SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course Overview

The SOLIDWORKS Essentials course on designandprocess.com is a comprehensive training program designed to introduce learners to the fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS. This course covers a wide range of topics, from basic navigation and the user interface to more advanced features like assembly modeling and using equations.

The course is structured into 14 detailed lessons, each focusing on a specific aspect of SOLIDWORKS, ensuring that learners gain a solid foundation in using the software for 3D modeling and design. The lessons and practical exercises ensure that participants not only understand the theoretical aspects of the software but also gain valuable hands-on experience.

For those interested in further enhancing their SOLIDWORKS skills, designandprocess.com offers additional resources and courses, providing a pathway for continuous learning and improvement in 3D design.

Skills Learned:

Basic Navigation and Interface: Familiarize yourself with the SOLIDWORKS interface and learn essential navigation techniques.
Sketching and Part Modeling: Master sketching basics and part modeling to create detailed 3D models.
Assembly Modeling: Learn to assemble parts into complex models, understanding the dynamics of assembly interactions.
Creating 2D Drawings: Generate detailed 2D drawings from 3D models for manufacturing and documentation purposes.
Using Equations: Apply equations to drive your designs, allowing for parametric modeling and design optimization
Practical Exercises: Engage in hands-on exercises that reinforce learning and enable the application of skills in real-world scenarios.

Course Duration

4 Days (7 hours/day)

Prerequisites

Access to SOLIDWORKS

Completion of SOLIDWORKS Getting Started Tutorials 1-4

Course Examples

Sketch Contours

Re-use sketches to create a 3D model from a few 2D profiles sketches.

Explode Assembly Views

Create exploded views for drawings and video animations

2D Drawings

Drawings of parts and assemblies

Shelling & Ribs

Create thin-walled parts and ribs rib within SOLIDWORKS

Patterns

Linear, circular, variable, and complex patterning of SOLIDWORKS features

End Conditions

Learn various extrude end conditions to build intelligence in complex parts

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course Syllabus

Lesson 1: SOLIDWORKS Basics and the User Interface

What is the SOLIDWORKS Software
Design Intent

Examples of Design Intent
How Features Affect Design Intent

File References

File Reference Example

Opening Files
The SOLIDWORKS User Interface
Using the Command Manager

Adding and Removing CommandManager Tabs
FeatureManager Design Tree
PropertyManager
Selection Breadcrumbs
Task Pane
Opening Labs with the File Explorer
Heads-up View Toolbar
Mouse Buttons
Keyboard Shortcuts
Options
Search

Lesson 2: Introduction to Sketching

2D Sketching
Saving Files
What are We Going to Sketch?
Sketching

Default Planes

Sketch Entities

Sketch Geometry

Basic Sketching

The Mechanics of Sketching, Feedback, Status
Inference Lines (Automatic Relations)
Rules That Govern Sketches

Design Intent

What Controls Design Intent
Achieving the Desired Intent

Sketch Relations

Automatic Sketch Relations
Added Sketch Relations
Examples of Sketch Relations
Selecting Multiple Objects

Dimensions

Dimensioning: Selection and Preview
Angular Dimensions
Instant 2D

Extrude
Sharing a Mode

Save to 3DEXPERIENCE

Sketching Guidelines
Exercise 1: Sketch and Extrude 1
Exercise 2: Sketch and Extrude 2
Exercise 3: Sketch and Extrude 3
Exercise 4: Sketch and Extrude 4
Exercise 5: Sketch and Extrude 5
Exercise 6: Sketch and Extrude 6

Lesson 3: Basic Part Modeling

Basic Modeling
Terminology
Choosing the Best Profile
Choosing the Sketch Plane
Details of the Part
Boss Feature
Sketching on a Planar Face
Cut Feature
View Selector
Using the Hole Wizard

Creating a Standard Hole
Counterbore Hole

Filleting
Editing Tools

Editing a Sketch
Selecting Multiple Objects
Editing Features
Fillet Propagation
Rollback Bar

