Journey to the CSWPA-SU

The 4th and last CSWPA exam I took was the Surfacing exam, which I'll give an?8?on my CSWPA Difficulty Scale. Despite being one of the hardest SW exams I've ever taken, it was a really fun one and passing it was a great experience to undergo.

This exam challenges 4 main skills:

1) Creating Surface Bodies

Here you’ll be given an incomplete model, then you'll be asked to finish it using surface features. You might be asked to use a specific feature/method, but the majority of questions will just give you the model and some images of the final shape, leaving the method totally up to you. So, learning how each feature works and its capabilities is a must, especially since multiple surfacing features can perform similar operations.

The most confusing yet important surface features are probably Lofts, Boundaries & Filled Surfaces. You must know each of them by heart, as well as the differences between them and when to use each. This will help you decide which feature to use during the exam. You can check out this video on Boundaries Vs Filled Surfaces presented by Andrew Lowe from DiMonte Group, as well as this article on Boundaries Vs Lofts, written by Matt Lombard, the author of the SolidWorks Bible series.

Tip #1: Before answering, read the question thoroughly and extract any valuable details, like?Curvature Control State, Tangency Type, Tangency Length,?Gap Control Parameters, etc. They might also indicate which feature/s you'll end up using to solve that question!

You also have to be familiar with 3D sketching and spline/curve creation which are used while making nearly all non-planar surfaces.

Tip #2: If the attached file has any sketches included, be sure they are there for a reason. Don't try to outsmart the exam and solve the question without them since it won't give you any extra points.

Tip #3: If the process of completing the model is done through multiple questions, make sure your very first answer is perfect (since this is a multiple-choice question, make sure your answer falls within one of the given ranges). Although this tip is applicable to all SW exams, the effect of a slightly incorrect answer is magnified the most while surfacing.

2) Modifying Surface Bodies

Here you're given a surface body and asked to modify it, either by removing inconsistencies (i.e. holes) or by changing its shape. In both cases, you mustn't attempt to edit any existing features (if present) and try to add features of your own, making going back to square one (if needed) just a matter of suppressing/deleting features.

Tip #4: Keep an eye on your Surface Bodies Folder; it’s the most basic indicator of whether you’re on the right path or not. If it’s not visible, you can show it from Options > System Options > FeatureManager > Hide/Show Tree Items and setting the folder to Automatic or Show.

3) Surface2Solid

After you finish modelling and/or modifying the model, you may be asked to convert it into a solid body to get its mass. This might be made using the Knit or Thicken features, depending on the current surfaces you have and the desired shape you want to make.

Just as I said back in skill no.?2, knowing the difference between the features and when to use each of them is a great advantage that will save you lots of time while taking the exam.

4) Extracting Info:

Since Tangix TesterPro doesn’t require you to upload your CAD files, it verifies your model by asking you to extract information from the model.

If you’re working with surfaces, it’ll probably ask you for a Surface Body’s Surface Area. If you were asked to convert your surface bodies into a solid, it’ll then ask you for the Solid Body’s Mass (make sure to apply a material after the conversion).

Resources

• Andrew Lowe's SWWxx presentations

For the first time in this series, I haven't started my resources with SW's built-in tutorials! That's because Andrew Lowe deserves to be at the top; he has given 5 presentations at SolidWorks World, 4 of which were about surfacing! All of which are on his YouTube channel!

• Rob Maldonado's YT Channel

This can't be a SolidWorks-related article without mentioning Rob Maldonado, formerly known as The SolidWorks Nerd! He showcases his surfacing skills on his streams, which he does 3 times a week on his YouTube channel, VirtualFlat CAD, which also has tons of useful tips & tricks, including his own 12? Tips to pass the CSWPA-SU Exam.

• SolidWorks (built-in) Tutorials

I can keep talking forever about how underrated yet helpful these tutorials are. They have step-by-step instructions, images, sample files, even a cool feature-fetcher (just like the search bar's?Show Command Location) and the list keeps going...

To access this exam's tutorials, go to?Help?>?Tutorials?>?Basic Techniques?>?Surfaces

• MySolidWorks

As the official?Everything SolidWorks?site, it has tons of lessons, learning paths and eCourses. All that's between you and that content is logging in, then you'll be able to check out the?CSWPA-SU Prep Learning Path?which also includes the sample exercises.

Note that you?must?have a?Standard?account to view the previous link, which is only for users on active subscription.

• Official CSWPA-SU Sample Exam

Unlike the CSWA-MD and CSWP-MD, the drawing tools sample exam can't be accessed in a complete exam experience through Tangix TesterPro Client. But, just like any other CSWPA, you can still take the sample exam by yourself (the questions can be downloaded from?here).

General SolidWorks Exam Tips

Tip #5: Make a new file for each question (Save As?will come in handy).

Tip #6: Take your time to familiarize yourself with the interface, make changes to it if you want and make custom keyboard shortcuts/mouse gestures (click?here?to know how).

Hope you found this useful!

Stay tuned for the rest of the series