Save 25% on all video tutorials through Dec 31! Merry Christmas - hohoho

Hello,
Just a quick reminder that you can use coupon code hohoho whilst checking out of our shopping cart at www.solidworks-lab.com to save 25% on all video tutorials! Best wishes for Merry Christmas from Nik & Rosanna at video-tutorials.net.

www.video-tutorials.net

Help needed! Positive Amazon reviews required - and in return I'll give you a free course.

Hi there,
A couple very angry fellows have posted terrible reviews about my courses in Amazon, and now the sales are tanking for those products. As a small business owner who takes great pride in my work, and works hard to juggle my young kids and business in an ever-increasingly-competitive market, it is pretty frustrating to be held hostage to internet-sadists who would rather tar & feather than work out a problem rationally. Any of you who have contacted me for help know that I am dedicated to great customer service and good products. I know it's not possible to please everyone, but those negative reviews impact us so much more than the positive ones, and unfortunately, people who are angry and negative tend to be the squeaky wheels.

If anyone knows our work and likes it, either because you own one of my courses, or you have studied for free from the hundreds of videos I've shared on youtube.com/videotutorials2,  I would appreciate your posting an appropriate positive review for the following courses at Amazon...and in return I will give you a free course!

This is your chance to stand up for the little guy, and I totally appreciate it. In this case, I guess you'll be standing up for the  little gal!:)

Here's the youtube playlist for CATIA in case you want to check that out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GYctAfT5zcfwH-LU8FGQWy

Here's the two Amazon listings for CATIA:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RPV04I
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UF1HX4

Here's the Amazon listing for Inventor 2012:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VT59WC

And my youtube playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GyJ-4XECQEew4G82tRT4dX

Kind regards,
Rosanna Daniel

Black Friday specials at video-tutorials.net! code blackfriday 30% savings

Hi everyone,
We're joining in the spirit of rampant retail frenzy! Save 30% on any courses, all weekend, from today through Cyber Monday! Coupon expires Tuesday Dec 3.  Code is blackfriday . Come shopping at video-tutorials.net! Solidworks video tutorials, CATIA video tutorials, Inventor video tutorials, AutoCAD video tutorials and more.
Thanks,
Rosanna
www.video-tutorials.net

New free tutorials on SolidWorks in PDF form posted

Hello again. By popular request I've posted a couple more free beginner SolidWorks tutorials in PDF format. Many have told me that having the PDF to accompany a video tutorial is very helpful, so here you go!
http://solidworks.video-tutorials.net/10012013_solidworks_tutorials_pdfs.html

Thanks,
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2014 What's New? New course released.

The new SolidWorks 2014 updates are out! Check out our playlist, with many free tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2Fyg3Q2SOtWFeFdtmQoidBL.

The course is available at www.video-tutorials.net, at the following page, and is included with the SolidWorks complete video library: http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=248 (2:12 hours, 61 video tutorials).

Here's the course table of contents. As you can see, there are numerous improvements to tools in the drawing, sketching, modeling, and assembly environments, as well as some improvements to the surface modeling and sheet metal design environments. However, there are no major cosmetic changes, so the courseware for 2013 still applies to the SolidWorks 2014 release.
Thanks!
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net. 

	New in SolidWorks 2014
	01 Convert Files		32 Slot Mates
	02 History Folder		33 SmartMates
	03 Configurable Equations		34 Mirrored Components and Mates
	04 Conic Fillets		35 Concentric Mates
	05 Extruded Cuts		36 SmartMates Sensitivity
	06 Holes		37 Limit Mate
	07 Mass Properties		38 Spherical and Curvilinear Mates
	08 Deleting Features		39 Mirror Components
	09 Patterns		40 Pattern Driven Patterns
	10 Reference Geometry		41 Sketch Driven Patterns
	11 Conic Curve		42 Curve Driven Patterns
	12 First Dimension		43 Selecting Components
	13 Path Length Dimension		44 Toolbox Components Properties
	14 Replace Sketch Entity		45 Sheet Metal Gussets
	15 Length of a Spline		46 Lofted Bends
	16 Style Splines		47 Corner Reliefs
	17 Lasso Selection		48 Swept Flanges
	18 Text and Button Sizes		49 Balloons
	19 ClearType Text		50 Saving Sort Settings for BOMs
	20 Missing Components		51 Angular Running Dimension
	21 Accurate Environment Lighting		52 Finding Virtual Sharp
	22 Preview Window		53 Dimensioning Points of the Arc
	23 Flattened Floors in Scenes		54 Replace Model
	24 Section Views		55 Section View of a Surface
	25 Opening Document Copies		56 Views View Palette
	26 Browse Recent Documents		57 Center Marks for Hole Wizard Slots
	27 DXF and DWG Files		58 Datum Targets
	28 Portable Network Graphics		59 Annotation Notes in Uppercase
	29 High Quality Edges		60 Slot Callouts
	30 Exploded View		61 Symbol Library Dialog Box
	31 Standard Mates

Can I see your courses on my Apple or Android mobile device? Why, yes!

