DriveWorksXpress, a SolidWorks Certified Gold Product Solution, was a pleasure to review, and play with. The software loaded up without a problem, the tutorial was easy to follow and the end result was just as described.
With DriveWorksXpress, which is going to be included in SolidWorks 2008, you can easily capture and re-use data to manufacture to order. In a nutshell, DriveWorksXpress automates various tasks freeing up time to work on other projects. As I was using it, I realized, happily, that we’d be able to automate the creation of one of our product lines that often is customized for the customer. This has been a problem child for us that, as soon as I can get to it, will be brought under control. If you find yourself customizing your products for your customers, you owe it to yourself to check out DriveWorksXpress. You have no excuse not to! If you’re a new SolidWorks 2007 customer, or on a SolidWorks subscription, you can download DriveWorksXpress right here!
While I didn’t get the opportunity to play with them, DriveWorks also offers three other products: DriveWorksEngineer, DriveWorksTeam and DriveWorksEnterprise. With DriveWorksEngineer you can:
- Automate your repetitive design tasks Generate documentation / outputs – eg 3D models, 2D drawings, Cutting Lists, DXF’s, and e-drawings……
You can even set up excel templates and then drive the cells to create customer specific documentation such as quotations. - Increase the speed, consistency and accuracy of your output.
- Increase the speed and quality of your response to customers.
DriveWorksTeam allows the above, plus the ability to "clone" your best engineer and allowing others to specify products based on the established rules.
DriveWorksEnterprise allows for everything above as well as allowing non-technical employees (sales), and customers, to specify product based on established rules, even via the internet! It can also integrate with your CRM, ERP or MRP systems.
Like I said before, if you create customize products within set parameter, you really should check out DriveWorks and all their offerings. I’m going to start with DriveWorksExpress. I can see a future need for more though!
