Welcome to On The Edge!
This is the first post in a blog that will serve as a diary of my experiences as I explore Solid Edge and Synchronous Technology. It will be a bit of a change of pace for me, because my Dezignstuff blog has always been mainly a blog for experts, or high-level users. And for SolidWorks experts at that. This blog is aimed at people who are starting to use or are curious about Solid Edge. It could even be useful to existing Solid Edge users who have not yet taken the plunge into Synchronous Technology. The Dezignstuff blog will continue to exist and talk about a wide range of CAD topics, but On The Edge (OTE for short) will be completely focused on Solid Edge, the software and the company. I expect that OTE will be more upbeat and optimistic, while not shying away from realistic, every day life issues.
Why is a new blog necessary? Couldn’t I just cover all this on the existing Dezignstuff blog? To be honest, the Dezignstuff blog has gotten to be a bit of a downer lately. I personally needed a new start. Secondly, this allows me to separate the information. There are Dezignstuff readers who are just not interested in reading about other software, so separating them is a way of avoiding unnecessary conflict. The final reason is that Solid Edge is paying for the work going into researching and writing this blog. For more complete disclosure details, see the Disclosure link at the top of the page. Anyway, in the end, I thought the new topic, the new start, and to some extent a new audience required a new destination.
Am I switching my business over to Solid Edge? Well, yes, and no. My business has two distinct parts. One part is about writing. Obviously, with this new blog, I’m getting paid to write about Solid Edge. This is my first paid Solid Edge related assignment. But I still write about SolidWorks software because there are a lot of users willing to pay for documentation in different media (text, video, and even live training classes). The other part of my business is modeling. A fair amount of my modeling work is creating editable history-based models. This part of my work is not likely to change in the near term. So this is not a switch for me, it’s simply an expansion.
What kind of things can you expect to read about here? There are some conceptual things I have to go through to make the case for the software in the first place. But then we will also spend a significant amount of time on hands-on questions about the software. There will be videos. I have a lot of questions about Sync Tech I want to work out. In particular, I’m very interested in combining Sync Tech and history modeling. We won’t speculate about the future, aside from suggesting things that they might add in future versions, but we will focus on the existing software, and how you can use it today.
One of the driving motivations for me to ask Solid Edge folks to hire me for this was that I see how much of my time is wasted in tripping up and down the history tree, making repairs to features that can’t keep track of references, and stuff like that. I want to find a better way. I want to hear from SE experts and from every day users about how you approach difficult situations. I want to hear about problems and workarounds. I want to hear about your favorite SE tools, and maybe your top 10 list of enhancement requests too. We all know creation is easy. Editing is hard. We will take a look at what “design intent” means in a direct editor, and we’ll look at the straight history capabilities of SE as well.
Basically, this blog is about my journey as I explore the Solid Edge software and gain some practical experience with it. I want to make this journey with others who are in the same situation, and some who have already been here long ago. It might be fun watching the guy who is used to being the guru suddenly turned into the noob. The interaction with posts and comments will be what makes this blog a valuable destination in the end. It will take experts, noobs, and yes, even skeptics for us all to get the most out of it.
So bookmark it. Make it part of your blog aggregator, get the RSS for posts and comments. Post a link to it on Facebook or Twitter. Mention it at your CAD user group meetings. We need a hub of energy where we can discuss capabilities and weaknesses of this software. Leave a comment. Suggest a topic idea. I hope to keep you On The Edge of your seat when you visit.
Chris,
I know it is hard to interpret things sometimes and decide whether or not you are hearing PR BS or the real deal. First the disclaimer as I do write a blog on SE among other things. I do not get any money or considerations for anything and I pay my way in every area. maybe this will change at some point in time but that is the way it is now. I have been asked if I would like help on things like the yearly fees Cam Express charges and have turned these down with the comment that I don’t want a deal that other users can’t get.
A recent conversation I had with Karsten ended with a comment with him basically saying to always write things as I see them and don’t sugar coat stuff. I do have things I am unhappy about at times with SE and I do talk about them. But Karsten’s philosophy on who he listens to is that he has no time for those who would say what they think he wants to hear. He wants real information to make real plans with. You would I think be amazed at how much attention is given to user discussions in a number of different places because they want to incorporate users needs into what they do. I am quite certain Matt has not been contracted to lie for SE. On the contrary I think he will have free reign to write the truth and Karsten will be disappointed if he does not. You don’t have to believe this but this has been my personal experience.
