Overview
What is SOLIDWORKS?
Dassault Systemes offers SOLIDWORKS, a computer-aided design (CAD) system for education and manufacturing supporting 2D or 3D design, electrical design, simulations, and product development with collaboration tools.
A student's perspective on SOLIDWORKS
Solidworks ! Best to use for Parametric modelling & Configuration based Products.
SOLIDWORKS - Best Companion for Mechanical Engineers
Solidworks is a good choice
Solidworks and Injection Molding Analysis Review
My experience with SOLIDWORKS as a mechanical design engineer
Solidworks - solid modeling functions and features that work great
SolidWorks is the leading standard in 3D parametric solid modeling!
SOLIDWORKS works good
Solidworks is easy to use with great functions
SOLIDWORKS for the future generations
Sketch feature should be like DraftSight
SOLIDWORKS and its Capabilities
SOLIDWORKS Review
Awards
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Video Reviews
1 video
Pricing
Solidworks Annual Subscription
1,295
Solidworks Standard
3,996
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Product Details
- About
- Tech Details
- FAQs
What is SOLIDWORKS?
SOLIDWORKS Video
SOLIDWORKS Technical Details
Deployment Types | On-premise |
---|---|
Operating Systems | Windows, Mac |
Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Comparisons
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Reviews and Ratings
(406)Community Insights
- Recommendations
Users of Solidworks have made several recommendations based on their experiences with the software. The most common recommendations include evaluating other products to consider their benefits, especially for CAD software. Users also recommend utilizing Solidworks for 3D design work, highlighting its user-friendly interface and easy learning curve for new users. Additionally, users praise Solidworks for its active community and available support resources, which they recommend taking advantage of. Overall, these recommendations emphasize the importance of exploring different options, leveraging community support, and considering Solidworks for 3D design purposes.
Attribute Ratings
Reviews
(26-50 of 55)Easy to use, easy to learn, does the job.
- Ease of use.
- Flexibility.
- Compatibility for files with annual software versions.
- Load/startup time.
SOLIDWORKS is the top of the line 3D modeling software
- Creating models in steps that are easily modified later
- Assembling part files and keeping them organized
- Drawings need some flexibility on creating annotations in a certain way
- Sometimes there are unexplained crashes
3D CAD design software
- 3D modeling for mechanical designs.
- SOLIDWORKS has an excellent photorealistic rendering that helps you so much to see how your final product will be.
- Interface: I think they should make a friendlier interface to look more sophisticated. This is not a con; actually, it’s just an improvement.
Powerful and easy to use software
- Great at 3D modeling.
- Great with FEA analysis.
- Formatting has always been an issue for me.
- Creating a mid-plane has always been frustrating.
SOLIDWORKS is a solid choice for 3D CAD
- Makes changes fast. It adapts the assembly to part modifications and then saves the changes back to the part models.
- Interface checking and analysis are simple yet effective.
- Parts and template lists are quick and easy to generate.
- CAM is only 2.5 axis.
- The import of scanned objects should require less work.
- Adding features could be more intuitive. Tube trims and weldments take too much tinkering.
It is too complicated to learn for simple sketches where precision is not important. For example, I was drawing a stepstool that would fold and it was faster to sketch it out on paper.
Easy to use CAD for smaller assemblies
- Quick 3D modeling.
- FEA analysis.
- Good for smaller assemblies.
- Weight and center of gravity analysis.
- Crashes constantly with large assemblies.
- It does not do well with imported files such as .step.
- 3D routing in SW Electrical is clumsy.
- Collaboration tools are behind the competition.
Opinion on SOLIDWORKS for product design
- It has the precision required for manufacturing that is necessary so that you can guarantee that the product can be produced in the end.
- SolidWorks makes it possible to visualize how the product is going to look in the end.
- It is intuitive, so you don't waste time looking for resources or tools in the program.
- It gives feedbacks about errors in the parts so that you can review and correct them.
- The rendering function "Photoview" could be improved in terms of realism.
- The metal sheet resources are not so intuitive and could be improved. I often get stuck in some errors that I can't figure out the solution or the cause.
Designing with SOLIDWORKS
- 3D modeling.
