Book Image

Learn SOLIDWORKS - Second Edition

By : Tayseer Almattar
Book Image

Learn SOLIDWORKS - Second Edition

By: Tayseer Almattar

Overview of this book

SOLIDWORKS is the leading choice for 3D engineering and product design applications across industries such as aviation, automobile, and consumer product design. This book helps you to get up and running with SOLIDWORKS and understand each new concept and tool with the help of easy-to-follow exercises. You'll begin with the basics, exploring the software interface and finding out how to work with drawing files. The book then guides you through topics such as sketching, building complex 3D models, generating dynamic and static assemblies, and generating 2D engineering drawings to prepare you to take on any design project. You'll also work with practical exercises to get hands-on experience with creating sketches, 3D part models, assemblies, and drawings. To reinforce your understanding of SOLIDWORKS, the book is supplemented by downloadable files that will help you to understand the concepts and exercises more easily. Finally, you'll also work on projects for 3D modeling objects inspired by everyday life. By the end of this SOLIDWORKS book, you'll have gained the skills you need to create professional 3D mechanical models using SOLIDWORKS and be able to prepare effectively for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) exams.
Table of Contents (26 chapters)
1
Section 1 – Getting Started
4
Section 2 – 2D Sketching
7
Section 3 – Basic Mechanical Core Features – Associate Level
10
Section 4 – Basic Evaluations and Assemblies – Associate Level
13
Section 5 – 2D Engineering Drawings Foundation
18
Section 6 – Advanced Mechanical Core Features – Professional Level
21
Section 7 – Advanced Assemblies – Professional Level

Understanding and using the path mate and linear/linear coupler mates

In this section, we will explore the path mate and linear/linear coupler advanced mates. Both mates will help us to introduce dynamic movements into our assemblies. We will learn what these mates are, what they do, and how to apply them.

Defining the path mate

The advanced mate's path mate allows us to restrict the movement of a specific part to follow a designated path. For example, we can have tiles follow a path, as shown in the following screenshot:

Figure 14.23 – The impact of the path mate

To apply the path mate relationship, we are required to have a path to follow and a point/vertex to follow that path. Next, we will apply the path mate command to an assembly.

Applying the path mate

In this section, we will learn how to apply the advanced mate's path mate. We will do that by limiting the movement of a tile to stick to a specifically designated path, as...