Any Video Tutorials covering different Surfacing basics?

Does anyone in this Forum know of any Surfacing tutorials available,
that maybe whose model making encompasses some of the basic individual
Surfacing procedures. Maybe a model where knit, loft, trim, sweep and
a few different relations are needed in order to obtain closed
geometry and complete the model. I think that there isn't much
question that video is the most effective of all the learning tools.
Especially, I feel, for the beginner. That is by far, the consensus in
my School anyway. I have seen some ppt presentations on the Internet
that seem to be of the highest quality, and yet it seems that they
were intended for the intermediate user. I don't think the
intermediate draftsman needs video tutorials anywhere near the novice.
If anyone knows of any links on basic Surfacing, preferably video,
your sharing them would be appreciated by quite a few of us.
Erika

 

There will be a video tip on Solid Professor in the near future showing
the creation of a simple surfaced part. Also, they have a set of paid
video tutorials covering several surfacing topics.

I recently put up a PDF surfacing tutorial on my blog:
www.dezignstuff.com/blog - search for the Watering Can tutorial.

I put a couple of really basic and short surface filleting video tips on
CADJunky a while ago.

 

"I think that there isn't much question that video is the most
effective of all the learning tools."

Strongly agree. Where I don't agree is that video training should be
seen as just a tool for novices.

The way I see it well done video tutorials disrupt the VAR sales model
because many VAR's make money with expensive in house training.

This is not only true for SolidWorks but is true for CAM products like
CAMWorks, MasterCAM and GibbsCAM.

Expert users of these products should consider creating video training
and selling it.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA

 

Erika,
http://www.solidengineering.co.nz/solidworks_free_tutorials.htm

This is a link to Mr John Layne's site. He has several tutorials that
he offers for D/L, I know that at least one of them demonstrates the
Surface Sweep that you ask about. These videos are simply outstanding,
and would be a valuable asset to anyone's Tutorial Library,
regardless of his/hers level of skill.
Good luck,

G. De Angelis
Valhalla Grafix LTD

www.valhallagrafix.com

 

And from a brief demo video you concluded that a NAMED user
coordinate system in MasterCAM was a "fixture offset" (it
seems clear you don't even know what one is or how they are
used or why).

You need clues before videos.
Manuals & docs have indexes, tables of contents, can
be read at normal reading speed or skimmed, paged back & forth in,
if on computer perhaps searched ...
How many hunderd perfect videos (at two hours each) do you have to
watch to get the one clue you need? And at $50 (min) per video ... how much for
the entire set?

 

Penny wise and dollar foolish IMO. I think VAR or other professional
one on one training tailored to ones needs and the type work they do
ends up costing much less in the long run.

If looking for reference materials, personal growth and learning new
stuff on your own then yes videos, manuals, online tutorials is a
great source and so are good notes.

Tom

 

"Penny wise and dollar foolish IMO. I think VAR or other professional
one on one training tailored to ones needs and the type work they do
ends up costing much less in the long run."

VAR's do nothing but drive up the cost to the end user. In the case of
SolidWorks VAR's they use the training manuals prepared by SolidWorks
Corp.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA

 

Not my experience but if you really feel that way and want to skip
training can always negotiate prior to buying.

Well Jon people should learn the basics first, it is always good to
have an understanding of the basics. THEN move on to the more advanced
user specific, work specific one on one training.

What level user and what training YOU need should be assessed and
agreed to prior to buying the software and training.

Tom

 

"What level user and what training YOU need should be assessed and
agreed to prior to buying the software and training.

Your statement above is frequently irrelevant for machinists because
they are often times asked to learn to use the software package the
shop they choose to work for already has. Further, it is often the
case that the machine shop owner buys what he wants to buy and doesn't
consult his employees.

VAR's are unnecessary overhead in the software training process. As
software continues to get more and more complex users need better and
more affordable alternatives than making their VAR rich for very
little / no added value.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA

 

You are adding to and changing the parameters of your original
statement.

In this instance, when you apply and interview for a position they
require you to be proficient in the software package they have or are
willing to train. They should assess your abilities so they know how
much training you need and determine the cost and best method based
upon their evaluation and specific needs.

Not a good policy IMO but it is the owners shop.

Not in my experience.

How valuable is it when a company purchases a software package to get
the software up and RUNNING and the company productive right away in
the shortest amount of time?

Now compare that cost to the cost of CRAWLING for an extended period
of time learning from videos, manuals and online tutorials as well as
trial and error doing it on their own.

What are you basing your "more affordable" opinion on?
What software packages have you purchased where you got VAR training?

Tom

 

"In this instance, when you apply and interview for a position they
require you to be proficient in the software package they have or are
willing to train. They should assess your abilities so they know how
much training you need and determine the cost and best method based
upon their evaluation and specific needs."

What machine shop owners should do and what really happens is often
quite different. Often times what is required when you start the job
changes.... sometimes within days of you starting the job.

"How valuable is it when a company purchases a software package to get
the software up and RUNNING and the company productive right away in
the shortest amount of time?"

IMO very valuable but I'm not the owner and owners often don't think
this way so as a machinist / CADCAM programmer you have to deal with
owners who don't think in these terms.

"What are you basing your "more affordable" opinion on?"

My personal experience dealing with VAR's.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA

 

Intentional misrepresentation by either party is justifiable grounds
to end the relationship.

That's not what you originally posted.

Are you revising your original statement?

Where you posted;

Are you talking about a free demo or are you referring to a particular
software you purchased and received VAR training?

If so what software and training are you talking about?

Tom

 

"Intentional misrepresentation by either party is justifiable grounds
to end the relationship."

True but it's often no better at the next shop so you learn to deal
with it or find a new career.

"Are you talking about a free demo or are you referring to a
particular software you purchased and received VAR training?"

At better machining job shops employees can take training at the VAR's
office if management wants to pay for it... they usually don't. I've
taken VAR training paid for by my employer and I've purchased video
training with my own money and the video training I purchased with my
own money has been a far better value than the overpriced VAR training
that my employer paid for.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA

 

It seems that I owe this entire Forum my humble apologies for opening
up this seemingly endless can of worms
and subjecting it to this needless display of off topic bantering by
these two individuals with obvious
extreme malice in their thoughts of each other.

Erika Layne

 

Erika,

Sorry you feel that way.

A discussion and a difference of opinion for sure but I don't view it
as bantering or even that far off topic, thread drift yes but that
should be expected when there are a lot of responses.

A lively discussion, some needling and sarcasm in our exchanges for
sure but I have no malice towards Jon, actually I like Jon.

I just want to make it clear that the way you may have read my posts
is not the way I meant for them to be read. And when I read Jon's
responses to mine I don't see malice, intensity yes but not malice.

Tom

 

Often a simple phone call with a specific question ... or a look
at the manuals & docs ...

Videos would be the last place other than as sales presentations IMHO.

Sig ...

 

Sort of like by providing support & answering the questions
of clueless idiots *that are not even customerso or legal users*
for free?

Cheaper & better then even trying to write their own.
Why <gasp> SW might even prepare tham *as they produce
the new releases*. No need to wait years for a set of $$$$
videos for a then *obsolete* version. They might even have
professional teachers & educators in the loop ....
Not that that's going to help clueless buzzword kings much.

 

I suggest trig, shop math, a few shop classes & a HS diploma
for him to begin with ... then years of "training" I expect.
Lost cause right from the beginning.
Cliff

 

Solidworks is a pretty good CAM system for 2 1/2 axes MDI
editing "work", is it?

 

Good idea as clearly there's an idiot loose ... and what would the
broom operator know about such anyway?