Solidworks

[drafting3]

I finally convinced my boss to buy it. Installing now.

 

Signed up for a couple training classes to cut the learning curve down.

 

I'm so excited

[drafting3]

and hiding my excitement is proving difficult

[Jim at Gentex]

The learning curve is a bit steep, but if you are motivated to become proficient at it, and you can get enough 'seat time', you should be ok. 

Good luck!! 

[MotorCityMinion]

My favorite site for SW:      http://cadjunkie.com/welcome

[Bob W.]

Here is how I leaned it.  I had the plans for a scale nine cylinder radial engine which included drawings of every component.  I had planned on building one some day but I sat down with this book of drawings (1" thick) and modeled every single drawing.  I then assembled every component into an assembly.  I then made it work and animated it.  All of this on my own time, over the course of a few weeks.  When I was done I was pretty good at Solidworks.  Here is the result:

 

 

 

 

Whenever someone starts here and says they want to learn CAD I loan them that book of plans.  I have yet to have anyone model more than 1-2 parts...

[drafting3]

I hope the learning curve isn't bad. I've doing 3D solids for about 18 years and worked with Mechanical Desktop, Inventor, Creo, and even a little SolidEdge.

 

The trick will be learning all the efficiency techniques. I'm guessing it will be a few months before I'm comfortable with it.

[drafting3]

I'll have to resist the urge to do quick drawings in Mastercam.

[BenK]

I hope the learning curve isn't bad. I've doing 3D solids for about 18 years and worked with Mechanical Desktop, Inventor, Creo, and even a little SolidEdge.

 

The trick will be learning all the efficiency techniques. I'm guessing it will be a few months before I'm comfortable with it.

 

If you can run Creo, Solidworks will be easy for you. I think Solidworks was the easiest for me to learn. 

[Guest]

Our company got a few seats of Inventor. Getting proficient is my end of year project.

[drafting3]

If you can run Creo, Solidworks will be easy for you. I think Solidworks was the easiest for me to learn. 

 

I always heard ProE was the end-all-be-all for CAD packages, but after I worked with Creo I was disappointed. Super clunky and temperamental... Solidworks feels a little more intuitive.

[BenK]

Pro E/Creo is a very powerful package no doubt. It's just a pain to work with. 

[Sticky]

IMO, if you can't learn Solidworks, you can't learn anything. It is really easy to use, and there is TONS of information online. It is also pretty stable with few bugs (take note mastercam!).

[drafting3]

First project I get thrown on me is a 42" x 27" Injection mold.

 

Solidworks is Awesome