SolidWorks 2010

No Experience Required

Alex Ruiz, Gabi Jack

• Publisher: Sybex
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN:
  9780470505434
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780470638200
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: CAD-CAM
• Index: Computer Science

The only continuous, step-by-step tutorial for SolidWorks

SolidWorks is a 3D CAD manufacturing software package that has been used to design everything from aerospace robotics to bicycles. This book teaches beginners to use SolidWorks through a step-by-step tutorial, letting you build, document, and present a project while you learn.

Tools and functionality are explained in the context of professional, real-world tasks and workflows. You will learn the essential functions and gain the skills to use the software at once.

• SolidWorks is a popular design software for manufacturing, and this book introduces it in the context of actually creating an object
• Begins with an overview of SolidWorks conventions and the interface
• Explains how to create models and drawings, create a revolved part and subassembly, and model parts within a subassembly
• Explores modification capabilities and drawing and Bill of Materials templates
• Moves on to top-level assembly models and drawings, Toolbox components and the Design Library, mates, export and printing capabilities, and creating renderings
• Includes a glossary, a foreword from the SolidWorks product manager, and downloadable tutorial files

SolidWorks 2010: No Experience Required quickly turns beginners into confident users of SolidWorks.

Chapter 1: Becoming Familiar with SolidWorks

• Start SolidWorks
• Navigate the SolidWorks Interface
• Use the CommandManager
• Use and Customize the Menus
• Use Toolbars
• Use the Keyboard
• Use the Mouse

SolidWorks 2010 is one of the most popular 3D mechanical computer-aided design (CAD) packages on the market today. Since its introduction in 1995, SolidWorks has become a favorite design tool for many of today’s engineers, mechanical designers, and industrial designers. In part because of its easy-to-learn graphical user interface and powerful set of tools, SolidWorks is used by many top companies worldwide to design, engineer, and document their products in a variety of fields.

At the core of SolidWorks is the ability to create parametric 3D solid geometry that is then used to create drawings, manufacturing instructions, instruction manuals, animations, full-color renderings, and other types of documentation. Regardless of the complexity of the item being created, the creation process is easy and follows the same basic steps. First a sketch is created that is turned into a base feature. The base feature is then further refined by adding features that add or remove material from the base feature. Individual part models can then be used to build assemblies that represent the final design. After creating the 3D part or assembly models, drawings are made to document the design and manufacturing process.

Learning a new CAD package can be a daunting task. In addition to the new terminology, first-time users may feel a bit overwhelmed with a new user interface, toolbars, and commands. In this chapter, you will spend some time launching SolidWorks for the first time, becoming familiar with the SolidWorks interface, and working with the CommandManager.

Start SolidWorks

Before installing and running SolidWorks for the first time, ensure that you meet the recommended minimum system requirements. SolidWorks currently supports the following operating systems:

• Windows 7 (32-bit) Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise Edition.
• Windows 7 (64-bit) Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise Edition.
• Windows Vista (64-bit) Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise edition, SP0 or newer
• Windows Vista (32-bit) Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise edition, SP0 or newer
• Windows XP Professional (32-bit), SP2 or newer
• Windows XP Professional (64-bit)

And here are the random-access memory (RAM) requirements:

Minimum 1GB RAM when parts contain fewer than 200 features and assemblies contain fewer than 1,000 components

Recommended 2GB RAM or more when parts contain more than 200 features and assemblies contain more than 1,000 components

Once you have verified that your computer is able to support SolidWorks and it is installed onto your system, you can launch it by selecting Start ⇒ Programs ⇒ SolidWorks 2010 ⇒ SolidWorks 2010 SPX.X ⇒ SolidWorks 2010.

NOTE All images in this book are from SolidWorks running on Windows 7. You might notice a slight difference if you are using another version of windows such as Windows XP.

SolidWorks License Agreement

The first time you launch SolidWorks, you will be presented with the SolidWorks License Agreement. You must accept the license agreement in order to use SolidWorks. After reading the license, click Accept to continue.If for some reason you do not accept the terms of the license agreement, clicking Do Not Accept will exit SolidWorks.

Help and Workflow Customization

After accepting the SolidWorks License Agreement, you will then be presented with the Welcome To SolidWorks window. This screen allows you to customize the appearance of dynamic help as well as the workflow. You will see this only the first time you launch SolidWorks on your computer, but you can make changes to the options anytime you want in the SolidWorks Options window.

Three options are available in the Help Customization section of the screen. Each option will provide the user with a different level of dynamic help, so consider your needs when making your selection.

I Am A New User. Show Quick Tips To Help Me Get Started. This option will provide you with pop-up messages that appear while working in different modes of SolidWorks.

I Am New To This Version Of SolidWorks. Show Me Interactive What’s New Help. Experienced SolidWorks users will find this option helpful when they are working in a new version of SolidWorks. When this option is selected, a question-mark icon will be displayed on new menu items and new and changed PropertyManagers and will link to the corresponding sections of the What’s New manual. The topics in the What’s New manual will then provide more information about the new or updated functionality since the previous release.

Do Not Show Me Any Dynamic Help. For more experienced users, this option will not provide you with any pop-ups or links to the What’s ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Credits
• Copyright
• Publisher's Note
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• About the Authors
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Becoming Familiar with SolidWorks
• Chapter 2: Learning the Basics
• Chapter 3: Creating Your First Part
• Chapter 4: Creating Your First Drawing
• Chapter 5: Creating a Revolved Part
• Chapter 6: Creating a Subassembly
• Chapter 7: Creating a Simple Assembly Drawing
• Chapter 8: Creating a More Complex Part Model
• Chapter 9: Modeling Parts Within an Assembly
• Chapter 10: Making Modifications
• Chapter 11: Putting It All Together: Part 1
• Chapter 12: Putting It All Together: Part 2
• Chapter 13: Making the Top-Level Assembly Drawing
• Chapter 14: Sharing Your Documents with Others
• Chapter 15: Creating Your Own Templates: Part 1
• Chapter 16: Creating Your Own Templates: Part 2
• Chapter 17: Creating Simple, Stunning Renderings
• Glossary
• Index