Solidworks, how exciting it is

All this time I did not add new post to this blog ... I spent too much time to adapt to the new workplace, new environment, new working atmosphere, and also the new "toys" I found...

Yups, if one and half years ago I was transferred form Production to Production Planning and Inventory Control, this six months I moved to the Engineering Design. Indeed, not a new thing for me to do tasks as Die & Checking Fixture designer, as well as 8 years ago I also had to take that position. The new thing that I learned is necessarily related to the use of software to perform the task. Yups, the new toy is PAM Stamp, Solidworks and CATIA.

Solidworks, that for latest 2 months it became the most intriguing toy. Starting from ignorance about its usefulness, difficulty aligning my design ideas on the available features, until the advent of naughty tricks to overcoming the problem, finally with my little experience I share into this blog.

Dear readers, perhaps for those who are familiar with the engineering design drawings will not feel strange to hear Solidworks. Well, this Dassault System software is a professional CAD software in the processing entity, surface, solid, assembly, and drawings representation into technical drawing language. With very friendly user interface, Solidworks enables automation of drawing annotation presentation admirable. However, for those who are familiar with manual annotation (using CAD), will be hard to do the customization, as using Solidworks is not as easy as using AutoCAD.

Whatever it is, for me Solidworks opens new experience in doing design and modeling. With Solidworks, 3-dimensional shape design to be more exciting and interesting. Here I write some experience designing with Solidworks, and I compare the usage with other tools, AutoCAD ..

1. Design single part

There is no much difference between using Solidworks and AutoCAD, both are equally reliable in these matters, however, Solidworks parametric dimension is superior to AutoCAD in this point.

2. Design small assembly (pure solid)

No problem in the process of 3D design, but when I get into a 2D drawing for the purpose of manufacturing, I began to feel the difficulties in the process of presenting drawing annotation. If AutoCAD provides the flexibility to the user, Solidworks gives rules that can not be compromised anymore. As if it is forced to use manual annotations, its too hard ... After I compare, 2 days for AutoCAD, and 3 days for Solidworks.

3. Design small assembly (solid + surface)

This time it was harder ... take longer time to build solid from surface. Conversion to 2D annotations are also more complex, especially on section view .. 2 days for AutoCAD, and 4 days for Solidworks.

That's my introduction to Solidworks. Not so good may be... but it's so my personal correction to skill up. Certainly not enough for me to learn Solidworks instantly, just 2 months compared with 8 years in AutoCAD. I have much to learn, learn and learn some more. However, Solidworks still leaving curious and increasingly challenging ...

I'll write down my other "story" regarding Solidworks soon... Any concern, please let me know.