- Automatic drawing creation.
- Integration with Mastercam.
- Needs more progressive die components in toolbox.
- Drawing layers and colors are difficult to work with.
- Complex sketches are still somewhat slow to rebuild.
Level the playing field with SolidWorks
- Conversion of a detailed 2D design into a 3D physical model that we can manipulate (rotate, inspect, modify).
- Route piping, conduit and other components through the model.
- Conduct flow simulation to understand how we can improve our physical model.
- These features would have taken us months of work using traditional design tools. Now we can go from concept to a final model in days.
- While it is not difficult to install, it does require some patience.
- Because we use DraftSight, our learning curve is likely shorter, but video tutorials would help.
- The software is very sophisticated; if we could add pop-ups like autofill suggests in other software, it would be helpful.
SOLIDWORKS Review
- The collaborative work environment is a cool and useful feature where groups of people can work on the same model at the same time, and SOLIDWORKS ensures that you don't overwrite each other's work.
- The ease and amount of customization options are very useful for creating a personalized and intuitive user interface, whether SOLIDWORKS is your native CAD package or not.
- It is very easy to quickly edit a model you have already created. The software allows sketch and feature editing without having to take the time to actually enter the sketch/feature environment.
- The use of configurations and configurations-specific dimensions in the same sketch is very useful for creating different forms of the same part
- SOLIDWORKS gets very slow when using large assemblies, parts with many features, and sketches with many fully-defined entities.
- Saving can become extremely slow when there are STL files inserted into your part file. Has taken up to 10 minutes to save one part file. However, using the Save As option and giving the same part a new name will reduce save time by 10x. Seems to be some room for improvement here.
- When using the loft command without guide curves, there are two orbs that can be moved to determine how the profile twists from one face of the loft to the other(s). However, you cannot constrain these points and they can change position in different configurations. These points should be able to be constrained.
SolidWorks 2001-2018 experience
- 3D modeling.
- Assemblies.
- Drawing updates.
- Integration for parts, assemblies and drawings.
- Some software stability.
- Version conversion to earlier releases for file exchange.
- Subscription value for the money.
- As a mainstream design tool for the mechanical industry, it is a top tier option
- Collaboration with other users
- File format flexibility for data exchange
- Various industry-driven tools for design
- Design for manufacturing driven
- Civil engineering applications very limited
- Not suitable for design by code application, especially if FEA modules are used.
- Strangely, does not collaborate well or at all with Catia even as a part of the same company
- Solidworks has simple modeling and sketching.
- Solidworks has good conversion to drawings.
- Solidworks has adequate assembly control and mates.
- Solidworks could improve on collaboration tools.
- Solidworks needs to fix bugs before releasing features.
- Solidworks is a resource hog, and the resource monitor is constantly going off.
- Solidworks could have better assembly controls.
- File Organization
- Hot Key Programming
- Rendering through Visualizer
- The user interface can look very busy sometimes compared to Inventor
- There are annual updates and sometimes the redesign of the interface is difficult to get used to
- Very expensive and you have to be on a subscription
- I think it is the best CAD tool in terms of design of extreme technical details.
- Its system of assembly of pieces is very useful when it comes to show off or create high-quality simulations.
- Particularly I think sketch tools are excellent for create 2D drawings of pieces, thanks to this the process of creation of 3D objects is streamlined.
- Its rendering system is very professional and provides very great visual details.
- Very unfavorable not being able to open versions of modern SOLIDWORKS in older versions.
- Sometimes it is difficult to understand the process of rendering 3D parts.
- It is not capable of processing solid pieces of STL format with many surfaces.
For companies that need to make designs of small mechanical parts it is very useful. We can create these pieces in less than hourly, and therefore give quick responses to our customers. Also to show mechanical simulations to companies.
Less appropriate:
Creating 3D objects as sculptures is not very appropriate since it does not have mesh design. Do not try to modify STL format files, since it causes many design errors.
SOLIDWORKS: A legend in the making.
- Having built themselves as the premier desktop CAD package, SOLIDWORKS has tools for almost every design-related.
- Learning SOLIDWORKS is very straightforward and there exists a large body of free tutorials and on-line help forums.
