Wow! The first set of Night School’s for 2016 have been a treasure chest of knowledge. 
Starting off with Assembly Modeling gems, Assembly Visualization is a tool that is not used very often. You can filter from parameters such as mass, density, volume, rebuild time, and much more. This really helps with identifying variables of concern to simplify parts, lower rebuild times, and keep track of important meta-data. Clearance Verification is a great tool to help you identify clearances less than the value you enter. Collision Detection shows if you have motion in an assembly and you move the component, if it will run into anything else. Hole Alignment analyzes the model – to make sure holes are actually lined up correctly. Performance Evaluation, which used to be called statistics at the part level and assembly xpert at the assembly level, give you an overall insight to the assembly. Part Modeling gems were also showcased at our spring night school. Geometry Pattern allows the pattern tool to copy just the geometry instead of the calculations that happen behind the scenes, saving computing resources. The Freeze Bar locks in features in the Feature Manager Design Tree so they are not rebuilt, saving on rebuild time. Thread is a new feature that was added in 2016! It creates a thread on the model with just simple inputs to the property manager. FeatureWorks analyzes a dumb solid, such as a step file, and creates a SOLIDWORKS feature list to use, this can be automated and interactive. In most cases both are needed to generate a feature tree. FilletXpert will reorder the fillets on the feature manager design tree so SOLIDWORKS can successfully complete a fillet command when done in one operation. DraftXpert adds draft to the correct face and locates the feature in the Feature Manager Design Tree where it is needed to solve for the desired geometry. Sensors are an amazing tool that helps scope parameters of the design, so as the designer is testing new ideas – they will get a warning when their parameters are incorrect. SOLIDWORKS Productivity Tools were outlined as well. Utilities is a set of tools used to help designers with certain aspects of their model. There is a Geometry Compare, Drawing Compare, Find/Replace, and a few others that weren’t discussed. These items really allow the user to get a new perspective on their model, or with comparing two similar designs. Design Study is a tool that allows you to enter a set of parameters to check against a desired value. It allows you to basically optimize your design without using the full optimization tool. Visualize was presented as well. This is a very cool new tool that is there to use with PhotoView 360. It is another type of rendering tool that you can have to generate those marketing images. Check out the Hawk Ridge Systems website to learn more about this tool : http://www.hawkridgesys.com/products/solidworks-visualize/. Such amazing knowledge that was shared with everyone who attended!