The Javelin Technologies Blog

In the SolidWorks Essential course we provide students with techniques for creating efficient models. One of the many techniques I teach my students is the proper order in which to create features

Create boss extrudes before creating cut extrudes:

• A boss extrude may back fill cut extrude requiring am additional cut-extrude.

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If you are thinking about taking a SolidWorks training course this year it can sometimes be quite difficult to determine what is actually included in a course when reading a course outline. So SolidWorks Expert Scott Durksen has created overview videos to make it easier for you to actually see what you’ll be learning. We currently have videos for the five most popular SolidWorks courses, SolidWorks Essentials, Assembly Modeling, Drawings, Advanced Part Modeling, and SolidWorks Weldments. Scott will be creating more overview videos in the next few months.

You can view a course outline below, and visit our SolidWorks YouTube Channel to see all the course outlines.

Creating realistic looking 3D parts it’s only one of the reasons for applying different appearances on your models. Equally important is using appearances for creating selection groups which will increase speed and streamline the modeling process.

Since SolidWorks 2011 introduced the Display Manager users have been able to use appearances for selecting groups of entities. SolidWorks 2013 enhances this functionality by allowing users to copy and paste appearances at will. Moreover, applying “layers of paint” to components, parts, bodies, features or faces is easier than ever thanks to the new appearance targeting toolbar.

Watch this video for an example on how to create and use selection groups based on appearances.

Note: There is one more important enhancement for appearances introduced by SolidWorks 2013 which will be the subject of a future post.

Javelin’s SolidWorks 2013 Launch Events, of course!

From costing enhancements and conics to nested folders and the oh-so-powerful intersect feature, SolidWorks 2013 prompted Javelin’s own SolidWorks guru Alin Vargatu to deem this “the most impressive SolidWorks release ever“. To celebrate, Javelin decided to take your favourite engineering software on the road and show over 250 attendees exactly what the new release can do:

With Applications Engineers (and, more importantly, Certified SolidWorks Experts) Alex Arevalo and Jake Middleton at the helm of the presentation, SolidWorks users got the chance to dive into all the enhancements that the 2013 release has to offer. Over the course of 5 hours, attendees got to view in-depth software demonstrations, visit Javelin product tables, network with our wonderful sponsors, record a video testimonial, enjoy a delicious lunch and play a little vendor bingo (and, maybe sneak a peek at the ROM’s dinosaur exhibit like I did).

The Cambridge Mill’s Falls Room provided a gorgeous view of the Grand River and the perfect backdrop for an intimate afternoon of demos and networking; while in Ottawa, the Museum of Nature’s Barrick Salon welcomed SolidWorks users to experience the wonders of SWX 2013 on their big screen. Finally, in Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum’s Bronfman Hall held the excitement of over 130 attendees as they interacted with Javelin staff and sponsors – Torontonians’ competitive spirit was championed as attendees actively pursued filling out their bingo cards for a chance to win an Apple TV! Toronto’s launch was ecstatic to welcome Design Product News – you can watch Alex’s thoughts on SolidWorks 2013 and Ted’s update on what’s new at Javelin!

A huge thank you to our awesome sponsors (OneCAD Solutions, In-House Solutions and Applied Precision) – without your help, these events wouldn’t be possible. Thanks also goes out to the Javelin staff that helped pull everything together, Alex & Jake for running such a great presentation, and of course, our attendees! Because of you, Javelin gets to do what we do best – share our passion for innovation and provide the tools to help engineers bring their ideas to life.

Congratulations are in order for our launch events draw winners …

Jeffrey Jackson (Cambridge), Terry Young (Ottawa) and Richard Laflamme (Toronto) were the winners of the survey draw! These lucky fellows walked home with a Javelin backpack full of swag & a free training voucher.

Gary Strobel (Cambridge) and Phillip Johnson (Ottawa) were the winners of the vendor bingo draw, getting to bring home the coveted Apple TV.

Online Launch Event Coming Soon

If you missed the launch event closest to you, never fear! Javelin will be hosting an online version of the SolidWorks 2013 Launch Events in November! Register here if you’re interested in attending.

Where should you go for the best training?

So you realize that training is a vital aspect for growth and increased productivity at your company, but where should you go for the best training? The choices are broad and varied, from college and university courses to books and videos to training consultants and more. You might start looking for the cheapest option but a poor training experience can cause more frustration and time lost. Javelin Technologies’ high quality training services will quickly increase the efficiency of any designer by teaching the full potential of SolidWorks and its products.

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TIME!

Saving TIME!

