SW - American Chopper 1

[ctopher]

I was watching a new American Chopper last night. The guy that does the drawings was using a tool I have not seen before. It looked like SolidWorks, but he was drawing/rotating/panning/etc directly on the monitor with a stylus pen.
Anyone know what hardware/software it is?

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

 

[rockguy]

I think it's basically a WACOM tablet. I noticed it looked like he was using it for Solidworks as well as an Adobe Illustrator type program. It was interesting to watch.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.axiscadsolutions.com

http://www.robrodriguez.com

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/

President:

http://www.nvtswug.com

SW 2007 SP 2.0

 

[ctopher]

Yes, very interesting. I would like to see a demo. I will check out WACOM.

http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/3d.cfm

Thanks for the info Rob.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

 

[Theophilus]

Was it a Cintiq? One of my clients has one--very nice--able to draw right on the screen instead of on a tablet while watching the screen. I think they're something like $2,500 or so. The pivot capacity on the back (display mount) is very intuitive and functional.

If he was using it with Illustrator (or using it at all) he's most certainly an industrial designer. (We get to use cool stuff like that all the time--that's one reason everyone wants to be an industrial designer.)

One thing--check to see what sort of drivers you'll need to run that display. It may be difficult to use one of these with good cooperation with SolidWorks. My client has had a few glitches getting his Cintiq to play nice with all the other software/hardware he has and he doesn't have SolidWorks. (If I had a Cintiq, I wouldn't use it for SolidWorks.)



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[ctopher]

I watched one episode when his pc (or Cintiq?) locked up and he threw something into the monitor (like Jr throwing something through Sr's door).
In the Cintiq & SolidWorks sites, I can't find anything showing any Cintiq using SW. Must have been a different 3D software on the show. Then maybe exported/imported to use in SW.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

 

[rockguy]

It could have been a Cintiq. I know both the Wacom and the Cliniq are pretty expensive. It looked like he was working in SW and then switching to something else, sketching a while and then bringing the sketch in to SW to model by. Jason was definately using the screen and stylus when using SolidWorks. Maybe not all the time but at least part of it.

That would be a cool job but I'm not sure I could work in the atmosphere there Right numb nuts!

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.axiscadsolutions.com

http://www.robrodriguez.com

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/

President:

http://www.nvtswug.com

SW 2007 SP 2.0

 

[rockguy]

Oh ya. Jason is only the drawer, like he's a piece of furniture. I think the Go Daddy bike will be cool though.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.axiscadsolutions.com

http://www.robrodriguez.com

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/

President:

http://www.nvtswug.com

SW 2007 SP 2.0

 

[Theophilus]

Any normal ID job would do if you like that sort of thing.

Alias is often used in this way with a tablet (or Cintiq)--you can draw your curves and integrate sketched stuff directly into your model more than in SW. Alias is sort of the uber ID software (but pricey--plus ADESK now owns them--ug).

My Wacom tablet was ~$300 a couple of years ago. I wouldn't use it or the Cintiq for SW--really not much point and I can move my mouse pointer quicker than my hand over my huge monitor anyway--plus there are Space Explorers, etc. to be had for model orientation.



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.