Green design: Iris Coffee Table

When doing my internet browsing today and search for images related to laser cutting, this design caught my attention and I decided to download it and share here. I think this is one good example of simple and nice design. The designer,Michael Bihain who is now working with companies and distribution firms development furniture, jewels and accessories and this is one of his new design, the iris table.

He has used laser cutting to transform a single sheet of steel into a coffee table that resembles an iris. Unlike most tables the iris is stackable. So I assume this designer had considered sustainability factor in this coffee table. Imagine the transportation cost saving by incorporate stackable features in his design. Besides, this is also good for environment as we can reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the number of transportation trip when shipping.

As a designer, we can play a big role in conversation of our environment, let start incorporate those features in our design that can reduce our carbon footprint like this one here. Thumb up for Mr. Michael Bihain.

have a nice weekend!!
~ah lau~

Do you know about 3D Content Central?

Does my NOKIA 6500 looks cool? This is not the actual model, this is the image of SolidWorks file rendered with PhotoView360! Well, this photo was rendered by me but I am not the person who create this model, this model was downloaded from 3D Content Central through SolidWorks!

3D ContentCentral is a community of both users and suppliers. This website supplies millions of free parts and assemblies which are available in all major 2D and 3D CAD formats. SolidWorks is one of the supported format. In order to download all the supplied parts, basically what you need to do is just register as a member of 3D Content Central, then you will have the access to all the supplied parts. Besides that, you can also become a 3D Content Central supplier to contribute all your 3D models to this community.

Throughout 3D Content Central, you can search for supplier component using part numbers, product name and so on, you can also configure those parts base on your requirment such as customize the dimension or feature control. Besides 3D model, it also supply 2D blocks, library features and even macros for SolidWorks! All this functions are definitely save our time from create those standards or common parts by ourself~!

Do you know you can actually access 3D Content Central from SolidWorks? Here are the picture to show you where can you access the website from SolidWorks!

Callout the task pane (the smaller window on right hand side) of SolidWorks, click on the Design Library tab, and get the access to 3D Content Central!

What's new in SolidWorks 2010: Hole Wizard~

Last of the day, Hole wizard. Good news for Australian, it now come with Australia Standard. Hmm.. do we have Malaysia standard? Cosmetic thread can now easily insert into the hole during inserting the hole via hole wizard.

Video speak all!~

What's new in SolidWorks 2010: Drawing Enhancementsssss

Easier. Faster. Focus on design, not drawing.

Selamat Pagi (Morning) guys, I just woke up, haven brush my teeth and I'm thinking how to explain all the new enhancementsssss (yes, lot of  's') for drawing. For the number of  's' you see, i believe you know what I mean. Yes! lot of enhancementsssss.

Some of the enhancementsssss:
1. New dimension palette. Reduce mouse travel.
2. Text tolerances with recent setting record
3. Change section depth to remove unnecessary sketch.
4. Detail view with ordinate dimension.
5. Dimensioning with popup widget.
6. drag and drop note.
7. Ballon size standard.
8. Annotation in 3D model.

You know what? Just watch after the jump and you will get what I mean by enhancementsssss.

What's new in SolidWorks 2010: Mirror components

Still remember how to model a handle by just referring to an existing 2D drawing? Refer my previous post, projected curve, if you don't get what I mean. Model a handle is piece of cake for you. After the handle bar, of course we need to design the grip, grip shift, brake lever etc. Since left and right is the same, all we need to do is mirror the components.

Honestly, I believe most of you facing a comment issue when mirror a part. It may end up in an orientation which not as what we are expecting, something like this,

Aiya!~ How ar? What can I do ar? The answer is SolidWorks 2010. In SolidWorks 2010, a great enhancement available for mirror feature. It allow us to select the mirror part and reorient it to the right position which make you happy. Like this,

With the mate 'mirror' along, interactive motion is more accurate and faster result. As usual, after the jump is a video that I would like to share with you all.

