Full ASME list of allowed letters for revisions and view labels
Author: Matthew Lorono
Website: fcsuper.com/swblog
Per ASME Y14.35 standard, these are full lists of allowed letters to serve as revisions and view labels on drawings. There are two choices. The pre-2014 list contains all single and double digit revision letters. The current list (as of 2014) contains all single, double and triple digit revision letters. Omitted are the letters I, O, Q, S, X and Z. File format is Excel, from which the list may be readily copied.
In a surprising twist, 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024 Top Ten is loaded with ideas for the topic of MBD. What does that mean?
Several years ago, 3DEXPERIENCE World Top Ten Ideas moved from a custom system to 3DSWYM. That could be the end of one era and the start a new. But, this year, there’s something else going on.
The big surprise for Top Ten Ideas for 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024 is that over half are SOLIDWORKS MBD requests.
MBD is the abbreviation for Model-based Definition. As a concept, MBD is the practice of providing product definition directly upon the 3D model within a 3D CAD environment. MBD includes the application and use of annotations and metadata that specify requirements for the product. MBD also includes methods for display of specifications, and their use for both human and machine consumption. Although engineering drawings may still be used in a limited manner, MBD does not require drawings, and may actually preclude their use.
Six of the Top Ten list are related to the SOLIDWORKS MBD product or at least MBD practices for functionality within the SOLIDWORKS. Additionally, one other item is drawings related.
MBD ordinate dimensioning is interesting because the international standards do not provide any standard method for such to appear in an MBD environment. I’ve personally contacted ASME about this gap, only to be told that ASME standards already address the concept. ASME standards do not address the concept, nor do they even hint at anything that could address it. In particular, ASME Y14.41 does not address the concept at all, but for all matters of product definition, it defers to ASME Y14.5. ASME Y14.5 specifies ordinate dimensioning only within this drawing environment, and doesn’t provide any clues on how to address such within an MBD environment.
So, when customers request tools such as MBD ordinating dimensions, the SOLIDWORKS R&D team has to fall back to the customers themselves to determine how to implement such functionality. Do customers expect all of the annotations within an ordinate dimension scheme to be on the same annotation plane regardless to the form of the product? Or, do customers expect annotations to always appear attached to the feature that they define? Do all customers want the same result?
Even with linear dimensions, things can be confusing from particular orientations.
It seems that ordinate dimensions are not a top priority for some in the mechanical engineering field, especially since other dimension schemes are supported. But, this is an issue which is important to SOLIDWORKS customers.
Support for MBD ordinate dimension scheme is an example of why these issues are not so easy to solve. A lot of investigation and forethought is necessary. Solutions are available. We just have to be diligent to provide the right solutions for SOLIDWORKS customers.
Even still, it’s incredibly surprising to see not just one MBD topic in the Top Ten list, but six! There was a time when this topic was a pariah. Interest in the topic is definitely expanding quickly, and suddenly too.
Solutions for MBD are not just available in SOLIDWORKS and its MBD addin. 3DEXPERIENCE platform as the Manufacturing Definition Creator which includes xDrawing.
xDrawing allows the user to simultaneously create product definition within the drawing or MBD environments by utilizing the concept of single-source-of-truth. Annotations and views created in the MBD environment can be added directly to the drawing environment. Annotations and views created in the drawing environment automatically update the MBD environment. Changes made to annotations in either environment automatically update in both.
R&D team at SOLIDWORKS definitely noticed all of the MBD related items in this year’s Top Ten list! It tells the team that they are on the right track in their efforts to create powerful products in support of MBD workflows; bolstering their drive to continue such support.
Dallas! Yup, 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024 is going to be in Dallas, TX. It’s a first, and not really a first. The first 3DEXPERIENCE World in Dallas, yes. But, upon the incarnation of SOLIDWORKS World, Dallas is well-travelled land, having been held here in 2016 and 2019.
Even though we’ve been here before, things change over time. Some would argue the world is a different place now. As such, this things-to-do list for Dallas is updated. Also, you might’ve noticed that the list returns to SolidWorks Legion, as least for this year. It’s been on the Corporate Blog for a number of years. However, the Corporate Blog has an abundance of user-centric content planned for World this year. I hope you look forward to their posts as much as I!