Question: I use a Mac / iPad/ iPhone / Android tablet / Android phone. Can I see your tutorials?

Answer: Why, yes!

While the downloaded courses and the discs can be used on a Windows operating system, you can see our courses via our online library at www.solidworks-lab.com, The only software prerequisite for viewing this course online is the free Adobe Flash Player, available for download at Adobe.com. There are all sorts of apps for viewing Flash now, so you won't have any trouble. If you don't have a solution already in place, one option for iOS and Android devices is the Puffin Browser. This has a free trial, and only costs $3 actually. It is a browser that is optimized for Flash on android tablets and iPads.

Here is the link to the Puffin Browser: http://www.puffinbrowser.com/download/.

For Android, you can also use Firefox + Flash 11. Here is a link for Flash 11 for Android: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html.

Here is a link for Firefox for Android: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/ or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox

I hope this helps!
Kind regards, Rosanna D, Video-tutorials.net

Inventor question - how to move a face around an axis or point?

Question:
In Autodesk Inventor can you please tell me how I can move faces by rotating
them about an axis and/or a specific point? Every other solid modeling
software I have used this is easy to do. I can't figure this out, nor can I
find any instructions for it. I would really appreciate it if you could put
me in the know.

Answer:
In the modeling use the Move Face tool (Modify Panel); you select the face,
and the triad appears. You can adjust/rotate using the various triad axes,
or use the additional control options in the Move dialog window (Direction &
Distance, Points & Plane).  For the assembly environment, use the various
tools on the Position tab to rotate parts about an axis, point etc.

www.Video-Tutorials.Net
For more information about Inventor, check out our Inventor video tutorials!
Inventor Video Tutorials

SolidWorks 2014 Utilities - new YouTube playlist

Our first SolidWorks 2014 course is out; part of the update to our library, and the last course to update, actually! SolidWorks Utilities, which houses a great toolset for analysis and comparison of your models. Here is the youtube playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2HquqcPQIa0DidJh-XI5FtZ

And here's the link to the course on our website:
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=232


Thanks!
Rosanna D, VTN
www.video-tutorials.net

What's new in SolidWorks 2014

Hi everyone,
I'm getting some requests in email about what's new in SolidWorks 2014, and whether our SolidWorks 2013 courseware still applies. So, yes, our courseware still applies. We'll be publishing a "what's new" video course shortly. But in the meantime, just to let you know, the new release has some tool improvements that I outline below, but no major cosmetic or functionality changes. Here's a quick summary of what's new:

Improved spline tools - Style spline function allows simple creation of complex splines. More simple method to control spline curvature. 

Improved fillet tools - Conic Fillet makes for smoother fillet transitions.

 Improved sketch tools - new replace sketch entity tool, fixed length dimension for 2d splines. You can set the sketch and sketch picture scale when adding your first dimension. You can now place a path length dimension for multiple sketch entities such as belts, chains, and cables.

 Improved assembly tools - new in-context Quick Mate toolbar; include/exclude components from section view, use the Hole Wizard to create slots, new Slot Mate, add rotation in Explode Steps so parts will rotate automatically.

 eDrawings - better photorealistic representation with Augmented Reality; iOS and Android support, export electrical schematics to eDrawing.

Sheet Metal - new Gusset feature for creating stiffening ribs, better corner treatments, Lofted Bend improvements to support press-brake manufacturing.

 Simulation - linkage to Toolbox for fasteners' definitions; thermal properties and PCB definition from electrical components in Flow Simulation; use data from SolidWorks Plastics (in-mold residual stress and temperature).

Electrical - Single button publishing to eDrawings, one click check-in/out to PDM, enhanced wire/cable/harness development capabilities with optimized routing.

Enterprise PDM - customize user interface with company-specific data, improved cache management, enable Vault in Word, Excel and Powerpoint interfaces.

 Estimating / Reporting - new options to control cost estimation methods, new estimate type, better Excel integration

 

Check out our SolidWorks video library!

Thanks,

Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

 

SolidWorks 2014 is out! Expo dates & place confirmed, too

Hey, just a quick update to let you know that SolidWorks 2014 is now out, and the dates and place for the annual expo are set.  SolidWorks World 2014 will be held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California on January 26-29, 2014. Should be a great time!
Thanks!
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

New SolidWorks tutorials in PDF - by popular request!

