Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

Define SolidWorks terminologies and explain how solid modeling in a 3D workspace uses sketches, feature based elements, and applied features to build associative parts, drawings, and assemblies with design intent.

Master the SolidWorks user interface, including menus, hotkeys, ribbons, and the 3D workspace. Use side panels and the feature tree to access tools, appearance options, tutorials, and more.

Explore the three SolidWorks file types: part, drawing, and assembly files, and how they reference each other in fully associative, multi-part projects.

Create your first SolidWorks part by selecting new, choosing a part template, setting units to inches, and saving early to prevent data loss.

Master sketch management in SolidWorks by saving or discarding changes, renaming sketches, and using edit sketch and edit sketch plane to place sketches on different planes.

Create a centered circle sketch, dimension it to a diameter, then use extruded cut with through all to remove material through the whole bracket, illustrating design intent.

Use the hole wizard in SolidWorks to generate industry-standard holes. Define the hole type and ANSI inch standard, place holes on a face, and review the two sketches.

Learn to use reference geometry to create mid planes and centered sketches for ribbed support features, then sketch and extrude symmetrically to center the rib.

Create a hole on the front face, use an extruded cut, then apply a circular pattern to reproduce multiple holes around the center, adjusting spacing and count.

Apply fillets and chamfers to a bracket using the fill and chamfer features. Select edges or faces, adjust radii, preview results, and decide whether to group fillets into one feature.

Learn to create revolved features by rotating a 2d profile around an axis to form a shaft, defining rotation angle with a center line or sketch line as axis.

Sketch half of the symmetric shaft profile using a center line as the axis of revolution, then mirror to complete the shaft and its hole with defined diameter.

Use the loft command to add material between multiple profiles to create a solid, using offset planes and multiple sketches on different planes to generate a complex, free-flowing shape.

Use the shell command to hollow a solid into a thin-walled feature with a chosen wall thickness, such as 0.2 in, and optionally remove faces for plastics enclosures.

Use the SolidWorks toolbox to quickly insert industry standard fasteners, with smart resizing and automatic mates as bolts snap into holes, and customize the length as needed.

Learn to create an exploded view in an assembly using the Explode View command, dragging components along the y axis to show relationships and internal parts.

Learn the fundamentals of SolidWorks, including designing parts, drawings, and assemblies, and boost your learning with SolidWorks Help and free tutorials.