I have been working with Autocad for many years and now, I want to learn how to use the Solidworks program.
I need advice and recommendations to find a good tutorial book for someone who has no knowledge of Solidworks that takes me step by step into the program, such as starting by introducing the menu and showing each of its functions.
I appreciate your help and I thank you for all recommendations.
Have you looked at the tutorials that are included with Solidworks? They're very helpful.
This book is very basic, and will slowly show you all the tools in SolidWorks:
http://www.amazon.com/SolidWorks-2010-No-Experience-Required/dp/0470505435
This book is a professional reference, and is probably the best source to help you define good "best practices" for modeling:
http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?page_id=3387
http://www.amazon.com/SolidWorks-2010-Bible-Matt-Lombard/dp/0470554819
But I find that the Tutorials included with SolidWorks (Help>Tutorials) are very helpful in getting started, it is how I learned.
Besides what Charles posted for book links on Amazon, there are numerous other books you can buy from Amazon for SolidWorks. The ones that are authored by Marie and David Planchard are good as well.
Also look into www.solidprofessor.com for video based training. We use that here where I work for our people.
Cheers,
Anna
Under the Help button in SolidWorks are a number of tutorials that you can use.
Cheers,
Anna
Once you are somewhat familiar with the software, try googling whatever it is you are trying to do. I've found that there is a lot of helpful (and free) stuff out there if you search for it. Also the people on this forum are great, you can most likely find answers to questions right here!
Victor,
You have gotten a lot of great advise. I have been working with the software for about 10 years
myself and since you are coming from Autocad (I did too) one thing you will find out is the 2D editor
that Solidworks uses mirrors Autocad. You can type in the same commands and use the same key
strokes.
As far as Solidworks itself, I know books never helped me personally. I dived right into it and learned it
with hands on learning and using the tutorials. Once you have learned it fairly well I then took the training
courses for part and assembly as well as the advanced courses in each as well from my local VAR.
I looked at these courses as tweeking my skills even further.
I believe this SW tutorial to be great.
You have 194 video tutorials from basic to advanced. Price is only $24.95
Click this link for ===> Magnitude Engineering Solutions
Hi Victor,
I have written a complete SolidWorks tutorial package about modeling, assembling and rendering a complete chopper in SolidWorks.
The package is separated in 15 tutorials which will explain step by step the main features of SolidWorks. Perhaps this is something for you. Check it out at www.solidworksmodel.com
Kind regards,
Jan
I found this fantastic book, and wanted to share it with all you. SolidWorks 2011 Book Beginning to Advanced SolidWorks 2011 Modeling, Drafting and Assemblies from Machined Parts to Bl objects has been written by engineers for engineers. Visit http://SolidWorksBook.com/
find your local VAR, sign up for a SolidWorks Hands On Test Drive. This has changed slightly over the years, so I cannot say exactly how it is today, but that is the first step. They will walk you thru the basics in a class. When I did it they gave me a limited license version of SW to take home that included a manual with more exercises. I even got a free lunch. Really, your loacl VAR is the place to start, if they cannot, or will not, help find another VAR.
Many states have worker retraining programs, check with yours and you can sign up for classes from your VAR or a local technical school/college. Your VAR should have a class called Essentials which is 4 days, very good intro to SW.
But the hands on test drive is the place to start, most VAR's will be eager to help you, from there you can decide the next step.