New SolidWorks Sheet Metal Training Books

By DE Editors

Applied Production, Inc.(Milford, OH) is publishing a new series of self-paced training books"SolidWorks for the Sheet Metal Guy.” This series of five books willcover the basics of part creation through complex features of sheetmetal design. Emphasis is on creating parts and features that maintainthe design intent even when changes are made to the material thicknessor bend radius. Each lesson starts by identifying the importantfeatures and dimensions, which must be held. Step by step instructionis then provided to create the part so that changes to any of these keydimensions will update the part and maintain the design integrity.

The first book, “Course 1 - Part Creation,” shows how to create sheetmetal parts using the basic command features provided in the SheetMetal toolbar. More importantly, it teaches you to create cornernotches and overlap when and where you want it.

“Course 2 - Notches and Hole Patterns,” slated for a Decemberpublication date, provides in depth instruction in the creation ofstandard and special shape holes and cutouts. It answers the questionof how to replicate a hole pattern on the part so that future changescan be made to one shape and all occurrences of that shape or patternwill update.

The company plans to publish one course each month. The new self-pacedtraining books will help to bridge the gap between solid modeling CADand sheet metal terminology. The typical sheet metal manufacturer isnot familiar with terms such as faces and extrusions. For example, arecent article in the SolidWorks newsletter makes reference to a “HeelPoint” in the bends area. Sheet metal people would refer to this as theOutside Mold Line.

For more information and downloadable tutorials, visitappliedproduction.com. To register for free SolidWorks sheet metaldesign tips and tricks by email, visit appliedproduction.com.