For me, SolidWorks was a fairly easy application to learn. In fact, I am self-taught for the most part. I learned it progressively over a couple of months because it was necessary for my jobs and I had to do it. That was over a decade ago. These days, that may not be an acceptable option. Users often need to hit the ground running. Not every situation is the same. Even still, I’ve created a new poll to get the opinions of others. Imagine you have a new hirer at your company for a position that required the use of SolidWorks, but they don’t have experience with the software. How would you handle that?
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Author: fcsuper
As a drafter, mechanical designer and CAD engineer, I've been in the mechanical design field since 1991.
For the first 8 years of my career, I was an AutoCAD professional. I utilized AutoLISP and many other AutoCAD customization features to streamline drafting activities for 6+ drafters and designers. I authored several custom functions, one of which was published in the March 1997 issue of Cadalyst Magazine.
Since 1998, I've been used SolidWorks non-stop. I've worked to utilize the SolidWorks' user environment to simplify drafting and design activities for 20+ engineers. I've created this website to provide current information about SolidWorks from a variety of contributors.
More recently, I am now employed by Dassault Systemes as SOLIDWORKS Sr. Product Definition Manager to improve drawing, annotation and MBD related areas.
View all posts by fcsuper
I was lucky to have learned SW similarly to you, on a job where it was not required but helpful if I could run it and there were a few people around willing to mentor. That is probably the better way to really learn it, but coming into a new job where it is required to know the software and take off, the VAR is going to get a new hire to a point of usefulness quicker.
On the job is the best for a single position as everyone has there own way of doing things. That being said I think it’s important to get a new take on things once in a while to maintain “best practices”. The work arounds and approach to some tasks can be horrific and usually these are things inherited from a mentor. I think a combination of the two (VAR and in house Mentor), or ongoing training, yield the best results but for a purely “getting up to speed” point of view a knowledgeable mentor is the best approach.
We actually had that situation last year. New hire, no SolidWorks but had CADkey experience and a touch of ProE. His first week with us he went to a VAR training class of SolidWorks Essentials. I insisted upon that with management.
I was too busy to have to teach him, at work, the basics to get started in SolidWorks. If I am training or one of our other guys is training we aren’t getting our work done. It is a small engineering group without any extra bandwidth.
VAR training for the one week, for a quick hit concentrated course. That was supplimented with continued training at the community college and on the job training in house.
Cheers,
Anna
Was a machinist for 15 years. Self-learned DrafixCAD 10 years ago. Almost immediately, self-learned SolidEdge when employer went from 2D to 3D. Self-learned Unigraphics a year later when they bought a seat. After a year, changed jobs to administer UG for 8 users that were transitioning from AutoCAD. Took VAR training with users. 2 years later, dumbed down to SolidWorks to match other location that was going from AutoCad to SW. Took VAR training because company scheduled it.
Not bad for a farm boy with only a highschool education.
I would recommend using a VAR then using a mentor. I would still expect some nasty models to be built.
Seen far too many “bad” models built by people with years of experience.
I learned 3D similarly to you but I was also lucky enough to be enlightened by someone who’s opinion I respect very much about building models. He taught me some very good tips for making models better.
I’m especially not impressed by the “advanced” classes offered by SWX & PTC.