Hi,
We have had numerous requests for some documentation for beginners to SolidWorks; we're going to publish a series of solidworks pdfs / html files so you can read, print, keep, review at your leisure!

The first is now published:
http://solidworks.video-tutorials.net/10012013_solidworks_tutorials_pdfs.html

Thanks!
Rosanna
VTN
www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks Tool Box - playlist & new course released.

Hello, you guessed it; more free videos. I'm continuing with the SolidWorks 2013 material, and the latest to get published is our course on Toolbox. This is a neat little library utility, whereby you can use a few custom tools and components very easily. Toolbox is a library of parts that uses "Smart Part" Technology to automatically select fasteners and assemble them in the desired sequence. It can greatly simplify your work when you're using standard library parts.

Check out the playlist at the following URL:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2EDN5zwWRpbDXGqX6jvy84m

The course is for sale at our website for $25 and is 88 minutes, with 28 videos:
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=231

Thanks,
Rosanna D,
www.video-tutorials.net
VTN Services, Inc.

SolidWorks 2013 - New video tutorial playlists

Hi,
Here's the latest playlists from my SolidWorks 2013 library -

SolidWorks 2013 Simulation
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2EeQau3cTGsGSnrrmSbBjRi

SolidWorks 2013 Mold Design
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GQGAjOZTnQt9XE560YBwia

Enjoy! Stay tuned for our SolidWorks 2014 What's New video tutorial update, coming out in October 2013.

Rosanna D
www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks Video Library updated for 2013 -

Sorry I've been out of touch, everyone! We got really busy with the massive flooding that happened here in Calgary, Alberta, and then our subsequent move. The good news is that our entire SolidWorks video library is now updated to 2013 materials - which even the big tutorial companies haven't yet done!

Here is the link to our SolidWorks video tutorial library - http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=211

Hint - if you enter "youtube" in the coupon code box, you save 10%! You can stream this library online, download it or get an 8GB DVD containing all the courses.

I'll be posting some new youtube videos soon from our updated courses, but in the meantime you can further check out lots of good SolidWorks tutorials at our youtube channel, www.youtube.com/videotutorials2.

Check us out at www.video-tutorials.net.
Thanks, Rosanna D, VTN

SolidWorks tutorials - Advanced Part Modeling - here's the playlist

Hi--more youtube playlists from our recent course releases! Here's the youtube playlist from the Advanced Part Modeling course.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2HGBGWDewP-HWl9g_5Klb_6

This course was filmed with SolidWorks 2013. Reminder: enter "youtube" in our shopping cart at www.video-tutorials.net to save 10% on any courses.
Thanks!
Rosanna D, VTN
www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2013 Tutorials - Assembly Video Tutorial - youtube playlist

Hello!
Here is the youtube playlist from the SolidWorks Assembly Tutorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg22jReoIRY&list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GNuQrQQkh4bBen33RsRjs4

 This video tutorial course was filmed with SolidWorks 2013. Reminder, enter "youtube" in our shopping cart at www.video-tutorials.net and save 10% on any video course!
Thanks,
Rosanna D, VTN
www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2013 Surface Design & Modeling - video playlist

Hi everyone,
Here is the youtube playlist for the new SolidWorks 2013 Surface Design & Modeling course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8W0D58xKc&list=PLx-VY2mDlK2EjlE6i1d2VNJlcErugJec6

And here is the link to the course itself on my website, www.video-tutorials.net:
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=182

Reminder, if you enter "youtube" (without the quotation marks, of course), in my shopping cart during checkout, you will save 10% on any video course!

This SolidWorks Surface Design & Modeling course was filmed with SolidWorks 2013 and includes many real life projects and models, like a fan, a funnel, a bottle, a hand-held video game and more.

Thanks,
Rosanna D, VTN
www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2013 - Advanced Part Modeling - new course released

Hi--3 hours and 43 video of advanced part modeling in SolidWorks 2013. Just released! You can download this course or stream online - check it out! I'll post a youtube playlist for this also.

http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=181

Kind regards,
Rosanna D, VTN - www.video-tutorials.net

Intercad - please stop spamming my blog

To the SEO company used by Intercad - please stop spamming my blog; I moderate all comments and am not going to post yours. I've tried contacting you through Google and directly via Intercad, but don't seem to get anywhere. It's annoying for me to constantly delete and spam your links to Intercad. Please stop!

Flood update in Calgary for Video-Tutorials.net

Hi--we've been getting a lot of questions about how we've weathered the massive flooding in our city. As you may have heard, anyone living close to a river got their homes wiped out a couple weeks ago. That's 10% of the population of our city! Oddly enough, the most expensive property in this city is along the river, so it's lots of rich people and oil companies downtown that are cleared out. Unfortunately the zoo was badly damaged, also. 