As always, none of these places or sites are endorsed. This is just a list of interesting things to see and do while visiting Dallas.
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Zoo
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Dallas World Aquarium
Reunion Tower
Texas Discovery Gard
African American Museum
Geometric MADI Museum
Meadows Museum
Greenville Avenue – Lots of shops, restaurants and late evening fun.
Galleria Dallas – upscale shopping mall
West Village – uptown shopping district
Downtown Dallas – downtown entertainment district with several parks and shops, restaurants and arts.
Deep Ellum – “Texas’ destination for arts, music, culture and innovation since 1873”
Cedar Hill State Park – trails, camping and other outdoor activities
White Rock Lake – reservoir with a great drive and outdoor activities
River Road – scenic drive along the Guadalupe River
Texas BBQ Roadtrip – Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco and more
Dallas is currently the ninth largest city in the US with a population of nearly 1.3M.1
The frozen margarita machine originated in Dallas.2
The ATM machine was patented in Dallas by Don Wetzel after experiencing frustration with long teller lines at his bank.3
See you in Dallas, TX at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024!
Stardock is an interesting company that makes useful utilities like Fences 4.0, and games like Galactic Civilizations. Weird but true
There’s a software publisher like no other called Stardock. With a name like that, one might expect this company to release space-based games. Strangely, they actually do have several such titles, like Star Control, Galactic Civilization, Sins of a Solar Empire and Offworld Trading Company (to name a few). They also publish other games, like Demigod and Fallen Enchanters. Weirdly, that’s only half of their story.
In addition to their games, Stardock is also known for their small to medium scope Windows utility applications. They have utilities that extend icon packs, keyboard macros, window drop-shadows, PDF editor, start menu alternative, etc. For the size of this small company ($16M yearly revenue), that is a lot of ground to cover. Funny enough, I’ve actually purchased both utilities and games from Stardock without realizing they are from the same company. One utility that I use extensively is Fences.
Thirty years ago (even before Stardock was founded), Windows was a very different critter. You would actually use windows within Windows to group your applications and list your documents for easy access and launching. In other words, you could actually organize your computer’s desktop without hunting through a Start Menu.
Fences (current version is Fences 4.0) brings back the functionality of windows in Windows. However, instead of calling this visual organization by the name of “windows”, Fences calls them “fences”. Fences functions in modern Windows as though the old-school organization capability was never removed.
Not only can you group related applications, links and documents together, you can also create an expanded desktop with “desktop pages”, create collapsible fences, include “folder portals” and set automatic placement for new icons with “type-based rules”.
I “borrowed” these images (above and below) from Stardock’s website because they do a great job at demonstrating the tool’s function.
I personally use Fences on my own computer to organize music, music applications, utilities, games, social media, photo editing, video editing, etc. This allows me to quickly find specific applications, links and documents by topic. Fences has definitely improved my experience with Windows.
This is not a paid-for article. This article contains no affiliate links. Google might insert an ad within the article, but I don’t control the placement or content of such ads. I created this article because I feel Fences is a good product and Stardock is a strange, yet interesting company to discuss.
Stardock is even more interesting than what I’ve discussed above. Check out the story of how Stardock settled a lawsuit with honey and mead. That’s not a joke or hyperbole. Stardock literally-literally did settle a lawsuit in 2019 with the exchange of honey and mead being listed in the terms of the settlement.
Show off your Certificates of Completion without overloading your LinkedIn profile
My previous article about C.V., resumes and LinkedIn profile covered general information about LinkedIn profile. But, now let’s look closer at your LinkedIn profile and how not to overload it with certificates of completion.
LinkedIn Learning and other learning platforms offer many courses on a variety of topics, from Business to Photography. That’s great. However, that can also be daunting when showing off completion of career related courses on your LinkedIn profile under Licenses & certifications section. If you complete a couple of courses, no big deal. However, if you complete dozens of courses, the certificates of completion will dominate your LinkedIn profile. This can diminish visibility of certificates of accomplishment, such as your CSWE, and important career enhancing licenses.
In the past, LinkedIn allowed you to reorder your certificates. You were able to place the most important certificates at the top of the the Licenses & certifications section. Unfortunately, due to revamping of the LinkedIn profile user-interface some time ago, this ability was removed. The current interface imposes a date-based list within Licenses & certifications section.
