Dilemma

[irfan08]

I carry a substantial experience in CAD using Inventor & CATIA. Never had a chance to work in Solidworks, I have two job leads that require that. I know its not easy to satisfy the employer, specially HR personnel upfront that carrying on tasks on any other CAD package is pretty similar, just the interface difference. But I see in the economy everyone wanst results right away.
But is there a cheaper way (on my own)to attain the expertise.

 

[rollupswx]

But is there a cheaper way (on my own)to attain the expertise.

Great thread title. Really descriptive of you problem statement.

Check with a SWx VAR to obtain a trial version.

 

[kchan711]

Do you have a kid or another friend or family member who's still in school? You can use them to purchase the student version for $100, $200 with Cosmos. It's a two-year license. That worked with me back in the day. The wife was in grad school, and I was about to start a new job requiring Solidworks.

Best of Luck.

Kyle Chandler

http://www.chiefengineering.net

 

[irfan08]

Kchan,

Nice, I can ask my friend's nephew he is in school.

rollupswx,

sorry I apologize for being non descriptive in my thread title. Thanks for the advise.

 

[fcsuper]

If you need to practice on SW, please leave a posting here and I'll submit you to get a 30 day trial for SW:

http://www.fcsuper.com/swblog/?p=29

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[rollupswx]

Howard and Musto - Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2008 has a free 150 license included.

 

[ewh]

"Howard and Musto - Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2008" did not get a good buyer review on Amazon.

I'm always looking to save money. As a graduate of ITT, I'm trying to learn solidworks on my own. Many companies in the area are requiring SolidWorks experience. The only reason that I paid this much for a solidworks book, was to obtain a free copy of the SolidWorks Student design kit as is stated in the description. What a BIG SURPRISE I had when I learned that this is not true. YOU DO NOT GET A FREE COPY of the Solidworks Student Software. Someone should let you know.
For 300 plus pages, the book is NOT worth the money. The book covers nothing in detail on how to apply Solidworks and provides little or no illustrations of SolidWorks. All of his illustrations show sketch I, CirPattern I, etc. vs. sketch 1, CirPattern 1. I question whether the author has ever taught a class on solidworks. The book is very poorly written and provides only the very basics in information. The drawing section does not address DimXpert, any tolerances, multi-part configurations / views, etc. THe assembly section does not address multi-configuration, in context parts, propterties, external references, etc., all of which I found some information from the SolidWorks tutorials.
The author does a lot of assumptions. You can not learn on assumptions. There is no enclosed CD with instructions or models. He does more talking than teaching. I tried to contact the author to obtain information from the book, good luck in finding anyone that can help you...

The editorial review does state:

FREE Solid Works software is now available to students with an access card...

but how do you get that card?

The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. - [small]Hunter S. Thompson[/small]

 

[rollupswx]

The Howard and Musto book is very very brief and most likely intended for a short instructor-led course. The only reason I mentioned it is because of the insert card with the link and registration code for the 150-day trial software. I have not seen this card in any other books. I would purchase only a new shrinkwrapped edition.

 

[irfan08]

I am getting a great buy on Amazon on Soldiworks 2006 Tutorials. I am just curious to if anyone else here has used it or can tell me what's the difference between this and SolidWorks2008 The basics. BTW Same authors (David Planchard; Marie Planchard).

 

[brengine]

SW2007 -to- SW2008 had a huge change in the GUI. I think they we're trying to emulate Vista or something?!? But it's not too bad once you get used to it.

As for Inventor and Catia...I have found SW to be the easiest to use. If you can use either of those others, you will have no problems using SW.

Ken