Anyway, we're ok; we don't live in the expensive part of the city, ha ha! But we are having some server trouble when uploading our new courses, so I haven't quite finished uploading the new Surface Design part 2 .rar file yet as our data transfer speed is about 12 kbps! This won't affect you viewing the the courses on solidworks-lab.com or your own download speed; it only affects us getting our new material up to our server.

Hope you are all having a great summer / winter!
Smoochies, Rosanna D  www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2013 Surface Design - new course released

Hi,
We're updating our SolidWorks Library, and our newest release is SolidWorks 2013 Surface Design. I'll be posting a playlist on youtube shortly.  On our website, you choose which year of SolidWorks you need, in a drop down menu at the bottom of the page:

http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=182

Here's a sample video:
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn_assets/SW/SW2013SD/video/84/SolidWorks-2013-Tutorial_84.html

Thanks! We hope you're having a good summer.
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

SolidWorks 2013 Essentials Video Tutorial - new course just released

Greetings,
At last, video-tutorials.net has published the long awaited update for beginners to SolidWorks: the Video-Tutorials.Net new SolidWorks 2013 Essentials course. We've been pretty busy with Inventor this year, and also with our kids baseball teams, but at last, SolidWorks 2013 Essentials is ready! Running time 4:45 hours, 74 video tutorials, English audio, part files included, and plenty of exercises for practice. 

If you're a newcomer to SolidWorks, this is the course you need to get yourself up and running in SolidWorks right away. This course is also excellent preparation and practice for anyone preparing for the SolidWorks Certification exam, and is an excellent supplement for any SolidWorks student. It covers the principal environments of sketching, part modeling and assembly.

For the complete table of contents, please visit the course catalog page at:
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=239

Here is a link to our youtube playlist, which features more than 30 minutes of video tutorials from this SolidWorks Essentials course: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2F9vkJzl7RUr8oAcoBDFvaa

Hint hint, enter the code youtube during checkout to get a 10% discount on any tutorial in our library.

Thanks,
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

Inventor iLogic - new course released

Our new course on Inventor iLogic is now out! 5:51 hours; 61 videos. Inventor iLogic is the AutoDesk Inventor utility you use for customizing Inventor commands & processes. You don't have to be a computer programmer to use it; iLogic is really user-friendly. This is for intermediate to advanced users of Inventor. iLogic lets you, for example, build custom intelligence into your models, and automate tedious design tasks. Here is the link to our iLogic video tutorial:

http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=247

Our Inventor iLogic video tutorial teaches you the basics of programming, like using variables and literals, shows you how to work with iLogic, and provides numerous exercises to show you iLogic in action.

Here is a nearly hour-long playlist from the new iLogic course:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3viiZzPWaLwNr6YL-rywgA/videos?feature=guide&view=1

Enjoy!
Thanks,
Rosanna D, www.video-tutorials.net

AutoDesk Inventor iLogic - new course

Hi everyone,
Sorry I've been out of touch; I was very busy in April writing our new iLogic course and dealing with admin stuff like...taxes! iLogic is the AutoDesk Inventor utility for writing custom tools, and is very useful for advanced Inventor users. The course is about 5 hours, and will be published in a couple weeks.
Kind regards,
Rosanna D - www.videotutorials.net

AutoDesk Inventor Studio 2013 Video Tutorial - playlist

Hi,
As promised, here is the playlist from the new Inventor Studio video course - enjoy!  Forgot to mention; this course comes included with the Inventor 2013 library (now about 30 hours long!) as well as the complete Inventor library (that's all the material I've ever published about Inventor, about 90 hours now). 

Inventor Studio 2013 Playlist: 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GEhv2AS7x15IhRV2IkHP80&feature=view_all

 

Thanks!

Rosanna D,

video-tutorials.net

 

Inventor Studio 2013 - new video course released

Hi,
I just finished our new Inventor Studio video course (2013).  It's 2:07 hours, with 30 tutorials. Inventor Studio is the Inventor module you use to create photorealstic representations of your work, either images or animation.  And actually, it's a lot of fun!  Here's a link to the new course; I'll send out a playlist shortly.

http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=216

Thanks,
Rosanna D, www.Video-Tutorials.Net

Do It Yourself Audio Recording - How to use the software, how to setup your computer etc.

