Solidworks 2011?

Mothership finally delivered my Solidworks 2011 package today. Been doing everything on paper for the last 10 years and have a actual CAD guy do the software side.

I have been fiddling with it this afternoon making small brackets and such. How long until you really feel comfortable using this monster, right now single parts no assemblies is not such a big deal but I keep running to issues like no easy way to dimension holes off of a center point which on paper is pretty easy. Its like the smart dimension function has a mind of its own.

And am I supposed to use the stupid hole wizard for everything that has a thread?

Just venting a bit, got two funerals this weekend and need to find a DD in the next couple days.

I am using it right now. I can't really say how long it takes to get use to it because I learned in 3D CAD rather then 2D. I will say IMHO solidworks is easier to use then any of the other packages I have dealt with.

If you've never done any CAD - probably a month to be productive and 6 months to be proficient. If you're coming from a CAD background, a week to be productive and a couple of months to be proficient.

Hole wizard - You don't have to, but it makes dimensioning easier, automatically inserts the thread hidden lines, etc.

I don't understand the dimensioning holes off of a center point question.

SW user for about 10 years here.

Learning to make parts is fast. Learning to make really good parts with good design intent takes longer.

Helpful hint. When extruding whatever is the basis of your first feature - extrude in both directions so the sketch plane is centered in the part. It makes mating center planes easier later during assembly. If you want to dimension to something other than an edge, insert a sketched construction line in your drawing and dimension to that. Though your machinist would probably prefer regular ordinate dims to a 0-0 corner...

I found the fastest way to become comfortable is to get a decent book ( barnes & noble, borders, amazon) and go through the examples step by step.

I went from 2D AutoCAD to Solidworks and found t after going through the examples I was able to put it to use with a reasonable comfort level. It is also helpful to have an experience user to go to when you get stumped. The error messages can be rather vague.

Some local adult Ed/ night programs offer Solidworks classes for reasonable cost.

As for the dimensioning issues. Are you trying to dimension from and edge to the hole center, or some other reference? Is solidworks giving a warning message about the feature you are dimensioning?

Sometimes it's helpfully to add centerlines or centermarks to dimension to, and you may get better results by selecting vertical or horizontal under the smart dimension button.

I use the hole wizard for threaded holes, but thru holes are typically done as an extruded cut.

Did not have the centerlines set right and I keep thinking that I can use use the special dimension button to fix things later in the file on round items. Getting the hang of it. The extrusion functions are so powerful, and I am starting to like the hole wizard function. Looking at the list it has just about every thread that I use, plus the inset function is rather cool. Still need to figure out how to do things like repeats of holes at say 30 degrees from center but I will work up to it.

Kind of cool to have it in 3D on the computer where I can make quick changes. Normally I have to go through a few revisions with the CAD draft guy to get everything right. Going to send out a few smaller 5x5x2 items for 3D printing this week to see what the turn around time is. Our last polyjet print was good enough to go into the field right of the printer. Built in pressured lines and all.

I need to fab up about half a dozen custom manifolds and two or three magnet holders next month so I need to get cracking. This is only like 5% of my normal job.

I've been using Solidworks academically and professionally for about 8 years in product design. I'm still learning all sorts of stuff.

The tutorials are really helpful. I'd go through those on your own. They seem to help people learn to think in 3D, or at least in terms of 3D operations. Using relations within the software is one of the best things you can do. If you go back and change a dimension or something, it is less likely to break your entire model.

Global variables also rock. I use them a lot in making furniture. Say I'm using plywood and hardwood for a chair. Nominally, both are 3/4" thick. Usually the plywood ends up under, and the hardwood ends up at or over 3/4". I go into "equations" and type in Ply = .72 (or whatever the upper end average mics out to), and then create Hardwood = .755 (again, whatever it is). I can then link thicknesses to those variables in sketches and features. So when my next batch of plywood comes in and it's only .685" thick, I can alter the value and rebuild. Everything is then updated for our CNC plugin, and the parts fit together just as they did on the last batch.