Commands Guide Tutorial for SolidWorks 2011

Book excerpt: The Commands Guide Tutorial for SolidWorks 2011 is a comprehensive reference book written to assist the beginner to intermediate user of SolidWorks 2011. SolidWorks is an immense software package, and no one book can cover all topics for all users. The book provides a centralized reference location to address many of the tools, features and techniques of SolidWorks 2011. This book covers the following: System and Document properties FeatureManagers PropertyManagers ConfigurationManagers RenderManagers 2D and 3D Sketch tools Sketch entities 3D Feature tools Motion Study Sheet Metal Motion Study Sustainability Sustainability Xpress FlowXpress PhotoView 360 Pack and Go Intelligent Modeling techniques and more. Chapter 1 provides a basic overview of the concepts and terminology used throughout this book using SolidWorks 2011 software. If you are completely new to SolidWorks, you should read Chapter 1 in detail and complete Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, and Tutorial 3 in the SolidWorks Tutorials. If you are familiar with an earlier release of SolidWorks, you might still want to skim Chapter1 to get acquainted with some of the new commands, menus, and features that you haven’t used; or you can simply jump to any section in any chapter. Each chapter (18 total) provides detailed PropertyManager information on key topics with individual stand alone short tutorials to reinforce and demonstrate the functionality and ease of the SolidWorks tool or feature. All models for the 240 plus tutorials are provided on the enclosed book CD with their solution (initial and final). Learn by doing, not just reading! Formulate the skills to create, modify and edit sketches and solid features. You will also learn the techniques to reuse features, parts and assemblies through symmetry, patterns, copied components, design tables, configurations and more. The book is designed to compliment the Online Tutorials and Online Help contained in SolidWorks 2011. The goal is to illustrate how multiple design situations and systematic steps combine to produce successful designs.