stepping up my game

So I finally joined the future, I went and acquired solid works premium 2007. MAN! is this some SWEET software!! Still working thru the learning curve, but after 20yrs of auto cad it is going fast.

So stay tuned as I'll be doing more projects and more parts for the Ferrari motor sport crowd. Now that I have the capabilities to do calcs and engineering on the model directly it'll save me time and $$$.

For those not familiar with this type of software it's hard to describe how powerful it is, for those who know you know what I'm talking about! I'm having so much fun I've already spent 30hrs fideling with it in the last 3 days! Ok I'm going back to my new toy!

 

i'm still learning the rendering but here is one of the many supercharger parts for the 308/328.
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it is simple and sometimes that's what bugs me. coming from cad I'm used to the Cartesian coordinate system, solid works doesn't use this, so lining up parts and 'sketches' takes me some time, I'm sure there is a quick way but I'm still learning it. the dims in solid works are very powerful, cad doesn't use the same feature.

all in all it's different but cad is still a very accurate and powerful tool for it's use. I find that doing the 2d in cad faster and more accurate, then I'll import into solid works for model building and assy, together they work great. problem is the cash outlay for both programs $$$$ you could buy another 308!

 

s'more...
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more with sections...

Catia is different in that it is like solidCam but more powerful. 07 is great and ALOT more versitile than basic autodesk. mating is one thing that does bug me about solid works, it's not intuitive nor easy.

still learning but find it fairly easy to navigate.
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I went to 2002, but my personal one is 14, couldn't stomach any further cost upgrades.

I've never used solid works until this week, and for me to pick it up this quick is nice, although i'm sure there is a TON I still don't know. but it makes making assy and models very easy.

these are all the 360 autorotor project renders, still have few things left to model.

 

spent 2hrs tonight and built the adjustable pulleys in solidworks. here's a section cut render, not to far from the real thing.
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Yes, it would be a waste of time to build a model in solidworks that wasn't dimensionally accurate. the program was designed around that concept, build the *product* in a virtual world and do as much R&D as possible with out expensive cost outlay for redesigning/manufacturing the part.

Autocad, ProE and Solidworks all work on the same concept, Catia is step up and a more direct link to the CNC process. for the other programs another interface program is used to generate the code the CNC uses to machine the part.

it's a big time and money saver. so all these 'rederings' i've posted here are real world accurate just not made yet, except for the adjustable cam gear.