Learning SolidWorks

Rstewart · February 15, 2022, 04:33 PM

Well, I'm trying to broaden my horizons and possible career opportunities by getting Solidworks certified. As a college student I get SW for only 100$ (for a year, upgradable yearly) so I couldn't pass it up.
I consider myself a good modeler in MC 2022 and can model just about anything including machines, fixturing, etc.

The thing is EVERYONE around here uses SW, so when companies wanna know if you can model/drafting etc. I say yeah, but I'm lacking in the SW world. I've purchased some good learning material and SW 2021 (student version).

Any tips that stand out to you guys? It seems sooooo Slow and overcomplicated compared to mastercam modeler.

CADCAM396 · February 15, 2022, 05:19 PM

where might i ask is solid works presence? as you say around here.
sorry i dont have much for tips. solid works is powerfull but as stated over complicated IMHO
I have had rare ocasion that i could not do what is needed in mastercam even for modeling. my parts may be considered simple but most are very crazy surfacing. mold work.
now start doing very complex assembly's. I get that. mastercam can choke on those. note that is not a complaint as it is based and advertised as a CAM solution not CAD. big difference.

Here's Johnny! · February 16, 2022, 05:34 AM

I have Solid Works on my list of "to learn"....never enough time it seems!

+1000000 to Mastercam being a very powerful solid modeling program. Personally I like that it is freeform modeling, no constraints required. With all the Model Prep (Siemens Synchronous Technology) tools it makes everything easy.

Dan_AKA_ROY23 · February 16, 2022, 07:11 AM

Mastercam does rock, powerful enough tools and freedom from restrictions that a fully parametric program has.

SW can be "complicated" and frustrating since everything is so tied together. In time, you get the hang of the workflow.

Sheet metal designs are a must for SW. Simply cannot do sheet metal type product designs in MC.

Practice understanding the solid history tree (actually history tree, as all entities are usually linked together) as you progress designing models. Organizing sketches, and whatnot. It is different from MC's solid history tree. Most of the design is intricately linked together. Delete a line and..."fireworks go off" lol.

SW's abilities to edit a model can save hours of work if attempted in MC, where MC will - depending on the functions, require rebuilds. With SW, it magically can update complex changes to the model (assuming you do the workflow correctly).

Dan_AKA_ROY23 · February 16, 2022, 07:47 AM

Bidirectional associativity. Change a dimension value and the solid model updates. Very cool.

If SW refuses to do something and you get flustered, make sure a 'relation' isn't causing the hangup. Deleting/disabling a relation can eliminate a restriction you are encountering.

I've designed several console lock vaults, everything good (product in door). I send the finished files to a sheet metal fabricator and they manufacture the product. SW's crazy sheet metal functionality makes it possible (near exact replicas...shhhh).

The thing to point out is, designing models with multiple moving parts is impossible without using assemblies. No matter how careful you are, there will be adjustments needed. (lining up the lock latches to pass through lock assembly, etc) I may have 8 or 9 individual part files, and bring them in to an assembly. After mating all the parts together, then you can analyze the construction. When something doesn't align quite right, you edit the part file and the assembly updates.

So, part designs with few or no individual moving parts can be done in MC (if not a sheet metal product). However, complicated models with varies moving, individual parts? Extremely difficult and overlooked inconsistencies will be found. Putting them in an assembly file is the only way to ensure accuracy.

Rstewart · February 16, 2022, 08:54 AM

Quote from: CADCAM396 on February 15, 2022, 05:19 PMwhere might i ask is solid works presence? as you say around here.
sorry i dont have much for tips. solid works is powerfull but as stated over complicated IMHO
I have had rare ocasion that i could not do what is needed in mastercam even for modeling. my parts may be considered simple but most are very crazy surfacing. mold work.
now start doing very complex assembly's. I get that. mastercam can choke on those. note that is not a complaint as it is based and advertised as a CAM solution not CAD. big difference.