Hi,
Just a quick note to let you know that we're posting a lot of material about do-it-yourself audio recording on youtube. If you're interested in audio recording, I'll be posting hours of free material. It covers how to connect your computer to your gear, how to adjust the software settings to match your drivers/programs/hardware, the basic technical concepts of digital audio, and much more. Check out "the basics" playlist here, and stay posted for the new material I"ll be posting in the next few weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2HIsEkWxIk8VYRmJ9AsPejH
Thanks,
Rosanna - www.video-tutorials.net

Inventor Fusion Video Tutorial - playlist

Hello everyone,
Here is a playlist from our new Inventor Fusion Tutorial. 
Part Modeling - How to build a Geneva Wheel
Assembly - How to create an assembly
Manage - How to assess interference within your assembly
Surface Design - Create a 4 pipe connector

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2GZde7T4NxrdeVoB-mBwaMG&feature=view_all

Have a great weekend!
Rosanna  -  www.video-tutorials.net

Inventor Fusion Video Tutorial Released

Our new Inventor Fusion video tutorial is out! You might not have heard of Fusion; it is AutoDesk Inventor's little sister. AutoDesk released Fusion with its 2012 release of Inventor and AutoCAD.  So, if you buy AutoCAD or Inventor, you'll get Fusion bundled right in with it. Why Fusion? Well, if you're an AutoCAD user, Fusion is where you can create more sophisticated 3D models, including surface modeling.  If you're not used to 3D CAD parametric modeling, you'll find the Fusion interface quite a bit easier to use than Inventor and SolidWorks.  The tools are organized more simply.  There are fewer tools, of course, but they are easy to find and use than in parametric CAD software. But do you need Fusion if you're an Inventor user?  Not so much, because Inventor Professional and even Inventor LT have more tools and functionality, but Fusion might be your clearing house if, for example, you need to import & share history-free models with a team that uses non-AutoDesk CAD software.  Fusion is history-free, so you can import files from other software a bit more easily.

The Inventor Fusion video tutorial comes standalone, bundled with our AutoCAD video tutorial, and also with our Inventor video library. The Fusion video tutorial 3:43 hours and contains 74 videos: http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=246.   The Inventor Fusion video tutorial covers the basics of interface and sketching, as well as solid and surface modeling. The video tutorial comes with the part files so you can practice on your own, and also includes several exercise video tutorials.
Thanks! Rosanna D
Video-Tutorials.net

The customer is always right.

by Video-Tutorials.Net
Just got an angry email from a customer who was having trouble starting one of my discs. What he wanted was help; he felt if he didn't threaten and insult me, he wouldn't get help. Now, I am happy to help everyone, because I take pride in my work and want it to work well for you, and  because I rely on this little business to support my family, so my reputation is very important (and in this digital age, very easily smeared!). 

I lived in America for 15 years, and really loved it. I met my husband there.  We moved back to where I'm from, Canada, after we had kids, to be closer to my family.  Why is it only Americans send me these inflammatory, threatening emails? No African, no Asian, no Australian ever sends me nasty emails if they need help. One of my most polite encounters was with an Egyptian during the recent revolution: even in the midst of suffering, upheaval, this customer respected basic human courtesies. Respect for all, because we are all one & connected; that's what it's about. 

While the customer is still "always right", it doesn't mean s/he gets to abandon manners and resort to toddler-style tantrums.  Putting all that negative, angry energy in the universe does not help anyone.

So, bless my angry customer! May he be blessed in all areas of his life. May all conflict be resolved and only love revealed. I am one with him and I am grateful.  May all beings benefit from this intention. And so it is.

Winner of the free video tutorial for February 2013

Winner of our free draw for a video tutorial, for Feb 2013: Shiva Sharma! Please contact us to claim your prize. To enter the monthly draw, simply like us on facebook :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Video-TutorialsNet/181276732005151

Inventor Fusion, Inventor - what's the difference? New tutorial coming soon!

Hi everyone,

You might have heard about Inventor, Inventor LT, Inventor Fusion, and wondered what it's all about. We've got a new course on Inventor Fusion coming out in a couple weeks, and in preparation for the release I've prepared this short blog entry. Inventor Fusion is not stand-alone software; it comes bundled with many other AutoDesk products like Inventor and AutoCAD. (Check out our Inventor tutorials and AutoCAD tutorials at www.video-tutorials.net.)

Personally, I don't think you're going to need Fusion if you're working proficiently with Inventor Professional. (As you know we have many hours of Inventor tutorials at our site). However, Inventor Fusion is really handy if you need to pull in files from other 3D modelers like SolidWorks and CATIA (yes, Inventor Fusion can open files from both these programs, as well as Inventor parts and assemblies.) That's because you can bring in these docs without converting to any native format; normally that causes some problems that have to be fixed. Fusion lets you open the part in whatever format, and get right to work. Now, it only exports to .dwg, but the other CAD programs can all handle .dwg so that's not a showstopper.  

