Ready to Learn Something New?

For the past year the company I work for has been hoisting seminars in which they invite clients to come and spend a few hours learning something new. The response to these events has been remarkably good. People come in, sit down at a computer and in an hour or so they start turning out some pretty awesome work.

Many of the people that attend are experienced machinist, engineers, designers, and architects. For some the computer is a tool they learned to master decades ago and they are merely looking to add another skill to the many that they have already mastered. But for some coming to the class is an act of courage. They want to learn a new skill but already feel defeated. They think it will be too hard, too technical, to intense. Its gratifying to watch the satisfaction on their faces when they start to "get it".

We have had individuals in our classes that were starting at ground zero. They didn't posses basic computer skills, they had no previous experience with CAD or CAM but they had a desire or a need to learn. I don't know if it is attributable to their determination, our teaching skills, or the general ease of use that is built into our software but whatever it is, eventually they all do get it.

So what does this teach us? We are never too old to learn a new skill. Very few things are as difficult as we think they are going to be. And its always good to break out of our routine and take the time to expand our horizons.

Right now the free classes that we offer have been limited to the basics of SolidWorks, Edgecam, and RPM but as time goes on it would be nice to get into some of the more intricate features of these programs. What I would like to find out from some who already have a good understanding of the basic skills in these programs is, what would you like to see next? Is there some feature of these programs that you don't understand, some skill that you haven't been able to master. Let us know what you would like to see and perhaps we can put a class together that will address this for you.

Please feel free to visit our web site and let us know what you are ready to learn.
ed@roneysoftware.com
www.roneysoftware.com

Programing CNC Machines Has Never Been So Easy

I have spent most of my life designing products. I like designing products, and I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the design process. Obviously my job required me to spend a fair amount of time in the machine shop looking at how these products are made. A good engineer needs to understand the manufacturing process. Despite the fact that I was in the shop almost every day for close to 30 years I had never taken the time necessary to find out how the CNC machines were programmed.

To me the processes necessary to program these machines seemed lengthy, involved, and complicated so I was happy that someone else had the responsibility of doing it. After all, how efficient would I be as an engineer if I had to spend hours every day programming machines. Sounds like a valid argument doesn't it. Too bad it isn't! It was really nothing more than an excuse to get out of something that I thought would be difficult and boring.

Programming doesn't have to be difficult, nor is it boring. Sure there are things you need to know, but this information isn't all that hard to come by and knowing it can be a nice addition to your knowledge base. But what about the amount of time necessary to program a machine to make a part for you. Doesn't programming take a lot of time?

To answer this last question let me tell you about a program called RMP that a friend of mine just created. RPM is incredible, it is designed to supercharge the Strategy Manager feature embedded in EdgeCam. People using this program have the ability of automatically programming a CNC machine with just 1 mouse click. You heard me right, 1 mouse click. That means that once you finish a model you can launch EdgeCam and have a finished program in less than 1 minute. I know it is hard to believe but its true.

Imagine what this means for your company. If your programmer gets sick, no problem the engineer can program those parts. You need to find out how long a part will take to machine and your programmer is too busy to make a program for you. No problem, launch EdgeCam and RPM and a few minutes later you have the answer. Your company gets more work done. Your skills become more valuable to the company because you suddenly have become more versatile. Your job becomes more interesting because you know more about the manufacturing process.

Please keep in mind that not every part can be programmed in one minute, and there is a fair amount of set up required to get RPM properly configured, but programs like this are the wave of the future and you can benefit from them today. If your company has CNC equipment you need to look into this today.

For more information please visit www.roneysoftware.com or write to me at ed@roneysoftware.com

Resistance Is Futile

About a year ago a friend of mine who is largely thought of as a CAM expert told me about a unique program he was selling that was designed to automate, simplify, and speed up the programming of CNC machines. My first reaction to this was " you should make a lot of money with it", but he quickly told me that the exact opposite seemed to be happening.

The problem seems to be that many programmers view the new technology as a threat to their job security. I think we have all reacted this way at one time or another but common sense tells us we can't do this. If we resist technology, technology will just pass us by, and before you know it you won't have a job to protect.

Rather than find fault with new technologies we need to keep an open mind and look at how we can use these advances to our advantage. Will this new technology make my job easier? Will our company become more competitive and be able to attract new customers? Will this open the way to new opportunities for myself and the company?

We also need to ask ourselves "what will happen if i don't take advantage of this?". The answer to that question is usually not something we want to hear because historically companies or industries that have resisted change have found themselves on the wrong side of a loosing battle.

So what we have to do is to keep an open mind. Be ready and willing to accept change. Don't be an obstacle to progress. Seek out new ways of doing things and seriously consider their merits. If we do this we will stay ahead of the curve, we will help our companies grow and we will be laying a solid foundation for the future.

For more information on CAM automation please go to www.roneysoftware.com or contact Mich Roney at mitch@roneysoftware.com

Free SolidWorks Training

Some time ago SolidWorks started promoting a free mini training/sales event called a Hands On Test Drive, or HOTD if you like using acronyms. Since their inception I have helped Roney Software host a half dozen or so of the events and I have to say that they are a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with 3D design software. Don't get me wrong, these are sales events but the emphasis is placed firmly on providing a real hands on educational experience.

The format is simple; put a half dozen people in front of computers, show them the very basics of how SolidWorks functions, guide them step by step through the design process, and then setting them free to play and learn. In the classes I have been in we started by drawing a 2D box, making that into a 3D cube, adding a list of features and modifications, creating an assembly, doing a bit of animation, simulation, rendering, etc. By the end of the morning you really do know the basics of SolidWorks and are capable of turning out some pretty neat stuff.

Things I like most about these HOTD's:

• The sales pressure, if you can call it that is very low key.
• You start out at ground zero in a non-threatening atmosphere that doesn't make you feel like a dummy for asking simple questions.
• You really do get the basics down in just a few short hours.
• This type of environment really showcases one of the major strengths of SolidWorks, which is its ease of use.
• Finally the price. In case I didn't mention it they are free! You even get a pretty nice lunch out of the deal

Bottom line; if you want to see a great piece of design software up close and personal, you have to attend one of these events.

The next HOTD that Roney's are sponsoring is in Meadville PA on Thursday February 18, 2010. I am 99.99% certain that this date is already filled to capacity, but I know that they will be hosting many more of them this year so visit their web site (www.roneysoftware.com) and sign up for the next available date.