample projects. We recently updated our sample projects allowing us to show off our software and giving you the opportunity to discover all the extra DriveWorks functionality found in Solo. An important added function found in DriveWorks Solo is the ability to drive the advanced feature parameters of a large number of features. The Machine Guard project is therefore one that couldnt be done in DriveWorksXpress. Using DriveWorks Solo you are able to drive much more than just the dimensions, features and custom properties of a SolidWorks Part or Assembly. In this project for example, we are also driving the weldments from an external weldment profile. The Machine Guard sample also has a rule for the Frame Pattern an advanced feature property that couldnt be driven in DriveWorksXpress.
By using downloading and trying out our new DriveWorks Solo projects, you can learn how DriveWork Solo can help you create variations for your SolidWorks models. DrivreWorks Solo comes with a whole raft of new features that arent available in DriveWorksXpress including the ability to create drawings and export those drawings in different file formats. This means that you can send off specifications and information to your customers who wont have SolidWorks or eDrawings installed. DriveWorks Solo also allows you to import data from excel or create data tables within the DriveWorks Solo project. This allows for pricing lists and even customer lists to form a part of your project. In this example both are used to form the basis of an existing customer list and to help with the pricing based on the specifications selected. DriveWorks Solo also has the ability to create variables to create rules that can be used in many places, or can be used to simplify rules that are getting long by breaking them down in to more manageable chunks. In this example, variables are used to drive the materials that are used in the fan from the specifications
Got your free 30 Day DriveWorks Solo trial? Then why not give one of our brand new DriveWorks Solo Sample projects a try. These completed projects give you the chance to use a completed DriveWorks Solo project and all the extra functionality that you get. One of the features afforded to you in this project is the ability to control multiple sets of models in one project. What this means is that you can create rules for several different related models in one project allowing customers/ salespeople to create variations on a product in the same project. DriveWorks solo also gives you a far more advanced form editor with the ability to control the fonts and colours in the project as well as using features such as list boxes which give your far greater flexibility of your forms. DriveWorks Solo also lets you create new documents based on the in built templates. This allows you to generate a cover letter and even a quotation to send out to your customers along with a drawing of their specified product.
By using downloading and trying out our new DriveWorks Solo projects, you can learn how DriveWork Solo can help you create variations for your SolidWorks models. DrivreWorks Solo comes with a whole raft of new features that arent available in DriveWorksXpress including the ability to create drawings and export those drawings in different file formats. This means that you can send off specifications and information to your customers who wont have SolidWorks or eDrawings installed. In this example, the user is presented with a PDF as well as the .EDRW file with the individual part and complete product drawings. DriveWorks Solo also allows you to import data from excel or create data tables within the DriveWorks Solo project. This allows for pricing lists and even customer lists to form a part of your project. Here this feature is used to allow for existing customers to be chosen from a list saving time when creating new models for customers. DriveWorks Solo also has the ability to create variables to create rules that can be used in many places, or can be used to simplify rules that are getting long by breaking them down in to more manageable chunks. In this example, variables are used to drive the materials that are used in the fan from the specifications selected in the form. DriveWorks Variables allow for much greater complexitiy in DriveWorks projects, without over complicating it with rules.
