Mastering SolidWorks

Matt Lombard is the author of all six SolidWorks Bibles as well as several video tutorials and the Dezignstuff.com blog. Since 1995 he has been a mechanical engineer, working in plastics design, microelectronic assembly, contract design, and CAD consultation. He uses SolidWorks every day in his job, and is known throughout the SolidWorks community.

Introduction xxxiii Part I Introducing SolidWorks Basics 1 Chapter 1 Introducing SolidWorks 3 Installing SolidWorks for the First Time 3 Starting SolidWorks for the First Time 6 Identifying SolidWorks Documents 9 Understanding Feature-Based Modeling 15 Understanding History-Based Modeling 16 Sketching with Parametrics 19 Understanding Design Intent 21 Editing Design Intent 21 Working with Associativity 24 The Bottom Line 24 Chapter 2 Navigating the SolidWorks Interface 25 Identifying Elements of the SolidWorks Interface 25 Making the Interface Work for You 47 The Bottom Line 59 Chapter 3 Working with Sketches and Reference Geometry .61 Creating a New Part 61 Creating a Sketch 62 Identifying Sketch Entities 64 Driving Sketches with Smart Dimensions 83 Using Tools on the Dimensions/Relations Toolbar 86 Inferencing in Sketch 89 Exploring Sketch Settings 90 Using Sketch Blocks 92 Working with Reference Geometry 93 Tutorial: Learning to Use Sketch Relations 98 Tutorial: Using Blocks and Belts 102 Tutorial: Creating Reference Geometry 105 The Bottom Line 109 Chapter 4 Creating Simple Parts and Drawings 111 Discovering Design Intent 111 Creating a Simple Part 113 Creating a Simple Assembly 125 Creating a Simple Drawing 128 The Bottom Line 142 Chapter 5 Using Visualization Techniques 143 Manipulating the View 143 Using the View Tools 149 Using the DisplayManager 157 The Display Pane 173 Part II Building Intelligence into Your Parts 181 Chapter 6 Getting More from Your Sketches 183 Editing Sketch Relations 183 Getting More from Dimensions 189 Working with Sketch Entities 189 Using Sketch Pictures 193 Using Sketch Text 196 Using Colors and Line Styles with Sketches 198 Using Other Sketch Tools 199 Sketching in 3D 201 Tutorial: Editing and Copying 204 Tutorial: Controlling Pictures, Text, Colors, and Styles 208 Tutorial: Using Metadata 211 Tutorial: Sketching Calculator 212 The Bottom Line 214 Chapter 7 Modeling with Primary Features 217 Identifying When to Use Which Tool 217 Understanding Fillet Types 231 Using Chamfers 253 Tutorial: Bracket Casting 256 The Bottom Line 260 Chapter 8 Selecting Secondary Features 261 Creating Curve Features 261 Selecting a Specialty Feature 267 Tutorial: Creating a Wire-Formed Part 280 The Bottom Line 282 Chapter 9 Patterning and Mirroring 283 Patterning in a Sketch 283 Mirroring in a Sketch 289 Working with 3D Patterns 291 Understanding Pattern Types 295 Cosmetic Patterns 307 Mirroring 3D Solids 308 Tutorial: Creating a Circular Pattern 310 Tutorial: Mirroring Features 311 Tutorial: Applying a Cosmetic Pattern 313 The Bottom Line 314 Chapter 10 Using Equations 317 Understanding Equations 317 Using Global Variables 326 Using the Modify Box 327 Using Expressions 329 Controlling Suppression States of Features 329 Linking to External Equations 330 Tutorial: Using Equations 330 The Bottom Line 333 Chapter 11 Working with Part Configurations 335 Using Design Tables 355 Creating a Simple Design Table 357 Using the Configuration Publisher 364 Tutorial: Working with Configurations and Design Tables 365 The Bottom Line 368 Chapter 12 Editing, Evaluating, and Troubleshooting 371 Using Rollback 371 Reordering Features 378 Reordering Folders 379 Using the Flyout and Detachable FeatureManagers 380 Summarizing Part Modeling Best Practices 383 Using Design for Change 385 Using Evaluation Techniques 387 Troubleshooting Errors 397 Tutorial: Utilizing Editing and Evaluation Techniques 406 The Bottom Line 412 Part III Working with Assemblies 413 Chapter 13 Building Efficient Assemblies 415 Understanding the Purpose of Assemblies 415 Identifying the Elements of an Assembly 423 Using SpeedPaks 432 Using Subassemblies 433 Using Folders 438 Working with Tree Display Options 440 Tutorial: Arranging Assembli