Why 3DPrint.com is Looking Forward to SOLIDWORKS World 2017

Industry conferences are typically rife with big announcements on new machines, software, and business partnerships. It makes sense: there are usually hundreds, if not thousands, of people at these types of events, and the opportunities for showcasing your company, and its equipment, are many. The next big conference on the horizon, at least for us here at 3DPrint.com, is none other than SOLIDWORKS World 2017. If you’re lucky enough to be headed to sunny Los Angeles next week for this massive CAD event, please think of me, stuck here in cold, snowy Ohio, as you step off your plane into the California sunshine.

SOLIDWORKS World 2017 starts on Sunday, February 5th, and runs through Wednesday, February 8th. It is one of the largest 3D CAD conferences in the world. Nano Dimension, a featured presenter at this conference, made a big announcement before heading to California, revealing that their DragonFly 2020 3D printer was able to successfully 3D print PCBs containing embedded electrical components. You can take a look at the DragonFly 2020 in action at Nano Dimension’s booth 118, which they are sharing with partner FATHOM.

There will be almost 30 first-time exhibitors this time around, and several of them represent the 3D printing industry, including German RepRap, MatterHackers, 3D Platform, and SprintRay, whose desktop MoonRay S 3D printer was an Innovation Awards Honoree at CES 2017 earlier this month. Artec 3D, Markforged, and Airwolf 3D will also be in attendance, and both Stratasys and 3D Systems sprung for the bigger exhibition booths. Take a look at the Exhibitor Directory to see what other companies will be coming, and to get a look at the conference floor plan. SOLIDWORKS World 2017 will be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center.

There will be over 200 breakout sessions at the conference this year, with topics spanning a broad array including the Internet of Things, product data management, virtual reality, design automation, 3D scanning, additive manufacturing, and electrical design. Numerous products and solutions will be on display, including 3D CAD. February is usually a pretty dreary month, but at SWW 2017, you’ll be able to get re-energized and inspired, as well as learn new skills, check out new products and machines, and connect with other industry specialists. You’ll be able to see how all kinds of conference partners utilize SOLIDWORKS; a preview blog post gives some examples, like Runnit CNC, which uses SOLIDWORKS to scan a vehicle and create an electronic clutch system, and rapid prototyping by Freight Farms to provide both physical and digital solutions to develop produce ecosystems.

If you want to preview some of the latest CAD technologies, check out innovative products designed in SOLIDWORKS, and meet other SOLIDWORKS Solution Partners, look no further than the Partner Pavilion in the South Hall. The pavilion hours are 11:30-4:30 on Monday and Tuesday, and 10-2 on Wednesday. This will be where you can most often find 3DPrint.com at SWW 2017 as our editor-in-chief will be talking with everyone possible (want to meet up? Send her an email!). We will be live tweeting from the event, so please make sure to follow us on Twitter, @3DPrint_com. And of course we wouldn’t dream of missing out on the different networking events available at the conference:

• February 5th, 3-4:30, Tailgate Party, South Hall Lobby
• February 5th, 4:30-7:30, Welcome Reception/Game Day Party, South Hall H&J
• February 6th, 6-8, Evening Reception, Partner Pavilion
• February 6th, 8:30-11, After Party, Belasco Theater, featuring Jump Interactive variety cover band
• February 7th, 7:30-10:30, Special Event Street Party, Paramount Pictures Studios

The Special Event promises to be a night to remember: there will be arcade games, live music, and performance artists, all on the New York City Street backlot in Hollywood. You may recognize it from such shows as Mad Men and Seinfeld, and movies like Forrest Gump and Suicide Squad. Badges are required to be worn at all conference events. Attend these awesome events, and enjoy fun, friends, food, and of course, beer, as you connect with thousands of other SOLIDWORKS users. Our editor-in-chief is looking forward to meeting with people face to face, so come on out!

Don’t forget to download the SOLIDWORKS World 2017 Mobile App, to get all of the most up-to-date information on the conference. You can explore the breakout sessions, check out interactive maps of the Partner Pavilion, and get notifications on any last minute schedule changes. If you need help, visit the Mobile App Help Desk, near the Registration area in the South Hall Lobby; it’s open each day of the conference at 7 a.m. The app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

We look forward to seeing you there! Stay tuned to 3DPrint.com next week, as we bring you all the latest news from SOLIDWORKS World 2017.

If you can’t make it the conference in person, just check out the live stream of the conference’s general sessions on the website – and of course keep checking in here. Take a look at this video about the SOLIDWORKS World 2017 live stream and how to register:

Discuss in the SOLIDWORKS World forum at 3DPB.com.