Like Solidworks, CATIA, and Inventor, Autodesk's Inventor fusion is a CAD 3D parametric modeller, but with many fewer options and functions than these programs. It doesn't offer any of the tools for animation and simulation, and is best suited for static models, not, let's say, assemblies that require animation. Fusion comes bundled with AutoCAD, and this is where it can be most useful. AutoCAD rocks at the direct modeling of geometry, but once you're transferring your AutoCAD work to 3D, it gets clunky, and if you're used to SolidWorks or Inventor, you'll really be annoyed. But, bring Fusion to the mix and you get the basic 3D manipulating capabilities that let you get the job done.

Is Fusion better than Inventor LT? Inventor Fusion is not as dynamic as LT; when you change geometry sometimes your solid won't update. (A sketch might dissociate instead). Also, Inventor Fusion has fewer choices than Inventor LT. You get many of the same menus, just fewer tools or commands. You can still accomplish similar tasks, but it might take longer or some more creating thinking on how to get it done. 

For industries that require complex assemblies which are animated, Inventor Fusion would not be appropriate. But if you're looking to improve on AutoCAD's 3D capabilities, or work more freely with non-AutoDesk file formats, Fusion will fit you just right.
Rosanna D, Video-Tutorials.Net

What's the best way to learn SolidWorks?

by www.video-tutorials.net
SolidWorks has got the market on CAD design essentially cornered.  What do you do if you need SolidWorks training or tutorials right away? The people who buy my courses usually need to ace an interview, upgrade their resumes, make a big software switch at work, or get the edge on their classes and find a way to learn that's easier and more intuitive than a CAD book.

Once you've got the basics under your belt, the best way to get good at SolidWorks is actual practice with the software.  You can get a student version for a good price these days, and sometimes SolidWorks offers trial software.  But how can you get the basics under your belt? Here is a list of some resources:

Classroom training -  the big advantage of this method is the SolidWorks expert teaching the class, who you can hit up for tips and tricks on how to get something done.  Many colleges and universities offer training in SolidWorks these days.  It's even available for study at some high schools now; we have a few clients that are high schools.

You can also sign up for classes with a SolidWorks reseller. These days SolidWorks Resellers have a lot of free events for SolidWorks users, like in-person classes, or lunch webinars that you can watch live or download later.  The experts that host these events are usually very good.

Once you're comfortable, you can take the SolidWorks certification tests from your reseller, or online directly from SolidWorks. They are not expensive and they look good on your resume. We'll be publishing a certification preparation course in mid-2013. We don't offer the certification itself, but are more than happy to help you get ready for it!

Self-study training: some people don't have time or the extra budget to enroll in formal classes, which are usually very slow-paced.  If you find that self-study training is more effective than classroom training, because you can study at your own pace, and review the materials as you require them, then you are in luck.  Just  search on YouTube for"SolidWorks video tutorials" or "SolidWorks tutorials" and you'll see thousands of free training videos. We have a lot of free material posted up on YouTube also at www.youtube.com/videotutorials2.  We of course recommend our SolidWorks tutorials; we have the best price for the most hours, and, as you can see from our many positive testimonials, the quality and service are excellent. Here is a link to our SolidWorksvideo tutorials.  We find that many people prefer self-study video tutorials because they are more detailed, move along quickly, can be replayed immediately,  and are easier to reference much later on than classroom training.

User Groups & Forums - Solidworks has a superb forum and user group that I recommend you join.  You will get lots of tips and videos from other users, and there are many experts in the forums who share their knowledge very graciously.  There are also many independent CAD forums that are really useful; many of the expert users go into great detail for their explanations on how to get something done.

I hope you find this article helpful! For more information, please visit us at www.video-tutorials.net.

Vocal maintenance - music recording tips on vocal care for singers and for other vocal professionals

Why is this article in our CAD training blog? Well, I've been getting lots of questions about vocal care, and felt compelled to publish something here. As many of you know, I do the voiceovers for Video-Tutorials.net--that's hundreds of hours of video tutorials now --  and wrote our  Cubase  tutorial, ProTools tutorial and Recording, Mixing & Mastering tutorial, as well as my own music business.  I get a lot of questions not only from singers, but also voice-over artists, public speakers and others on how to get the best from your voice. 

In this blog entry, I'm sharing my rules for getting the best from your voice, whether in performance, recording, or general public speaking (also a performance!)