Contrast these thoughts to something like this. http://www.3ds.com/company/news-media/press-releases-detail/release//single/4130/?cHash=bc699a95a77009150a57893958239fd0 Do these guys listen to anything besides themselves? SolidWorks will never go away but under DSS they are not anything at all like the company that created success and they have passed their zenith. What you have now is Bernard capering across the stage with an IPhone telling you that Minimoys will be how you can give your customers an immersive experience and the heck with geometry.
So now if you were a guy that likes to be where things are happening and users are listened to and problems are being fixed what would you do? Stick around with the dwindling legacy of a group on the way down and pretend things are still OK or go somewhere where good things are going on with a group on their way up? And as a big bonus be around a company that is hungry to improve what they do with geometry creation since that is the only reason to have CAD. Or at least I think it is and if your CAD is not right what does it matter if you have 10,000 integrated aps on a bad backbone.
Things are changing in big ways, all good here in SE land, and the question really is why in the world wouldn’t Matt want to be here? Matt makes money off of SW products and talks good and bad about SW. Until he proves himself otherwise why don’t you give him the benefit of the doubt and perhaps look into what he is talking about here. You just might end up being surprised by what you find. I know I was not an SE fan until I spent time to really look and then the choice was clear.
“One part is about writing. Obviously, with this new blog, I’m getting paid to write about Solid Edge”
Hi Mat
how objective will you be with this blog? is that only advertising for solid edge?
Chris, I’m going to be as objective as possible. In the end you and others will be the ones who decide how successful I am at that. Karsten Newbury is the guy who approved the money for the project, and he specifically told me to be realistic about things. Once I get into the software in more depth, you can be sure you’ll hear some realism.
I’ve already written some stuff that I consider realistic about SE:
http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=4139
http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=4052
http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=760
http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=740
In this blog already, I’ve been somewhat critical of parts of the interface, and parts of the documentation. I know there’s more to come.
If the new stuff is not in the same style, with the same type of objectivity, I’ll frankly get my ass handed to me in public. I have no interest in that. I started this blog fully aware of my reputation and not expecting to change that at all. My main goal is to maintain my reputation as an independent voice who says what he thinks about CAD software. I fully recognize the risk of being seen as a shill. At the same time, the tone on the Dezignstuff blog changed from open-minded skepticism to downright derision and mocking. That won’t happen here because I think SE is a product on its way up.
I get hired from time to time to do process consultation at companies. They bring me in and ask me to comment on what they are doing. They aren’t interested in hearing what they do right, just ask any mid-level manager, and that’s all you’ll hear. They’re interested in hearing what they could improve. When companies hire me to do that, very often they just want a neutral 3rd party to come in and state the obvious. I just kick the bushes and see what runs out. I think that’s part of why SE hired someone who has a reputation of being a bit controversial to do a public facing blog.They don’t want me to stop being controversial. I don’t know this for a fact, but I would imagine there was some internal disagreement about hiring me to do public writing for SE. It took literally months to come to an agreement.If I’m not annoying someone, I’m probably not doing my job.
I think SE management wants to hear some criticism to know what to improve. If I’m full of BS, long-time SE users will be the first to crucify me.
This experiment has the potential to go wrong in a lot of different ways, but I’m just approaching it as honestly as I can. My feeling is that the best thing I can do for people reading the blog and people paying me is to just shoot straight. I’m not good at anything else.
On the other hand, I was supposed to write a white paper for SE w ST when ST first came out 4-5 years ago. But when I got home and looked at the software, I realized that I just didn’t believe in the approach. So I bowed out. This is why I was so interested in ST3. And why I’m enthusiastic about the current software. I do believe in the approach they are taking, and hope they will extend the capabilities.
I also believe in the team behind the software. Dan Staples is one of my favorite high level tech guys. He is accessible, severely intelligent, he can communicate, and shoots straight. I also believe in Karsten Newbury who was recommended to me by a cynic no larger than Dave Ault. Dave and I have become friends, and I trust his judgment. Dave says Karsten always does what he says he will do, and I’ve found him to be very different from what I’ve come to expect from people at his level in big corporate organizations.
