SolidWorks Complete Course: Learn 3D Modeling in SolidWorks

SolidWorks is a mechanical design software that builds parts from features, uses sketch features and applied features, and relies on parametric modeling with dimensions and relations.

Learn about the main SolidWorks file formats, including solid part (.sldprt), solid drawing (.slddrw), and solid assembly (.sldasm), and how SolidWorks saves the correct extension automatically.

Define design intent as planning a part's creation to enable easy updates when dimensions change. Show how changing a sketch dimension updates all features smoothly, avoiding errors.

Open SolidWorks for the first time by exploring the startup page, the menu bar with new, open, save, and print, and the search tool to locate commands.

Learn to start a new part file in SolidWorks by selecting part, assembly, or drawing and clicking okay.

Open and close files in SolidWorks using the Open icon or Ctrl, browse to file locations, and double-click to open; close documents or exit the program with save prompts.

Master part manipulation in SolidWorks by using the mouse to rotate, scroll wheel to zoom, and control key and space key to switch views while selecting and editing faces.

Change units from inches to millimeters in SolidWorks by adjusting document properties to set the units, applying this to both sketches and drawings.

Learn how to save SolidWorks files using Ctrl+S, the save button, and file > save; explore save as and save as copy and open to manage versions in assemblies.

Navigate SolidWorks user interface and menu bar pull downs, accessing file, edit, view, tools, and window options. Customize your workflow with single or two-view setups for efficient 3D modeling.

Explore the command manager tabs in SolidWorks, focusing on the feature and sketch tabs, plus the evaluate tab for measure and mask properties.

Explore the feature manager design tree, planes, and origin point for building SolidWorks parts. Learn to constrain your model to the origin and add features such as extrude and silhouette.

SolidWorks heads up view toolbar essentials cover the normal tool, zoom to fit, zoom to area, and section view. It also explains view orientation, shading, hidden lines, and appearance options.

Use the SolidWorks help search bar to find topic-specific walkthroughs for features like extrude and sketch. Stay connected to the internet to access these tutorials and command options.

Learn how to create sketch planes in SolidWorks, including front, top, and right planes. Use parallel, perpendicular, and between-plane placements to set up multiple planes for sketches.

Learn to create different axis types in SolidWorks to support revolved features, using reference geometry to create a line axis, two plane axis, cylinder axis, or point-to-plane axis.

Learn how to draw lines in SolidWorks sketches on the front plane, including solid, construction, and midpoint lines, while mastering sketch mode and exiting sketches safely.

Learn to sketch rectangle variants in SolidWorks, including corner rectangle, center rectangle, three-point corner rectangle, three-point center rectangle, and parallelogram, using sketch mode drag-and-click.

Select the top plane and draw a circle by clicking, dragging, and clicking to finish; use the perimeter circle with a three-point click as an alternative.

Learn to draw different slot profiles in SolidWorks by selecting a plane, creating sketches, and dragging points to define straight slots, center-point straight slots, and three-point arc slots.

Learn to draw arcs in SolidWorks by mastering center point arcs, tangent arcs, and three-point arcs, using plane selection, sketching, and dragging points to set endpoints.

Learn to draw a polygon in SolidWorks by selecting a plane, sketching the polygon, and choosing inscribed or outside circle placement, demonstrated with a 10-sided example.

Learn to draw a spline in SolidWorks sketching by clicking points, drag them to adjust, and compare two spline types: construction-line controlled vs point-controlled.

Learn how to draw an ellipse in SolidWorks using center-point and two-point methods, selecting the ellipse tool, choosing a center or edge, and dragging to shape the sketch.

Draw a rectangle to illustrate an on-the-face sketch, then identify it by blue color, the minus sign, or the on-the-fly label, and ensure the sketch is fully defined.

Learn to fully define a sketch in SolidWorks by adding relations or using the smart dimension, ensuring lines turn black and establishing constraints with the origin.

Learn how to add and delete sketch constraints in SolidWorks, including coincident, vertical, horizontal, tangent, perpendicular, parallel, and concentric relations, using construction lines and center lines.

Learn to add dimensions to sketches in SolidWorks using smart dimension, including diameter versus radius, arc and angle dimensions, and editing dimensions in the left panel.

Create a centered rectangle on the origin, fully define it with six-by-six dimensions, then apply fillets (radius 0.5–1) and chamfers (distance or angle, 0.8 and 45 degrees).

Master sketch editing in SolidWorks by using extend to snap lines to edges and three trim tools—power trim, corner trim, and trim to close—to shape precise 2D sketches.

