Articles by Jacob Ames

Articles by Jacob Ames

Jacob Ames is an applications engineer for Hawk Ridge Systems in Bothell, WA, specializing in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, Simulation, and 3D Printers. Before joining Hawk Ridge Systems, Jacob earned degrees in mechanical engineering and aeronautics from MIT with a focus on renewable fuels. If he's not teaching class, you'll probably find him playing video games with friends or tearing up some trails on a dirt bike.
Case Study: Raising the Bar in the Medical and Bakery Industries with DriveWorks Solutions

Case Study: Raising the Bar in the Medical and Bakery Industries with DriveWorks Solutions

The endeavor of automation, whether for simple, repetitive tasks or those more complex and less frequent, is arguably one of the most exemplary characteristics of modern engineering.   

We’ll investigate two specific case studies in which DriveWorks configuration and automation software is used in tandem with SOLIDWORKS CAD to quickly customize and produce unique design and manufacturing data in the agricultural/food processing and medical device industries. 

July 24, 2023
How to Activate Your Free Copy of DriveWorksXpress for SOLIDWORKS

How to Activate Your Free Copy of DriveWorksXpress for SOLIDWORKS

Discover how easy it is to activate and start automating your designs with the free DriveWorksXpress add-in for SOLIDWORKS!

March 15, 2023
MBD, DimXpert, and MBD Dimensions: What’s the Difference?

MBD, DimXpert, and MBD Dimensions: What’s the Difference?

As more organizations look to adopt model-based definition solutions to improve design and manufacturing clarity and streamline collaboration, the variety of available MBD tools and associated terminology can become rather confusing. For the uninitiated, MBD tools (generally speaking) allow designers to annotate 3D CAD models with manufacturing information directly, as opposed to using a traditional 2D drawing. This article examines three of the most commonly-used terms in the field of model-based definition, and will help you understand differences between each toolset while determining which is most appropriate for your design and manufacturing needs.

November 28, 2022
DraftSight: Modern Use Cases for 2D CAD

DraftSight: Modern Use Cases for 2D CAD

While the global CAD industry continues to grow, industry research has consistently shown a trend toward the adoption of 3D CAD software in place of traditional 2D solutions, a trend which shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. So, with all the evidence in favor of the undisputed superiority of 3D CAD, why bother with a 2D drafting and engineering solution like DraftSight? Despite what the data suggests, there are still plenty of good reasons add DraftSight to your toolkit.

June 6, 2022
DraftSight: Importing PDF to DWG/DXF

DraftSight: Importing PDF to DWG/DXF

Though much of the design and engineering world has moved on to 3D CAD solutions over the last couple decades, DraftSight is often used as a collaboration tool to communicate with other departments, companies, or vendors using 2D design data, even if you yourself are working in 3D. In many cases, this design data may be provided in PDF format, making it difficult to modify and revise. Fortunately, the PDF Import functionality of DraftSight allows users to quickly convert PDF files into DWG format, unlocking all the revision, editing, and design capability within.  

April 6, 2022