This article is all about saving TIME!

People ask me all the time what areas of SolidWorks to study in order to do their job effectively. Part modeling? Mold Design? Surfacing? Assemblies?

The short answer is ALL of THEM! The main difference between an user who is familiar with just a few areas inside SolidWorks, versus one who is comfortable with using almost anything available in the software, is the versatility of the second. He or she would be able to combine various workflows from all these topics and create powerful and unorthodox new techniques that can achieve the desired intent much faster.

In this video, I will show you an example where using various techniques from multibody part modeling, surface modeling and mold tools save a lot of time, while achieving the design intent.

Note: Many thanks to Peter Parker for the fan model and for all the questions.

When Essentials means Critical

By quickly getting up to speed, as well as learning and utilizing best practices, SolidWorks Essentials training ultimately ensures maximum efficiency and productivity for SolidWorks users. Seasoned users of other CAD systems, veteran SolidWorks users, as well as new CAD users, can all benefit from Essentials training.

It is quite amazing that many people consider “skipping” the Essentials course because they see the word “Essentials” and jump to the conclusion that it’s too “basic” for them. Users with no formal training, or those transitioning from different 3D solutions like Pro/E® or Autodesk® Inventor®, sometimes tell us they do not want to start with a basic course (i.e. Essentials) but would rather jump directly to what they perceive as being advanced courses.

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Long, long time ago (in January this year), a very smart SolidWorks user was fishing at the Javelin Blog for tips and tricks when he caught the Golden Fish. The fish promised granting one wish (the biggest tech tip of the year, of course). The conversation continued:

The Smart User: “I want to go to SolidWorks World in San Diego, so I can attend all those amazing training sessions. I heard that they will have over 200 presentations to choose from.”

The Golden Fish: “I can send you to San Diego, but be aware that you will be able to attend maximum five presentations every day. You will not have time for more.

The Smart User: “That’s too bad, but I still want to go. I want to see the amazing Partner’s Pavilion and to go to the CSWP party and to see the dancing snake and to attend Eric’s presentation on Piping Design using E3 Wireworks.

The Golden Fish:“But are you aware that they scheduled the conference during Valentine’s Day? Are you sure your loved one will allow you to go?”

The Smart User: “Oh, noooooo. I cannot go away on Valentine’s! My loved one would never forgive me. What can you do for me then? I still want to see all the presentations!

The Golden Fish: “That I can do. And you know what? Because you are such an amazing SolidWorks user, I will open for you my treasure box containing all the sessions from 2010 in Anaheim, 2011 in San Antonio and 2012 in San Diego. Just click on one of the images on this page and you can watch any presentation you want.

And this, my friends, is the best tech tip you can receive in 2012 – the link to a million tech tips from some of the best SolidWorks users in the World. Enjoy!

San Diego February 12th-15th – What do you get when you have almost 6000 people, hundreds of great SolidWorks technical sessions and hundreds of exhibitors in a partner pavilion to satisfy every technical SolidWorks requirement? SolidWorks World 2012! Check out the video below for highlights of Solidworks World 2012 from Javelin’s perspective:

Javelin attended this year and captured all the excitement. Watch the highlights as we step into the partner pavilion exploring the vendors showcasing their SolidWorks related gear and technology! See how CSWP’s were treated to amazing event on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier. One morning SolidWorks even gave everyone attending a sneak peek at the SolidWorks 2013, it looks awesome! All this and a great block party for more than 4000 people (thanks to HP and SolidWorks).

For one evening a few blocks of the historical Gaslamps district was closed off for great food, beverages and entertainment on every corner. Javelin attended, busy learning more about the great technology we support. Some of the Javelin folks were even showcasing technical information in the breakout sessions. Next year SolidWorks World is off to Orlando, Florida!

Did you attend? How was your experience at SolidWorks World 2012? Will you be attending the 15th SolidWorks World in Orlando at the Swan and Dolphin on January 20th-23rd 2013? Please let us know.

Ralph Wright, CSWP

Ralph Wright has just posted a very useful tech tip on the Javelin blog, including a detailed step by step guide about how to add new hole sizes in the Hole Wizard.

I know Ralph very well from meetings at the Ontario SolidWorks User Group and from having him in my SolidWorks classes. We discovered we have a common hobby – both of us like to brag about our expertise in SolidWorks. As a result, we entered in a friendly competition to see who can get the most SolidWorks certificates.

When he sent us the article, he also agreed to tell our readers a few things about his background as a designer in general and a SolidWorks user in particular. Here is the full interview:

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