Learning Objectives

• Understand how to start SolidWorks.

• Learn about the system requirements to run SolidWorks.
• Learn about various modes of SolidWorks.
• Learn about various CommandManagers of SolidWorks.
• Understand various important terms in SolidWorks.
• Save files automatically in SolidWorks.
• Change the color scheme in SolidWorks.
 INTRODUCTION TO SolidWorks 2010
•Developed by the SolidWorks Corporation, USA
•A feature-based and parametric solid-modeling mechanical design
•An automation software
•First CAD package to use the Microsoft Windows graphic user interface

Part Mode
A feature-based parametric environment in which you can create solid
models

Assembly Mode Drawing Mode

• Bottom-up assembly • Generative drafting
• Top-down assembly • Interactive drafting
 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista
• Intel or AMD Processors
• 1 GB RAM minimum (2 GB recommended)
• A certified OpenGL workstation graphics card and driver
• Mouse or any other compatible pointing device
• Internet Explorer version 6.x or higher
 GETTING STARTED WITH SolidWorks

Figure 1 Starting SolidWorks using the taskbar shortcut menu

Figure 2 The SolidWorks License Agreement
dialog box
Figure 3 The SolidWorks 2010 window and the SolidWorks Resources
task pane
Figure 4 The New SolidWorks Document dialog box
Figure 5 The components of a new part document
 MENU BAR AND SolidWorks MENUS

Figure 6 The Menu Bar Figure 7 The SolidWorks menus

 CommandManager
Part Mode CommandManagers
• Sketch CommandManager

Figure 8 The Sketch CommandManager

• Features CommandManager

Figure 9 The Features CommandManager

• DimXpert CommandManager

Figure 10 The DimXpert CommandManager

• Sheet Metal CommandManager

Figure 11 The SheetMetal CommandManager

• Mold Tools CommandManager

Figure 12 The Mold Tools CommandManager

• Evaluate CommandManager

Figure 13 The Evaluate CommandManager

• Surfaces CommandManager

Figure 14 The Surfaces CommandManager

• Direct Editing CommandManager

Figure 15 The Direct Editing CommandManager

• Data Migration CommandManager

Figure 16 The Data Migration CommandManager

Assembly Mode CommandManagers
• Assembly CommandManager

Figure 17 The Assembly CommandManager

• Layout CommandManager

Figure 18 The Layout CommandManager

Drawing Mode CommandManagers

• View Layout CommandManager

Figure 19 The View Layout CommandManager

• Annotation CommandManager

Figure 20 The Annotation CommandManager

Customized CommandManager
 TOOLBAR
Most of the tools can be chosen from the CommandManager or from the
SolidWorks menus

Pop-up Toolbar

Figure 21 The pop-up toolbar

View (Heads-Up) Toolbar

Figure 22 The View (Heads-Up) toolbar

Shortcut Bar
Mouse Gestures

Figure 23 Tools displayed by using Mouse Gesture in different environment

 DIMENSIONING STANDARD AND UNITS
ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, BSI, and GOST

 IMPORTANT TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

Feature-based Modeling
Parametric Modeling

Figure 24 Body of pipe housing Figure 25 Design after modifications

Bidirectional Associativity

Figure 26 Drawing views of the body part before

modifications
Figure 27 Drawing views after modifications
Windows Functionality

• SWIFT Technology

Geometric Relations
• Automatic Relations
• Add Relations

Blocks
Library Feature
Design Table
Equations
Collision Detection
What’s Wrong Functionality
2D Command Line Emulator

• SimulationXpress

Figure 28 The crane hook analyzed using SimulationXpress

Physical Dynamics
Physical Simulation
Seed Feature
FeatureManager design tree
Absorbed Features
Child Features
Dependent Features
 AUTO-BACKUP OPTION
Saves the SolidWorks document automatically after a regular interval of
time

 SELECTING HIDDEN ENTITIES

Can be select these entities using the Select Other option

 COLOR SCHEME
Color scheme used in this book is neither the default color scheme nor
the predefined color scheme