mamaboy

Finally decided to take the dive in to the world of CAD using SolidWorks. Can anybody suggest books? Did taking AutoCAD courses help you make a easy transition? just trying to see what i should do inorder to get myself started pronto!

Thanks

built562

i use soildworks and autocad as a student in mecahincal engineering. so i took it in courses, the best way to learn is by using it. im sure there are books to use as a guide to tell you short cuts and tips to use, there are toooo many nice features on solidoworks. i have the software here at home so i would find myself doing a months project from school in like 2 days cuz i was so intrested in it.

also i used it to design tools, and things i made for my car/truck

beepy

SolidWorks is very easy to use. You won't really need a book, just play around with it. You just need to remember a few things:

1) You must select your initial reference plane before you start your first sketch.
2) SolidWorks is geometry and dimension driven. So just rough in your sketch and then set the dimensions and restraints with the "smart dimension" and "constraint" tools.

parasonic

I got the hang of solidedge only after a little practice.

Jonas99

I have learned ProE, SolidWorks, AutoCAD either through school or by purchasing student versions and just playing around with the program. The SolidWorks tutorials are very well done, and get you into the feel of planes and geometry. Design intent is the most important thing to learn, as the order in which you create entities/features and the way you set your relations will determine how any changes will affect the design. I recommend running the tutorials, and then start designing stuff. You can take objects on your desk and just start trying to make them in SolidWorks. Good luck and have fun!

beepy

The hardest thing about solidworks, is that it makes complex geometries so easy to make, it is easy to forget that what you are making may be impossible to machine!

Rtype16

I was just about to say the tutorial they have with the software is pretty decent on learning the basics. After doing the tutorial just play with the program you should get it.

99_GS-T

Solidworks is pretty good about leading you thru the process of making a model. You pull up a feature and it will tell you what it is looking for. If that's not enough, go to the help menu and find out exactly what you need to know about the feature.

Pro-E is a little more difficult to work with. Half the time it will sit there waiting for a particular mouse click and if you don't know what it's looking for, you'll be there for a while with the dumb cow look on your face.

Brandon Clifton

Like most everyone on here- I agree SW is by far the easiest to learn. I've learned (in order) AutoCAD R12, Unigraphics, AutoCAD 2000, and am almost at Certified SolidWorks Professional level (two more classes to go).

If you're doing parts and tooling, go through the Advanced Assembly Modeling tutorial as soon as you are able. That will teach you how to build tools around an existing part.
Also check out 3D Content Central for already-designed parts.

If you have any specific questions feel from to PM.

Good luck!

mamaboy

i'm trying to see how hard it is to create a chassis from concept to production.
http://www.dpcars.net the dp1 car that this man has created has inspired something in me. http://www.kimini.com a mini cooper fun looking project. i think i've actually seen this guy on here before. he runs an h22. of course i'd rather run a small hayabusa motor. the caterham's and locust 7 is actually the first chassis that i'm going to try and build on my own. i'm also trying to figure out the different processes involved in creating molds and plugs. working with dry carbon and composites.

thanks for all the input

spoolinlude

The big dogs use Catia Solutions...... the rolls royce of CAD programs... thats what we use here where I work, a large aeronautical corporation.... but for the simple fab guy, solid works is AMAZING you can very rapidly develop a protype and then with plugins analyze the **** out of it.... for example, you could design a intake manifold, then use the CFD plugins to test the flow, and change your design based on flow, you can also get mass properties and do simple stress analysis......

Andy R

Anyone have a inside scoop on grabbing a copy of sw 04 or 05? or any version with built in stress analysis. Searching the net proves everyone wants quotes for new software, but not prices. I'm looking to do some fairly simple 3d parts and possibly some suspension geo and frame. I'm cheap, so i'm looking for something preferably free

CarbonCreations

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andy R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone have a inside scoop on grabbing a copy of sw 04 or 05? or any version with built in stress analysis. Searching the net proves everyone wants quotes for new software, but not prices. I'm looking to do some fairly simple 3d parts and possibly some suspension geo and frame. I'm cheap, so i'm looking for something preferably free </TD></TR></TABLE>

nope. cheapest way to get it is through a student evaluation.

loodood

piracy.....how i gots mine

Nidius

^^ That's illegal.

accord387

really??? i thought piracy was legal. lol

Andy R

anyone have info on a serial# for SW 2004 (pm/email me)?

Mooneyes13

Soliworks is the ****, i use it for school. I also use Autocad2k4 @ work w/ KOMO router sim software. OMAX for Waterjetting.

climbengruven

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spoolinlude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The big dogs use Catia Solutions...... the rolls royce of CAD programs... thats what we use here where I work, a large aeronautical corporation.... but for the simple fab guy, solid works is AMAZING you can very rapidly develop a protype and then with plugins analyze the **** out of it.... for example, you could design a intake manifold, then use the CFD plugins to test the flow, and change your design based on flow, you can also get mass properties and do simple stress analysis...... </TD></TR></TABLE>


^ Another top end program is Pro E

Solidworks is Pretty easy to use/figure out. Go upto the help menu, and look for tutorials on basic functions. Take some time b4 u start designing your ideal part, and just play around wih the software, it can do a lot of cool stuff.

mamaboy

just got the program and it looks daunting. crossing my fingers! are there any resources for professional application after the design process?

Sobe_Death

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 99_GS-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pro-E is a little more difficult to work with. Half the time it will sit there waiting for a particular mouse click and if you don't know what it's looking for, you'll be there for a while with the dumb cow look on your face.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no freakin kidding. i just finished a Solid Modeling and Analysis class at school in the spring, and so many times i would just sit there and repeat steps not knowing what it was looking for. ask the instructor and he says "work the problem out for yourself, its the best way to learn the program" he also wouldnt teach the course around Wildfire; instead used Pro/E 2001

i learned a bit of Pro/E, Mechanica, and Thermal.

blackcivic44

anyone used Ideas at all? thats what i used at lockheed martin this summer, took some getting used to, but didn't turn out to be too hard. I have used solidworks up at PSU, too - very easy program.

wreckedrex

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mamaboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just got the program and it looks daunting. crossing my fingers! are there any resources for professional application after the design process?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't worry too much about it, it'll start to make sense pretty quickly if you stick with it, there is a very steep learning curve. If you've got some spare time it might be worth your while to check into a community college course. It'd be nice to get the best-prectices stuff, and have an instructor to help with any snags you run into.

Dan

beepy

Meh. With the right plugins SolidWorks can't be beat. Even without plugins you can still import parts into ANSYS for FEA.