How does one mitigate the flood of career related certificates of completion without dominating your LinkedIn profile? You could be very selective as to which certifications you include. You could also start your own website where you list all of your certificates, with a link from your LinkedIn profile. However, if you really want to show your training results directly on your profile, there’s another couple of options that may work for you.
On LinkedIn Learning, Learning Paths are groups of courses that are combined for a particular topic-specific training goal. When you complete the Learning Path, you get a special single certificate of completion for the entire training path.
However, if you cannot find a learning path for your role or training goals, you can create your own, with a catch.
LinkedIn Learning allows you to create Collections for your personal use. A Collection folder allows you group saved courses. For example, you can create a collection called “Business Leadership”. Then, peruse the library of LinkedIn Learning in the Business category and add 5 to 10 closely related courses about leadership in business into your Business Leadership collection.
Once you build your collection, it’s time to complete your courses. As you complete each course, you will earn a Certificate of Completion. However, do not download individual certificates of completion right away. Wait until you complete the whole collection. LinkedIn Learning has a bad habit of redesigning their certificates frequently. If you take 12 months to complete your collection, the style of certificate could change. To avoid this issue, download your certificates at one time when you’ve completed the last course in your collection.
Once you’ve completed all of the courses in your collection, use a desktop computer with Adobe Acrobat Pro or other other application that allows you to edit PDF files.
Now you are ready to add your combine certificates to your LinkedIn profile’s Licenses & certifications section.
Now review your entry from the LinkedIn profile page to make sure it matches your desired intent. Check the link to your certifications PDF to make sure it works. Below is an image example from my own profile. If you click on the image, it will take you to my combined certificates PDF.
Rinse and repeat for any other collections you wish to complete and show.
Now, if you are on a learning platform that has courses that are longer than one week (40 hours) or have graded exams, you may wish to consider putting such courses in the Education and Courses sections of your LinkedIn profile.
Some people use their LinkedIn profile as a full replacement for an actual resume. For many others, it’s little more than a simple job history timeline. Still others may use their LinkedIn profile as a complete C.V. What’s the difference?
Some people use their LinkedIn profile as a full replacement for an actual resume. For many others, it’s little more than a simple job history timeline. Still others may use their LinkedIn profile as a complete C.V. I use my LinkedIn profile somewhere between resume and C.V.
People of certain backgrounds, countries and generations may not fully understand the difference between a resume or C.V.; or may not even recognize one term or the other. Recently, I’ve heard “CV” used instead of resume. There are a variety of viewpoints regarding C.V. and resume, including regionality and interchangeability of the terms.
Resume is a relatively short list of one’s employment and education history, with very brief summaries of skills, contact information, achievements and other information. Job descriptions for each role listed on a resume can be as short as one sentence. However, descriptions are often longer; covering as many details as possible while still focusing on brevity. These descriptions tend to focus more on general responsibilities rather than details about each and every individual achievement. Resumes are typically 1 to 4 pages long, with final length being based more on the number of jobs one has held rather than specific details about any particular role. Employment history in the form of a resume is common in North America.
C.V. (or Curriculum Vitae) is a relatively long version of one’s employment history. It’s a comprehensive document that summarizes a person’s educational, professional, and personal background. C.V. typically includes the following information in detail: contact information, educational background, professional experience, skills and abilities, awards and honors, publications, personal interests and other relevant information. Basically, a C.V. is more detailed than a resume. Employment history in the form of C.V. is common in Western Europe, though such C.V.s aren’t necessarily as long as suggested here.
To someone who has a LinkedIn profile page, the common information found on a C.V. might look familiar. LinkedIn profile has sections for the user to input their employment history, licenses and certifications, projects, education courses and history, recommendations, volunteer experience, publications, patents, honors and awards, test scores, languages, organization memberships and supported causes. Due to all these categories, one may end up putting their full C.V. into their LinkedIn profile.
That said, it’s easy to put so much information in one’s LinkedIn profile that information-overload can occur. An upcoming article will cover how to reduce some of that noise without drastically compromising the amount of information. I’ve covered LinkedIn in the past, and will likely also make an updated version of that article in the future.
