Well, I am a little late getting this on here but I guess late is better than normal.  The West Michigan SolidWorks User Group held it’s 2nd meeting of 2009 on March 10 at the Colonial Clock Building and it was definitely a meeting to remember.  We had a huge turnout for our group with around 40-45 users cycling through the room as the night went on.  This by far is the highest attendance that we have had since the group kicked off again at the beginning of last year.  What a great problem it is when you have to set up additional chairs because more people show up than planned on.  The only problem now is where do we meet from now on that will hold this kind of turnout.

After some brief introductions and business Brian Gilson for Aromech started the night off by doing a presentation titled “SolidWorks WORLD 2009 In A Nutshell: A First Timer’s Guide”.  Let me tell you what, Brian did a fantastic job with this presentation.  This is one of those hard ones to do because you are trying to tell 35-40 people who did not attend the event what you learned in a jam packed 3 days in Orlando, but Brian nailed it.  He started off with a brief who, what, when, where, why breakdown and then led into some of the things that SolidWorks WORLD is all about like the Partner Pavilion, a day by day breakdown, the off site event and the ever popular SolidWorks 2010 preview.  Here are some of the things you can expect to see in SolidWorks 2010.  To see the original source of this list please visit Ricky Jordan’s blog, thanks Ricky!

• New Display Box for View Mates with Separator Bar.  Lots of new functionality with this new display box!
• Mirror Components – You can choose from different options for component positions.  All the mirrored components appear under a Mirror Components feature.  Components are fully defined…no additional Mates necessary!
• Simulation – Solution Optimization options that will allow you to resize the model based on properties defined.  Example would be setting a specific volume…then let SolidWorks find the optimal model parameters!  It looked like you could set several parameters for optimizations.
• Multi-Bodies allowed in Sheet Metal parts!  You can also mix Sheet Metal and Weldment features with no issues!  Also better DXF output options for sheet metal flat patterns.
• New Reference Plane options!  The interface for Plane creation looks similar to the 3D Sketch Plane creation process.  New options include Midplanes and Tangency to two faces and Tangent to face plus parallel (or angled) to another Plane.  The Plane creation options appear as you select entities.
• Assembly Visualization – Sort assembly components by custom properties and other parameters.  Many options with this and you can use it to control the model visibility.  Model color displays can be used in this and can be based on ranges.  You can output the component lists to Excel!  You can modify custom properties in this interface as well.  (This might be my favorite feature shown!)
• Configuration Builder – You can build a form with something that looks like the Property Tab Builder and then use this form to easily create configurations.  You can set it up any way you want with Yes/No answers and custom fields.  VERY COOL!  Allows you to configure on the fly too!
• Drawing Annotations – GTol, Surface Finish, and Datum’s can be attached ANYWHERE to dimension extension lines.  You can combine notes with a simple drag and drop!  This looked REALLY nice!  Perhaps this will allow you to store custom notes individually in the Design Library then add them one by one?
• Drawing Balloons – User input Balloon size (using a number).  You an also automatically show the Quantity beside the Balloon just by clicking turning on the option!
• Drawing Dimensions – New heads up display that allows you to modify the dimension, tolerance, and other day all in one window without having to step through the PropertyManager.  Also – When you add dimensions to a drawing, other dimensions will now automatically shift outward or inward keeping the proper spacing!
• Drawing Center Marks – You can add Center Marks AFTER dimensions are created and the dimension extension lines will automatically trim to the Center Mark!
• Drawing Tables – Excel table functionality through all SolidWorks tables!
• Here’s a BIG ONE – Direct Editing – Enhanced Move Face tools that allow you to move imported features on the fly all from the Graphics area.  There was also a new direct editing tool that allowed you to modify patterns of holes in an imported part all at once!  The UI looks to be using the Instant3D rulers.  The direct editing tools did create features in the tree which will allow users to easily revert back to the original imported state.
• Enterprise PDM – Replicate Toolbox data across multiple vaults! – Converting Data and Print Jobs can now be managed on a server.
• Full Machine Simulation that is integrated with National Instruments LabView!

Brian also mentioned some of the cool tips & tricks that he learned while there.  Here they are:

• Extend entities using the trim command
• ALT + Print Screen prints the active program you have open
• You can rename configurations that are being used in an open assembly
• Hold Shift to select through a transparent part
• You can name a face by RMB face > Properties
• You can get free SolidWorks Simulation training at www.simulationxpress.com
• ! is the 1st character in the Windows character map, useful for reordering
• Double MMB equals “F” key which equals Zoom to Fit

After Brian wrapped up his presentation Ken Denton from 3Dconnexion did a brief product demonstration of some of the great products that they have to offer.  If you haven’t tried on of their products yet you need to.  They are great tools and they will greatly benefit your design environment.  Ken also donated a Logitech product for us to give away to one of our attendees, thanks to Ken and 3Dconnexion/Logitech for this.  Here is the problem, I got the business card of the user that won this product so that I could post his name here but you know what, I seem to have misplaced the gentleman’s business card so please accept my apologies.

Mike Puckett (Certification Specialist, SolidWorks Corporation) was the final presenter on tap and let me tell you what, he did not disappoint.  Mike is a great guy and I consider him a friend of mine, and SolidWorks could not have hired a better and more passionate person to help out with the Certification area of SolidWorks.  Mike did 2 presentations for us, both of them full of great stuff.  He started off by doing a presentation on the 2009 SolidWorks Certification Program and even included some free vouchers for our group members to take one of the exams.  After he wrapped that up and answered a few questions he did Mold Design presentation that included some GREAT tips & tricks that everybody could use.  Instead of trying to write out all of the great stuff that Mike had to say, you can find his presentations on the Downloads page of our group website.  This wrapped up a memorable night for our group, a great meeting that hopefully left everyone looking forward to the next meeting that we are going to have.  So here are the details for our next meeting, make sure you mark it on your calendar TODAY!

• Date:  May 12, 2009
• Location:  TBD
• Time:  5:30pm – 8:30pm
• Presenter:  Mark Biasotti (Product Manager, SolidWorks Corporation) – he will probably be doing some sort of a surfacing presentation that you will NOT want to miss
• Presenter:  TBD

On a side note, if you are interested in doing a technical presentation at an upcoming meeting please send me an email.  Thanks again to all of you for making this such a great group!