Happy weekend!~

IME SolidWorks Xpresso

IME SolidWorks Xpresso, 10 Dec 09, 12.30pm - 2.30pm

When you heard about “IME SolidWorks Xpresso”!!! What come into your mind? A cup of espresso??? :)

IME SolidWorks Xpresso, is a 3D online seminar first in Malaysia. Through this seminar, you will able to get an idea how SolidWorks’ Xpress features apply in our daily design life? How efficient it is SolidWorks today?

SolidWorks are design according to world wide design engineer require!! Through SolidWorks, it help us to shorten design circle with it automatic features, with it Xpress features.

How much you understand about SolidWorks’ features?

IME SolidWorks Xpresso Day on 10 December 2009 will highlight to you what is SolidWorks’ Xpress features. Join us on 10 Dec 2009 at 12.30pm – 2.30pm.

Click to www.solidworks.com/swid_ime to join for the event.

** remember get ready a cup of Espresso on your table during the event, let’s enjoy the coffee together…….

“Not free to join during working hour?” don’t worry all the video and the presentation material will available at the site for 2 days once the event starts. If you are not FREE to join for the event during the specified period, join any time when you are free (at night as well).

Don't miss the opportunities to experience in 3D online seminar.

SEE YOU ON 2 DECEMBER 2009! AND LOCK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!!!!!

** we can chat with each other during the seminar through this online seminar platform!

SolidWorks Tips & Tricks Day

2 December 2009, 2pm - SolidWorks Tips & Tricks Day

Hi member, you are invited to join SolidWorks Tips & Tricks day on 2nd December 2009 at 2.00pm. At this unique one-day online conference, you will have the opportunity to pick-up some great SolidWorks tips and learn how to create more accurate and reliable product designs. We have special invite speaker from Malaysia, Singapore, India, etc to present you all the great SolidWorks Tips.

During the conference, you will be able to:

- Watch countless SolidWorks Tips & Tricks Videos
- Challenge your knowledge by taking our design quiz
- Have your question answered by proffesionals in “Ask The Expert” session.

Join us in this event, and participate in our live chat sessions. Our SolidWorks Experts will be there to answer all your questions, live from the Virtual Conference Auditorium.

Please click to www.solidworks.com/swid_ime to join and experience virtual 3D experience.

Donate to rise sustainable design awareness

Important message: I'm not asking you to donate~

The best donation is that we just need to play a simple small role and others will donate on behalf of our small effort. We run for donation, we eat for donation (this is the best 1), we scarify sleep for donation, we doing heavy duty labor job for donation, and so on.... So, do I have an easier way to get donation to rise sustainable design awareness beside using above method?

Yes!~ let Dassault Systèmes (DS) SolidWorks Corp do the donation and all we need to do is download SolidWorks® SustainabilityXpress solution. You download, you use it and you playing an important role to save our earth and the donation, just leave it to SolidWorks Corp, they will do the rest. :) Senang dengan legal download!~

What are you waiting for? Have you downloaded SolidWorks Sustainability Xpress?

"Dassault Systèmes (DS) SolidWorks Corp. has launched a donation program to promote environmental sustainability among designers of products as simple as water bottles and as complex as industrial machinery.

SolidWorks will donate $1 for every download of its SolidWorks® SustainabilityXpress solution, up to $10,000, to Formula Hybrid™, an international competition of university engineering students to develop high-performance fuel-electric hybrid vehicles. SolidWorks SustainabilityXpress is professional-grade software providing advanced functionality that aids engineers in determining a product’s carbon footprint, energy consumption, air and water impact. By downloading SolidWorks SustainabilityXpress, engineers and designers will help educate the next generation about environmentally friendly design while gaining a tool to help them create “green” designs today. SolidWorks’ goal with this new program is to spread the idea that any product can be designed with the lowest possible environmental impact."

For the complete press release, click HERE