 

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE  - why the heck fine artists tend to be insecure ninnies is beyond me, but it's true.  Most of the singers I know require an unsustainable amount of external approval and validation.  It's like watching a train wreck about to happen: we end up addicted to drama or substances, or sucked into cycles of destructive relationships.  We waste a lot of time and effort with all this upheaval; it's totally ridiculous and wreaks havoc with our vocal instruments.  When you have a talent, it's not about you, or being famous, or better than someone else.  The talent comes from God or the cosmos or whatever you want to call the dimension of consciousness that connects us all.  It doesn't make you better than anyone else so stop trying to prove it.  You have a responsibility to use your talent to give people joy, in your own joyful way.  The rest of the emotional baggage that goes along with our insecurities is basically irrelevant and a complete waste of energy.  Keep the energy for your voice by calming your mind and nerves, and not getting caught up in your insecurities. This makes for dynamite vocal work!

 

TAKE IT EASY - if you've got a cough, try to cough as little and gently as possible.   Talk less, laugh less, and read aloud less close to performance or recording days.  I "dim" myself for a few days prior to a big show. You can "save" up your voice this way.  That's because we often talk in a guttural way that causes strain on the vocal cords. When you do a lot of public speaking, or many hours of voiceovers at once, do "diaphragm" speaking so that you take the strain off your voice. Don't hesitate to let your mic do the work for you. If you're a woman, don't try to deepen your voice to sound more authoritative; this puts too much strain on the cords.

NO SMOKING - does this really need explanation?  This is a terrible habit for singers and vocal artists, and if you want healthy, resonant pipes that don't tire quickly, give up smoking.  This includes pipes, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, weed, etc. Just say no, to all of it.  Bleach!

NETI-POT. I love this invention, and am so grateful to Deepak Chopra and Oprah for exposing me to it.  I first began using it in 2008, and I haven't had a bad head cold or sore throat since then.  You fill it with warm salty water and dump up one nostril; it drains out the other, along with the yucky gunk that's stuck up your nose. Gross, but effective. Use it at the first sign of a cold; don't wait until you're really sneezy or sore.   

SLEEP - you need enough sleep for your voice to be big and strong, and not quick to tire.  If you travel a lot, or have young children that keep you up at night, you simply will be tired and will not have as strong a voice as you could.  Work it out so you can get enough sleep. Personally for me, sleep is more important to vocal strength and longevity than my diet! (Although, I'm not excessive in my eating)

PRACTICE, PRACTICE!  I hear "oh, I just wasn't warmed up." In fact, an experienced singer or vocal performer needs very little warm up time; you just need to clear a bit of sludge from the larynx  (that's the delicate organ through which air passes and vibrates to make sound) and phrarynx (that's the resonating chamber of your nasal passages & back of your throat). What you need is practice, to develop the muscle memory and confidence.  When you have enough practice, the song or text sits well and you can focus on the joy of sharing, rather than on the mechanism of delivery.

 STAY WARM - If you feel sneezy or a bit under the weather, wrap up your neck and keep your head warm; this will stave off colds. Running in the cold? Forget about it.  Keep your neck covered in any wind, actually.  Luciano Pavarotti had this one right.

NO COFFEE & STAY HYDRATED - try to give up caffeine if you can. It creates chronic dehydration and nodules on your larynx.  You'll hear them if your voice sounds grainy or constantly breathy and husky.  Keep yourself decently hydrated with water, herbal teas --not juice, which is too sugary, and coats your larynx. Don't drink too much wine, beer etc; this is very dehydrating.  What about hard liquor? Well, if you want to avoid future liver failure, moderation is the best practice!!

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT & HOW MUCH - low-calorie diets and fasting won't give you the stamina you need for singing and voice-overs, which are actually extremely physical.  If you're not eating enough, you will make way less volume and you will tire fast.  BUT, this doesn't mean you can pig out.  Overeating creates residue in your throat that you can't clear out with warm-up, and also doesn't leave enough room for your lungs and diaphragm to do their job.  Your guts are just too full of food and poo, and there's not enough room for diaphragm expansion to get a nice deep supporting breath.  Avoid dairy and gluten, especially if you're sensitive to these.  I have a lot more resonance without dairy and gluten, and a lot more stamina.    Avoid too much sugar; it coats your larynx and pharynx with gunk; your voice will not work well if you are eating too much sugary stuff.  Anything that makes your teeth kind of fuzzy after you eat or drink it will do the same to your larynx and pharynx. 

Thanks! I hope this helps.  I love writing about music and singing.  For more information about music recording, check out my Cubase, ProTools and Recording, Mixing & Mastering courses at www.video-tutorials.net.

Rosanna D

 

 

What's New with Inventor 2013?

My new updates course, What's New with Inventor 2013, is finally out! My apologies for the delay; my kids were actually pretty sick for a couple weeks and hence the release schedule got pushed back.  The course is 50 minutes long and consists of 40 videos; it's bundled with my Inventor 2013 Video Library, now 21+ hours.  

