The Ultimate Guide to SOLIDWORKS Training - Assembly Modeling

Welcome to part 3 of our Ultimate Guide to SOLIDWORKS Training series. This time around we are walking you through the entirety of the SOLIDWORKS Assembly Modeling course, answering any questions that may arise so you know exactly what to expect that first day in the classroom.

SOLIDWORKS Training - Assembly Modeling

The goal of this course is to teach you how to utilize the assembly modeling capabilities of SOLIDWORKS mechanical design automation software.

The SOLIDWORKS software is such a robust and feature rich application that it is impractical to cover every minute detail and aspect of the software and still have the course be a reasonable length.

Therefore, the focus of this course is on the fundamental skills and concepts central to the successful use of the SOLIDWORKS software.

COURSE BREAKDOWN

Prerequisites

Students attending this course are expected to have the following:

• Mechanical design experience.
• Completed the course SOLIDWORKS Essentials.
• Experience with Windows operating system. 
  
  

Course Design Philosophy

This course is designed around a process or task-based approach to training. A process-based training course emphasizes the processes and procedures you follow to complete a particular task. By utilizing case studies to illustrate these processes, you learn the necessary commands, options and menus in the context of completing a task. 

Laboratory Exercises

Laboratory exercises give you the opportunity to apply and practice the material covered during the lecture/demonstration portion of the course. They are designed to represent typical design and modeling situations while being modest enough to be completed during class time.

You should note that many students work at different paces. Therefore, we have included more lab exercises than you reasonably expect to complete during the course. This ensures that even the fastest student will not run out of exercises. 

So What Will You Learn?

Lesson 1: Advanced Mate Techniques
Lesson 2: Top-Down Assembly Modeling
Lesson 3: Assembly Features, Smart Fasteners, and Smart Components
Lesson 4: Assembly Editing
Lesson 5: Using Configurations with Assemblies
Lesson 6: Display States and Appearances
Lesson 7: Layout-based Assembly Design   
Lesson 8: Large Assemblies

Lesson Breakdown 

Lesson 1: Advanced Mate Techniques

This lesson will teach you how to: 

• Understand the SOLIDWORKS Assembly structure.
• Understand how assemblies reference other files.
• Utilize shortcuts for mating components.
• Apply a mate reference and use it for efficient assembly.
• Use various advanced and mechanical mate types.

Lesson 2: Top-Down Assembly Modeling

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Edit a part in the context of an assembly.
• Build a virtual part in the context of an assembly by employing Top-Down assembly modeling techniques.
• Create features in the assembly context by referencing geometry in mating parts. 
• Remove external references from a copied part. 

Lesson 3: Assembly Features, Smart Fasteners, and Smart Components

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Add features in the assembly.
• Create features that represent post-assembly machining operations. 
• Insert hardware using Smart Fasteners.
• Create and use Smart Components

Lesson 4: Assembly Editing

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Replace and modify components in an assembly.
• Mirror components in an assembly.
• Find and fix errors in the assembly.
• Pattern components. 

Lesson 5: Using Configurations with Assemblies

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Create a configuration of an assembly.
• Use configure component to automate the creation of configurations.
• Create a custom Property Manager for a part.
• Relate component dimensions using global variables and equations. 
• Use sensors to define design requirements. 
• Use the Mate Controller to animate mate-based motion.

Lesson 6: Display States and Appearances

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Understand methods to select components.
• Create new display states.
• Change appearances of parts and components. 
• Change the scene. 
• Edit the material.  

Lesson 7: Layout-based Assembly Design 

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Create a layout sketch in an assembly.
• Save sketches as blocks.
• Use a layout sketch to show an animation.
• Create part components from blocks.

Lesson 8: Large Assemblies

This lesson will teach you how to: 

• Configure large assembly mode options.
• Take advantage of lightweight components.
• Use advanced selection techniques.
• Create a SpeedPak configuration.
• Simplify assembly components with Defeature.
• Modify the structure of an assembly.
• Use Assembly Visualization to create display states.
• Take advantage of Large Design Review.  

Conclusion

So there you have it. If you are interested in reserving a seat for the next SOLIDWORKS Assembly Modeling Course offered at Alignex, check out our training calendar for dates and locations. For any questions, feel free to reach out to our Training Coordinator by phone at (952) 288-2627 or by email at training@alignex.com 

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