SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [325]
FLEXlm End Users Guide
The FLEXlm End Users Guide is required reading for a network license administrator. While the network license is easy to install, set up, and maintain, this guide explains many of the details and options that are available.
User Groups
The main SolidWorks site for user groups is www.swugn.org. There are too many individual user groups to keep track of or list here, but you can find a user group in your area on the SolidWorks User Group Network (SWUGN) site. You can also find user group information on the SolidWorks Forums.
Online Forums
There are many types of online forums for SolidWorks. I have already discussed the forum on the SolidWorks Web site. Other forums are not directly sponsored by SolidWorks Corporation, and they may vary in quality.
Blogs
Blogs for SolidWorks and related topics cover everything from opinion-based essays to speculation about future products, tips, and tricks or CAD industry news. Most are written by SolidWorks users rather than journalists, so you'll get specifics about a tool that you actually use.
I write a blog, which you can find at http://dezignstuff.com/blog. It covers advanced SolidWorks subjects such as surfacing, as well as consumer advocate type of articles, including information on enhancement request drives and subscription options. I also provide links to many other SolidWorks-related blogs, forums, and Web sites.
My blog has updates to books, notices of new books, lists of errors found in books, and a lot of other content. I deal with philosophical and ethical questions related to product design and CAD in general. I post advanced tips, and sometimes excerpts from books. I also post questions for readers and polls where readers can express their opinions; and I'm always looking for opinions as long as you can back up what you have to say.
Some SolidWorks blogs to check out include:
Matt Lombard at www.dezignstuff.com/blog
Ricky Jordan at www.rickyjordan.com
Rob Rodriguez – Rendering in SolidWorks at www.robrodriguezblog.com
Gabi Jack – Learning SolidWorks from the point of view of a student http://gabijack.com/
Jeff Cope – API at http://extensiblecad.com/words/
Lenny Kikstra – API at http://designsmarter.typepad.com/lennyworks/
Josh Mings at www.solidsmack.com
Matt Lorono at www.fcsuper.com/swblog/
Many other blogs exist, including very good general CAD or other non-SolidWorks topics, and you should be able to find most of them from the links on my blog and the others listed here. These blogs do not all fit the same mold. Some are highly optimistic; others focus on tech gadgets, social networking, tech tips, or CAD news; some simply parrot press releases; and so on. For the best list of other CAD, design, 3D, rendering, and engineering blogs, view the blog roll in the right column of my blog.
Forums
Some forums are commercial, which means they are likely to contain advertising. These forums include:
• https://forums.solidworks.com. This is SolidWorks' site with official forums. The forums are very active in a wide range of topics and lightly moderated. This requires a login but does not require current SolidWorks subscription.
• www.productdesignhub.com. This site is aimed at both industrial and product designers. It has an active forum for sharing ideas as well as a lot of great articles, videos, and other useful content.
• www.core77.com. This is probably the premier industrial design Web site available.
• www.mcadforums.com. This site has a lot of traffic and content, but also uses Flash advertisements.
• www.eng-tips.com. This forum receives plenty of traffic, has a sign-in popup, and is highly censored.
• www.3dcadtips.com. This site is run by the owners of the Design World magazine, and has a lot of information on general engineering topics as well as CAD.
Non-Commercial