As you know, the big CAD software companies have been issuing annual updates to their products since about 2009. This is their way of cashing in on annual subscription revenue, but usually there is not a whole bunch of significant changes. Improvements to tools, to data management, and some cosmetic modernization, but Inventor 2010 is pretty similar to Inventor 2013.

Quite a few of the Inventor 2013 updates consist of applying some of the enhanced drawing capabilities of AutoCAD to Inventor. Eg, the three point rectangle and primitives. Some of the enhancements, like the use of equation curves, allow for the rapid creation of fairly complex geometry using trigonometric and calculus formulas.

Reminder that for the month of February, enter "valentine" in the coupon box upon checkout to save 10%. (www.video-tutorials.net).  You can also buy this course on eBay and Amazon.

Here's a link to the course on my website:

http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=245

Here's a link to my YouTube playlist for "What's New in Inventor 2013": http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2HIWTfCm5J5WwpZ39IrDaiI

Find us on Google+:

What's New AutoDesk Inventor 2013 - Equation Curves

User Parameters applied to Sketch Text (Numeric, Text & Boolean) - What's New Inventor 2013

Using the Offset tool in the solid part modeling environment

Here's the table of contents for the "What's New in Inventor 2013" portion of the Inventor 2013 Video Library, for sale at www.video-tutorials.net. AutoDesk Inventor 2013 What's New 01 Welcome Screen 21 Measure Tool 02 Create New File 22 Status Bar 03 Contextual Menu 23 Associative Sketch Geometry 04 Enhanced Error Messages 24 Primitives 05 Origin Plane Display 25 Offset Base Solid 06 Sketch Scale 26 Change Appearance 07 Rectangle Tool 27 EOP Marker 08 Arc Length Dimension 28 Hole Tool 09 Dynamic Trim 29 Shell Tool 10 Dynamic Extend 30 Work Plane 11 Precise Input 31 Error Glyphs 12 3D Sketch Mirror command 32 Material and Appearance 13 3D Sketch Properties 33 Part View Representation 14 Align to Plane 34 Remove Internal Voids 15 Control Vertex Splines 35 Alignment of a Frame Member 16 Equation Curves 36 End Treatment Support 17 2D Mirror Self Symmetric 37 Open Component Drawing File 18 User-Defined Parameters in Sketch Text 38 Delete Multiple Drawing Sheets 19 Find Sketch in Browser 39 Copy Drawing Views 20 Sketch Icon 40 Insert Images in Title Blocks

Get our SolidWorks "How to Model the iPhone 5" video tutorial for free

Get our new How to Model the iPhone 5 course for free when you buy our SolidWorks Essentials video tutorial; $49.99. Save $25!
http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=239

Write a good review and win a free course!

Or link to us from your blog or website. If you've used our training materials and like them, we'd appreciate your helping us let the world know by writing a good review!! And in return, we'll give you a course for free.  Here's a link to our Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Video-Tutorials.Net/e/B003WXNID8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Winner of our January draw for a free course...

Essa Ali! Write us to claim your prize. To enter the draw, Like us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Video-TutorialsNet/181276732005151

Save 10% in February on all video tutorials.

We love and are grateful for all our customers! Save 10% in February on all courses; enter this code during checkout: valentine www.video-tutorials.net

Inventor 2013 - What's New?

The last part of our Inventor 2013 update will be released later this week, and will be included with the full Inventor 2013 course - What's New! Stay tuned for Friday February 1, 2013.

Inventor 2013 Video Tutorial Playlist

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx-VY2mDlK2Ex6kcC-O4uPVRX_EU5AFV_

Here is a link to our playlist of Inventor 2013 Video Tutorials, from our new course just released today. Enjoy!

AutoDesk Inventor 2013 Video Tutorial now available

Hi--just released the new AutoDesk Inventor Video Tutorial - http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=245.  I'll post a youtube play list early this week. Thanks!

AutoDesk Inventor 2013 Video Tutorial

Just a quick post to let you know that our AutoDesk Inventor 2013 update will be released in about 10 days. Stay tuned; I'll post a playlist on youtube.com etc. Thanks!

SolidWorks 2013 (playlist) - the videos we've posted to YouTube.

www.video-tutorials.net

AutoCAD 2013 - new course now available - 14+ hours

Happy new year everyone! I hope 2013 is a year of prosperity, creativity and health for you and your families. Our newest course is out, AutoCAD 2013. It's 14+ hours and features 226 video tutorials. This course is concise, thorough and will get you up to speed so you can be productive in AutoCAD right away.  If you're serious about learning AutoCAD, invest in this course; it's inexpensive and the best out there.   Here's the course link on our website; http://www.video-tutorials.net/vtn/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=244.

Here's a video from the new AutoCAD 2013 Video Tutorial:
http://youtu.be/904_RPjGJg4