Lunch & Learn: SOLIDWORKS Design Intent & DriveWorks Design Automation

Session 1: The Why Behind the Model: SOLIDWORKS Design Intent

Presenter: Cody Pendzich

Every dimension you place and every relation you add is a decision about how your model will behave when things change. Get it right, and your parts update cleanly, scale easily, and save you hours of rework. Get it wrong, and you’re rebuilding from scratch every time a revision is required.

This session is a crash course in SOLIDWORKS design intent, pulling from the foundational concepts in the Essentials curriculum but focused entirely on the “why.” You’ll see live demos of how different dimensioning strategies produce completely different model behavior, learn which sketch relations to reach for (and when), and walk away with practical techniques for building parts that work for you instead of against you. Whether you’re newer to SOLIDWORKS or just want to tighten up your fundamentals, this hour will change how you think about modeling.

Session 2: From Design Intent to Design Automation: An Introduction to DriveWorks

Presenter: Kevin Lancaster

Once you understand why your SOLIDWORKS models behave the way they do, the next question becomes: how far can you take it? This follow-up session introduces DriveWorks and shows how strong design intent is the key that unlocks powerful design automation.

In this one-hour presentation, we’ll explore how well-built SOLIDWORKS models can be automated to generate variations, control dimensions, features, and configurations, and even drive downstream outputs like drawings and documents—without rebuilding models from scratch. You’ll see practical examples of how DriveWorks captures your design logic and uses it to automate repetitive engineering work, reduce errors, and dramatically speed up revisions.

This session is not about replacing good modeling practices—it’s about amplifying them. Whether you’re curious about automation or evaluating how ready your models are for it, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of what DriveWorks does, where it fits in the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem, and why design intent is the foundation that makes automation successful.

Agenda:

• 11:45 AM – Check-In & Networking
• 12:00 PM – Complimentary Lunch & Beverages
• 12:15 PM – The Why Behind the Model: SOLIDWORKS Design Intent
• 1:00 PM – Break
• 1:15 PM – From Design Intent to Design Automation: An Introduction to DriveWorks
• 2:00 PM – Networking & Drinks

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Anya Wagemester

Anya Wagemester is a Territory Account Executive at GSC, supporting engineering and manufacturing teams across Colorado and Illinois. With three years at GSC in both technical and customer relationship roles, she focuses on helping teams grow strategically, acting as an advisory partner who connects companies with our in-house experts to solve real design and manufacturing challenges.

 

 

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MEET YOUR PRESENTERS

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Kevin Lancaster

With a decade of experience in automating complex processes, Kevin Lancaster is a seasoned DriveWorks Automation Solution Architect specializing in crafting tailored solutions that streamline workflows and drive efficiency. His deep expertise in DriveWorks technology, combined with a keen understanding of diverse industry needs, allows him to deliver innovative, high-impact automation strategies.

 

 

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Cody Pendzich

Few things excite Cody more than the opportunity to teach a new subject or help someone overcome an obstacle. With 11 years of experience in design, engineering, and manufacturing, Cody has used a wide range of design tools. He is a Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE), Certified SOLIDWORKS Instructor in Mechanical Design (CSWI-MD), and maintains over 20 other SOLIDWORKS certifications in areas such as 3DEXPERIENCE, SOLIDWORKS Inspection, SOLIDWORKS Visualize, and SOLIDWORKS PDM. Previously, he was an industrial pattern maker working with various clients in aerospace, defense, industrial, and automotive.