What is Design Intent in 3D Modeling and Why it is critical?One of the most critical elements in designing intelligently in parametric modeling is considering Design Intent. So, what is Design Intent, and why is it important. We will talk about all that here in this post. In a nutshell, Design Intent is what you want your design to do. Maintaining your Design intent through the design means telling the software what you want the design to do or how it should behave. Another term often used for this is 'Modeling Intent'. Let us look at a simple example. We were given a 100 x 50 mm rectangular disk and asked to make a 25 mm diameter hole through it.  Here are four different ways to position the center of the hole.
 Even though the result is the same, each of the instructions asks the design to behave differently. This will show when trying to modify the design. Let us assume that we were requested to change the rectangle's longer side from 100 mm to 200 mm and the smaller side from 50 to 100 mm. Let us make this change and see the result have we followed each of the given instructions. The figure below shows the result. From the results, the difference is quite notable. Note that that none of the designs are wrong. It is just that each has behaved differently according to what we told the software what is important to us. In other words, the design acted according to our Design Intent. Considering and applying your design intent in your 3D modeling procedure takes more time and effort at the beginning. However, it saves lots of time at later stages when applying modifications to your design. Mostly talking, you will be continuously modifying your designs throughout the development cycle, making considering and impeding the Design Intent in your 3D models essential. Where does Design Intent Apply when 3D Modeling?The simple example explored earlier was in a sketch and an overall simple part. However, the same applies to applying features, making assemblies, and generating drawings. The more complex your designs are, the more critical it is to maintain your design intent throughout. 3D Modeling tools like SOLIDWORKS and others have many different tools to help you maintain your design intents. Major ones include Equations, In-context Features, and multi-body modeling approach. Other than Saving Time, Why Implement Design Intent?Maintaining Design Intents makes it easier for more than a person to work on the same design. This is because all involved persons would have a clear idea of what the design should do. Thus, when one person modifies another's design, they would know how the design should behave and continue to maintain that desired behavior. Let us summarize the key points in design intent:
If you are looking to learn SOLIDWORKS from experienced users, you can check out the TforDesign online school for professional courses with learner support. By Tayseer Almattar, TforDesign Founder Tayseer is the founder of TforDesign. He has a passion for learning design and making all learning digestible and exciting.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsjmattar/
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8 Tips for Taking Official SOLIDWORKS Certification ExamsIn a previous blog post, we have talked about if an official SOLIDWORKS certification worth the investment. Assuming you decided to invest the money and took the time to learn and practice, and you are ready to take one of the official SOLIDWORKS certification exams. Here are some tips and notes that you have to keep in mind when sitting for the exam.  An Official SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal Certification
If you are looking for steamed online courses in SOLIDWORKS and some practice exams, you can check out the TforDesign School.  By Tayseer Almattar, TforDesign FounderTayseer is the founder of TforDesign. He has a passion for learning design and making all learning digestible and exciting. Additive Manufacturing (aka 3D Printing) and Product DesignIf I am to guess, you have most defiantly heard the term 3D Printing before. So, let us dig deeper into it. 3D Printing falls under the broader term Additive Manufacturing (AM). More specifically, the term 3D Printing is more commonly used to describe entry-level technologies that are low in cost and accessible to the average consumer. Hence, the term became more known to people outside that specific technical sphere. However, for our purposes, we can consider them interchangeable. The term Additive Manufacturing only makes sense when contrasted with its more traditional counterpart Subtractive Manufacturing. In Subtractive Manufacturing, you start with lots of material; then, you remove from it until you reach your final product. For example, you can start with an aluminum block, then use a CNC machine to remove material to get a laptop chassis. Or you can start with sheet metal, then cut and form it to end up with a support bracket. In contrast, in Additive Manufacturing (AM), you would start from an empty canvas, then start adding materials to end up with your final product. For example, you would start from a blank canvas, then add layers to end up with a laptop chassis or a support bracket, or a turbine blade. About the TechAdditive manufacturing has reached a good level of maturity with a wide variety of technologies. However, most of the technologies are more common for industrial use due to the machines' high cost and the required space, maintenance, and expertise to operate them. However, they mostly work using the same concept by adding layers of materials and solidifying them to a final shape. Materials can range from plastics, metals, paper, wax, sand, and composites. The following picture shows a 3D printed metal impeller.  3D printed metal impeller The technologies that made it to consumer levels are:
The rest have mostly remained confined to industrial use. The following figure highlights the different 3D printing technologies currently available. Pictures and red rectangles are for technologies that are more available at the consumer level.  Map of the current AM technologies Why use Additive Manufacturing (AM) in Product DesignAs of now, Product Design applications represent the most prominent usage of Additive Manufacturing. This both in the Product Development Stage as well as the Product Production Stage. Let us talk briefly about those two stages.
