SolidWorks CSWP - logo

The CSWP – Mold Tools exam is the latest Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) specialty exams in-which I have received certification. Of the specialty exam series, I still have yet to take the CSWSP-FEA exam (simulation tools), and of the CSWP specialty exams I have taken, the CSWP – Mold Tools is the most unusual of the series. I say this because the questions seem to require a different way of thinking from the other exams, and this is the only CSWP exam where I was able to finish before the time clock expired. In-fact, I was able to finish at a rather leisurely pace. However, because this CSWP exam had fewer questions to answer, miss just answering one question correctly and you may fail the test.

Read the rest of this entry »

CSWP - Sheetmetal logo

The CSWP – Sheetmetal exam is one of several Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) specialty exams currently being offered by SolidWorks. Previously, I have reviewed the CSWP – Core, Surfacing, and Weldment exams from previous posts, and the sheet metal exam is one of the more challenging CSWP exams. I highly recommend that the CAD model be of very robust construction so that is does not fail during modifications to the model while working through some of the successive exam questions.

Read the rest of this entry »

SolidWorks CSWP - logo

After completing the CSWP – Core, Surfacing, & Sheet metal certification exams, my next challenge was to take up the CSWP – Weldment certification exam. As the bulk of my experience using SolidWorks 3-D CAD is in designing molded parts, sheet metal parts, and machined parts, weldments is an area where I am still in the process of developing expertise. Although I have worked on a few projects in SolidWorks that require weldments, it is not typical of the project requests I receive from other clients. As a result, I needed to spend more time in studying for the CSWP – Weldment exam than I did for the other CSWP specialty certification exams.

Read the rest of this entry »

CSWP - Surfacing logo

The SolidWorks certification program, in-addition to the CSWP – Core exam, includes 5 CSWP specialty exams: Mold Tools, Sheet Metal, Simulation, Surfacing, and Weldments. Of these specialty exams, the surfacing exam (with the possible exception of simulation) is considered to be one of the most challenging to pass. For those of you unfamiliar with 3-D CAD surface modeling, it is typically used to create molded parts with complex geometry that could not otherwise be created from solid modeling techniques. Industrial Designers primarily use surface modeling, and so do engineers that are designing consumer goods & medical device molded products.

Read the rest of this entry »

CSWP - Core logo

In the recent past, there has been much discussion among SolidWorks users about becoming a Certified SolidWorks Professional. I recently received my CSWP – Core (see here) on 02/01/2011 (Certificate ID: C-2FZWGXDCD8), and I had passed the CSWP specialty exams: Surfacing, Sheet metal, and Weldments exams before passing the actual Core exam itself. Many SolidWorks users who take the CSWP exams typically complete the core exam first before moving on to the CSWP specialty exams. Of the specialty exams I had previously taken, only the Mold Tools exam was taken after the CSWP – Core exam.

Read the rest of this entry »

A new industrial design program is in the process of forming in Ohio. This program is being developed by Jim Orr, an Industrial Designer, whose background comes from GM.

Read the rest of this entry »