Detailing Basics

Settings Used in the Template
CommandManager Tabs
New Drawing

Drawing Views

Tangent Edges
Moving Views

Center Marks
Dimensioning

Driving Dimensions
Driven Dimensions
Manipulating Dimensions
Associativity Between the Model and the Drawing

Changing Parameters
Exercise 7: Plate
Exercise 8: Cuts
Exercise 9: Basic-Changes
Exercise 10: Base Bracket
Exercise 11: Part Drawings

Lesson 4: Symmetry and Draft

Case Study: Ratchet
Design Intent
Boss Feature with Draft
Symmetry in the Sketch

Symmetry after Sketching
Mid Plane Extrusion

Sketching Inside the Model

Design Intent of the Transition
Circular Profile
Changing the Appearance of Dimensions
Extruding Up To Next

View Options
Using Model Edges in a Sketch

Sketching an Offset

Creating Trimmed Sketch Geometry

Trim and Extend
Modifying Dimensions
Measuring

Copy and Paste Features
Exercise 12: Pulley
Exercise 13: Symmetry and Offsets 1
Exercise 14: Ratchet Handle Changes
Exercise 15: Symmetry and Offsets 2
Exercise 16: Tool Holder
Exercise 17: Idler Arm
Exercise 18: Up To Surface

Lesson 5: Patterning

Why Use Patterns?
Linear Pattern

Flyout FeatureManager Design Tree
Skipping Instances
Geometry Patterns
Performance Evaluation

Circular Patterns
Reference Geometry

Axes
Planes

Mirror Patterns

Patterning a Solid Body

Coordinate System
Symmetric Patterns
Up To Reference
Sketch Driven Patterns
Exercise 19: Linear Patterns
Exercise 20: Sketch Driven Patterns
Exercise 21: Skipping Instances
Exercise 22: Linear and Mirror Patterns
Exercise 23: Mirror Body
Exercise 24: Circular Patterns
Exercise 25: Axes and Multiple Patterns

Lesson 6: Revolved Features

Case Study: Handwheel
Design Intent
Revolved Features

Sketch Geometry of the Revolved Feature
Rules Governing Sketches of Revolved Features
Special Dimensioning Techniques
Diameter Dimensions
Creating the Revolved Feature

Building the Rim

Slots
Multibody Solids

Building the Spoke

Edge Selection
Chamfers

Edit Material
Mass Properties
File Properties
SOLIDWORKS SimulationXpress

Mesh
Phase 1: Fixtures
Phase 2: Loads
Phase 3: Material
Phase 4: Run
Phase 5: Results
Phase 6: Optimize
Results, Reports and eDrawings

Exercise 26: Flange
Exercise 27: Wheel
Exercise 28: Guide
Exercise 29: Ellipse
Exercise 30: Sweeps

Slide Stop
Cotter Pin
Paper Clip
Mitered Sweep

Exercise 31: SimulationXpress

Lesson 7: Shelling and Ribs

Shelling and Ribs
Analyzing and Adding Draft
Other Options for Draft
Shelling

Order of Operation
Face Selection

Ribs

Rib Sketch
Section View
Converting Edges

Full Round Fillets
Thin Features
Exercise 32: Pump Cover
Exercise 33: Tool Post
Exercise 34: Compression Plate
Exercise 35: Blow Dryer
Exercise 36: Angles
Exercise 37: Arm
Exercise 38: Blade

Lesson 8: Editing: Repairs

Part Editing
Editing Topics

Information from a Model
Finding and Repairing Problems
Settings
What’s Wrong Dialog
Flat Tree View
Where to Begin

Sketch Issues

Box Selection
Lasso Selection
Check Sketch for Feature
Repair Sketch
Repairing Sketch Plane Issues
FeatureXpert
Fillet Repairs
Freezing Features

Exercise 39: Errors1
Exercise 40: Errors2
Exercise 41: Errors3
Exercise 42: Adding Draft

Lesson 9: Editing: Design Changes

Part Editing
Design Changes

Revisions
Required Changes

Information From a Mode

Part Reviewer
Dependencies

Rebuilding Tools

Rollback to Feature
Freeze Bar
Rebuild Feedback and Interrupt
Feature Suppression
General Tools
Deletions
Reorder
SketchXpert

