Solidworks Class

[deleted]

I would like to try to get a better working knowledge of solidworks. Right now I am awful and dont have the patience to teach myself. I think there is good tutorials on the program itself if I were to take the time and follow them would this work?

Is there a good 4 day class i can attend to get a crash course in solidworks?

What have other people done?

[pappawheely]

I would like to try to get a better working knowledge of solidworks. Right now I am awful and dont have the patience to teach myself. I think there is good tutorials on the program itself if I were to take the time and follow them would this work?

Is there a good 4 day class i can attend to get a crash course in solidworks?

What have other people done?


Matt, Generally the tutorials will get you working on basic stuff. With Solidworks like many programs there are several ways to do most things. Are you doing solids or sheetmetal?

[skoti]

I would highly recommend doing the tutorials first, they are very good. In fact, I took a college course in solidworks and everything we did was from the tutorial. We maybe completed half of them, and I would say I have a good working knowledge of the program. Of course, the program can do a lot more than I know how to do. But honestly with the tutorials you can get a very good understanding of it. I just ordered a student version, and I am planning on going over all of the tutorials again, including the ones I didn't do.

Edit: I just re-read your post and realized that you arent completely new to the program. Nevertheless, I'd do the tutorials anyway. They are definitely worth the time.

[bigjeep13]

In phoenix there are a couple of community colleges that offer 2 and 4 day evening classes. You may want to check with local community colleges or from the company you bought the software from, they usually have a couple places they can recommend.

[BenDotCom]

IMO, the best thing you can do is get your hands on a student copy and force yourself to sit down for one hour each day and learn the software. I feel this is the best way, along with asking lots of questions to those who have experience. After working with DUMP for about a year, I am sure he was sick and tired of all the Solidworks questions I had every morning before the day started. The classes are extremely fast paced and very expensive! Start with something easy, like solid parts/pieces and go for it!

[pappawheely]

I have taken classes from suppliers before and they always seem to go too fast to learn much. They try to cram everything into a few hours. It's tough when you don't have the time and patience but that's what it takes.

[deleted]

Matt, Generally the tutorials will get you working on basic stuff. With Solidworks like many programs there are several ways to do most things. Are you doing solids or sheetmetal?

I am doing solids/assembly. I guess I will just go back to the tutorials. Several people have told me to start with this and I will get it figured out.

[BenDotCom]

I am doing solids/assembly. I guess I will just go back to the tutorials. Several people have told me to start with this and I will get it figured out.

Pick something you have sitting on your desk and practice.

[ACID_RAIN28]

The tutorials and the help files are how I learned but I just signed up for a 4 day class in fullerton on the 25-26-29-30 of september, I think that is what you will be looking for. they do classes almost ever couple months or so.

[racer56]

Matt wanting to take a class for solidworks, is like a dallas cowboys cheerleader wanting to be a rocket scientist. J/K Lol!

[zjohnson]

I would like to try to get a better working knowledge of solidworks. Right now I am awful and dont have the patience to teach myself. I think there is good tutorials on the program itself if I were to take the time and follow them would this work?

Is there a good 4 day class i can attend to get a crash course in solidworks?

What have other people done?

I know that this may be a big assumption, but if you paid for a legal copy, the company that you purchased the software thru often offers beginner classes that are a couple days long and familiarize you with solidworks and the new features of the software.
If you didn't by the software . . . shame on you . . . Spend the money if its a business expense, the more people who buy it the cheaper it will be for all of us . . . Ok, I'm just hoping its true

[deleted]

I know that this may be a big assumption, but if you paid for a legal copy, the company that you purchased the software thru often offers beginner classes that are a couple days long and familiarize you with solidworks and the new features of the software.
If you didn't by the software . . . shame on you . . . Spend the money if its a business expense, the more people who buy it the cheaper it will be for all of us . . . Ok, I'm just hoping its true

we have paid for the software, I dont want my stuff pirated or stolen, i expect the same out of others. I checked with our IT department and they told me that there classes i could take.

Yes Shane, when I go to class, I am going to take you and we are going to sit both of our ADD a$$es down learn how do solidworks.

[GunnSlinger]

we have paid for the software, I dont want my stuff pirated or stolen, i expect the same out of others. I checked with our IT department and they told me that there classes i could take.

Yes Shane, when I go to class, I am going to take you and we are going to sit both of our ADD a$ down learn how do solidworks.

wanna take me too??? :D:D:D:D:D ... im cheep labor and just like to learn!! :D:D

[jesusgatos]

I've done a lot of the SolidWorks tutorials, along with the tutorials that I was provided with by my local reseller (Shounco). I've also heard really good things about SolidProfessor (http://www.solidprofessor.com/), but I don't have any personal experience to relate. The BEST training I've gotten has been attending the annual SolidWorks World (http://www.solidworks.com/pages/swworld09/index.html) conferences. A lot of those classes are taught by the engineers that actually design the software, and many other classes are taught by experts in all types of different areas. Here's a link to free copies of all the presentations from this year's event (http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43223).

[SJredranger]

Matt wanting to take a class for solidworks, is like a dallas cowboys cheerleader wanting to be a rocket scientist. J/K Lol!

HAHA! I don't know any of you guys personally, but that's funny! Sorry Matt.

