Hi, all.

The question was asked before, but links are mostly dead.

I would like to study how to design puzzles in SolidWorks. There are a lot of books in the torrent sites, however, they are too complicated. I am a programmer - I have quite a "sharp" brain, but in another direction. I never did CAD work before.

So, now I am searching for a good book or vide tutorial from where to start.

Can anyone tell its name and/or give any links?

Regards,
Ihor.

P.S. If I get a book or video tutorial on C#, ASP.NET, SQL or other programming technologies, I CAN tell if it is good or not, and if it is suitable for beginners or too complicated. I am now searching for the same experienced advice from those who are professionals in SolidWorks.

I wouldn't call myself a SolidWorks professional but I'm now building my twisty puzzles in SolidWorks. I initially got my start with 3D modeling using POV-Ray which works nothing like SolidWorks. There all shapes are coded in what I'd consider a programming language but it can't output STL files, or at least not easily. SolidWorks is much more point and click and I'm still learning myself. I haven't read any books on the subject but I just walked myself through several of the Tutorials which are built into SolidWorks itself. What I haven't leared there I've learned by asking questions here or by watching some of the nice videos out there. Everytime I make a sticker template I still go back and review this video made by TomZ.

I learn best by doing so my advice is just let the software walk you though the included tutorials and then start simple and go from there. I'm still more comfortable with POV-Ray but I must say that once I've started using SolidWorks, I do see how its possible to be much much faster.

Carl

These are good simple tutorials:

http://www.totaltraining.com/prod/solid ... 9_fund.asp

Here's a slightly related thought: why is there no stickied thread with tutorials, information and general designing tips beginning designers could use?

start here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55BC5pb6Tuc
I really like those videos.

1. I honestly think if you have the time you should actually take courses on not only designing but solid works because I think that solidworks is a very easy program but knowing how to design things is where the difficulty begins.

2. If you do not have time you may want to check your local college/university anyways and see what courses you would take and see if you can by the book for that class and teach yourself.

3. I have yet to read a book that I won in a competition for a drawing in solidworks last summer but I will give you the book info here:

Drafting & Design
Engineering Drawing Using Manual and CAD Techniques
7th Edition
Kicklighter & Brown

Amazon

4. But I honestly think you should go to school to learn how to design and how things work because for me that would be very hard to learn.

http://www.lynda.com/Solidworks-training-tutorials/1157-0.html

This is a 7 hour tutorial. It seemed a bit slow to me while scrubbing through it, but if you are lost while in solidworkds this going to help.