It's been a while since I've done free-hand drawing (I was surprised at my isometeric and ortogonal drawings recently) and now most places like to use computer software to generate ideas because of it's efficiency! I've gotten a copy of SolidWorks 2010 (Link) and have toyed around with it a little bit. Is anyone here familiar with it or know it's advanced functions?

 

To be honest for personal use and from what it sounds like your needs are you could easily get by with Google Sketchup, it's a Very powerful free 3D modeling program. Just a thought.

http://sketchup.google.com


Both SolidWorks and CAD have a pretty steep learning curve for someone not using it on a daily basis.

 

I need it for some little and intricate parts and a colleague suggested that the group start using software (haven't been in this dept in a while) and I probably will end up using this on a daily basis, either way the company paid for it so I'm not complaining!

 

I used to know that software pretty well, but it's been several years since I used it. I know that's not a help, sorry.

 

Im learning how to use turbo CAD for work atm. Kind of trial by fire. I wish I could take a class for cad that wouldn't require a semester at school.

 

try this site for cadd stuff www.augi.com

i use civil 3d so i cant really help you

 

Solidworks offers training courses throughout the country. It'd be best to take one of those. Solidwokrs is great at creating parts, assembling them, checking for functionality. Really, just take the course it will get you going.

 

I think the best bet is to find some class locally to take on this. Guys at my work do it all the time and it seems kind of hard to just learn by trial and error.

 

+1, posted at the same time haha

 

I also use autodesk 10. I learned it when I took mechanical engineering in school and I got myself a copy on line so I can mess around with it at home. It's great for drawing up parts and assembling them. And they you can also do animations (assembling all the parts, and how those parts would act in the machine lets say). It's a pretty good program

 

oh I agree. I need to do some more research into local classes. I didnt even know where to look other than the local colleges. Thanks for that info Bigman!

 

Inventor > *

 

I'm currently trying to learn SolidWorks myself. I have a way outdated version of it, but it'll still work for what I'm trying to use it for. SolidWorks has a great tutorial that allows you to follow along in the design window while it pulls the tutorial up from the web. I've only done the first lesson which is making a basic extruded part, but it goes pretty indepth on assemblies and moving parts as the lessons go on.

I also did quite a bit of research on online courses for SolidWorks. Here are the best sites I found so far that wouldn't break the bank and looks pretty complete and legit:

www.solidprofessor.com

www.inspirtech.com

 

Solidworks is one of the more user friendly CAD programs. As for its advanced functions, it depends on how advanced you want to go. You can do anything from simulation of multiple parts/prototypes to stress analysis.

IMHO, you won't learn alot by using trial and error. Many of the functions are dependant upon another function so without something to refer back to when you get stuck will be fustrating. I took it for 2 semesters in school and I would say after the first 3 months, you have a solid understanding of how to do many things.

I would get a how-to book off of Amazon and start there.

 

I think Inventor and Solidworks are both great tools. What specifically do you need help with? Taking a class would be nice to get your feet wet but the tutorials and modules are going to help a lot more the more you work with it. Both tools are $$ so I imagine formal classes are also $$, see if your company will pay for the training.