SolidWorks 3D ContentCentral 2009 Blends Social Media and Self-Publishing Into Community for Sharing Design Knowledge
Eliminates the Cost and Complexity of Maintaining Online Parts Catalogs; Improves Search, Navigation, and Communication for Engineers Seeking 3D Part Models
CONCORD, Mass., USA, Jan. 28, 2009 – Already the largest online community of engineering parts, suppliers, and buyers, the 3D ContentCentral® service today also became the easiest to use by becoming the first to embrace self-publishing and social networking, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. announced today.
3D ContentCentral 2009, the newest version of the online service, includes an array of self-publishing tools that enable suppliers to build vast catalogs of 3D models by simply clicking a mouse. New social networking tools let 3D ContentCentral users build Facebook-like communities of members for sharing knowledge on components and suppliers.
More than 450,000 registered users use 3D ContentCentral to find configurable models of engineering components from hundreds of suppliers. With this upgrade, DS SolidWorks is transforming 3D ContentCentral from an online catalog to an interactive online community where product designers and suppliers can exchange information on an infinite range of design issues.
“Before 3D ContentCentral 2009, users and suppliers who communicated through online catalogs were restricted to exchanging CAD data,” said Fielder Hiss, director of product management at DS SolidWorks. “Now, with the social networking features we’ve added to 3D ContentCentral, they can have real conversations, compare their knowledge and experience, and help each other make better buying decisions. At the same time, the self-publishing options will attract more suppliers, which gives users a wider range of parts to choose from. We’ve already had 100 suppliers register to use the self-publishing options.”
Self-publishing innovations
3D ContentCentral’s new Supplier Services self-publishing section eliminates the cost and technical barriers to creating online catalogs of engineering parts models. It enables suppliers to create their product catalogs without relying on a third-party service provider. Among the key features of Supplier Services are:
Embedded content management tools: a file upload program, content manager, supplier dashboard, and model preview and edit pages. They enable suppliers to build, update, and maintain catalogs.
Streamlined supplier catalog templates and a check-box option for “featureless” downloads of supplier models that protect their intellectual property by hiding it from users.
John Hartnett, president of Pittsburgh-based Vacuum Research Corporation, has long recognized the value of a Web presence for his company's valves, fittings, and gauges, but balked at the time and effort required to put 3D models online. 3D ContentCentral 2009's ease of use has swayed him to start an online catalog.
"Getting the models online isn't such a huge burden on the engineering people with 3D ContentCentral 2009," he said. "It's not a lot of extra work; it's just organizing what we already have in a different way."
Social networking for design knowledge
3D ContentCentral 2009 features a revamped “My 3DCC” page that enables users to build communities for trading knowledge and experience. Among the key new features are:
- “My Updates”: Automatically keeps users up to date on everyone in their community of contacts. For example, it notifies a user when a contact uploads a new 3D model, or contributes a comment to an online discussion.
- Favorites: Lets users track specified users and parts catalogs without inviting them to become a contact.
- Rate and Comment: Enables users to collaboratively evaluate model quality and share their experiences with one another.
- Requesting: Gives users a direct channel to suppliers so they can ask for modifications and new designs.
- Maps to Suppliers: Google Maps integration in the search options helps users find the nearest component suppliers and OEMs.
- Advanced Search Tools: Helps users find content more efficiently using guided navigation.
About SolidWorks Powered by the Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience Platform, SolidWorks 3D applications help millions of engineers and designers succeed through innovation. SolidWorks delivers an intuitive experience in product design, simulation, publishing, data management, and environmental impact assessment. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit our Web site (www.3ds.com/solidworks) or call 1-800-693-9000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-781-810-5011). About Dassault Systèmes Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systèmes’ collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 150,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com. CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, SIMULIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, 3DSWYM and 3DVIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries. SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation in the US and other countries. 3DVIA is a registered trademark and 3DVIA Composer is a trademark of Dassault Systèmes in the US and other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2012 Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
