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Newbie: strategy using solidworks?

Hi,
I'm about start to use solidworks instead of 2D CAD.(or at least alongside)
I design electronic equipment.
Ideally I would have a parts library of all our panels and components that
fit onto them etc, and I could model up the 'artists view' of a new piece of
equipment before it is made.
Then I would need to create the manufacturing drawings.
Most manufactured parts are folded and punched sheet metal or machined
(milled) housings.
Could a part consist of its actual self (lets say a panel mount LED) and the
hole required to fit it, then I could (maybe using layers or some other
method) 'switch off' the unwanted view (part or fiting hole) and create the
required drawings?
If not, then could I create a library of 'holes' that could be placed onto a
panel, lets say, and thus create my manufacturing drawings?
Or, (if this makes sense!), what would be the strategy, before I head off
down a dead end path!
thanks
Reply to
JJ
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If I understand properly, it seems like the best way for your example would be to create the panel mount LED part itself, and then add a sketch for the hole, as you mentioned. Now, unfortunately that hole wouldn't actually go through anything as a feature, seeing as how it wouldn't know where to go, but if you placed that LED on the part that was to receive the hole, you could then convert the sketch and use that to make the hole. Am I in the ballpark?
WT
Reply to
Wayne Tiffany
"JJ" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@azores.network-i.net:
This seems to be closest to the approact I would recommend. Creating the hole information in the parts is not straightforward, requires more work, and would update slower.
Take the time to learn all you can before your first project, forget the way things were done in 2D. Do the tutorial exhaustively. Get training if you can. Read the help to find out what SOlidWorks can do. Accept that your first project in 3D will consume unbelievable amounts of time as you experiment and learn. Try to apply the best practices as explained in the subscription support web site under "guides". Despite the marketing hype, 3D parametric modelling cannot be made easy to learn. At least, not easy to learn to use properly. However, SW is supposed to be the easiest.
Reply to
Dale Dunn
Ok, ok, so I took the shortcut. I agree with Dale that if you are venturing into 3D for the first time, try to learn the tools correctly. Can you post a link to a picture of something you want to do and we can suggest proper ways to do it? There will probably be more than one.
As a side note, here is what I always teach people first - you MUST understand this concept before proceeding. In AutoCAD, you put lines on a "paper" and then put dimensions on them to tell you what you just did. In SolidWorks, you put lines on a "paper" and then put dimensions on them to tell them what you want them to do. A MAJOR difference. Oh, and once you get the lines where you want them by putting dims on them, don't erase the dims because they are in the way - just leave them in place to hold your lines together properly. (I did not make this one up - had to go help a new person fix his stuff because he blew away all of his dimensions.)
WT
Reply to
Wayne Tiffany
Quite right Wayne, I should have mentioned that myself. To rephrase that in a way that VAR might say it, you give SW your design intent, and it creates the geometry on paper for you, instead of having to dreate it yourself. Focus on creating design intent rather than creating geometry.
I think it sounds clearer the way Wayne said it. Anyhow "design intent" is the buzzword.
Reply to
Dale Dunn
I'm not sure I understand You correctly....but here's how I do with electrical cabinets. I have a standard cabinet which I bring it into an assembly....in the assembly I add the holes (assembly cut) for fittings and push buttons, and then save it as the same ID as the drawing.
Krister L
Reply to
Krister L
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
WT
Reply to
Wayne Tiffany
What do you mean ID? Just that you have a standard cabinet that you use as a "template" or pattern, and then save it out as that job, same part number as the drawing?
WT
Reply to
Wayne Tiffany
Yepp ...right ....same part number as the drawing....the cabinet itself has it's own part number and is described in the bom with that
Krister
Reply to
Krister L
In other news, the 2004 Reference Guide has been made available in a pdf format. Read it. There is no better way to learn all that SW can do, and it's free.
Now this is cool. Finally we have a reference we can concievably print and read on the can. Or leave open on the desk. Apparently (as stated in the belletin) we'll have the option to buy the guide soon. I like this. It's even formatted for 8.5 x 11.
The document is 982 pages long. Does anyone have some idea of what it would cost to have one of these printed? I'm sure not going do the whole thing on an ink jet.
Reply to
Dale Dunn
It was mentioned at SWW that they are working on an agreement with Kinkos that you would be able to get a copy printed there for a "reasonable, negotiated" price. We'll see.
WT
Reply to
Wayne Tiffany
Where specifically did you find such a thing?
Reply to
Jacob Filek
Found it!
Reply to
Jacob Filek
I called Kinko's this afternoon. They quoted me $60.00 to print a 920 page .pdf document, black and white, single side, drilled for a 3 hole notebook binder. Best Regards, Devon T. Sowell
formatting link

Reply to
Devon T. Sowell
Hey that's good to know. I've been wondering if my printer could handle printing that much. Maybe I'll pay them a visit.
Mike Wilson
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Reply to
Mike J. Wilson
Thanks guys for the replies.
I think I need to gen up further...
Reply to
JJ
JJ
To prevent identity confusion, can I ask that you use a different moniker? I've been posting here for quite some time with these initials.
Thanks,
(The original) JJ
Reply to
JJ

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