Also, it’s no secret that I’m severely anti-corporate. Siemens is probably the definition of a huge corporate entity. But, I find that Solid Edge is really trying to act like an entrepreneurial smaller business. I find that the way they treat their customers is decidedly un-corporate – it’s friendlier than what I expected. They definitely have some corporate baggage, but even I can’t deny that in some cases the big organization can be a benefit, and in others a boat anchor. One big frustration in the process to this point has been in long waits for things getting hammered out by a group of people.
Anyway, with all of that in mind, I actually approached them about the possibility of doing something for them. And I only did that because I believe in the product and the people.
I hope I answered your question in there somewhere.
Matt,
Well said! As a long time Solid Edge user I am interested in your work here… for the good and for the bad it brings to light. In the end even the “bad” you may bring to light will only better Solid Edge as a product. I am fully confident that the Solid Edge team is watching and eagerly waiting to respond to issues. I feel your perspective as a tried and tested Solid Works user gives much credit to the “Mine is better than yours” arguments. Users can argue for what feels best without really knowing 1st hand the other software’s approach. I feel that you intend to give Solid Edge both a fair shake and a fair shake down. In this process I feel that the CAD community at large but particularly the Solid Edge users’ community wins in the end…
Matt J.
Thank you for your honest answer
Great site Matt. You’re unique perspective and frank style of writing will be a huge asset to the Solid Edge user community. Keep up the good work.
For yourself and anyone else learning Synchronous try this:
http://www.youtube.com/user/EdgeCanada
Liam Roney
Calgary, Canada
Great to see this new site Matt – WELL DONE!
I can see this being a valuable resource for Solid Edge users.
Lee Northend
Edge PLM Software
Welcome, Matt, to the amazing world of Solid Edge – from a SE ‘lifer’ DownUnder. Much as I love SE and the international community that has grown around it, I am also one of its fiercest critics. I lay claim to 15-1/2 years of experience with SE starting with v1.0 in 1996, but I still learn from our incredibly broad spectrum of Users worldwide. I have assisted Cadkey, Pro/E, AutoCAD, UG, SW and a few other users migrate to Solid Edge over the years (and made the same apology for the same dumb-ass crap over and over again!) but I have never had a student walk away cursing (cussing) once they understood the thinking behind the software. Now with Synchronous Technology I am again the noob, trying to reconcile robust techniques developed during >30k hours of using ‘traditional’ SE with this new paradigm of which I have been so critical during its development and implementation. So, let’s see if we can harness all this ‘User Power’ worldwide to help Solid Edge reach its full potential – not by perpetuating the old ‘us vs them’ brand-aligned hostilities & posturing, but by contributing whatever we can in a professional, enthusiastic way to help Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology achieve its full potential. As with most complex software, there are parts that are brilliant and parts that are PITA crap, but the brilliance is what makes it worth persevering!
Rick Mason
MASCO Design Services Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia.
Excellent to see some “new blood” and with a new and usefully critical eye.
You are most welcome to the Edge community.
From an “edgy” old man in Australia.
Wow, thanks everybody for the warm welcome! I can see I’ve got a lot of new friends to meet.
This is going to be fun, and I agree, finding the outer bounds of the capabilities of this software is going to bring back a lot of excitement to using CAD again.
I’ll do my best to bring something for everyone, mixing up the topics and discussion to cover a wide range. I’m really glad some big name SE veterans have stopped in. I count on learning a lot from you guys.
And thanks to Susan Cinadr for starting the “On The Edge Decoder Ring“, which will show up shortly. I know one day will learn how to say your name out loud. It looks a little daunting in print.
Tip for Matt –.> Just say “Cinadr” like “Senator” and you won’t be far off. That’s what I thought her name was for a couple months before I saw it in print! 🙂
Cool. Another one for the Decoder Ring.
LOL. Love the blog title. Just love it. Good luck with the new venture into the world of Siemens. I’m sure you’ll be as great a resource to the SE community as you have been for SW. Congrats.