Product Development Stage:The advantages AM brings for the product development cycle are more known and utilized than the Production Stage. In the Product Development stage, AM has two main advantages. Custom ProductsAM enables you to produce unique, custom products on a small scale. For plastic-based applications, Injection Molding is the traditional counterpart for Additive Manufacturing. Both methods can produce plastic products, but the cost models are very different. The figure below highlights the difference in cost between Additive Manufacturing and Injection Molding. Additive manufacturing has a fixed cost per unit, while injection molding has a variant one that decreases the more you produce a product. This makes additive manufacturing great to create custom products on a smaller scale.  Cost for traditional injection molding vs AM Complex GeometriesAM enables you to produce products that are not possible traditional methods. This can be especially the case with metal products where the traditional counterpart is Subtractive Manufacturing. Due to its nature, AM technologies can enable the creation of internal structures that are otherwise impossible to make with traditional methods. The figure highlights a part structure that is only possible with Additive Manufacturing.  AM enable the production of complex geometries The scope of AM is much wider than what is described in this article. Besides the direct product design applications, AM can bring lots of unique advantages to other technical areas like supply chain and tooling. So, regardless of which area you are work in, you should keep an eye on AM and ways it can support your business. Have you ever used AM/3D Printing before? What did you use it for? Share your experience with us in the comments. Also, what else would you like to know about the world of Additive Manufacturing? If you enjoyed this article, do not forget to share it with your networks. *If you are looking to learn 3D modeling for 3D Printing, check out the TforDesign school, which offers a range of online 3D modeling courses on SOLIDWORKS,portfolio building, and sustainability.  by Tayseer Almattar, TforDesign FounderTayseer is the founder of TforDesign. He has a passion for learning design and making all learning digestible and exciting.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsjmattar/ What are multibody parts in SOLIDWORKS? How and why use them?Multibody parts are solid bodies that can be manipulated in the same ways as a single solid body part. In essence, a multibody part is a part that utilizes a past file format (SLDPRT), but has more than one separate body.  You can modify and add different features or change the names, materials, and appearances for each separate body. You can also hide and show different bodies, and believe it or not, mates can be used in a multibody part as well! However, multibody parts should not replace the proper use of assemblies. So…why even bother to use multibody parts? What are the advantages of this feature?
If in your part document are more than one separate body, you will find them under Solid Bodies folder on the upper part of the design tree. This will give you more freedom in organizing and managing: How to apply multibody parts? Technically, multibody parts are applied by default every time you have two bodies that are not touching. Here is a video demo of how multibody parts work. What else is great about Multibody Parts? You can apply mates!!! Angle, Parallel, Coincident, Perpendicular, Concentric, Tangent, and Distance are supported. This gives you flexibility since multiple sets of mates can be applied to the same body, similar to assemblies. With multibody parts, those mates or movements come under the Move/Copy Bodies command. What is the main difference between Multibody Parts and Assemblies?The multiple solids that compose a multibody part are not dynamic. If you have to use tools like Collision Detection, Dynamic Clearance, or Move Component, you have to use an assembly because these tools are only available within Assembly. The great thing is that you can save an Assembly (or subassembly) as a Multibody Part! When you have to communicate complex assemblies, you may consider saving them as a Multibody Part because:
