How to Use Additional Lab Time

For SOLIDWORKS and other digital classes, TriMech provides each student with access to a cloud-based training lab that is accessible through a browser tab. Each student can log in to their own virtual machine for the duration of the class.

As a standard, labs are accessible beginning 30 minutes before and ending 30 minutes after the regularly scheduled class time. These are considered normal classroom hours.

Students can also be assigned additional lab time for use outside normal classroom hours. To access your additional lab time, follow the steps below.

Starting a Session

• Log in to the training platform using your unique Access Code.
• Go to the ‘Lab’ tab.
• Click on the ‘Resume Lab’ button.

Resume Lab – Starting a Session

• Enter the ‘Duration’ you want to use for your session. (For example, 1:30 for an hour and 30 minutes.)
• Click the ‘Resume’ button.

Resume Lab – Session Duration

TIP: Limiting your session in the Duration field ensures your lab time won’t accidentally be consumed if your computer idles unused. The session will continue to run and use up the time until either the scheduled session ends or you click ‘Suspend Lab’.

• Close the ‘Action completed successfully’ popup to proceed.

Resume Lab – Verification

• Click ‘Connect to the lab’ to access your virtual machine.

Connect to the Lab

NOTE: The ‘Status’ box displays how much additional lab time is left, and how much has been used.

Ending a Session

While using the virtual machine, a counter will be displayed above the desktop letting you know how much time is left in your session. When you’re finished working, you MUST suspend your session to avoid wasting any remaining scheduled time!

Lab Session – Remaining Time

• Go back to the ‘Lab’ tab.
• Click on the ‘Suspend lab’ button.

Lab Session – Suspend Lab

• Close the ‘Action completed successfully’ popup.

Suspend Lab – Verification

Your additional lab time is no longer being used. Your remaining additional lab time will be available for future sessions until 11:59pm Eastern Time on the final scheduled day of class.

• Log out of the training platform.

Log Out

Technical Concerns

If you encounter technical difficulties during a lab session, you can contact Support. There is a ‘Support’ link in the top right, just after the counter for the remaining lab time.

If you use all your additional lab time and would like to request more, please reach out to your instructor.