Sketch Contours

Contours Available
Shared Sketches
Copying Fillets

Creating a Design Revision
Replace Sketch Entity
Exercise 43: Changes
Exercise 44: Editing
Exercise 45: SketchXpert
Exercise 46: Contour Sketches

Lesson 10: Configurations

Configurations
Using Configurations

Accessing the ConfigurationManager
Adding New Configurations
Defining the Configuration
Changing Configurations
Renaming and Copying Configurations
Managing Configuration Data

Other Methods to Create Configurations

Configuration Table
Modify Configurations
Design Tables
Derived Configurations
Other Uses of Configurations

Modeling Strategies for Configurations
Editing Parts that Have Configurations
Design Library

Default Settings
Multiple References
Dropping on Circular Faces

In the Advanced Course
Exercise 47: Configurations 1
Exercise 48: Configurations 2
Exercise 49: Configurations 3

Lesson 11: Global Variables and Equations

Using Global Variables and Equations
Renaming Features and Dimensions
Design Rules Using Global Variables and Equations

Wall Thickness
Draft Angle
Rib thickness
Fillets

Global Variables
Equations

Creating an Equality
Using the Modify Dialog

Using Operators and Functions

Operators
Functions
File Properties
Measure
Equation Solve Order
Direct Input of Equations
Editing Equations

Exercise 50: Using Global Variables and Equations
Exercise 51: Creating an Equality
Exercise 52: Using Equations

Lesson 12: Using Drawings

More About Making Drawings
Removed Section

Automatic
Manual
View Alignment

Detail Views
Drawing Sheets and Sheet Formats

Adding Drawing Sheets

Model Views
Section View
Annotations

Properties in Drawings
Notes
Copying Views
Datum Feature Symbols
Surface Finish Symbols
Dimension Properties
Centerlines
Geometric Tolerance Symbols
Dimension Text

Exercise 53: Details and Section
Exercise 54: Removed Sections
Exercise 55: Drawings

Lesson 13: Bottom-Up Assembly Modeling

Case Study: Universal Joint
Bottom-Up Assembly
Creating a New Assembly
Position of the First Component
FeatureManager Design Tree and Symbols

Degrees of Freedom
Components
Component Name
State of the component

Adding Components

Insert Component
Moving and Rotating Components

Mating Components

Mate Types and Alignment
Mating Concentric and Coincident
Width Mate
Rotating Inserted Components
Using the Component Preview Window
Parallel Mate
Dynamic Assembly Motion
Displaying Part Configurations in an Assembly
The Pin

Using Part Configurations in Assemblies

The Second Pin
Opening a Component
Creating Copies of Instances
Component Hiding and Transparency
Component Properties

Subassemblies
Smart Mates
Inserting Subassemblies

Mating Subassemblies
Distance Mates
Unit System

Pack and Go
Exercise 56: Mates
Exercise 57: Gripe Grinder
Exercise 58: Using Hide and Show Component
Exercise 59: Part Configurations in an Assembly
Exercise 60: U-Joint Changes

Lesson 14: Using Assemblies

Using Assemblies
Analyzing the Assembly

Mass Properties Calculations
Checking for Interference
Open Part

Checking for Clearances

Static vs. Dynamic Interference Detection
Performance Considerations

Changing the Values of Dimensions
Exploded Assemblies

Setup for the Exploded View
Assembly Explode

Rollback and Reorder Explode Steps

Rollback
Reorder
Changing the Explode Direction
Using Auto-Spacing

Explode Line Sketch

Smart Explode Line Selections
Manual Explode Line Selections
Adjusting the Explode Lines
Animating Exploded Views

Bill of Materials
Assembly Drawings

Adding Balloons
Editing the Exploded View

Exercise 61: Using Collision Detection
Exercise 62: Finding and Repairing Interferences
Exercise 63: Checking for Interferences, Collisions and Clearances
Exercise 64: Exploded Views and Assembly Drawings
Exercise 65: Exploded Views