Next time when you deliver a simplified representation of your work, give this feature a try! There are other reasons for using multibody parts? If you are looking for comprehensive SOLIDWORKS online training, you can check out the TforDesign School SOLIDWORKS courses.  by Tirdea Alina, TforDesign Community Member Alina is a highly detail-oriented person who is striving to get the best outcome of any situation or task. She likes to put accent on quality over quantity while being aware of the work volume. Nevertheless, she is very methodical organized, respecting tasks and deadlines. Why should you have a work portfolio as a SOLIDWORKS user? SOLIDWORKS currently has more than 3.2 million users at the moment, which is a large number. With such a large number of people, it is becoming less significant just to list SOLIDWORKS in our resumes. Instead, it is becoming more important to show what we can do with it and what we have done with it in addition to all the other skills you have. What is the best way to show all that? One great way to show one’s skills is through a work portfolio. So, what is a work portfolio, why have one, and what can you include in it? Let us explore those. What is a work portfolio?A work portfolio is a selection of work cases that you put together to prove your expertise. Why have a portfolio?The main reason to have one is it asks as solid proof of your capabilities. Without one, you will only be telling your audience about your skills without any proof. The power of a work portfolio is supplemented by a new push to emphasize skills on hiring procedures over only degrees. We made a video on The Case for Skills – Do University Degrees Matter. What can you include in your SOLIDWORKS Portfolio?If SOLIDWORKS is a major skill you would like to prove, then there are elements that you can include in your portfolio:
Different SOLIDWORKS models:Since SOLIDWORKS is a 3D modeling software, then a major expectation of having actual 3D models you created. Those could be ones you made for a job, an internship, university, or a side fun models. Those can tell your audience that you know how to use the software. The more complex your models are, the higher is your competency level.  Additional engineering and design skillsKeep in mind that SOLIDWORKS is a tool that supplements and can be supplemented by other different skills and attributes. You will need to identify those and include them in your portfolio. For example, if you are looking to work in areas of structural engineering, then the application of FEA analysis can be a good addition to your portfolio. If you are a product designer, then sketches and different design processes can be valuable. To identify those additions, you must first understand your audience and find what skills would be helpful to them. If you are looking to have a comprehensive course to teach you all about building portfolios, you can check our new Complete Work Portfolio Building Course. If you pre-enroll in the course before Oct 6th, you can get a 70% discount on the course's fee. Don't miss the chance.  by Tayseer Almattar, TforDesign FounderTayseer is the founder of TforDesign. He has a passion for learning design and making all learning digestible and exciting. Learn SOLIDWORKS by 3D modeling Project X – ContestOne way to learn SOLIDWORKS is not just about modeling machines and projects but is also about using the tool to generate creative models to push your thinking and modeling ability further in unique ways. So, here is one opportunity for you to learn SOLIDWORKS by 3D modeling Project X – contest. The Call: Calling all 3D modeling enthusiasts, this is Project X, a collection of ideas of modeling applying 3D skills, all while encouraging you to use your most inestimable tool, your own imagination, and sense of competition.  What is Project X?Project X is an open contest for 3D modeling enthusiasts to model their unique version of X. It is also a step by step booklet which guides you to build your own special character ‘X’. All works are shared publicly on Instagram. When does the contest starts and ends?The contest is open for everyone to join starting August 17th till September 6th 2020. Who is ‘X’?Think about a tiny itty-bitty body that was turned from real to virtual! No possibility to interact with his beloved family, no chance to meet his dear friends, totally hopeless. S/He cannot be seen or heard because it's part of a virtual world now. To get him back to real-world s/he needs your help!