- SOLIDWORKS' partner program means having access to world-class software applications that run native within SOLIDWORKS.
- The FEA and CFD tools (Simulation) are best-in-class in-CAD analysis softwares and have helped shape that particular landscape since their adoption inside SOLIDWORKS.
- The reseller channel may, perhaps, be the greatest strength of SOLIDWORKS. It means guaranteed help/support, access to updates, a a vibrant user community.
- To date, the baked in surfacing tools lack power compared to dedicated surfacing software.
- In a similar vein, the core modeling kernel is not owned by SOLIDWORKS themselves and so there exists limitations with regards to implementing certain modeling/math.
- SOLIDWORKS is playing catchup to other online vendors of CAD (notable Onshape); instead of being the once leader, they are being forced to compare themselves. This, however, may work to their advantage and in turn allow them to produce a better on-line CAD tool.
SOLIDWORKS, the right choice for now and later
- SOLIDWORKS is easy to pick up. The interface is clean, consistent and intuitive.
- SOLIDWORKS has a great partner program, so CAE software vendors can integrate specialized tools into the CAD platform.
- SOLIDWORKS is long-standing. This has become the default MCAD tool for many industries and professionals.
- The surfacing could be improved, and that's the reason I have used Rhino3D for this specialized purpose.
- Other programs, such as Rhino3D, have allowed for backward compatibility, where SOLIDWORKS has not allowed this.
- An online version of SOLIDWORKS, such as what Onshape did, would be very helpful for many designers for collaboration.
First Class Design Software
- For starters, it is easy to learn compared to other solid modeling software platforms. SolidWorks has great learning tools and an easy to follow interface.
- The Weldment design environment is very robust and flexible.
- Working with model configurations is much easier to manage than other software platforms.
- FeatureWorks makes easy work of importing CAD geometry from other modeling packages. It recognizes the features and provides a feature-based model, unlike other programs that simply allow you to import block geometry without access to the model base features.
- More flexible options for renting or leasing the software.
- Provide small firms with older versions of the software with credits toward software upgrades. The current system penalizes those who have chosen not to upgrade over time. Many small firms can't afford to do so as often.
SOLIDWORKS - use for heavy equipment design and production
- Creates detailed renderings of parts.
- Production drawings can be made from renderings.
- Assemblies allow you to see if all the pieces fit together prior to production.
- We were not using a CNC for any parts now, but I do remember back in school we had to use AutoCAD for the CNC we had at school. I don't know if that was a SOLIDWORKS or a CNC issue, and I would assume this has been done in the last 5 years, but if not, that integration would really be my only complaint.
A user-friendly modelling software
- It has very good graphical user interface and thus is very user friendly.
- It offers a lot of options to create your models and for each option, there are examples and suggestions as to how these options work.
- It can be easily integrated with any finite element software and allows the user to print the model which can be used for testing in labs.
- It enables the user to make very complex 3D parts with minimum effort. There are a lot of tutorials also available for the software.
- I would want Solidworks to add a library within itself where users can see examples and solve their problem.
- While working with very heavy models, the software becomes slow and leads to unnecessary lag while moving around the model.
- It should allow a person to easily integrate their models with models from other users.
Incredible software for 3D designing
- The GUI of SOLIDWORKS is extremely comfortable, every tool is arranged in a way that makes the workspace a well-organized place, and makes the learning process (which tends to be complex) a bit simpler.
- Moving from 3D to 2D models is extremely easy with this software and this makes the modeling process more streamlined.
- It is universally used so we have never encountered compatibility issues between the models we create and the software used by our clients.
- This software is extremely demanding, our high-end PCs tend to suffer and lag when this software is being used with pdf readers or other software.
- This is not an easy to use software, it has a steep learning curve and since it counts with a vast amount of tools it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
- This software is really expensive.
SolidWorks - the BEST 3D CAD software
- SOLIDWORKS 2019 is fantastic with 3D rendering. There is so little lag when exploring an assembly, it makes for an extremely efficient review process when showing your designs to other employees.
- All of the keyboard shortcuts make modeling in SOLIDWORKS so fast, and as an employee at a startup company, I really appreciate that. It helps me be efficient and get designs done quickly.