When Windows XP first launched in 2001, 12 years ago, the DriveWorks journey was just beginning. Since then DriveWorks, and the world of computing, has come a long way. In 2001, the recommended requirements for running Windows XP were a measly 300 MHz processor and 128mb of ram. Today, mostphoneshave specifications that can easily outpace these specifications. DriveWorks is now on version 10, having added 3D previews, custom form designer and online integration along the way.Despite the release of 5 versions of Windows since 2001, Windows XP still remains the second most used operating system globally. In April this year, Windows will officially stop supporting the Windows XP platform, even for critical security issues. For anyone still running Windows XP, here are a few reasons why it really is nowtime to upgrade. Security As mentioned above, support for XP will end in April. This should be particularly worrying given that in December 2013 alone, three “critical” security flaws, which allowed attackers to remotely run malicious software on the machines,were patched in XP. From April Microsoft will no longer do this. Some companies will no doubt attempt to paper over the cracks by disconnecting those machines that are running XP from the external network, this still however leaves these machines vulnerable to viruses that are found in the company intranet or even on a USB Stick. What this all means, is that after April, any web connected Windows XP machine is like an open door, ready to warmly welcome any malicious code. Data Protection Related to the first point, decreased security makes data increasingly vulnerable. This poses a problem for businesses financially (as important customer data can be stolen) and also legally, as sensitive data must be protected by law. Simply put, any data that is stolen from your network comes under your legal jurisdiction and must be protected as such. Latest Technology Perhaps the most important reason for any business to upgrade their machines besides security, are the latest features that are found on newer versions of Windows and other programs too such as SolidWorks and DriveWorks. These new versions not only run at higher speeds, they also offer more functionalityand improvedusability. For example the inbuilt support for 3D printing found in Windows 8.1 might be attractive to some companies …
Blue Giant, have used DriveWorks to create Configure Blue, their parts configurator for their Worldwide Authorised Dealers and Sales Team. With over 8 million product combinations, Blue Giant were in need of a more simplified configuration solution and with DriveWorks Pro they were able to host their configurator online for their Sales team and Authorised dealers to more simply and effectively create new configurations. Rob and Chris will be explaining what it took to get Configure Blue up and running, as well as how it has helped them overcome problems. Both Rob and Chris use DriveWorks on a daily basis, so this presentation is a great way for you to learn how a DriveWorks implementation works in practice. Chris is Blue Giants Automation specialist and previous to his work at Blue Giant, Chris used DriveWorks to automate conveyor designs. With many years of design and automation experience he will no doubt deliver a fascinating presentation. Rob, currently Director of Engineering at Blue Giant, had previously spent 11 years at Javelin Technologies, working as their Senior Application Engineer with particular focus on Design Automation and he had 32 years of experience in the industry. Rob and Chris will be speaking in room 22 Wednesday, 1:30 PM– 2:30 PM so get there nice and early to avoid missing out on a seat.
This year at SolidWorks World, the DriveWorks booth will be hosting a powerful demonstration of DriveWorks Live. Taking data from configuremyconveyor.com and Twitter, we will be using your input to make the Worlds Most configurable conveyor. If you are at SolidWorks World you will be able to see your very own personalised conveyor section in a colour of your choice along with your name at our booth. All you have to do is either: Scan the QR Code Visit www.configuremyconveyor.com Tweet:Your Colour #DriveWorks524 e.g. Hot Pink #driveworks524 Remember we are at booth #524 at the SolidWorks PartnerPavilion Below you will find a map to help you get to our booth!
Can I use DriveWorks with our companys PDM system? Yes! This kind of question is one that we often hear, and the great news is that DriveWorks Pro Configurator projects can be integrated in to your companies PDM system as well as other company systems.
Seasons Greeting from DriveWorks! We hope you all have a lovely break over the festive period and we look forward to working with you again in the new year.
Don’t miss this great customer story – How WE use DriveWorks Guest Speaker, Chris Zona, from Blue Giant Equipment Company, Canada.
Can I use DriveWorks with our company’s CRM system? Yes! This is a question that comes up quite often and the good news is that DriveWorks Pro Configurator projects can be integrated with many other company systems, including CRM systems.
For most companies, DriveWorks Pro provides more than enough functionality for their needs. However because DriveWorks Pro has been built with a fully documented Application Programming Interface (API) if a specific need arises that is not covered in the standard functionality, it is possible to create your own plugin to DriveWorks using Visual Studio or Visual Studio Express.
Anything that can turn your meticulously made models in to a real 3D product without great big machines is certainly cool in our book. We love the idea that it is possible to use DriveWorks to automate the design of new parts printed by a 3D printer.