What you can do?You can help ‘X’ to find his family and friends by turning him back to reality. How? Being receptive to his inquires and needs to overcome this unknown situation by using your 3D modeling skills! S/he might need a secret tool, a lucky hat or a new appearance to become real again, who knows?! Explore our modeling ideas and hints across Project X booklet that will be sure to inspire your own creation! Unlock your imagination and become a master of turning X into reality!  The booklet will provide you parts and 2D engineering drawings of Project X, stages, and hits for generating each part of Project X, info about changing appearance and renderings. We will help you to adjust the appearance of your own Project X, to create renderings using Photo View 360 in SOLIDWORKS, to adjust the size and quality of your render as well as saving your rendering as JPEG or PNG in order to be able to present your work! At the end of this journey, we have a challenge for you: to make the most unique Project X out there and you will be rewarded! Join the fun now! Find more information about participating in Project X contest and download your guide.  Tirdea Alina, TforDesign Community Member Alina is a highly detail-oriented person who is striving to get the best outcome of any situation or task. She likes to put accent on quality over quantity while being aware of the work volume. Nevertheless, she is very methodical organized, respecting tasks and deadlines. How can you make money using SOLIDWORKS as an independent user?You already know how to use SOLIDWORKS to generate 3D models. However, what do you want to achieve with this new knowledge? Do you want to earn money, get a job or you just need to pass an exam? If you are looking to earn money as an independent user, this article is for you.  The basic knowledge of SOLIDWORKS implies that you know how to use every tool form Sketch and Feature menu (defaults or basic adjustment) and how to move from Part to Assembly and Drawings module. If you already know this, CONGRATULATION, you can start to make money as a freelancer! There are so many platforms where you can make your profile and offer your knowledge (Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, Workana, PeoplePerHour…). Or you can build the models and sell them (Turbosquid...). After that, it is good to spend some time thinking about what do you really like to model? Do you have an idea of what industry you'll be freelancing for? There are huge differences in standards and requirements between fields. When you apply on freelance web sites, you can search for existing jobs or you can create your profile as an offer profile. In both cases, you need to write your real skills and competencies. It is ok if you do not know everything from the start, but you need to know where to look for whatever information you are missing. If you are sure about 70% that you are capable to finish the job, apply for it! Try Google search to see what are is on-demand and what do you like or have to offer? Making money as a freelancer is not a quick process. It takes time as to prove your skills and be able to attract clients. For a start, you will need to build your portfolio and identify the skills you have. Here a way to get started. Create one folder with all models and drawings that you already made in SOLIDWORKS. Then, start a document listing all the features and tools that you think you know (use models and drawings that are already in the folder as a reference). Besides every feature and tool, write how confident you are with it. Do you know the basic application or advanced level application? This will help you clearly identify your SOLIDWORKS competencies which you can use as a foundation for which freelance job to apply for. If you have a certificate like CSWA, CSWP, then your hour can be more expensive as clients will have more confidence in your skills. Also, certifications look great in your CV. In addition to official certifications, every course that you passed is also a great way to show a potential client that you have a will to constantly update yourself and your knowledge. Doing freelance work will not only earn you money, but it will also help strengthen your design skills and help you build a strong personal portfolio. If you are looking for courses to grow your SOLIDWORKS skills, you can check out the courses collections offered by TforDesign’s School.  by: Ivana Medojevic, M.Sc. TforDesign Community Member A multitasking mom with a big entrepreneur dream. Reading, writing, and online learning are my passions. Soon Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. Can you model Animated Characters in SOLIDWORKS?SOLIDWORKS is famous for being an engineering software. We mostly use it to model or design machines, tools, and consumer products. However, as creative beings, we naturally like to push boundaries, which includes using tools of unintended purposes. So, the question is, can we model animated characters in SOLIDWORKS? Think about Pokemon, Disney characters, marvels, etc? This is the question we are addressing here. A simple answer is yes, it might not be your best option if you are planning to build a career in character animation or aiming to build an attractive portfolio as a hardcore engineer. However, if you are a SOLIDWORKS user, creating characters using conventionally engineering software can be cool and exotic but not an easy task as it has some unique modeling challenges. Here is a peek of some of the models I got to create:
Why should you use SOLIDWORKS for animated characters?The simple answer is: it is a great way to motivate and challenge yourself and up your learning. Let me explain further, how many times did you start a hobby to fill your time or started to learn something to upskill yourself? How difficult was it for you to get started and how easy was it for you to quit? Many of us nowadays lack incentives. Even though we all know that to get good at something we need to invest some serious amount of time. Thus, continuous motivation is a necessity for active deep learning. By now, you have already started upskilling yourself in SOLIDWORKS, as you are getting better at it, it becomes harder to learn new related skills. On one side, many projects on the internet are redundant and making you feel discouraged to tackle them. On another side, your internal feeling of reaching a peak makes learning seems tedious. This is where creating something unconventional starts adding notable learning value. By modeling something fun like an animated character you are familiar with, you will surely become self-driving to reach that goal. You will find yourself searching for knowledge in different SOLIDWORKS communities, reading posts by experienced users, and continuously looking for clues to help you create your character. As it is an unconventional SOLIDWORKS task, you will be carving your own discovery path by testing and adapting different modeling approaches toward reaching a model that earns you some bragging rights.
