SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [5]
The overall goal of this book is not to fill your head with facts, but to help you think like the software, so that you can use the tool as an intuitive extension of your own process. As your modeling projects become more complex, you will need to have more troubleshooting and work-around skills available to you. Along with best practice recommendations, these are the most compelling reasons to use this book.
Thank you for your interest.
About This Book
You will find enough information here that this book will grow with your SolidWorks needs. I have written tutorials for most of the chapters with newer users in mind, because for them, it is most helpful to see how things are done in SolidWorks step by step. The longer narrative examples give more in-depth information about features and functions, as well as the results of various settings and options.
This book includes many details that come from practical usage and is focused on the needs of professional users, not on student learners. My approach is to teach concepts rather than how to push buttons.
How This Book Is Organized
This book is divided into six parts.
Part I: Introducing Assembly Basics
This part explores basic concepts and terminology used in SolidWorks. You need to read this section if you are a new SolidWorks user, especially if you are new to 3D modeling or parametric history-based design.
Part II: Working with Assemblies
This part takes a deeper look at creating parametric relations to automate changes.
Part III: Creating and Using Libraries
This part examines the functionality within the 2D drawing side of the software. Whether you are creating views, making tables, or customizing annotations, you will find these chapters useful.
Part IV: Creating Assembly Drawings
This part examines several types of advanced techniques, such as surface modeling and multi-body modeling. This is information you won't find in other SolidWorks books, and is explained here by someone who uses the functionality daily.
Part V: Using Specialized or Advanced Techniques
Specialized functionality, such as sheet metal and plastics, requires detailed information. This part includes the topics that are key to unlocking all the power available in SolidWorks.
Part VI: Appendixes
The Appendixes in this book contain additional information, such as the contents of the DVD and other sources of help.
Icons Used in This Book
This book uses a set of icons to point out certain details in the text. While they are relatively self-explanatory, here is what each of these icons indicates:
Caution
The Caution icon warns you of potential problems before you make a mistake.
Cross-Reference
The Cross-Reference icon points out where you can find additional information about a topic elsewhere in the book.
New Feature
The New Feature icon highlights features and functions that are new to SolidWorks 2011.
Note
The Note icon highlights useful information that you should take into consideration, or an important point that requires special attention.
On the DVD
This icon points you toward related material on the book's DVD.
Tip
Each Tip provides you with additional advice that makes the software quicker or easier to use.
The SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible is unique in its use of the following two icons:
Best Practice
The Best Practice icon points out recommended settings or techniques that are safe in most situations.
Performance
Each Performance icon elaborates on how certain settings, features, or techniques affect rebuild speed or file size.
These icons point out and describe techniques and settings that are either recommended or not recommended for specific reasons. Best practice is usually considered very conservative usage, where the stability of the parametrics and performance (another way of saying rebuild speed) are the ultimate goals. These two aspects of SolidWorks models are usually weighed against modeling speed (how long it takes you to create the model).
You should take Best Practice and Performance recommendations seriously,