I'm also brand new to SolidWorks and I'm wondering if there's an "easy" or "cheap" way to pick up a copy. Call me a starving student.

[rharriman]

Unfortuantely for work in the offroad world I am using Autodesk Inventor and have come to realize that most work in solidworks. I do have alot of friends who use both solidworks and Inventor and came accross this site with ALOT of information and videos. Hopefully they will help someone. :D:D



>>>>>>Find Solidworks tutorials here! (http://www.mountain-wave.blogspot.com/)<<<<<<


>>>>>Here is another site for all form of CAD Programs (http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/solidworks_surface_tutorials.htm)<<<<<<

The second link actually has a CD cirruculum you can buy, I know JD Mathers skill in inventor is quite extensive and expect he is equally well versed in solidworks, I am sure the beginning user would bennifit from his tutorials.

[BallisticFab]

We use soildprofessor.com here to teach any newcomers quickly... it's 4 or 5 hundred bucks but well worth it.

[Kritter]

Just learn by doing...bring somebody in to answer your questions for the first couple weeks while you work on projects. You could probably pay a local guru 50 or 75 a session just to answer your questions and show you short cuts while you are picking up skills.

[jrtorres]

HAHA! I don't know any of you guys personally, but that's funny! Sorry Matt.

I'm also brand new to SolidWorks and I'm wondering if there's an "easy" or "cheap" way to pick up a copy. Call me a starving student.

I was in the same boat as you spring semester. No theres no cheap way; cheapest is the student edition..the pirated versions never work right...don't ask me how i know. The student edition has all the features but it expires after a certain amount of time. Its worth it though; and the tutorials do help some but most of what i learned was just by experimenting and asking people who know solidworks.

[jesusgatos]

The student version of SolidWorks is costs less than $200 and it's a 24-month license.

[BallisticFab]

There are torrents floating all over the net... just an FYI ;)

[jesusgatos]

Come awn Jeff, don't be promoting that ****. Escpecially when you can buy a student version online for $140 (http://www.journeyed.com/itemDetail.asp?ItmNo=53005643). That's a 24-month license on the full-tilt-boogie version that includes Cosmos. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

[A_Sehmi]

I've done a lot of the SolidWorks tutorials, along with the tutorials that I was provided with by my local reseller (Shounco). I've also heard really good things about SolidProfessor (http://www.solidprofessor.com/), but I don't have any personal experience to relate. The BEST training I've gotten has been attending the annual SolidWorks World (http://www.solidworks.com/pages/swworld09/index.html) conferences. A lot of those classes are taught by the engineers that actually design the software, and many other classes are taught by experts in all types of different areas. Here's a link to free copies of all the presentations from this year's event (http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43223).

We use SolidProfesser at my work and it's awesome. Go to SolidProfesser.com check out some of the tutorials. The full package is pricey, but a great way to learn both basic and advanced modeling.

[BenDotCom]

I was under the impression that the student versions are limited as far as functionality, along with the software expiring after 2 years. Also, I don't think the student version includes cosmos, only cosmos xpress.

[jesusgatos]

No, it's got full functionality and you can get it with COSMOSexpress or with COSMOS - Works/Motion/FloWorks. The version that I posted a link to for $140 includes COSMOS.

[A_Sehmi]

I am doing solids/assembly. I guess I will just go back to the tutorials. Several people have told me to start with this and I will get it figured out.

Hey guys, I recently purchased a decent tutorial CD for about $60. It has over 21hrs of content. You can purchase it at www.video-tutorials.net

It's not as good as Solid Professor, but a good value at $59.99.

[atomic_mc]

how can u purchase solidworks student edition if you are not a student? i really want to learn but deffinately cant afford the full program for like 4gs

[atomic_mc]

i live in colorado and dont have time to take a class but really need to be able to at least enter my figured geometry from mockup, put it together in the program and make a cutsheet

[atomic_mc]

i really do need some help here ive been trying to figure out how im going to get solidworks for a while now

[jesusgatos]

SolidWorks Student Version is only licensed for personal use. To use it commercially (to make or sell anything for profit) is a violation of the license. So even if you get a copy, you would be using it illegally.

[atomic_mc]

no i understand that i just want to learn how to use it for the future and to build some components for my personal truck. im going to open a shop and in the future once i get a pretty good grasp i will just order the full version. when i go to purchase the student version what do u put in the drop down tab when they ask for verification stuff being that im not a registered student

[jesusgatos]

Sorry, my mistake. I just saw the "checkpoint motorsports coming soon!!!!"...

[atomic_mc]

no problem actually its hammer down motorsports now and im just working out of my garage doing side work but the only benefit im looking for from solidworks now is to learn it in the two years and then actually open up a legit business. any help on the purchase? i went to the site u gave a link to and when u go to purchase it asks about enrollment and says they want to verify how do i purchase without actually being a student?

[jesusgatos]

Sorry, no help there. Try looking into classes at a local community college. You might also want to change your username if you're not affiliated with atomic disasters.

[robertf]

for what its worth...


students.autodesk.com has free 1 year license downloads for .edu email accounts

I've dabbled in pro-e, solidworks, and inventor.... I've found inventor to be the most powerful out ouf all 3 for what I need (which is probably close to what most people here do) sheetmetal functions are too easy with inventor.