Solidworks 2013 Bible

Matt Lombard

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781118508398
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Digital Media
• Index: Computer Science

A comprehensive resource packed with information for both beginners and advanced users

SolidWorks is the leading 3D solid modeling software used in computer-aided design. It's powerful but not simple. This complete guide introduces beginners to the software but then goes far beyond, covering numerous details that advanced users have requested. Beginners will learn not only how the software works but why, while more experienced users will learn all about search criteria, Pack-and-Go, other file management concepts, and much more. A valuable companion website contains before and after real-world parts and assemblies along with many example files used in the text. Additionally, the text of the book is augmented by video tutorials with author voice-over which can be found on the website.

• SolidWorks is the leading 3D CAD program, and previous editions of this book have sold more than 33, 000 copies
• Covers necessary information to give beginners a solid foundation in the software, including part and assembly modeling and 2D drawing techniques
• Addresses a wide range of advanced topics not treated in other books, including best practices, search criteria, Pack-and-Go, and other file management concepts
• Includes tutorials on both beginning and advanced topics, with videos; sample part, assembly, and drawing files; and before-and-after example files available on the companion website

SolidWorks 2013 Bible is the ultimate resource on SolidWorks 2013, the book beginners can start with and advanced users will want to keep close at hand.

Part I
Introducing SolidWorks Basics

IN THIS PART

1. Chapter 1 Introducing SolidWorks
2. Chapter 2 Navigating the SolidWorks Interface
3. Chapter 3 Working with Sketches
4. Chapter 4 Creating Simple Parts and Drawings
5. Chapter 5 Using Visualization Techniques

CHAPTER 1
Introducing SolidWorks

IN THIS CHAPTER

Installing SolidWorks

Getting started with SolidWorks

Identifying different types of SolidWorks documents

Understanding feature-based modeling

Understanding history-based modeling

Sketching with parametrics

Controlling changes with design intent

Modifying design intent

Working with links between documents

In SolidWorks, you build 3D parts from a series of simple 2D sketches and features such as extrude, revolve, fillets, cuts, and holes, among others. You can put the parts together into assemblies. You can then create 2D drawings from the 3D parts and assemblies.

This chapter will familiarize you with some of the tools available to make the transition to SolidWorks and with some of the basic facts and concepts that you need to know to get the most out of the software.

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VIDEO

You can view videos for each chapter on the Wiley website, in addition to downloading sample files. View the Chapter 1 Introduction video to get started.

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Installing SolidWorks for the First Time

Some of you will have SolidWorks installed for you by people in your company or by SolidWorks reseller experts, and some of you will do the installation on your own. Regardless, it is best to make sure that your hardware and software are compatible with the SolidWorks system requirements, available on the SolidWorks website at www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html.

SolidWorks installs natively on both 32- and 64-bit operating systems. It is supported only for Windows Vista and Windows 7. SolidWorks 2013 does not install on Windows XP. The 64-bit operating system is recommended. In all cases, the professional-level OS is recommended. Although it is possible to install and run SolidWorks under Parallels and Boot Camp on Apple hardware, that configuration is not supported or tested by SolidWorks Corporation or its resellers.

You can find video card requirements at the above link for system requirements. The main concern with a video card for SolidWorks is that it must be compatible with OpenGL, and be SolidWorks certified. Hardware changes too rapidly for me to give specific recommendations here, but generally nVidia brand boards in the Quadro line are acceptable, as are AMD/ATI brand boards in the FirePro line. You should expect to pay $100 to $500 for a serviceable low- to mid-range video card. Cards that are marketed as game cards, such as the Radeon or GeForce, have known limitations and do not work well with SolidWorks.

In addition to installing the correct hardware, you also must have a compatible driver version installed. Again, refer to the SolidWorks system requirements website.

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TIP

Whether you are installing SolidWorks or someone is installing it for you, you should consider purchasing a copy of the SolidWorks Administration Bible (Wiley, 2010), which contains all the information you need on installing, configuring, and troubleshooting SolidWorks.

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Alternatively, you might not want to get that involved at first. You can install the software with all defaults just to get started, using it as a practice installation, especially if you intend to learn as much as you can about it, and then come back and do a more thorough job of implementing it later. If this is the case, just put the DVD in the drive (or use the automatic download installers) and accept all the defaults.

You should count on the installation requiring about 6GB of space on your hard drive, depending on the options you select to install. The locations of files on your computer will vary by SolidWorks version, by your operating system, and by your own installation choices, but the bulk of the files are placed into two separ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title
• Copyright
• Credits
• About the Author
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part I: Introducing SolidWorks Basics
• Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts
• Part III: Working with Assemblies
• Part IV: Creating Drawings
• Part V: Using Advanced and Specialized Techniques
• End User License Agreement