Thanks,
I work in an engineering, aerospace, and testing town. I tend to float around (contractor) and am trying to Work my way up the ladder. Most in the prototyping environment expect you to be able to use SW and maybe make drawings. Kind of a design guy w/o the engineering degree is a possibility. Can't ask a company to buy Mastercam for me to just design widgets.

crazy^millman · February 16, 2022, 09:40 AM

Quote from: Rstewart on February 16, 2022, 08:54 AMThanks,
I work in an engineering, aerospace, and testing town. I tend to float around (contractor) and am trying to Work my way up the ladder. Most in the prototyping environment expect you to be able to use SW and maybe make drawings. Kind of a design guy w/o the engineering degree is a possibility. Can't ask a company to buy Mastercam for me to just design widgets.

Where having your own seat of Mastercam allows you do just that. Float around and do what you need what the tools you are the most comfortable with.

KBS1966 · February 16, 2022, 10:05 AM

If you are just getting started check out the included tutorials. There will get you a great base to build on. They can be found under the help button at top right of the screen right next to the minimize button.

Dan_AKA_ROY23 · February 16, 2022, 10:13 AM

(Just a random video)

Follow/subscribe to this guy!

Mr.M · February 17, 2022, 03:12 AM

Working through all the SolidWorks tutorials is the best way to start IMHO. After that, just getting seat time using it. Once you understand the SW process, you can create your models properly not just to get a dumb solid at the end but to get a solid model that conveys the design intent effectively and can be modified for various configurations it revisions without starting over. I would start using SW instead of MasterCam as much as you can just to start learning that flow. I did find after I used it for a while the SolidWorks Essentials class at my local dealer was well worth the money. As far as the certification, I have not done it but I would like to just to have it.

CNCAppsJames · February 17, 2022, 09:30 AM

I'm a SolidWorks n00b. Probably been using it on the regular for a few months. I've gone through a few tutorials. I've got 10+ years of CATIA CAD experience... I'd consider myself proficient. I've got 5 years of experience with Autodesk Inventor. I woudl consider myself proficient as well.

So in order of CAD experience I went from AutooCAD R12 for Windows (CAD), Pathtrace (CAM), SmartCAM (CAM), Mastercam (CAM), SurfCAM (CAM), CATIA (CAD), PowerMill/PowerShape (CAM/CAD), Inventor (CAD), and finally SolidWorks.

Since SolidWorks was the last one to the party, I find myself being annoyed by it's workflow and basic measuring tools working as I woudl expect. Annoyances I did NOT expereince when I went from all the CAM softwares to CATIA then to Inventor. So, I'm always willing to accept that "I'm just not doing it right", however, in matters of workflow, things NEED to be logical for me, or esle I run into too many issues and get frustrated.

There isn't much I can't model in Mastercam. Sometimes when I've got lofted data or point clouds, I use Mastercam instead of the others because it's just plain easier. The workflow makes sense AND is logical. It's not easier because I have more experience with it, it's easier because of workflow and logic. CATIA, the workflow and logic made sense. Inventor is the same. SolidWorks... I'm just not making the grasp on it's logic yet. Maybe it will come, but I was WAY further along, with WAY less tutorials with Inventor.

SolidWorks IS THE midrange Assembly Modeling leader iin the industry. There's not even a close 2nd and it's what 90% of my customers use if they use an Assembly Modeling package which is the only reason I'm learning it.

JM2CFWIW

Rstewart · February 18, 2022, 12:52 PM

I'm starting to dig it. Just learning all the dependenances and constraints. It's definitely gonna take some time to be proficient. I'm just learning since everyone around here uses it, well and to do something new.
The whole old dog, new software sitch is a little bit frustrating.
Thanks Guys!

MIL-TFP-41 · February 18, 2022, 01:02 PM

10 or so years ago I was decent with Solidworks. Once I got used to the workflow & how it wants you to do things I found it pretty easy and intuitive. Never took a formal class, but there is TONS of online tutorials to help you out. Then I made the jump to NX for a couple of years. Fairly similar workflow in the CAD side, the CAM side WAAAYYYY different than Mastercam.

Anymore I am so out of practice with Solidworks I feel like a noob again.

Funny, I used to be a CAD/CAM junkie...played with and used a lot of different packages....Started with CADKEY 98 for CAD. Pretty sure the first version of Mastercam was 4.1 (1994 ish??) Anymore, I see enough at work to make me not want to see it when I am on my own time. So my exposure is now Mastercam & Solidworks.