What approach should you take to model characters?There are two approaches that you can take make models like ones shown above:
If you are equally familiar with both approaches, you will probably keep mixing them all the time. Regardless, one thing to keep in mind is that character is more about shape than precise measurements making it a process of trial and error. To sum up, being a SOLIDWORKS user you will see your skills hitting a plateau but do not let short term thinking affect your long term learning process. Find something unconventional to model and challenge yourself on a journey towards that.  To get a little taste of what it feels to model characters in SOLIDWORKS, you can check out this free Model Pokemon using SOLIDWORKS course which will take you through the journey of modeling some Pokemon. P.S. the course is FREE.  by: Theodoros Leftheris, 'Model Pokemon using SOLIDOWORKS' course instructorTheodoros Leftheris is a passionate SOLIDWORKS user. As a member of TforDesign he designs models for educational purposes to stimulate the students into their SOLIDWORKS experience. To buy or not to buy SOLIDWORKS, that is the question!Are you new to computer-aided design? Do you want to try out something different? Or do you think to shift to SOLIDWORKS? Despite the reason, if you want to get started with SOLIDWORKS here is what you need to know about the costs!  Is SOLIDWORKS free?There are not many free options to get SOLIDWORKS. If you are a student, Dassault Systemes offers you a student version that can cost about $150. More than that, some universities may have a limited number of Student Access Licensing that you can take advantage of for free. A free trial is a wonderful option if you want to test the software! In this case, you can apply for up to 30 days and try all of the software functions and features or you can apply for the online version just in case you don`t want to install all the components on your computer. You must keep in mind that SOLIDWORKS free trial is not synonymous with the SOLIDWORKS license. Licenses may not be free. What are the other benefits that SOLIDWORKS offers me?With a subscription-based license, you can get continuous upgrades, technical support, new versions, and free certification exam vouchers. However, It is not mandatory; you can buy a license without a subscription. How much I would pay to buy SOLIDWORKS?In accordance with the type of package you seek to buy, there are different prices. SOLIDWORKS Standard costs $3,995, SOLIDWORKS Professional costs $5,490 and SOLIDWORKS Premium costs $7,995 [1]. It may be some flexible options and discounts based on your position, including the fact that you are a beginner, or you work for a big company which may pay for you. Also, the prices and offers can vary according to your local reseller, so make sure to find and get in touch with them for the purchase! What if I bought a license and I want to use SOLIDWORKS online?If you already have a license you can convert it from a “standalone license” to an “online license” and is supported by 2018 and later versions. Why would you do such a thing? That`s simple: with an online license, you can switch between many computers without activating and deactivate licenses. Still, have questions regarding SOLIDWORKS? Contact us! [1] “SOLIDWORKS Standard - Computer Aided Technology (CATI).” https://www.cati.com/3d-cad/SOLIDWORKS-3d-cad/SOLIDWORKS-standard/ (accessed May 27, 2020). by: Tirdea Alina, TforDesign Community Member Alina is a highly detail-oriented person who is striving to get the best outcome of any situation or task. She likes to put accent on quality over quantity while being aware of the work volume. Nevertheless, she is very methodical organized, respecting tasks and deadlines. Bringing the friendly small classroom experience online with an intensive community-centered SOLIDWORKS blended learning experience.It is already becoming clear to everyone the substantial impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on everyone in the world. One major impact the world has had is on people learning habits. Online learnings took a steep rise in demand replacing the traditional classroom experience.  Online learnings have mainly consisted of one direction webinars with a presenter and participants can ask questions. Another common form is self-paced online learnings in which the learners go over pre-recorded learning elements. While both experiences are sound with their advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and fixability, they both miss the coziness of the small classroom. They miss the small talks that take place between classmates, the ability of classmates to directly help and support each other throughout the learning experience and being able to get in touch with the facilitator for the same. Most importantly, they miss the formation of lasting connections that drive more friendships and more opportunities. This posed the question “how might we bring the positive elements in the cozy classroom to be online?” This led us to develop a new learning experience that is rolling out for one of our in-house subjects, SOLIDWORKS. How does that look like? The New Learning Experience:Our newly designed learning experience is centered around 6 pillars:
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