SolidWorks World 2014 is right around the corner

Breakout Sessions

SolidWorks World 2014 is only weeks away!  As usually, this year’s conference is shaping up with a session schedule that is filled with great topics.  These are a small sample of what is on the schedule as of January 8, 2014 (schedule is subject to change):

  • The Art of the Swoopy Part by Sal Lama. Gain exposure to the critical tools required to confidently model complex shapes. We’ll use numerous techniques, including sketch picture, splines, various surfacing features, and multibody to create consumer product designs.
  • Extra-large Assemblies by Adrian Velazquez. Learn some features, options, tips, and methods to squeeze performance and productivity out of assemblies that are more than large (think 200,000 components).
  • The Big GD&T Theory by Thomas Allsup. A humorous look at the various GD&T concepts used by SolidWorks designers to refine their geometric requirements..
  • Deliver the Right Part Efficiently with SolidWorks Composer by Kevin Mackay.  A guide through the simple process of creating both 2D and 3D online interactive electronic parts catalogs (EPC) directly from the engineering data using SolidWorks Composer.
  • SolidWorks Tips You Need to Know! 3.0 by Ben Eadie. Increase the productivity of your everyday use with tips and tricks. As a 17-year SolidWorks user and the owner/operator of solidworkstips.com (SolidWorks Tips Daily) for the past 14 years, I know you can never learn all of SolidWorks. Parts, drawings, assemblies, and more will be discussed.
  • All the Uses of DimXpert by Josh Spencer. Learn how DimXpert creates 3D dimensions with tolerances. We will use TolAnalyst for tolerance stackups, view the dimensions in eDrawings, and also create a 2D drawing in a matter of seconds.
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Senseless Sunday: A little dreamt out

    1. Only five words in the English language actually end with the letters “mt”: dreamt, daydreamt, undreamt, redreamt, and outdreamt.
    2. The invention of matches (rubbing a chemical dipped stick to create a flame with friction) came about in 1826.  The invention of the lighter (mechanical device to produce a flame) was first developed in the 1500’s.1
    3. As of 2008, the USA has more golf courses than the rest of the world combined.2

Reminder: SolidWorks World 2014 Top Ten is accepting Votes (what ideas do you want others to vote for?)

SolidWorks World 2014 Top Ten voting is open until January 15, 2014.  Get your votes in soon!  Time to promote the ideas you like so that they make it into the top ten list!

SolidWorks World 2014 Top Ten voting

To share which ideas you like the most, please post your personal top ten list in the Forum here: What ideas do you want others to vote for?

Preparing for the SolidWorks Certification exams (version 2)

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series SOLIDWORKS Certification

Certificate on the shelfThere continues to be a lot of interest in getting certified as SolidWorks Expert (CSWE).  Through there are no official accolades that go long with passing the CSWE, the certificate can garner employer and industry recognition of your established skills.  Even as the number of Certified SolidWorks Professional grows (CSWP), the number of those with the higher CSWE certification is still small by comparison.  Right now, there’s just over 1500 CSWEs.  To earn your opportunity to take the CSWE exam, you have to pass the CSWP and also pass four advanced exam modules from a selection including topics like Weldments, Surfacing, FEA, etc.

Applian Way Technologies has a blog with several articles that are brief preparation guides for various exam modules. A Very Swell Idea, Inc has some good advice for taking the modules in their discussion of CSWP Weldment exam. 3D Dimensional Engineer also has a great series on CSWP Preparation.

SolidWorks website itself has great information for each exam, including the core, advanced and the expert exams.

  • CSWA – Certified SolidWorks Associate
  • CSWA – Acedemic – Certified SolidWorks Academic Associate
  • CSWP – Certified SolidWorks Professional
  • CEPA – Certified Enterprise PDM Administrator
  • CSDA – Certified Sustainable Design Associate
  • CSWSA-FEA – Certified SolidWorks Simulation Associate – Finite Element Analysis Advanced Exam
  • CSWSP-FEA – Certified SolidWorks Simulation Professional – Finite Element Analysis Advanced Exam
  • CSWP-Sheet Metal – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Sheet Metal Advanced Exam
  • CSWP-Weldments – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Weldments Advanced Exam
  • CSWP-Surfacing – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Surfacing Advanced Exam
  • CSWP-Mold Tools – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Mold Tools Advanced Exam
  • CSWP-DRWT – Certified SolidWorks Professional – Drawing Tools Advanced Exam
  • CSWE – Certified SolidWorks Expert

Once you’ve earned your certificate, you can exhibit it in a number of ways.  The certificate with a unique code is provided to you in the form of a PDF file, which can be printed out or shown on your mobile device.  You can use your unique code number to allow others to verify your acheivement.  Banner images are also provided so that you can add a certificate badge to your emails or website.  You can also add your certification information to your Linkedin account.  Don’t forget to notify your employer and colleagues.

Going to SolidWorks World 2014 and wanna know where to tell others?

Are you going to SolidWorks World 2014 and want to know where you can brag tell others about it?  Once long ago, Linkedin used to have a function that allowed you list events you attended.  No more.  However, Facebook still has such functionality.  So, although you cannot cleanly add SolidWorks World 2014 to your pseudo-resume on Linkedin, you can certainly add it to your social network on Facebook at the SolidWorks World 2014 event page.

SolidWorks World 2014 on Facebook

SolidWorks World Survival Guide has been updated

SolidWorks World is big.  Really big.  OK, not at big as ComicCon, but it is as big as they come in the 3D CAD industry.  Even still, it’s easy to get as much out of it as you possible can.  There are tons of sessions available for each day, plus many other opporutnities to get together with others at the conference to learn, network, and even have fun.

Did you know there’s a SolidWorks World Survival Guide?   It gives a brief overview how to get the most out of your experience at SolidWorks World.  The guide has been updated for SolidWorks World 2014.  Check it out.

The SolidWorks World Survival Guide