I’m ready for my first trip to SolidWorks World 2008 (SWW8). Yes, I’m mildly excited. I got my coach flight picked, my hotel (not very many steps up from being a motel) reserved, got my economy class car rental reserved, and more importantly, I have all of my breakout and hands-on sessions “purchased “. I was actually lucky to select one hands-on session, for reasons I shall not go into here. [Insert maniacal laugh here].
I went back to the SWW8 registration site a couple of days after the announcement that the Session Preference Page was live. After only a couple of days, I found every hands-on session fully booked with wait lists filled to the gills; except for one. It doesn’t appear that the topic of how to link SolidWorks to ECAD systems with the IDF file format is very popular. If someone is interested in Circuitworks, this seems like a good opportunity to get exposure on how to use it with SolidWorks.
I just went back to the Session Preference Page again today to find that apparently new hands-on session was added to Monday for those of us interested in SolidWorks API. It’s meant as an introduction to API, so if anyone is interested in getting first time exposure, that session may be the ticket.
Two of the sessions to look forward to are Matt Lombard’s “Hybrid Modeling Techniques“, and Chris MacCormack’s “Using the Power of 3D to Teach GD&T“. These are breakout sessions.
I found out the hard way that once you have a session booked for a particular time slot, you are pretty much locked into it. I didn’t want to change my sessions, so this was fine with me. I found out because I first thought my sessions had to be reselected when adding new sessions. (The Session Preference Page isn’t all that clear about how it works when it comes to modifying one’s schedule. It just gives you errors messages when you do something it doesn’t like.) I guess if someone wanted to make a change, they’d have to contact the group that is organizing SWW8.
In addition to the Monday – Weds sessions, I’m also participating in at least two focus groups on Sunday, starting first thing in the morning. That means I have to fly in on Saturday, instead of early Sunday.
Also, for those people who may be interested in just seeing the exhibit hall (maybe for just one day), I highly recommend contacting their VAR for possible deals before attempting to purchase the Exhibit Hall Only Pass from the SWW8 site. This is especially true if you are attending with a full pass, but wish to bring along a co-worker who isn’t interested in the sessions but still wants to see the exhibit hall.
See you there! chrismaccormack
FCSuper,
I hope you will have a great time this year.
As many how have attended SWW in years past can tell you, any presentation by the master, Matt Lombard, is a ver informative session. I look forward to seeing his presentations.
If my presentations are a fraction as good as Matt’s then I feel I did pretty good. The presentation you are speaking of is still a work in progress. I was nearly complete when I decided I needed to attack it from another angle. I think all will enjoy it though.
One comment to all who attend any of the SolidWorks World sessions please participate. If you have a question, ask. If you have more information, offer it up. We presenters get pretty lonely up in the spot light and although we are not rock stars and do not have raging fans and groupies or world recognized anthems for all to sing along with we have all have put in countless hours of preperation, months without sleep to not only offer information to everyone but open up interactive dialog with you all.
I look forward to meeting you all at SWW 2008.
P.S. in my presentations I am really looking for feedback and open dialog. This will be the one week in the year that I am not an instructor.
Chris MacCormack
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
That is the sound of actually completing my preperation for 2 break out sessions for SolidWorks World 2008. I hope that all attendees will not only learn but will have a lot of fun.
Also, feel free to let me know if I am cracked.
Anyhow, my presentations are :
1. Teaching GD&T using the power of SolidWorks.
The goal is for instructors and corporate trainers to use SolidWorks and all of its glory to help clarify what GD&T is and how it is applied. Eventually I will be submitting course wear to SolidWorks EDU for all instructors to use and this will be included.
2. Making life simpiler with Design tables (Formerly Design Tables Paris Hilton could do).
This is a unique presentation where we will look into “Company X” (I used to work there) and see how design tables could simplify their lives in their product design. Another added bonus for this presentation is one of “Company X’s” lead designers helped me out with this and will be helping me out.
All in all – SWW2008 looks to be like a fantastic event. I hope that I get a chance to finally meet some of the BLOG community over a beer or 2 or. …
Until then – Have a great week.