Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Freeman
Adam,
These videos are really awesome! As someone who only opens Solidworks between Jan-Apr (and mostly works in AutoCAD 2D), they help provide a nice refresher on an efficient way to model parts.
I think the symetric mate and configuration tool will be very helpful for me this season and hopefully eliminate a lot of frustration I have with working with a Solidworks model.
You've mentioned some keyboard short-cuts a couple of times.... I'd be interested in knowing some of basic ones that you use most often.
Thanks,
Adam
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More or less I just map my most commonly used tools (not just features/geometry, but measure, mass properties, etc...) to different keyboard keys. Some are already mapped by SW. I then go further and use a mouse with many keys on it (I use the
logitech g700 now, but am debating getting something with more buttons). This has 3 sets of keys per program you can cycle through, so I have a mode for sketches, one that is kind of half way sketches/features (for part level work) and one that is for assemblies (mates, mass properties). I also map the enter key in all 3, so that saves a lot of time being able to enter with the mouse.
When I first did this I had to spend some time and make a cheat sheet and practice, but it ends up saving a lot of time in the long run. The mouse I use saves its settings locally, and then I have a SW settings file that can be used to setup my shortcuts on other computers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailer99
Have you ever played around with the weldmets tool in Solidworks? I have found it makes working with tubing a lot easier and faster once you get some experience with it,
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For most of the frames we do in FRC they are simple enough, and I want to control the end conditions more closely, so that the weldment tool is kind of a funky fit. I do use it all the time outside of FRC for larger frames and really love it. The tediousness of the end conditions makes it a rough fit for a frame in FRC where an inexperienced SW user would be working with assemblies I've made.
I definitely agree though, it's a cool tool with a lot of power. I love how it generates essentially unique drawings per tube and a complete cut list.
EDIT: Just caved and ordered a g600 with more buttons.
Also, some good videos on shortcuts (SW has WAY too many methods for mapping shortcuts).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmAk7lOby24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFS71Cb9yeg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKlVEGT7Ak