Newbie: strategy using solidworks?

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

"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.

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

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.

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

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WT

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

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

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.

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

Where specifically did you find such a thing?

Found it!

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

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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Thanks guys for the replies.

I think I need to gen up further...

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

Sure no probs.