MySolidWorks Training Deep Dive

Previously, we posted an overview blog on the MySolidWorks website to help show SolidWorks users all that the site has to offer, that blog can be found here. With the overview presenting a large amount of information, it was difficult to go into detail on each section. This blog will dive further into details from the training section of the MySolidWorks website. Look out for more deep-dive blogs in the future!

MySolidWorks Training

The training section of the MySolidWorks site is broken up into four categories. These categories are lessons, learning paths, eCourses, and product introductions. Each category offers a different training/learning experience. With videos, files, and forums available, MySolidWorks makes it easy to follow training from start to finish. I will be diving into each category in their separate sections below, detailing how to utilize each correctly. You will need to have a MySolidWorks standard account to access all of the training. To get a standard account you must link your SolidWorks serial number to your account. If you do not own a version of SolidWorks you can still create an account but the number of lessons available will be limited. These lessons are intended for SolidWorks users, however, anyone is able to view and follow along with some of these lessons to try and learn a new topic!

Lessons

The lessons MySolidWorks provides are individual modules that consist of explanations, videos, and quizzes to help you learn. You can choose from hundreds of different lessons created by SolidWorks experts. With the in-depth filter options that MySolidWorks offers, you can filter lessons based on CAD compatibility, language, access level, and categories. Each lesson is taught by a series of short videos that discuss the topic. If applicable, SolidWorks example files can sometimes be downloaded right from the example video and used to follow along with the lesson and help teach the concept at hand. Each lesson is designed to hit a specific topic which could be a SolidWorks feature, a case study, a modeling technique, tools, and much more.

Lesson Experience

To test out the experience I worked through the “Swept Feature” lesson to see how the process worked. Each lesson has a time estimate at the bottom of the description and they range from about 5-20 minutes depending on the lesson. The lesson I followed along with was made up of an introduction, two presentation videos, and a review quiz. The files to follow along with the example were provided to me right within the video so it was very easy to access and download them. There was a portion where you were able to interact through the video to control SolidWorks features and complete an exercise the video had previously set up. The quiz at the end reviewed the key points of the lesson to ensure that I was paying attention and understood the concept. Overall, I really enjoyed the quick lesson on swept features. I was able to learn some things I did not know about the feature and the lesson made it very easy to follow along at my own pace and provided me with all the materials I needed.

eCourses

The eCourses that MySolidWorks offers are complete courses converted from the SolidWorks instructor-led training manuals. These self-paced courses employ professional-quality design, guided practice, offline exercises, and interactive content. There are currently 17 eCourses you can take that cover CAD, simulation, electrical, and PDM in SolidWorks 2017, 2018, and 2019. To access and purchase any eCourses you must get in contact with your SolidWorks reseller and upgrade to MySolidWorks Professional.  These eCourses are NOT free, you will need to upgrade your MySolidWorks account to a professional version for an annual subscription fee of $360.00 to get access to all courses. These are the only courses/training that require a professional account subscription. Below is a list of all the courses available, and their estimated completion times. Upon completion of each course, you are granted certification of completion! You can add these certificates to your arsenal while you build up your SolidWorks knowledge! For individuals looking to expand their SolidWorks knowledge at a low cost, these eCourses are a great resource offering in-depth lessons with great training and materials.

1. Creating animations with SolidWorks: 21 hours 40 minutes

2. Mold design using SolidWorks: 27 hours 25 minutes

3. API fundamentals: 19 hours 35 minutes

4. SolidWorks flow simulation: 32 hours 50 minutes

5. SolidWorks routing – piping and tubing: 19 hours 10 minutes

6. Surface modeling: 23 hours 40 minutes

7. Sheet metal: 14 hours 50 minutes

8. Weldments: 8 hours 55 minutes

9. SolidWorks electrical schematics: 32 hours 30 minutes

10. SolidWorks routing – electrical: 13 hours 25 minutes

11. SolidWorks motion: 17 hours 15 minutes

12. SolidWorks simulation premium – nonlinear: 12 hours 20 minutes

13. SolidWorks plastics: 17 hours 30 minutes

14. API fundamentals of SolidWorks PDM professional: 5 hours 25 minutes

15. SolidWorks simulation premium – dynamics: 8 hours 15 minutes

16. SolidWorks file management: 4 hours 50 minutes

17. SolidWorks PCB essentials: 18 hours 15 minutes

Learning Paths

MySolidWorks has made training a little easier by bundling lessons together in what is called “Learning paths”. These learning paths help direct you through multiple lessons to get a full understanding of the training topic. There are currently 70 learning path topics that you can follow along with. To help explain learning paths, I have provided an example. I have selected the SolidWorks electrical learning path. Inside this learning path are lessons on SolidWorks electrical introduction, working with electrical projects, Electrical drawing types, Creating electrical drawings, etc… The idea is that these learning paths bundle all of the lessons you will need to fully cover one topic and present it to you in an easy-to-learn and easy-to-follow format where as you could find one specific portion of the topic by searching under the lessons tab. To put it in different terms, a learning path is a full sandwich while a single lesson is only the lettuce for that sandwich. 

Product Introductions

MySolidWorks product introductions are a series of short videos that are intended to give an overview of a SolidWorks product. Currently, the MySolidWorks site only has one product introduction series and it overviews SolidWorks simulation. These product introduction series are very similar to the learning paths as they are built of multiple short training videos. The intent behind these product introductions is to provide you with a review of a SolidWorks product that you may not have to see if purchasing this tool would be useful for you.

Conclusion

MySolidWorks has an enormous amount of training resources. With thousands of lessons, videos, and example files, anyone who uses SolidWorks should check out the training that is offered next time they have a question or would like to look further into a SolidWorks topic.

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