Explore the offset entity in SolidWorks, offsetting lines, triangles, and circles by a chosen distance, with options to reverse direction, offset in both directions, and use select chain.

Master the mirror entities tool in SolidWorks to reflect lines, circles, and rectangles about a center line or origin, selecting all features and applying the copy option.

Learn to create linear and circular sketch patterns in SolidWorks, setting instances along x and y axes with spacing, radius and diameter, and using equal spacing and skip options.

Learn to move, copy, rotate, and scale entities in SolidWorks using proper selection and defined points, with dimension controls to prevent issues.

Learn to create a revolved boss in SolidWorks by sketching a closed profile with construction lines, tangency, and trimming, then revolve it 360 degrees around a center line.

Learn the extruded boss/base feature in SolidWorks by building fully defined sketches, applying dimensions and radii, and using options like blind and through all.

Learn to convert entities and share sketches in SolidWorks by using an existing sketch to extrude features and by turning a face or edge into a sketch via converged entity.

Master the mirror feature in SolidWorks by selecting the correct plane and mirroring a feature or face, then edit the mirror and save your work.

Apply fillet and chamfer features in SolidWorks by selecting faces and edges, using constant size fillets of 3 mm and chamfer angles of 45 degrees for a finished model.

Master extruded cut in SolidWorks by removing material with circular sketches, the opposite of extrude. Use a section view and mirror features across the front plane, then save.

Master the revolve cut in SolidWorks by sketching on the right plane, using construction and coincident and perpendicular relations, and revolving the sketch about an axis to finalize the cut.

Learn to create a circular pattern around features in SolidWorks by selecting edge references, applying equal spacing for four holes, and extruding cuts.

Learn to create a linear pattern in solidworks by sketching a rectangle and a circle, extruding, then patterning features along edges in multiple directions.

Learn to model spring flower valve in SolidWorks with sweep boss/base, creating a profile on the front plane, revolving it around a line, then trim, extrude, and mirror to finish.

Master a swept cut in SolidWorks by defining a profile and path, then apply it to a boat model with a helix and extrude cut.

Download the provided valve parts and save them in your valve project folder; you will use seven parts, including the body, gasket, seat, and the spring, for the assembly.

Learn to model a nail polish bottle in solidworks using lofted boss/base, with sketches on top and front planes, guide curves, arcs, and subsequent extrudes.

Use the shell feature to hollow a solid model by selecting a face, set thickness values such as 0.05, 0.1, and 0.03, and refine edges for a hollow in SolidWorks.

Finish designing the nail polish body in SolidWorks by offsetting interior faces, sectioning the front plane, and filling edges to create an internal paint cavity for rendering.

Create a lofted cut by sketching a circle on the top plane and a rectangle on the bottom plane, then use the cut feature to remove material between profiles.

Use SolidWorks Hole Wizard to place a hole on a selected face, set dimensions and constraints, and choose hole type (cosmetic or cut) with taper or edge options.

Learn how to create drafts in SolidWorks by selecting a neutral plane, choosing a face, setting draft angles (25 degrees or 5 degrees), and applying directions to control draft orientation.

Learn to design a nail polish cap in SolidWorks by sketching a circle, extruding, drafting, and using wrap to emboss initials on the top face.

Learn how to edit a sketch in SolidWorks by selecting the sketch from the feature drop-down, right-clicking, and choosing edit sketch, then adjust dimensions and finish with done with sketch.

Show and hide sketches in SolidWorks by right-clicking the sketch and selecting the show eye icon; the sketch appears blue when shown.

Learn how to edit a feature in SolidWorks by right-clicking the feature and selecting edit feature. Adjust extrude length and radius, then apply changes with ok.

Learn how to suppress and unsuppress features in SolidWorks by understanding parent-child dependencies, and why suppressing the parent hides dependent features while suppressing a child keeps the rest intact.

Learn how to use the rollback feature in solidworks to suppress and inspect features. Trace how a part was built and debug broken paths by rolling back to earlier steps.

learn how to reorder features in SolidWorks by understanding parent and child dependencies, moving features like fillets and extrudes, and recognizing when a feature cannot be reordered due to dependencies.

Learn to use SolidWorks' Evaluate tab to measure features with the measure tool, obtaining diameter, area, perimeter, and distances between faces and edges in a pot assembly.

Open the mass properties tool and click the part to view density, mass, volume, center of mass, and other data in SolidWorks.