SOLIDWORKS User Group Digs Up the Past

User groups have always been an integral part of the SOLIDWORKS community. More than 13,000 users are in the SOLIDWORKS User Group Network (SWUGN.org). They advocate for quality and ease of use; they’re vocal about what they like and dislike; and they help shape the new releases with their feedback and input. 

SOLIDWORKS Largest User Group Meeting Ever, known by the acronym SLUGME, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Yes, this is not just a descriptor but the official name of the event. It connects worldwide users through live broadcasts, hands-on builds, and community-driven design challenges. It's led by Todd Blacksher, Eric Beatty, and Dan Wagner, all dedicated SOLIDWORKS users.

The milestone 10th anniversary event was dubbed SLUGME X. It took place in November 2025. For it, the group decided to dig deep into the past—as far back as the Jurassic Period. They built a full-scale dinosaur, nicknamed Frank. 

The dinosaur is made up of an organic-shaped outer body and textured skin, supported by a mechanical frame that acts like its spine, tail, arms, legs, and joints. The outer part’s design is largely surface modeling; the inside frame is a classic mechanical assembly. The creature was designed and made with SOLIDWORKS xShape and xDesign on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The participants discussed and sketched out ideas on 3DLean, a web-based app for team collaboration. They used xShape for subdivisional modeling, and xDesign for assembly and structure. 

During a visit to the group’s workshop, Manish Kumar, CEO of SolidWorks; Gian Paolo Bassi, Dassault Systemes’s SVP of Mainstream Innovation; and Suchit Jain, VP of Strategy and Business Development, all took turns admiring the creature, with menacing sharp teeth. These teeth were printed using a Stratasys system capable of printing in multicolor and multi-material, intended to produce dentures in dental applications. 

SLUGME X is supported by Dell, a long-time partner supplying certified systems to run SOLIDWORKS. Ken Flannigan, Director of Alliances and Solutions, Dell, said, “When you take something you do for work, and do something exciting like that, it’s a lot of fun … The hardware we make is the foundation to what [the user group members] are building, whether it’s a dinosaur or something more serious.” 

Flannigan said, “Workstations like the Dell Pro Max product line are tailored to the [SOLIDWORKS users’] workflow. If you’re working with large complex assemblies, that’s very different from modeling small parts. Scalability and configurability are part of the line’s brand. It ranges from an entry-level thin and light laptop to systems for those who want to run simulation and visualization, and everyone in between.”

He pointed out that, just like new releases of software with additional features, hardware systems too are getting refreshed with newer generations of GPUs and CPUs. Thus, upgrading the system is one way to ensure you reap the full benefit of the latest software. 

“There is a generational difference in the NVIDIA RTX GPUs in the systems, for example. So it’s important to find out more about what you’re investing in. It has to do with the longevity of the system,” he added.

SLUGME’s Todd Blacksher, Eric Beatty, and Dan Wagner standing in front of Frank the Dinosaur.

To mark the event, Dell also gave away an ultra-sharp 32-inch display with Thunderbolt connection. “No matter what system you’re using, you can always use a big beautiful display,” remarked Flannigan. 

Next up for SWUGN is the West Michigan Lakeshore SWUG: Technical Summit on Dec. 18 in Holland, MI. The group will also participate in the upcoming Dassault Systemes 3DExperienceWorld event, Feb. 1 to Feb. 4, 2026 in Houston. According to Wagner, the SWUGN team will be leading several key events and much of the general Meetup Track.

Those events include:

Saturday, Jan. 31 - SWUGN will attend and support the CAD Monkey Dinner.

Sunday, Feb. 1 - There is a series of SWUGN meetings for various groups throughout the day as well as an exclusive hands-on rendering session for SWUGN leaders in the morning. The group has also organized a meetup for first-timers at 3:30 in The Hive that will lead right into the opening of the playground.

Monday Feb. 2 - After the general session in the morning, the day is packed with various meetup sessions that SWUGN is supporting. The group has also organized the annual community summit, which will go from 4-6 pm. In this session, attendees high-level updates about programs and learn about plans for the upcoming year.

Tuesday Feb. 3 - SWUGN has organized several meetups, including one for the Design Darlings, which is the “very first community meetup to elevate and connect femme professionals”, at 11:00 am.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 - The fan-favorite SOLIDWORKS Top 10 Enhancements List meetup is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Dan Wagner will also be on Main Stage during the closing general session to announce award winners for some very special community members. Wednesday night, the group will also host an intimate closing dinner with about 100 community advocates to finish the week.

For more information, visit www.sugn.org and the event session catalog.