- SOLIDWORKS makes it easy to do CAM functions as well, which plays a crucial role in figuring our optimal production techniques for a company that has little money to waste on R&D.
- I wish there was a better run-down of quick keyboard controls in SOLIDWORKS. There is nowhere inside the program that shows all of these in one place or gives a list of what they are.
- When you draw a line in Sketch mode, there is no box that allows you to select the size. You have to double-click on the line again after you draw it and then enter the exact size you are looking to draw.
- When creating appearances in an assembly, the program always makes it unclear if you are making the change in appearance for just the assembly or the individual part.
SOLIDWORKS is the industry leader in 3D software
- 3D layouts of systems.
- Verify equipment fits in the environment, access to other equipment, ergonomics of the system, etc.
[It's] Used by the engineering department. We do not use the majority of the software's features at this company. When I was with another company, we used it to its full potential. This company does not need some of the features it has. Still the best software for the company.
- Very user friendly
- Easy and quick to sketch simple designs
- Very powerful software for FEA and CFD
- Basically universal software used by our customers as well.
- Cost for new users, which they seem to be addressing
- Not many other issues I can think of.
SOLIDWORKS is an Industry leading CAD program for Consumer Goods Product Development
The second avenue of use would be the real product development in which the model is prepared for full-fledge manufacturing. The manufacture ready models could be used for injection molded parts, laser jet parts, CNC'd parts, a few other types of manufacturing, or a combination of them. These types of models typically take a day to a few weeks and are sometimes passed between designer and engineer. Depending on the project, it may be necessary to utilize some of SolidWorks internal simulation tools, which help ensure that the product is ready for manufacturing without any foreseeable problems.
- SOLIDWORKS is definitely leading the way in the simulation realm (stress test, draft, etc). The simulations give a lot more detail compared to other CAD programs that I've used in the past.
- SOLIDWORKS is an evolution of one of the longest standing CAD products on the market. The huge knowledge base and user base is a huge plus when it comes to advanced modeling issues and concerns.
- SOLIDWORKS is intuitive enough that "new" employees can pick it up in a fairly short amount of training....especially to grasp the key concepts and be able to inspect or look at already produced models.
- SOLIDWORKS as a whole has been utilizing modern cloud technologies to allow users to run more simulations and get more done while data and processing are done behind the scenes. Something that is extremely important when it comes to machine bandwidth and the ability to get a lot done at once.
- I wish SOLIDWORKS would start an overall of the UI. It's familiar...but it's old and clunky. I use Fusion 360 for personal use and love the modern look and intuitiveness that it brings along with it.
- Native image rendering is not good. Have to use a third-party program such as KeyShot.
- Very ergonomic or organic shapes can be hard to produce. There is no "sculpt" environment as offered in Fusion 360.
Review of SOLIDWORKS
- Interface is easy to use
- Software updates are readily communicated, and installed with limited to no bugging in the system
- Easy to roll out to a global user group with a centralized shared license server
- Memory usage when exporting form one format to another, specifically high resolution renderings and .stl files for additive manufacturing
- More standard file format capabilities both to import and export in the basic licensing plans
- Easier interfacing and more adaptive feature recognition to reverse engineering software and scanning devices
- Quick learning curve so you can incorporate its use across different areas of your company.
- Low entry price for 3D CAD software.
- Great tool for designing new product and ideas from concept through production.
- Great marketing tool to allow digital images and animations to be used across the web, manuals, advertising, and support done in house.
- Supports different methods of modeling to really suit the needs of the specific industry that you work in.
- With so many newer users, possibly a guide towards better drafting standards for creating your designs. Some times it's so easy to make a part itself, but if you are not thinking of the end game WHILE making the part, you can kick yourself in the end for taking short cuts in the beginning.
- I know that they have tried to make each release of SOLIDWORKS more and more user-friendly, but I've noticed sometimes it actually make is more difficult. For example, when selecting a line by default it would select the line while you were over it, now if it is a shorter line and you are near the center, it will tend to grab the centermark over the line. If I wanted the center mark more often I would turn on filters for this.