SW 2008 Recommended reading...

Hi All,

I am new to solidworks and a previous inventor user for many years.
Our company has declined training at this time so I am looking for
some recommended reading. I would like to get suggestions first rather
than just plop down a couple hundred bucks for books at random.

-Mark

 

I would start with the tutorials that are found in the 'help' section of
solidworks..

I got the sw bible, it filled in some of the cracks for me..

you can also look into myigetit.com , I've heard their tutorials are
pretty good, and at a decent price too.

---

 

Hi Mark.

For you and every other new SolidWorks users, I would like to invite
you to http://www.theswgeek.com. I offer step by step instructions on
many aspects of SolidWorks design and drafting. I am also always
available to answer any and all questions you may have. If you haven't
already take a look.

Regards,

Alex R. Ruiz
The SolidWorks Geek

 

Mark,

I'll second the recommendation for Matt Lombard's "SolidWorks Bible". I like
to follow this group and the SolidWorks Forum on their web site. There are
other groups that are also good. With any luck some of the people who like
them will pipe in.

I like the short tips I've seen from SolidProfessor. As I recall, the basic
course from them on DVD is $250 or so. Maybe you can get your boss to spring
for that. Personally I would be very nervous about a place that didn't want
to send you to class.

Jerry Steiger

 

I find that "tutorials" teach me to do something that someone else wants to do,
not what I want to do.

I printed relevant sections of the on-screen help. The order of presentation
was not the way I would do it if I was writing a book, but it was much better
than Planchard in identifying those features of Solidworks which will help me
tackle the job I want to do. I found however that while it hints at what is
possible, it is often short on specific instruction.

As a newbie, I want text only to start with, to help me plan my approach to the
task. Mouse clicks come later.

I have looked at the "official" training syllabii and concluded that they are
poor value for money because they fail to address what I want to know and cram
too much into too little time.

I am just jumping in at the deep end.

 

Clueless jb was confused & lied about the total price. Nor did
he get them as promised. He's still stuck with his 16 hour video.
Probably had to read & comprehend something I think. Or
they demanded their free demo back.

 

My approach has been to do the stuff in some old mechanical drafting books
that I purchased at a thrift store and the tutorials. SolidWorks,
fortunately for you, works almost the same as Inventor.

Bob

 

I'll second that too, I've been an avid reader of theSWgeek.. written
very clear, with pictures.. Alex does a great job.

There is alot of info out there. the solidworks website has a forum,
there is cnczone.com forum that has a solidworks section, among others.

 

I actually heard from other ppl that it was good, I've been here more
than a couple days so I take what jb says with 1/64 of a grain of salt..

 

Thanks All! Much appreciated!

-Mark

 

While the VAR might have been intimidated attending the training gets
you the training manual(s) which are generally quite good and contain
information not in help.

TOP

 

All the SolidWorks VAR training manuals are available on E-Bay. No
reason to take over-priced VAR training just to get the official
SolidWorks training manuals.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

information not in help..

you are trying to wind me up aren't you? ;o)

 

Nope. Wrong yet again.

 

All the SolidWorks VAR training manuals are available on E-Bay. No
reason to take over-priced VAR training just to get the official
SolidWorks training manuals.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

But you might be able to stuff your briefcase with cold pizza and fall
down a flight of stairs at a *real* SW event?

 

All the SolidWorks VAR training manuals are available on E-Bay. No
reason to take over-priced VAR training just to get the official
SolidWorks training manuals.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

Wrong yet again.
So typical.