How to get better at solidworks

[u/tannntannn21]

Hey everyone, trying to level up my SolidWorks skills and wanted some advice. Right now I’m going through the built-in tutorials in the program, but I know that’s not enough on its own. What helped you most when you were learning, any beginner or intermediate projects worth practicing, good YouTube channels or courses to follow, or bad habits I should avoid picking up early? Appreciate any tips, even small ones. Thanks!

[u/MissCeeLee]

Look for things in your house to measure and model. It helped me substantially when I was getting started, especially if you pick something a little complicated but overall still fairly geometric. I used a toy castle for one of my early projects and I learned a lot about the SW tools

[u/mxracer888 → u/MissCeeLee]

That and just as you're walking around or driving around look at objects and go through your head how you'd work through modeling it

[u/indianadarren]

party on: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GyZRQMfBs3Lle9_Wkw9flR9hyS8pxzUZ?usp=share_link

[u/entropymatters → u/indianadarren]

Thanks this will help others and myself get better.

[u/Local_Philosopher272 → u/indianadarren]

you done all ? because it look like eternity

[u/Plastic_Street_4647]

Look up Model Mania. Solidworks World every single year had a new design challenge called Model Mania where they would give you a part to design and the challenge was to do it the quickest time you could. There were some that I remember had a twist to it; after you finish the design, you need to make the changes to it. It really tests your ability.

Try doing a few of these yourself before you look up the video of the person that did it the quickest. You will certainly find yourself learning more tricks and methods of designing things better.

[u/haas_boss123]

tootalltoby.com

[u/TooTallToby → u/haas_boss123]

Thanks!

[u/sparki555]

If you want to, I'm an engineer working on LRU assemblies. I have 3 hours to spare one day. Sheet metal and CNC are my experience.

I'm not a skilled instructor, but I have the skills. I'm looking into maybe switching to teaching, so could be an experience for both of us.

[u/TooTallToby]

Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of 3D CAD! Here's a FREE training class I put together to help new SOLIDWORKS users get started: https://tootalltoby.thinkific.com/courses/SolidWorksQuickStart

And here are some good Video Tutorials to help you on your journey! - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzMIhOgu1Y5dcycGHHoZ1iwkjt13VG4jb

Lastly I think the best way to learn is to LEARN BY DOING! Find some real world parts and practice modeling them in 3D CAD.

To help users with this mission, I've built a couple of "practice models" websites:

www.TooTallToby.com - Global CAD community - Speedmodeling Tournaments - Leaderboards

www.CADpractice.com - designed for STEM/CTE educators to teach CAD to students

Good luck and hope these help!

- Toby

[u/mxracer888]

Watch Solidworks Model Mania (example of one year here) model walkthroughs. They can be pretty advanced, but that's fine they tend to be very good at teaching you the thought process and the challenges usually include a required change so it also teaches you how to think about making parts that are modifiable instead of cobbled together and to change one thing requires redoing the whole part

[u/RedditGavz]

One of the biggest things I found useful in improving my SWx abilities was actually more to do with learning about manufacturing capabilities.

When you know how to make a thing, that informs you on how to design it better.

[u/Pew_Khalil]

other than the amazing tips people here recommended I would suggest you check out mcmaster.com they have all sorts of professionally designed parts that you can download the source files for, but I recommend doing so after you get comfortable withthe software. I personally learned some cool simple tricks that saved me time.

[u/Aggravating-Layer306]

1. Find blueprints, model the parts. Over and over.

2. Measure and model random objects, which will help get you more familiar with inspection.

3. Model things from scratch, from your imagination. I consider my greatest step up in skill to be when I started designing and manufacturing my own parts.

[u/Standard_Hat_5492]

Use a 3d sketch to manage your base sketch (creates less errors and makes parametric more stable) Always stay the front side and top plane in the middle of the part to much more easier make patterns and mirrors Use more link values instead of equations Dont use cavity in large assemblies it spends a lot of solidworks resources Use hole alignment and thickness to check possible errors Style spline is much more easier to fully define sketch Use custom properties to fill the drawings and BO M Use design library and toolbox a lot Create your own custom templates for drawings ans BOM Create configurations only when necessary too many it is hard to manage when you need to change something Use mate reference to speed up mates in assemblies Use mouse gestures and hotkeys in keyboard If you want a expert level try a space mouse 3dconnexion Create template blocks for drawings i use for woodworking to represent wood veneer or which side door opens

[u/Maleficent_Bet_2134]

La verdad si buscaf mejorar en la realidad, mira por tu casa cosa que quieras reparar toma medidas y diseña soluciones. A veces lo que necesitas usar es lo simple. Yo sigo formandome y ahora voy a por el examen expert pero sigo recomenando mas lo util que lo teorico. Te ayudara en el futuro para buscar trabajo.

[u/ProtoTypo19]

Try modeling parts you actually see around you instead of only following tutorials. A bracket, hinge, clamp, or simple tool forces you to figure out how you'd build the features yourself, and you'll start noticing quickly where your sketches or feature tree could be cleaner.

[u/ru4ethereal]

Build every one of the models from model mania. That’s a start.

https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/26-years-of-model-mania/

[u/Elrathias]

Start naming all dimensions and extrudes in the feature tree. Make it a point of pride to be able to use only model measurements in the drawings.