Matt –
Here is a little introduction to the community:
Edger – skilled Solid Edge user
Edgeling – Newbie or as you call it, “noob”
It’s still unclear to me when you make the switch….maybe when you go toe-to-toe with Rick Mason or better yet, help Bob Mileti with an a-ha moment 🙂
Welcome to the fam!
Susan
Most exciting new blog I have seen in a long time! As many of your readers I’m a SolidWorks user with a growing interest in Synchronous Technology. It will be really interesting to follow you on this journey/experiment and get some real opinions from a real user.
Matt,
This is a very good thing you are doing, and separating from the other blog is wise. I think that you and I are kinda of the same mindset, with our long history with old SW. And ironically it was your other blog that began to open up my eyes on the issues the SW was having and was one of the stepping stones that walked us into SE.
I think that this will be a fun experience for all SE users. It kinda feels like it’s 1995 again, with all of the expectation’s of the future of SE that are just over the horizon. That only the insiders know, that will make this a fun ride. My dull history based life has been reborn.
I look at the Synchronous Technology stuff, and THANKS!!!!, goes out to all who had this vision so long ago (34 or so years ago), who never gave up on it, and are finally seeing it come to fruition.
I can’t imagine how BORING life would have been for the next 15 years with ONLY history based solid modeling, it was really becoming stale and redundant.
I think you will have as much fun as I have had the last few months, Welcome.
Billy
Welcome to the Solid Edge Community!!! I’m sure you will find many passionate SE users on standby to assist in your learning curve and to add our own little tips and tricks along the way. I’m excitd to follow your journey as you bring a very unique perspective and your own following. I hope all will find, and strive to keep, dialog factual and constructive. Welcome. ~Matt J.
Matt,
I just became aware of your New Solid Edge Blog and I’m really excited about reading about your insights and experience with this great product. You may be a “noob” with Solid Edge now, but I think you’ll be leading the way in short order. At lot of us old timers are still learning the ways of Sync Technology so you’re not alone. But I can say as one of the earlier critics of Synch, that after many months of re-educating myself on this new way of working, the results are starting to become very rewarding. Solid edge has made designing in 3D CAD once again fun!
Again great news on the blog and I hope to be a frequent visitor.
Bob
Bob,
Your fame has spread far and wide. It’s great to have you and the others here helping kick off this blog to a great start. Looking forward to some great discussions and learning a lot.
Wellcome Matt to a different way of doing things. I look forward to the insight you are going to bring as a “newbie”. It helped in my mind to remember that faces and sketches were the way to get around when I figured out the best way for my mindset to work..
Welcome Matt in the Solid Edge blog world.
Nice way to make you first official contact with our world, and congratulation for this blog. Hope you did not negotiate to hard with Siemens, I don’t want see my renewal raised to much 🙂
To help you get in the circle, i will forget any amount Siemens pay if you offer the pork wings 🙂
To help you start, visit the help file. This is a tool that is underestimate by those who get initiate to Solid Edge, In our fast pace world most of the people want everything free and ready to consume. Those who understand the value of time get the most out of their tools.
So when you use a command, press F1, Solid Edge will do it’s best to bring you to the help topic relate to what you are doing. Navigating inside the help is like surfing the web. Look at the top of a topic for relate and how to topic and at the bottom for the links expand the knowledge on that topic.
You can also do Boolean search AND/OR/NEAR/NOT “quote search” 🙂
If you find something interesting and you need to digg a little bit more, use the favorites tab at the top. Save and rename to create a nice custom help index. Once you master a topic you can delete it to make some room for new stuff.
Topic i recommend you to read from the help Contents tab
Just in case, you did not see this so far, look at the top right corner for the help icon
Click on it, a panel will popup on the right, look for Solid Edge Self-Paced training
http://www.solidedge.com/spt/en/SESPT.cfm
We will do our best to make your trip among us as enjoyable as possible. As i once wrote the excitement is not at the start and the fun is not the destination. It is what you are going to discover in between that will make this trip one of the kind.
Again welcome and hope to have the chance to meet you and have time to exchange with you. (Other then by blog articles)
Great looking forward to reading it
Welcome to the Solid Edge Community Matt! Was pretty exited to see your new Solid Edge BLOG. Will definitely be some good reading. I see you put mine on your BLOG Roll. Guess I’ll have to start keeping it updated regularly 😉
Ken